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Mount the sensor on the door or window, keep the magnet closely aligned on the frame, and pair the unit with your Z-Wave hub.
There’s no magic to how to install a Z-Wave door sensor — it’s two jobs: mounting the hardware and pairing it with a Z-Wave controller. The two details that cause most failures are magnet distance and inclusion distance: get those right and the rest is routine.
The sensor body sits on the moving door or window, the magnet sits on the fixed frame, and the hub monitors whether the two parts are touching or separated. You don’t need wiring or electrician skills — the sensor is battery-powered, and the pairing procedure is nearly identical across brands.
What You Need Before You Start
A Z-Wave door sensor needs three things: the sensor with its matching magnet, a Z-Wave-compatible hub or controller, and something to mount it with — screws or strong double-sided tape.
- A Z-Wave hub. The sensor does not connect to Wi-Fi directly. It talks to a hub such as SmartThings, Hubitat, or Aeotec, and the hub sends alerts to your phone.
- Mounting supplies.
If you haven’t picked a sensor yet, our tested picks for the best Z-Wave door sensors compare mounting styles, battery types, and range side by side.
Where to Mount the Sensor and Magnet
Avigilon’s installation docs follow the same rule.
| Requirement | Required Spacing |
|---|---|
| Z-Wave Door Window Sensor 6, small magnet | 1.6 cm |
| Z-Wave Door Window Sensor 6, big magnet | 2.5 cm |
| Z-Wave Alliance contact sensor, manual 50366 | 6 mm |
| Aeotec Recessed Door Sensor (ZW089) | At least 1 mm clearance between parts |
How to Pair the Sensor With Your Hub
- Start inclusion on the