When shopping for light switches and electrical circuits, two terms often come up: gangs and ways. For example, you may see a 1 gang, 2-way switch. It can be quite confusing to figure out what exactly this means. Understanding the differences between them can help when choosing the right setup for your home lighting.

Gangs

A 3 Gang switch on a Double Plate in Bronze and Brushed Brass

Gangs are the number of switches that are installed in a single location, side by side, within the same plate. A gang describes how many switches are grouped together in a single unit, with each controlling a different light or electrical fixture.

For example

• A 1 Gang switch setup controls one light or fixture.
• A 2 Gang switch setup has two separate switches, each controlling a different light or fixture. In a room with multiple light fixtures, a double-gang switch would allow you to control two separate lights from the same wall panel. This setup is common in rooms with overhead lighting and additional fixtures like ceiling fans or sconces.
• If needed, you can have a 3 Gang, 4 Gang, or 6 Gang on a double switch plate, depending on how many switches are needed.

Ways

Rear view of an 3-way switch (Intermediate) Module

Ways refer to how many different locations can control the same light or fixture. A “way" describes the complexity of the circuit and the number of switches that can turn a single light on or off.

For example

• A 1-way switch controls a light from one location.
• A 2-way switch (common in stairways or hallways) allows the same light to be controlled from two different locations.
• A 3-way switch allows control of a light from three locations, and so on. This is commonly known as an Intermediate Switch.

In a large hallway, you might have a 2-way switch system with switches at both ends of the hall, so you can turn the light on when you enter and off when you exit. A more complex setup, like a 3-way switch, would allow you to control the same light from an additional location.

Key Differences:

“Gangs” refer to how many switches are grouped together in a single switch plate, each controlling a different light or device.
“Ways” refer to how many switches control a single light, allowing multiple points of control in a circuit.

Whether you're wiring a single light fixture or designing a more complex lighting system, we hope that this clears up the difference between gangs and ways, and helps you to choose the right switch setup for your home.