How to Wire Multiple Switches in a Bathroom

Check the breakers inside your main breaker panel to ensure the breaker that powers the bathroom circuit is in the "off" position.

Test the black wire inside the switch box that connects back to the breaker to confirm the power is disconnected. Touch one wire of a two-wire tester to the tip of the black wire. Touch the remaining wire to any metal located in the switch box. The tester won’t light if the right breaker is off.

Count the number of switches needed in your switch box. Cut a 6-inch piece of 12-gauge solid black electrical wire for each switch, minus one, using wire cutters.

Strip 3/4-inch of insulation from each tip on the 6-inch wires using wire strippers. This creates a pigtail wire for each switch, except for the first switch in the run.

Strip 3/4-inch insulation off each black wire inside the switch box if the wires weren’t stripped during the fixture installation. Every fixture should have a separate black wire inside the box to feed electricity to the fixture through a switch.

Check the white wires located inside the box to ensure they're connected together with a wire connector. If not, strip the insulation off each white wire inside the box and connect them together with a wire connector. Do the same for the bare copper ground wires inside the switch box.

Create a small hook in the black power supply wire that connects back to the breaker with your needle-nose pliers. Wrap the wire around the bottom brass screw on one of the single pole toggle switches.

Choose the black fixture wire in the switch box that connects to the fixture you want the first toggle switch to power. Connect that wire to the top screw on the toggle switch where you attached the power supply wire. Tighten the top screw on the side of the switch to hold the fixture wire to the switch.

Create small hooks in each end of the pigtails with the needle-nose pliers. Attach one pigtail to the bottom screw on the toggle switch holding the power supply wire. Tighten the bottom screw on the switch to hold the pigtail and power supply wires to the switch.

Attach the pigtail from the first switch to the bottom screw on the second switch. Connect another pigtail wire from the bottom screw on the second switch to the bottom screw on the third switch. Continue to attach each additional toggle switch to the previous one with a pigtail. Tighten the bottom screws on all the toggle switches.

Connect each black fixture wire in the switch box to the top screw on each toggle switch. Connect each toggle switch to the switch box with the screws attached to the switches. Install a wall plate over the switches and secure it with the screws provided with the wall plate.

Switch the breaker back to the "on” position to power the fixtures in your bathroom.