Aziz Bench

VL53L0X I²C address

The VL53L0X (time-of-flight distance sensor) ships with the I²C address 0x29; it can be changed, as explained below.

I²C address (7-bit)
0x29
default address, can be changed
Write / read (8-bit)
0x52 / 0x53
Binary
0101001
Shares an address with
2 devices
Where it sits on the bus its addresses reserved
0123456789ABCDEF
00000102030405060708090A0B0C0D0E0F
10101112131415161718191A1B1C1D1E1F
20202122232425262728292A2B2C2D2E2F
30303132333435363738393A3B3C3D3E3F
40404142434445464748494A4B4C4D4E4F
50505152535455565758595A5B5C5D5E5F
60606162636465666768696A6B6C6D6E6F
70707172737475767778797A7B7C7D7E7F

How to set the address

It starts at 0x29 at every power-up; a new address can be set over I²C. To use two, hold one in reset with XSHUT while you change the other’s address.

Devices that use the same addresses

Two devices on the same bus can’t answer on the same address. These modules from our list also use 0x29:

DeviceWhat it isShared address
BNO0559-axis absolute orientation sensor with fusion0x29
TCS34725RGB colour sensor0x29

If two of them end up on the same address, move one with its address pin, put one behind a TCA9548A multiplexer (0x70–0x77), or use a second I²C bus: the ESP32, ESP32-S3 and RP2040 have two I²C controllers (the ESP32-C3 has one).

Check your whole bus →Add the VL53L0X and your other modules: the checker finds conflicts, suggests free addresses and sizes the pull-ups.

7-bit and 8-bit address

I²C addresses are 7 bits long. Some datasheets and libraries write them as 8-bit numbers, with the read/write bit added on the right: that is why the same chip can appear as 0x29 or 0x52. Arduino’s Wire library and ESPHome use the 7-bit form.

7-bitBinary8-bit write8-bit read
0x2901010010x520x53

Check that it answers

Upload this sketch with the VL53L0X wired to SDA and SCL: it tries every address the chip can use and prints the one that answers. On an ESP32 the default pins are GPIO21 (SDA) and GPIO22 (SCL); on an Arduino Uno, A4 and A5.

#include <Wire.h>

const byte ADDRS[] = {0x29};

void setup() {
  Serial.begin(115200);
  Wire.begin();
  for (byte a : ADDRS) {
    Wire.beginTransmission(a);
    if (Wire.endTransmission() == 0) {
      Serial.print("VL53L0X answers at 0x");
      if (a < 0x10) Serial.print('0');
      Serial.println(a, HEX);
      return;
    }
  }
  Serial.println("No answer: check the wiring");
}

void loop() {}

In ESPHome the bus is scanned at boot (scan: true is the default): the log lists every address that answers.

i2c:
  sda: GPIO21
  scl: GPIO22
  scan: true

Pull-up resistors

SDA and SCL need pull-up resistors to the supply. Many breakout boards already carry them, often 4.7 kΩ or 10 kΩ, and with several boards on the bus they add up in parallel. The I²C checker works out the allowed range for your bus voltage and speed.

Frequently asked questions

What is the I2C address of the VL53L0X?

0x29 by default. It starts at 0x29 at every power-up; a new address can be set over I²C. To use two, hold one in reset with XSHUT while you change the other’s address.

Can I use more than one VL53L0X on the same bus?

Yes, once each one has its own address.

Why doesn’t the VL53L0X show up in an I2C scan?

Check, in this order: SDA and SCL not swapped; ground shared between the boards; pull-up resistors on SDA and SCL; the module powered at the voltage it is made for; and that your code uses the 7-bit address (0x29), not the 8-bit one (0x52).

Addresses checked against the VL53L0X datasheet.