15 Best Home Assistant Automations in 2026 (With YAML Examples)

Most "best automations" lists give you ten variations of "turn on a light when motion is detected." This is not that. These are the 15 automations that actually run every day on a production Home Assistant system with 54 wired zones, 71 lighting entities, 4 IP cameras, and distributed whole-house audio. Every automation here has been tested, debugged, and refined through actual daily use.

Each one includes the full YAML so you can drop it into your system and customize it.

1. Time-Based Motion Night Lights

The single most useful automation you can build. Motion sensor triggers a light at brightness levels that change throughout the night — dim at 2 AM, brighter at 6 AM. Nobody wants to get blinded walking to the bathroom.

automation:

trigger:

entity_id: binary_sensor.hallway_motion

to: "on"

condition:

after: sunset

after_offset: "-00:30:00"

action:

target:

entity_id: light.hallway

data:

brightness: >

{% set hour = now().hour %}

{% if hour >= 22 or hour < 1 %}77

{% elif hour >= 1 and hour < 5 %}25

{% elif hour >= 5 and hour < 7 %}51

{% else %}102{% endif %}

entity_id: binary_sensor.hallway_motion

to: "off"

for: "00:02:00"

target:

entity_id: light.hallway

The `wait_for_trigger` pattern is critical. It waits for motion to clear for 2 full minutes before turning off, so continuous movement keeps the light on.

2. Alarm-Triggered Full Response

When a real alarm triggers, you need more than a notification. This fires sirens, flashes every light in the house, sends camera snapshots, and announces through distributed speakers — all simultaneously.

automation:

trigger:

entity_id: alarm_control_panel.area_1

to: "triggered"

action:

target:

entity_id: siren.front_sirens

target:

entity_id: group.all_interior_lights

data:

brightness: 255

flash: long

data:

title: "ALARM TRIGGERED"

message: "{{ trigger.to_state.attributes.changed_by }}"

data:

push:

sound:

name: alarm.caf

critical: 1

volume: 1.0

target:

entity_id: tts.piper

data:

media_player_entity_id: media_player.whole_house

message: "Security alert. Alarm has been triggered. Authorities have been notified."

The `parallel` block is essential. You do not want these actions running sequentially — every second matters in an alarm response.

3. Garage Door Left Open Warning

Escalating notifications when a garage door is left open. First alert at 10 minutes, repeat every 15 minutes, and auto-close after 30 minutes if nobody responds.

automation:

trigger:

entity_id: cover.garage_bay_1

to: "open"

for: "00:10:00"

action:

while:

entity_id: cover.garage_bay_1

state: "open"

sequence:

data:

title: "Garage Door Open"

message: >

Bay 1 has been open for {{ relative_time(states.cover.garage_bay_1.last_changed) }}.

data:

actions:

title: "Close It"

entity_id: cover.garage_bay_1

state: "open"

for: "00:30:00"

target:

entity_id: cover.garage_bay_1

The actionable notification with the "Close It" button means you can fix it without opening the app.

4. Welcome Home Presence Detection

Detects when you arrive home and adjusts the house — unlocks the door, turns on path lighting, disarms the alarm, and announces your arrival.

automation:

trigger:

entity_id: person.your_name

to: "home"

condition:

entity_id: alarm_control_panel.area_1

state: "armed_away"

action:

target:

entity_id: alarm_control_panel.area_1

data:

code: !secret alarm_code

target:

entity_id:

data:

brightness: 200

target:

entity_id: tts.piper

data:

media_player_entity_id: media_player.entryway_speaker

message: "Welcome home."

