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Home assistants can tell you when someone rings the doorbell, when your solar panels are producing power, or when the temperature in your greenhouse drops below freezing.
But to actually get value from all that data, you need a display that puts the right information in front of you at the right time.
We think the challenge is choosing the right display. Some prioritize interactivity with touch controls, while others focus on visibility, battery life, or low power consumption.
Depending on your setup, an e-paper display, touchscreen, Raspberry Pi display, or even a repurposed tablet could be the best fit.
In this guide, we'll look at five of the best home assistant dashboard displays for smart homes, compare their strengths and weaknesses, and help you find the right option for your next project.
What makes a great Home Assistant dashboard display?
The best home assistant dashboard displays give you instant access to the information that matters most while fitting naturally into your smart home setup. Whether you're building a wall-mounted control panel or a low-power status board, a few factors can make a big difference:
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Readability: Can you quickly view information from across the room?
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Power consumption: Will the display stay on 24/7 without wasting energy?
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Touch support: Do you need to control devices directly from the screen?
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Integration: Does it work well with Home Assistant, ESPHome, ESP32, or Raspberry Pi?
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Customization: Can you easily tailor the dashboard to your needs?
With those factors in mind, let's look at some of the best Home Assistant dashboard displays available today.
1. Inkplate 10 - best e-paper display for home assistant dashboards
If your goal is to create a dashboard that stays visible 24/7 while consuming as little power as possible, the Inkplate 10 is one of the best options available. Its large e-paper display makes it ideal for showing weather information, energy usage, sensor readings, and smart home status updates from Home Assistant.
Key specs from this inkplate are:
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9.7" e-paper display
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1200 × 825 resolution
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ESP32-powered
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Wi-Fi connectivity
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Low power consumption
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Home Assistant and ESPHome compatible
Why it's an ideal home assistant?
Unlike traditional LCD displays, the Inkplate 10 uses e-paper technology, allowing information to remain visible even when the display isn't actively refreshing. This makes it perfect for always-on dashboards that don't need constant updates.
Key advantages include:
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Extremely low power consumption
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Easy integration with ESP32-based projects
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Excellent readability in bright environments
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No backlight required
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Information remains visible even during power interruptions
Best use cases you can try this out:
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Wall-mounted Home Assistant dashboards
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Weather monitoring displays
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Energy consumption dashboards
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Smart home status boards
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Solar production monitoring
Pros that you might consider:
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Very low power usage
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Excellent visibility in daylight
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Large display area
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No screen burn-in
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Ideal for always-on dashboards
Cons to have in mind:
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Slower refresh rates than LCD displays
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Not designed for frequent animations
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No touchscreen functionality
2. Inkplate 6COLOR - best color e-paper display for Home Assistant
For users who want more visual detail in their dashboards, the Inkplate 6COLOR brings color e-paper technology to Home Assistant projects. The added colors make charts, graphs, weather icons, and device statuses easier to interpret at a glance.
Key specifications
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5.85" color e-paper display
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ESP32-powered
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Wi-Fi connectivity
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Battery-friendly operation
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Multiple color support
Why users choose color e-paper
Color helps highlight important information without sacrificing the low-power benefits of e-paper. This can make dashboards feel more modern while still remaining highly efficient.
Best dashboard layouts:
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Weather dashboards
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Energy monitoring displays
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Smart home overview screens
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Calendar and schedule boards
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Environmental monitoring dashboards
Pros
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Color improves readability
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Low power consumption
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Great for visual dashboards
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ESP32-based platform
Cons
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Smaller screen than Inkplate 10
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Slower refresh rates
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Limited color palette compared to LCD screens
3. Raspberry Pi touchscreen display - best interactive Home Assistant dashboard
If you want a fully interactive dashboard that behaves like a tablet, a Raspberry Pi touchscreen display is one of the most popular choices among Home Assistant users.
Key specifications
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Touchscreen interface
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Raspberry Pi compatibility
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Supports full Home Assistant dashboards
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Real-time updates
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Wide range of display sizes available
Why it's popular
A Raspberry Pi touchscreen provides the complete Home Assistant experience directly on the wall. Users can interact with controls, adjust settings, view cameras, and launch automations without needing another device.
Fully interactive dashboard experience
Unlike e-paper displays that focus on status information, touchscreen displays are designed for active interaction and control.
Pros
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Fully interactive
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Real-time updates
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Supports complex dashboards
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Large Home Assistant community support
Cons
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Higher power consumption
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Requires constant power
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More expensive than some DIY alternatives
4. Tablet dashboard (iPad or Android tablet) - easiest home assistant dashboard setup
For many smart home enthusiasts, an old tablet is the quickest and easiest way to create a Home Assistant dashboard.
Key specifications:
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Built-in touchscreen
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Wi-Fi connectivity
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No additional hardware required
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Native browser support
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Available in multiple screen sizes
Why many beginners start here?
Most users already have an unused tablet at home. With a simple wall mount and browser configuration, it can become a dedicated Home Assistant control center within minutes.
Mounting options include:
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Magnetic wall mounts
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Flush-mounted installations
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Desktop stands
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Smart home control stations
Pros
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Fast setup
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Fully interactive
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No coding required
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High-quality displays
Cons
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Battery degradation over time
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Higher power consumption
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Not purpose-built for permanent installations
5. Inkplate 6FLICK - best low-power touchscreen dashboard
The Inkplate 6FLICK combines the efficiency of e-paper technology with touchscreen functionality, offering a unique balance between visibility and interactivity.
