Best Smart Home Devices for the Garage

The garage presents a specific set of smart home challenges: security (it is often an entry point into the home), safety (vehicles, tools, chemicals), and convenience (not having to get out of the car to open the door in the rain). The upgrades here tend to be more functional than those in the rest of the house.

Smart garage door opener

A smart garage door opener lets you open and close the door remotely, check whether it is open or closed from your phone, and set automations — for example, automatically closing the door if it has been left open for more than 15 minutes.

myQ Smart Garage (Chamberlain/LiftMaster) is compatible with most existing garage door openers and adds Wi-Fi connectivity to a non-smart door. It integrates with Alexa, Google Home and Apple Home.

Meross Smart Garage Door Opener is a more affordable alternative that works with Alexa, Google Home and Apple Home without a subscription. Compatible with most single-car garage doors.

Garage cameras

A camera inside the garage provides visibility when you are away. The Wyze Cam v4 is a good choice for indoor garage use. The Blink Indoor is compact and entirely battery-powered, which simplifies installation where there is no power outlet near your preferred mounting position.

For a camera that also monitors the driveway, an outdoor camera mounted above the door pointing toward the driveway is more useful. The Google Nest Cam (with floodlight) is the premium option. Eufy Security Floodlight Cam 2 Pro is a lower-cost alternative without a subscription requirement for local storage.

Smart plugs and power management

A smart plug on the garage workbench lets you turn off all tools connected to a power strip with a single voice command. An energy monitoring smart plug on the garage fridge tells you how much it costs to run.

EV chargers are increasingly smart-home-compatible. The Emporia EV Charger and Wallbox Pulsar Plus can be scheduled to charge during off-peak electricity hours automatically.

Door and motion sensors

A contact sensor on the interior door connecting the garage to the house provides a security alert if that door is opened unexpectedly. A motion sensor inside the garage can trigger lights automatically when you enter. The Aqara Door and Window Sensor and the Eve Door and Window are both compact and reliable with battery lives measured in years.

Recommended garage setup

• Start with: smart garage door opener (myQ or Meross) for remote monitoring and control.
• Add next: indoor camera for monitoring, contact sensor on the interior door.
• Later: motion-activated lighting, smart plug with energy monitoring for workbench equipment, driveway camera.

What to avoid

Garage environments can be extreme — very hot in summer, very cold in winter. Check the operating temperature range of any smart device before installing it in an unheated garage. Most smart plugs and sensors are rated for indoor use only (typically 0-40 degrees Celsius). Do not rely solely on a smart garage door opener for security — if the door itself has physical vulnerabilities, smart technology does not fix those.