5. Smart Bedtime Routine

One input boolean triggers a full bedtime sequence: dims lights progressively, locks doors, arms the alarm in night mode, sets thermostat, and turns off media.

automation:

trigger:

entity_id: input_boolean.bedtime

to: "on"

action:

target:

entity_id: group.common_area_lights

target:

entity_id: light.bedroom

data:

brightness: 40

target:

entity_id: media_player.living_room_tv

target:

entity_id: alarm_control_panel.area_1

data:

code: !secret alarm_code

target:

entity_id: climate.bedroom_thermostat

data:

temperature: 68

target:

entity_id: light.bedroom

target:

entity_id: input_boolean.bedtime

6. Camera Motion Snapshot Notifications

When a camera detects motion, grab a snapshot and send it as a rich notification with the image embedded. Includes debouncing so you do not get 50 notifications for one event.

automation:

trigger:

entity_id: binary_sensor.front_driveway_motion

to: "on"

condition:

entity_id: input_boolean.front_camera_cooldown

state: "off"

action:

target:

entity_id: input_boolean.front_camera_cooldown

target:

entity_id: camera.front_driveway

data:

filename: /config/www/snapshots/front_driveway_latest.jpg

data:

title: "Motion: Front Driveway"

message: "Movement detected at {{ now().strftime('%I:%M %p') }}"

data:

image: /local/snapshots/front_driveway_latest.jpg

target:

entity_id: input_boolean.front_camera_cooldown

The cooldown boolean prevents notification floods. One minute between alerts per camera.

7. Adaptive Lighting by Time of Day

Adjusts light color temperature throughout the day — cool white for focus during work hours, warm amber in the evening, dim warm at night.

automation:

trigger:

at:

action:

target:

entity_id: group.common_area_lights

data:

kelvin: >

{% set hour = now().hour %}

{% if hour >= 7 and hour < 17 %}4500

{% elif hour >= 17 and hour < 20 %}3200

{% elif hour >= 20 and hour < 22 %}2700

{% else %}2200{% endif %}

brightness: >

{% set hour = now().hour %}

{% if hour >= 7 and hour < 17 %}230

{% elif hour >= 17 and hour < 20 %}200

{% elif hour >= 20 and hour < 22 %}140

{% else %}60{% endif %}

8. Leaving Home Auto-Arm

When everyone leaves, lock up and arm. Includes a safety delay to cancel if you forgot something and come back immediately.

automation:

trigger:

entity_id: zone.home

to: "0"

for: "00:05:00"

action:

target:

entity_id:

target:

entity_id: all

target:

entity_id: alarm_control_panel.area_1

data:

code: !secret alarm_code

data:

title: "House Armed"

message: "Everyone left. System armed away, garage closed."

The 5-minute `for` delay prevents false triggers from GPS jitter or quick trips to the mailbox.

9. Package Delivery Detection

Camera plus notification when someone approaches the front door and the doorbell is not pressed. Catches package deliveries that do not ring the bell.

automation:

trigger:

entity_id: binary_sensor.front_door_motion

to: "on"

condition:

entity_id: person.your_name

state: "not_home"

entity_id: binary_sensor.front_doorbell

state: "off"

action:

target:

entity_id: camera.front_door

data:

filename: /config/www/snapshots/front_door_delivery.jpg

data:

title: "Possible Delivery"

message: "Someone at the front door (no doorbell pressed)"

data:

image: /local/snapshots/front_door_delivery.jpg

The 3-second delay before the snapshot means you catch the person still in frame, not the initial motion blur.

10. HVAC Zone Optimization

If a room is unoccupied for 30 minutes, raise the setpoint to save energy. When motion returns, restore the comfortable temperature.

automation:

trigger:

entity_id: binary_sensor.office_motion

to: "off"

for: "00:30:00"

action:

target:

entity_id: climate.office_thermostat

data:

temperature: >

{% if state_attr('climate.office_thermostat', 'hvac_action') == 'heating' %}

62

{% else %}

78

{% endif %}

trigger:

entity_id: binary_sensor.office_motion

to: "on"

action:

target:

entity_id: climate.office_thermostat

data:

temperature: >

{% if state_attr('climate.office_thermostat', 'hvac_action') == 'heating' %}

70

{% else %}

73

{% endif %}

11. Laundry Cycle Complete Notification

Uses a power monitoring plug to detect when the washer or dryer finishes. When power drops below threshold and stays low, the cycle is done.

automation:

trigger:

entity_id: sensor.washer_power

below: 5

for: "00:03:00"

condition:

entity_id: sensor.washer_power

above: 0.5

action:

data:

title: "Laundry Done"

message: "Washer cycle complete. Move clothes to dryer."

target:

entity_id: tts.piper

data:

media_player_entity_id: media_player.kitchen_speaker

message: "The washer has finished its cycle."

