SwitchBot
SwitchBot Curtain 3 (Rod)
- Works with HA
- Local control
- Bluetooth
Prices verified October 2026
See more blinds & curtains picks on our Amazon storefront →Our verdict
The easiest retrofit curtain robot for UK rented homes — it clips onto your existing rod or U-rail with no tools or hub needed for local Bluetooth control from Home Assistant. This Rod variant handles curtains up to 15kg on rods 15-40mm in diameter (the U-rail version, sold separately, pushes 16kg on U-shaped tracks instead) — check your rail type before buying, since the two aren't interchangeable. The 3350mAh battery lasts roughly 8 months per charge on one cycle a day; add the optional solar panel and you'll never touch the charging cable again. Best for south-facing windows where that panel earns its keep.
What can Home Assistant control on the SwitchBot Curtain 3 (Rod)?
| Control | Type | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Curtain | Cover | Open/close/stop and set-position (0-100%); position is read back from the device's internal travel sensor. |
| Battery | Sensor (%) | Battery level — only available over direct Bluetooth, not when paired via a SwitchBot Hub. |
| Light level | Sensor | Onboard ambient light reading (low/bright bands), also direct-Bluetooth only. |
| Curtain movement speed | Number (0-255) | Options-flow setting controlling drift speed; 1 = Quiet Drift, 255 = standard speed on firmware 1.1+. |
| Calibration | Binary sensor | Reports whether the device has completed end-of-travel calibration, set via the SwitchBot app rather than HA. |
The switchbot integration exposes Curtain 3 as a native cover entity with real position feedback over local Bluetooth — no Hub or cloud round-trip needed — but it clamps reported values above 95% to 100 and below 5% to 0, so "fully open/closed" can register slightly early. On firmware 1.1+, the integration's Curtain Movement Speed option (0-255) maps to the device's real drift modes — 1 is Quiet Drift, 255 is standard speed — letting you slow it at night without leaving HA. Calibration (true end-of-travel limits) must be set once in the SwitchBot app before pairing; skipping it causes the motor to stall short or grind past the rail end since HA has no calibration UI of its own.
Specs
| battery | 18650 Li-ion, 3350mAh — rated ~8 months per charge on one open/close cycle daily, charged via USB-C |
|---|---|
| dimensions | 78 x 71 x 205mm (Rod variant) |
| noise level | 42dB in Normal mode, 25dB in QuietDrift mode |
| solar panel | Optional SwitchBot Solar Panel 3 (sold separately) keeps it topped up indefinitely with just ~3 hours of direct sun per day |
| rod compatibility | Round rods 15-40mm diameter (47-125mm circumference); works with grommet, ring-top, back-tab and tab-top curtains |
| max curtain weight | 15kg on Rod-type tracks (16kg on the U-rail variant) |
How does the SwitchBot Curtain 3 (Rod) compare?
| Product | From | Protocol | Local control | Integration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SwitchBot Curtain 3 (Rod) (this product) | £65.99 | Bluetooth | Yes | Works with HA |
| Aqara Curtain Driver E1 (Rod) | £89.99 | Zigbee | Yes | Zigbee2MQTT / ZHA |
| Aqara Curtain Driver E1 (Track Version) | £80.99 | Zigbee | Yes | Zigbee2MQTT / ZHA |
| Aqara Roller Shade Driver E1 | £49.99 | Zigbee | Yes | Zigbee2MQTT / ZHA |
Frequently asked questions
- Does the SwitchBot Curtain 3 (Rod) work with Home Assistant locally?
- Yes. The SwitchBot Curtain 3 (Rod) is controlled locally in Home Assistant through a certified "Works with Home Assistant" integration (switchbot), so it keeps working if your internet connection or the SwitchBot cloud goes down. Control and state updates stay on your own network.
- Which protocol does the SwitchBot Curtain 3 (Rod) use, and do I need a hub?
- The SwitchBot Curtain 3 (Rod) uses Bluetooth. To pair it with Home Assistant you need a Bluetooth adapter on your Home Assistant host or an ESPHome Bluetooth proxy. SwitchBot's own hub is not required when you integrate through a certified "Works with Home Assistant" integration (switchbot).
- How much does the SwitchBot Curtain 3 (Rod) cost in the UK?
- The lowest price we have listed for the SwitchBot Curtain 3 (Rod) is £65.99 at SwitchBot UK, with other UK retailers at up to £76.49. Prices were last checked in October 2026 and change often, so confirm on the retailer's page before buying.