The Adafruit LIS3DH is a popular, low-power triple-axis accelerometer breakout packed with features typically found only on higher-end sensors. With selectable measurement ranges, multiple interface options, and built-in motion detection, it's one of the most versatile accelerometers available at this price point.
This breakout includes an onboard 3.3 V regulator and level shifting, so it works safely with both 3.3 V and 5 V systems — no external level shifter needed. It communicates over I2C or SPI, with an address selection pin allowing two sensors on the same I2C bus.
Key Features
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Triple-Axis Sensing – 10-bit precision across X, Y, and Z axes
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Selectable Range – ±2g, ±4g, ±8g, or ±16g measurement scaling
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Dual Interface – I2C (two possible addresses) and SPI support
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Ultra-Low Power – As low as 2 µA current draw from the chip
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Configurable Data Rates – From 1 Hz to 5 kHz
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Built-in Detection – Tap, double-tap, orientation, and freefall events via interrupt output
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3 Additional ADC Inputs – Readable over I2C for extra analogue sensing
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3.3 V and 5 V Compatible – Onboard regulator and level shifting for Arduino, Raspberry Pi, Feather, and more
Ideal For
- Motion and orientation sensing projects
- Tap and gesture detection
- Wearable electronics and activity tracking
- Freefall and impact detection systems
Package Contents
- 1× Adafruit LIS3DH Triple-Axis Accelerometer Breakout (assembled and tested)
- 1× Strip of 0.1" header pins
Resources
Jargon buster
Plain-language definitions for the technical terms used above.
- ADC
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An analogue-to-digital converter reads a changing voltage and turns it into a number the microcontroller can use. It matters when connecting analogue sensors such as light, sound, or variable-resistor sensors.
- breakout
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A breakout board carries a small or fine-pitched component and brings its connections out to standard, breadboard- and header-friendly pins. Describing a part as a breakout means it can be wired into a project without soldering directly to the component's tiny contacts.
- I2C
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I2C is a two-wire communication bus used by many sensors and small modules. It matters because several I2C devices can share the same two wires, but each device needs a compatible address and your controller must support I2C.
- LIS3DH
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A specific low-power 3-axis accelerometer chip made by STMicroelectronics. Knowing the chip part number helps you find the correct datasheet, libraries, wiring details, and limits such as its safe voltage range.
- Motion detection
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The ability to sense that something has moved, either by comparing successive camera frames or by using a dedicated sensor such as a PIR (infrared) or radar module. When a product lists motion detection, movement can be used as a trigger so a system only acts or records when there is activity rather than running continuously.
- SPI
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A fast serial communication bus often used for displays, memory cards, and sensors. It matters because SPI devices need specific pins for clock and data, plus a separate chip-select line for each device.