VL53L0X (ToF)
Also known as: VL53L0X · GY-VL53L0XV2 · Distance & level
A $2 laser rangefinder: silent, tiny, unbothered by soft surfaces that fool ultrasonics. The mailbox-has-mail, parking-position and desk-height sensor of choice.
As an Amazon Associate and an affiliate we may earn from qualifying purchases. Prices and availability are set by the retailer.
At a glance
⚑ flag an error| Measures | distance |
|---|---|
| Accuracy | Laser time-of-flight to ~2 m, mm-class resolution |
| Interface | I2C @ 0x29 |
| Supply | 3.3 V (modules take 5 V) |
| Battery-viable | Yes (deep-sleep friendly) |
| ESPHome | Native ESPHome component — vl53l0x |
| Typical price | $1-3 (street, varies) |
Compare all sensor modules in one table →
Which one do I buy?
vs VL53L1X: the L1X reaches ~4 m but is external-component-only in ESPHome. vs HC-SR04: ToF is smaller, quieter, more precise; ultrasonic is cheaper and 5 V-friendly.
Clone check
Good for
Gotchas to know
- Range drops on dark or shiny targets and in bright sunlight.
- All boards share 0x29 — multiple units need XSHUT-pin address juggling.
Wiring it up
It's I2C, so it shares two pins with every other I2C sensor you own — chain your climate/light/CO2 stack on one bus and mind the address clashes (this one lives at 0x29). Any ESP32 dev board works.