If you love tinkering, ESPHome is a fantastic way to build custom smart home devices. This open-source firmware framework gives you local control over smart home devices that support open standards. Then, you can create projects as per your needs.​

Getting started is easier than you think. Most ready-made ESPHome projects require only a few components: ESP32 ($5) or ESP8266 ($2) microcontrollers and a handful of sensors. Grabbing a 37-in-1 sensor kit is a cost-effective way to experiment, but it doesn’t have high-quality sensors. You can always buy additional high-precision sensors to expand your IoT projects. If that interests you, here are some ESPHome projects that are perfect for your smart home and won’t break the bank.

Garage door sensor for your vehicles

Know the door’s status

Usually, you’d be tempted to use a magnetic Reed switch to determine whether your garage door is open or closed. But a simple open/closed state won’t give a clear picture. It’d be better to know whether the garage door is partially open and stuck at a specific level. Connect a multi-axis accelerometer and gyroscope sensor (MPU6050) with the ESP32 board to build a Garage Door sensor that detects whether the door is stuck at a specific level.

You can add an ultrasonic distance sensor (HC-SR04) to the same ESP32 board to detect a car's presence and notify you whether there’s one already in the garage. Together, these sensors can provide you with a much-needed garage monitoring solution.

Noise level monitoring in kids' room

Setting a quiet time for everyone

Monitoring kids’ loudness or a baby’s crying can be tricky behind closed doors. Using an analog sound sensor (MAX9814) — a microphone amp with automatic gain control — paired with an ESP32 board, you can detect noise levels. Unlike the basic sound sensor (LM393), which only reports yes/no, the MAX9814 continuously reports sound levels.

In the ESPHome YAML file, you can configure it to detect whispers, normal speech, or loud noises from video games. With that, you can adjust the notifications and automations accordingly. ​

Presence sensor for work desk

Auto-adjust lighting​

Desk lighting can significantly impact focus and productivity. And you can make those lights adjust to your presence. Using a human presence detection sensor (LD2410C) with an ESP32-S3 or ESP32-C6 board, you can make them detect your presence, even when you sit still.

Turn that into a multi-sensor setup with a digital light sensor (BH1750) in your ESPHome configuration. That’ll help adjust the lights dynamically based on your room’s light levels. You can integrate both sensors into a single YAML configuration for seamlessly controlling them in Home Assistant.

Air quality station with particulate matter reports

Track the dusty times

Using ESPHome, you can build an air quality station at a fraction of the cost of a dedicated AQI monitoring device. With a PMS7003 digital particle concentration sensor, you can measure PM1.0, PM2.5, and PM10 levels. The sensor uses a laser-scattering principle to measure them. ESPHome makes it easy to configure those readings and flash them onto an ESP32 board.​

To make sense of the PM spikes, connect a temperature and humidity sensor (BME280) in the same YAML configuration. You can display all that data in Home Assistant using Entities or ApexChart cards to provide a clear view of air quality trends over time.

Emergency call buttons with iTags

Best for the elderly

The battery-powered iTags buttons are perfect for senior family members who can’t reach the wall switches or bells. These buttons can be worn on a lanyard or wrist, or attached to a walker or wheelchair. With ESPHome, you can program button press sequences: to notify everyone’s phone, start flashing the smart lights, or trigger a TTS alert across the multi-room speakers. ​

Since the range of iTags buttons is short (up to 8 meters), pairing them with Bluetooth proxies ensures they reach Home Assistant from anywhere in the home. That way, the iTags are reliably accessible.​

Wardrobe privacy alarm for kids (and others)

Keeping valuables safe​

Maintaining the privacy of your valuables is challenging when curious toddlers or nosy visitors are around. A simple magnetic Reed switch paired with an ESP32-C3 board safeguards your private drawers or cabinets with an alert system.

The ESP32-C3’s power efficiency works to its advantage, enabling the sensor to enter deep sleep when running on battery power. You can further disable the Wi-Fi to conserve energy and rely on Bluetooth proxies for handling notifications.

Build your smart home, your way

ESPHome lets you build highly customizable smart home devices using sensors and microcontrollers — without spending a lot. In many cases, you don’t even need to solder; simply use DuPont jumper wires to connect sensors to an ESP32. These projects demonstrate how flexible and powerful ESPHome can be for creating personalized, practical smart home solutions.