Key specifications you should consider:
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5.85" e-paper touchscreen
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ESP32-powered
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Capacitive touch support
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Wi-Fi connectivity
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Low power operation
Combining touch functionality with e-paper
Most e-paper displays focus on passive information display. The Inkplate 6FLICK adds touchscreen interaction, allowing users to trigger actions, switch screens, or interact with smart home controls while maintaining excellent battery efficiency.
Best smart home use cases include:
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Room control panels
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Smart lighting dashboards
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HVAC control screens
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Status and notification displays
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Home Assistant quick-access panels
Pros
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Low power consumption
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Touchscreen functionality
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Always-visible display
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ESP32 platform flexibility
Cons
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Smaller screen than Inkplate 10
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Slower refresh than LCD alternatives
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Limited for highly dynamic dashboards
E-paper vs. LCD displays for home assistant dashboards
Both e-paper and LCD displays can work well with Home Assistant, but they serve different purposes. E-paper displays prioritize visibility and energy efficiency, while LCD displays focus on responsiveness and interactivity. Choosing the right option depends on how you plan to use your dashboard.
Visibility comparison
E-paper displays are designed to mimic the appearance of printed paper, making them easy to read in bright rooms and even direct sunlight. LCD displays offer vibrant colors and sharper visuals but can be harder to read in certain lighting conditions due to glare and reflections.
Power consumption comparison
This is where e-paper displays have a significant advantage. Since they only consume power when refreshing the screen, they are ideal for dashboards that display information throughout the day. LCD displays require constant power to keep the screen active and illuminated.
Maintenance comparison
E-paper displays generate very little heat and can operate continuously for long periods with minimal power requirements. LCD displays may require charging, power management, or screen timeout configurations, especially when used with tablets.
Which type should you choose?
If your goal is to build an always-on dashboard for weather updates, energy monitoring, or smart home status information, an e-paper display is often the better choice. If you want a highly interactive dashboard with touch controls, animations, camera feeds, and real-time updates, an LCD display will likely be a better fit.
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Feature |
E-paper |
LCD |
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Power usage |
Extremely low |
Moderate to high |
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Readability |
Excellent in bright environments |
Excellent indoors, can suffer from glare |
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Touch support |
Available on select models |
Common |
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Refresh speed |
Slower |
Instant |
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Outdoor use |
Excellent |
Limited in direct sunlight |
Build your home assistant dashboard with Soldered
The best Home Assistant dashboard display ultimately depends on what you want your smart home dashboard to do. If you need a fully interactive control panel, a touchscreen display or tablet may be the right choice. If your goal is to create an always-on dashboard that displays key information while consuming as little power as possible, e-paper displays offer a compelling alternative.
For makers and smart home enthusiasts, displays like the Inkplate 10, Inkplate 6COLOR, and Inkplate 6FLICK combine the flexibility of ESP32 with the advantages of e-paper technology, making them ideal for weather stations, energy monitoring dashboards, smart home status boards, and countless other Home Assistant projects.
At Soldered, we've built the Inkplate ecosystem to help makers create smart home dashboards that are efficient, customizable, and easy to integrate with platforms like Home Assistant, ESPHome, and MicroPython. Whether you're monitoring energy usage, displaying sensor data, or building a dedicated wall dashboard, there's an Inkplate display designed for the job.
Whether you're building your first dashboard or upgrading an existing setup, choosing the right display can completely change how you interact with your smart home. With the right hardware and a little creativity, you can build a dashboard that's perfectly tailored to your home, your devices, and your daily routine.
Home assistant dashboards: FAQs
What is a Home Assistant dashboard?
A Home Assistant dashboard is a customizable interface that lets you view and control smart home devices from a single screen. You can display information such as weather conditions, energy usage, security camera feeds, sensor readings, and automation controls.
What is the best Home Assistant dashboard display?
The best Home Assistant dashboard display depends on your needs. E-paper displays like the Inkplate 10 are ideal for low-power, always-on dashboards, while touchscreen displays and tablets offer more interactive control.
Can I use an e-paper display for Home Assistant?
Yes. E-paper displays are a popular choice for Home Assistant dashboards because they consume very little power, remain visible 24/7, and work well for displaying weather data, energy monitoring, and smart home status information.
What are the best Home Assistant dashboard ideas?
Popular Home Assistant dashboard ideas include weather dashboards, energy monitoring dashboards, solar production trackers, family information boards, security monitoring screens, and smart home control panels.
Are Home Assistant dashboard templates worth using?
Yes. Home Assistant dashboard templates can significantly reduce setup time and provide inspiration for organizing sensors, automations, and smart home controls in a clean, user-friendly layout.
Can I create a Home Assistant weather dashboard?
Absolutely. Home Assistant can combine data from local sensors, weather services, and smart devices to create a dedicated weather dashboard that displays forecasts, temperature, humidity, air quality, and more.
What is the Home Assistant Energy Dashboard?
The Home Assistant Energy Dashboard is a built-in feature that helps users monitor electricity consumption, solar production, battery storage, and energy costs. It provides detailed insights into how energy is being used throughout the home.
Can I use a tablet as a Home Assistant dashboard?
Yes. Many users repurpose old Android tablets or iPads as dedicated Home Assistant dashboards. Tablets offer touchscreen controls, real-time updates, and a simple setup process.
How do I create a custom Home Assistant dashboard?
You can create a custom Home Assistant dashboard using the Lovelace UI editor. This allows you to add custom cards, themes, layouts, and integrations to display the information most relevant to your smart home.
What is Home Assistant Lovelace?
Lovelace is Home Assistant's dashboard system that allows users to build fully customizable interfaces without extensive coding. It supports custom themes, widgets, cards, and dashboard layouts tailored to specific smart home setups.
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