Mounting Height Above Floor Electrical Outlets

If the floor is unfinished add the thickness of the floor.

Mounting height above floor electrical outlets. The national electric code doesn t establish a minimum standard outlet height in the basement or in any other part of the house but the rule of thumb followed by most electricians is to place the outlets 16 to 18 inches above the floor. Wednesday july 11 2018 the national electric code nec now requires a minimum of two exterior receptacles for a home located at the front and back and usually on the wall of the house and they must be gfci protected for shock prevention and have an in use or weatherproof cover. The standard height for wall outlet boxes is about 12 inches from the top of the floor covering to the bottom of the receptacle box or 16 inches to the top of the box. 0 min receptacle height above floors indoors.

15 minimum receptacle height above floor for ada. Min 6 1 2 above grade outdoors. 9 low side reach minimum height above floor for ada. 14 to center of receptacle above floor in canada higher allowed.

Some states such as california require this minimum height. Measure 48 inches from the floor with a tape measure and make a mark on the wall or the stud for the center of the box using a pencil. California also sets a maximum height 48 inches to the top of the box the same as required by the ada. 15 minimum receptacle height to bottom of outlet box california.

Remodeling and upgrading home electrical wiring when upgrading home electrical wiring or remodeling the actual height can be adjusted so the elevations of the switches and outlets will match other existing outlets and switches. A common height for a wall outlet is between 12 to 18 inches aff above finish floor. In rare instances outlets are still installed in baseboards and in the floor with proper box covers. For example in canada the center of the receptacle box must be at least 14 inches above the floor and in california the bottom of the box must be at least 15 inches above the floor.

The national electrical code nec doesn t say much about the proper height of an electrical outlet above the kitchen floor or any floor for that matter. Not everyone follows the same guidelines.