The `above: 0.5` condition prevents false triggers when the washer is fully off (drawing 0W). It only fires when power drops from active to idle.

12. Lighting Scene Controller

Physical button press cycles through predefined scenes. Single press for "normal," double press for "movie," long press for "off." Works with any Zigbee or Z-Wave button.

automation:

trigger:

event_type: zha_event

event_data:

device_id: "your_button_device_id"

action:

sequence:

target:

entity_id: scene.living_room_normal

sequence:

target:

entity_id: scene.living_room_movie

sequence:

target:

entity_id: group.living_room_lights

13. Water Leak Emergency Response

Water sensor triggers an emergency: shuts off the main water valve (if you have a smart valve), sends critical notifications, and flashes a specific light as a visual indicator.

automation:

trigger:

entity_id:

to: "on"

action:

target:

entity_id: switch.main_water_valve

data:

title: "WATER LEAK DETECTED"

message: "{{ trigger.to_state.name }} at {{ now().strftime('%I:%M %p') }}. Water valve shut off."

data:

push:

sound:

name: alarm.caf

critical: 1

volume: 1.0

target:

entity_id: light.kitchen

data:

color_name: blue

flash: long

14. Sunrise Gradual Wake-Up

Mimics sunrise in the bedroom starting 30 minutes before your alarm. Lights gradually brighten from 0 to 60% with warming color temperature.

automation:

trigger:

at: input_datetime.wakeup_time

action:

target:

entity_id: light.bedroom

data:

brightness: 5

kelvin: 2200

count: 6

sequence:

target:

entity_id: light.bedroom

data:

brightness: "{{ 5 + (repeat.index * 25) }}"

kelvin: "{{ 2200 + (repeat.index * 200) }}"

Set `input_datetime.wakeup_time` to 30 minutes before you want to be fully awake. The light ramps from barely visible warm amber to a bright natural white over 30 minutes.

15. Voice Announcements for House Events

Ties multiple triggers to spoken announcements through distributed speakers. Garage opens, doors lock, alarm status changes — all announced by voice.

automation:

trigger:

entity_id: cover.garage_bay_1

to: "open"

id: garage_open

entity_id: cover.garage_bay_1

to: "closed"

id: garage_closed

entity_id: alarm_control_panel.area_1

to: "armed_away"

id: armed_away

entity_id: alarm_control_panel.area_1

to: "disarmed"

id: disarmed

action:

target:

entity_id: tts.piper

data:

media_player_entity_id: media_player.whole_house

message: >

{% if trigger.id == 'garage_open' %}Garage bay 1 is opening.

{% elif trigger.id == 'garage_closed' %}Garage bay 1 is now closed.

{% elif trigger.id == 'armed_away' %}System armed. Away mode.

{% elif trigger.id == 'disarmed' %}System disarmed. Welcome home.

{% endif %}

The trigger `id` pattern is the cleanest way to handle multi-trigger automations. One automation, one action block, multiple trigger sources resolved with templates.

The Pattern Behind Good Automations

Every solid automation shares three traits:

1. **Debouncing** — cooldown timers, `for` durations, or boolean gates prevent repeated firing

2. **Context awareness** — time of day, presence state, and system mode inform the action

3. **Graceful failure** — if one action fails, the others still run (use `parallel` and `continue_on_error`)

If your automation does not have at least one of these, it is going to annoy you within a week.

Get These Automations Pre-Built

All 15 automations above plus 20 more are available in the **Home Assistant Automation Cookbook** — complete YAML packages you can drop into your system and customize in minutes.

The **Night Lights Pack** is also available standalone if you want the most polished version of automation #1 with multi-zone support, per-room brightness curves, and helper entities pre-configured.

---

**Want more automations like these delivered weekly?** Join the newsletter for new YAML templates, automation patterns, and real-world smart home engineering.

[Subscribe to the newsletter →](https://theautomatedhome.beehiiv.com)