Somfy Sonesse 40 WireFree Zigbee (Li-ion) (USB-C) (1245993)
Somfy Oximo LT50 525A2 RTS 120V 3-Wire Motor (legacy 1033035) (1033402)
Somfy Glydea Ultra 35 Wired Drapery Motor, No Plug (1003153)
Somfy Sonesse 40 409R2 Zigbee 3.0 Motor (9Nm, 14rpm, fast connector) (1245922)
Somfy Sonesse Ultra 50 506A2 RH RTS 120V 3-Wire Motor (Round Head) (1002564)
Somfy Sonesse 40 406A2 Zigbee 3.0 Motor (6Nm, 24rpm) (1245921)
Somfy Sonesse 40 404S2 Zigbee 3.0 Motor (4Nm, 36rpm) (1245920)
Somfy Sonesse 40 RTS 406A2 RH with Fast Connector (1240381)
How to choose a Somfy shade motor
Settle the control type first
RTS is Somfy's 433.420 MHz wireless platform and needs no control wiring, which is why it dominates retrofits. Zigbee 3.0 runs at 2.450 GHz, reports position back two ways, and meshes through mains-powered devices, with a TaHoma hub for app and voice control. RS485/SDN is the wired, addressable system built for commercial facades. Standard 3- and 4-wire motors run from a hardwired switch and carry no radio at all.
Changing this later means replacing the motor, so decide it before you think about torque.
Then match torque to the shade
Torque follows fabric weight, tube diameter and drop. Somfy encodes it in the model code: a 506S2 delivers 6 Nm, a 510S2 delivers 10 Nm, a 525A2 delivers 25 Nm, and a 6100R2 delivers 100 Nm. Interior roller shades usually sit between 2 and 10 Nm. Exterior awnings and rolling shutters start near 25 Nm and climb from there.
Check the tube before you order
Minimum internal tube diameter is the specification that stops jobs on site. A Sonesse 30 needs 1.13 in, a Sonesse 40 needs 1.46 in, the LT50 platform needs 1.85 in, and LT60 needs 2.37 in. Crowns and drives do not cross between LT50 and LT60, so a platform change means new hardware as well as a new motor.
Head type is a per-part specification
Somfy uses star, round and square heads, and the head cannot be inferred from the family or the torque. Two motors of the same size and rating can take different brackets. Every listing here names its head type, and the bracket has to match it.
Quiet comes from the gearbox
The ULTRA range is where the noise figures drop. A wired Sonesse ULTRA 506A2 runs at 38 dB against 45 dB for the standard 506S2, and it beats every battery motor in the catalog. Battery power does not make a motor quiet.
Related guides:How to size a Somfy shade motorSomfy motor model codes explainedLT50 vs LT60 tube and torque
Common questions
How do I work out what torque I need?
Torque depends on fabric weight, shade width and the radius of the roll when the shade is up. A wide blackout shade needs far more than a narrow solar screen of the same width. Size the load, add margin, then pick the smallest motor that covers it.
What do the numbers in a Somfy model code mean?
The first digit is the platform and the digits after it are the torque in newton-metres. A 506S2 delivers 6 Nm, a 525A2 delivers 25 Nm, and a 6100R2 delivers 100 Nm. The letter is the speed band and the trailing digit is the generation.
Can I change a motor's control protocol later?
No. RTS, Zigbee, SDN and wired are fixed at manufacture. Changing protocol means changing the motor, which is why it is worth settling before you order. A plug-in RTS receiver can add radio to a wired motor as a partial workaround.
Should I oversize the motor to be safe?
Go up one step when a shade sits on the boundary between two ratings. The price gap is small next to pulling a stalled motor out of a finished tube. Going several steps up is wasted, and on larger platforms it forces a bigger tube.
Which Somfy motors are quietest?
The ULTRA builds. A standard Sonesse 506S2 is rated 45.1 dB where its ULTRA equivalent 506A2 is rated 38 dB, and the ULTRA 504A8 drops to 35 dB. Quiet comes from the gearbox, not the power source, so battery motors are not automatically quieter.
Shade Direct. Install Faster.
At Shade Motors Direct, we understand what installers need because we are installers. As a trusted distributor of Somfy motors, remotes, and controls, we provide high-quality automation solutions with fast shipping and expert support. We keep products in stock, offer competitive pricing, and make ordering simple, so you can focus on getting the job done. Whether you're outfitting a single shade or automating an entire home, we’re here to ensure you get the right products, on time, every time.


