diff --git a/homeassistant/components/modbus/__init__.py b/homeassistant/components/modbus/__init__.py
index acb31a7a730..f1f1e656805 100644
--- a/homeassistant/components/modbus/__init__.py
+++ b/homeassistant/components/modbus/__init__.py
@@ -282,7 +282,9 @@ SERVICE_WRITE_COIL_SCHEMA = vol.Schema(
         vol.Optional(ATTR_HUB, default=DEFAULT_HUB): cv.string,
         vol.Required(ATTR_UNIT): cv.positive_int,
         vol.Required(ATTR_ADDRESS): cv.positive_int,
-        vol.Required(ATTR_STATE): cv.boolean,
+        vol.Required(ATTR_STATE): vol.Any(
+            cv.boolean, vol.All(cv.ensure_list, [cv.boolean])
+        ),
     }
 )
 
diff --git a/homeassistant/components/modbus/modbus.py b/homeassistant/components/modbus/modbus.py
index 554b7bfb85e..f55e77c9119 100644
--- a/homeassistant/components/modbus/modbus.py
+++ b/homeassistant/components/modbus/modbus.py
@@ -93,7 +93,10 @@ def modbus_setup(
         address = service.data[ATTR_ADDRESS]
         state = service.data[ATTR_STATE]
         client_name = service.data[ATTR_HUB]
-        hub_collect[client_name].write_coil(unit, address, state)
+        if isinstance(state, list):
+            hub_collect[client_name].write_coils(unit, address, state)
+        else:
+            hub_collect[client_name].write_coil(unit, address, state)
 
     # register function to gracefully stop modbus
     hass.bus.async_listen_once(EVENT_HOMEASSISTANT_STOP, stop_modbus)