Skip to content
BTHome for ESPHome

Binary Sensors

Binary Sensor Configuration

Section titled “Binary Sensor Configuration”

Binary sensors represent on/off states like motion detected, door open, etc.

binary_sensor:
  - platform: gpio
    pin: GPIO4
    id: motion_sensor
    name: "Motion"
    device_class: motion


bthome:
  binary_sensors:
    - type: motion
      id: motion_sensor
      advertise_immediately: true

Common Examples

Section titled “Common Examples”

Motion Sensor (PIR)

Section titled “Motion Sensor (PIR)”
binary_sensor:
  - platform: gpio
    pin:
      number: GPIO4
      mode: INPUT_PULLDOWN
    id: pir_motion
    name: "Motion"
    device_class: motion
    filters:
      - delayed_off: 30s  # Keep motion active for 30s after last trigger


bthome:
  binary_sensors:
    - type: motion
      id: pir_motion
      advertise_immediately: true

Door/Window Contact

Section titled “Door/Window Contact”
binary_sensor:
  - platform: gpio
    pin:
      number: GPIO5
      mode: INPUT_PULLUP
    id: door_contact
    name: "Front Door"
    device_class: door


bthome:
  binary_sensors:
    - type: door
      id: door_contact
      advertise_immediately: true

Window Contact

Section titled “Window Contact”
binary_sensor:
  - platform: gpio
    pin:
      number: GPIO6
      mode: INPUT_PULLUP
    id: window_contact
    name: "Window"
    device_class: window


bthome:
  binary_sensors:
    - type: window
      id: window_contact
      advertise_immediately: true

Smoke Detector

Section titled “Smoke Detector”
binary_sensor:
  - platform: gpio
    pin: GPIO7
    id: smoke_sensor
    name: "Smoke"
    device_class: smoke


bthome:
  binary_sensors:
    - type: smoke
      id: smoke_sensor
      advertise_immediately: true

Water Leak Sensor

Section titled “Water Leak Sensor”
binary_sensor:
  - platform: gpio
    pin:
      number: GPIO8
      mode: INPUT_PULLUP
    id: water_leak
    name: "Water Leak"
    device_class: moisture


bthome:
  binary_sensors:
    - type: moisture_binary
      id: water_leak
      advertise_immediately: true

Vibration Sensor

Section titled “Vibration Sensor”
binary_sensor:
  - platform: gpio
    pin: GPIO9
    id: vibration
    name: "Vibration"
    device_class: vibration
    filters:
      - delayed_off: 5s


bthome:
  binary_sensors:
    - type: vibration
      id: vibration
      advertise_immediately: true

Multiple Binary Sensors

Section titled “Multiple Binary Sensors”

You can broadcast multiple binary sensors from a single device:

binary_sensor:
  - platform: gpio
    pin: GPIO4
    id: motion_sensor
    name: "Motion"


  - platform: gpio
    pin: GPIO5
    id: door_sensor
    name: "Door"


  - platform: gpio
    pin: GPIO6
    id: window_sensor
    name: "Window"


bthome:
  binary_sensors:
    - type: motion
      id: motion_sensor
      advertise_immediately: true
    - type: door
      id: door_sensor
      advertise_immediately: true
    - type: window
      id: window_sensor
      advertise_immediately: true

Immediate Advertising

Section titled “Immediate Advertising”

For binary sensors, advertise_immediately: true is highly recommended. This ensures state changes are broadcast instantly rather than waiting for the next advertising interval.

bthome:
  binary_sensors:
    - type: motion
      id: pir_motion
      advertise_immediately: true  # Instant notification!

Without immediate advertising, there could be a delay of several seconds (depending on your max_interval setting) before Home Assistant sees the state change.

See Also

Section titled “See Also”