When setting up a Philips Hue smart lighting system, one of the first questions people ask is “how many Hue bridges can I have?” The Hue bridge acts as the central controller for your Hue lights, allowing you to connect to and control them via smartphone apps, voice assistants, and other smart home platforms.
The Short Answer
The short answer is you can have up to 12 Hue bridges on a single Hue account. However, there are some caveats to this:
- Only one Hue bridge can be designated as the “main” bridge
- Adding multiple bridges requires updating some settings in the Hue app
- Certain features only work with the main bridge, like automatic lighting based on sunrise/sunset
So in most home setups, a single Hue bridge will be sufficient. But Philips does give you the flexibility to add up to 12 total bridges for more advanced smart lighting control across large homes, multi-structure properties, or commercial installations.
What is a Hue Bridge?
Before going further, let’s quickly overview what the Hue bridge is and does:
- The Hue bridge connects your Hue smart bulbs and other Hue accessories to your home WiFi network.
- It allows you to control your Hue lights via the Hue app and integrate with other smart home platforms.
- One Hue bridge can support up to 50 Hue smart lights and accessories.
- The bridge plugs into your router via an Ethernet cable for a reliable, wired network connection.
So in basic Hue setups, the single bridge handles all the behind-the-scenes work to connect and communicate with your various Hue lights around the home. It’s the conductor that orchestrates all your smart bulbs and allows you to control them from your phone.
When Would You Need Multiple Bridges?
For most homes, one Hue bridge has plenty of capacity to handle all your smart lights. But there are some specific situations where adding extra bridges could be useful:
- Large homes – If you have a big house with many rooms across multiple floors, additional bridges can help expand your coverage.
- Outdoor areas – Extra bridges allow you to better control exterior lighting across large properties, yards, or outdoor structures.
- Multiple structures – Individual bridges in each building (main house, guest house, garage, etc.) help separate and manage lighting zones.
- Floor-by-floor control – Bridges dedicated to specific floors or wings improve control granularity.
- Commercial spaces – Large offices, retail stores, hotels benefit from multiple bridges to independently manage lighting zones.
The main limitation is that each individual Hue bridge can support up to 50 connected smart lights and accessories. So if you exceed that number of devices, adding another bridge is the only way to continue expanding your system.
Hue Bridge Limits and Requirements
If you do want to add multiple Hue bridges, there are some important rules and limitations to be aware of:
- Only 1 bridge can be set as the “main” bridge.
- Up to 11 “secondary” bridges can be added to a single account.
- 12 total bridges max per account.
- Each bridge supports up to 50 lights/accessories.
- Main bridge required for sunrise/sunset triggers.
- Bridges must be assigned to different “zones” in the app.
- Only main bridge can automatically update firmware.
Some of these are subtle but important points. For example, only the main bridge can provide automatic lighting changes based on sunrise and sunset. And if you want secondary bridges to update, you’ll have to manually install firmware updates rather than having them install automatically.
How to Set Up Multiple Bridges
The process for setting up multiple bridges is relatively straightforward, though not quite as plug-and-play as a single bridge:
- Set up your first, main Hue bridge and add lights normally.
- In the Hue app, go to Settings > Hue Bridges and click “Add Hue Bridge”.
- Plug in and connect the new bridge to your router via Ethernet.
- Press the button on the new bridge to link it to your Hue app.
- Give the new bridge a name to designate it as a secondary bridge.
- Choose a zone for the secondary bridge (like “Downstairs” or “Garage”).
- Add lights to the new bridge through the app.
Rinse and repeat those steps for up to 11 total secondary bridges. The app will prompt you through the setup process including naming the bridge, assigning a zone, and adding lights.
Controlling Multiple Bridges
Once set up, you control your main and secondary bridges through the same Hue app:
- The app will automatically detect which bridge each light is connected to.
- You can group lights and control them together regardless of bridge.
- Lights are segmented in the app by zone to distinguish main vs. secondary bridges.
- Create scenes including lights across multiple bridges.
- Control bridges independently or together.
So from a usage standpoint, multiple bridges should operate as a unified system allowing you to easily control lights throughout your home. The bridges synchronize in the background to implement your lighting commands.
Considerations Before Adding Multiple Bridges
There are a few additional points to weigh before committing to multiple bridge setup:
- Added cost – Extra bridges aren’t free, so factor in the expense of additional hardware.
- Ethernet connections – Bridges need a wired router connection, which may limit placement.
- Max light capacity – Total lights still capped at 50 per bridge.
- Resale value – Extra bridges may not appeal to future owners.
- Setup complexity – Multi-bridge systems have more steps and settings.
For most homes, these considerations aren’t deal-breakers, but are good to keep in mind. A single bridge with 50 lights capacity covers the needs of many households.
Alternative to Multiple Bridges
If you don’t want to invest in multiple Hue bridges, there is another option to expand your smart lighting system beyond 50 lights:
Add another brand of smart bulbs
- Supplement Hue bulbs with cheaper, third-party smart bulbs.
- Limits you to lights that work with Alexa, Google Home, SmartThings.
- Third-party lights can’t access some Hue features.
- But allows you to significantly expand total light capacity.
Mixing Hue with other smart bulb brands lets you build out a larger-scale lighting system while keeping your single Hue bridge as the control hub. This may be the more cost-effective approach than buying multiple Hue bridges.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a Hue bridge at all?
Yes, the Hue bridge is a required component of any Philips Hue setup. All Hue smart lights and accessories must connect to the bridge to work. The bridge links everything together and enables control through apps, voice assistants, automation platforms, etc. There’s no way to use Hue products without a bridge acting as the central hub.
Can multiple bridges be connected wired together?
No, you cannot physically connect two Hue bridges together. Each bridge must be independently plugged into an Ethernet port on your router. The bridges sync and communicate wirelessly through your home WiFi network. There is no way to physically bridge two bridges together – they operate as separate controllers.
Do all lights need to be in range of the bridge?
No, your Hue lights do not need to be within direct wireless range of the bridge. In fact, most people place their bridge near the router while lights are installed throughout the home. Hue uses a mesh network technology called Zigbee to allow lights to interconnect and relay signals around obstacles. So bridge range is not an issue for most homes.
Can I use Philips Hue lights without the Hue bridge?
Hue bulbs will not work at all without being paired to a Hue bridge. The bridge is always required. However, once paired to a bridge, there are some limited options to control Hue lights without using the actual Hue app or ecosystem. For example, you can control them through an Amazon Echo or Google Home speaker using voice commands. But access to certain features will be restricted without direct integration through the Hue app and bridge.
Do multiple users need separate bridges?
No, multiple users in the same household do not each need their own Hue bridge. The Hue app allows you to set up individual user accounts with their own settings, scenes, and controls – while all still utilizing the same shared Hue bridge. So a single bridge can support multiple users controlling the lights independently.
The Bottom Line
While most homes will only ever need a single Hue bridge, the option exists to add up to 12 on a single account. Multiple bridges can enable smart lighting control across large homes, separate buildings, or vast commercial installations. But each bridge supports a max of only 50 lights. So weigh the pros and cons before committing to a multi-bridge approach.
| Number of Bridges | Total Light Capacity | Benefits | Downsides |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 bridge | 50 lights | Simple setup, lower cost, works for most homes | Limited to 50 lights maximum |
| Multiple bridges | 50 lights per bridge | Expand capacity for large systems | Higher cost, complex setup, max still 50 per bridge |