Electrical Outlet Height Above Kitchen Counter

Standard outlet heights there s no rule mandating the height of the new box so just match the height of the existing one.

Electrical outlet height above kitchen counter. There is no specific height at which receptacles are typically installed behind a countertop. Although there is no set height that an outlet over the kitchen counter must there are limitations as to the maximum height of their placement. Kitchen countertop receptacles cannot be more than 20 inches above the counter if they are intended to be in compliance with the spacing requirement for kitchen counters per national electrical code nec 210 52 c 5. The code for kitchens states that there must be an outlet within a 2 ft.

Outlets can be mounted just above the standard 4 inch countertop backsplash in the wall and up to a height of 18 inches above the countertop surface according to the national electric code. These requirements ensure that there s an available plug for any appliance with a standard length power cord. Since it is not desirable to use an extension cord on these devices most electrical codes require a higher number of electrical outlets above a kitchen counter than anywhere else in the home. According to the national electric code you can mount electric outlets anywhere starting from just above the standard 4 inch kitchen countertop backsplash in the wall and up to 18 inches above the surface of the kitchen countertop.

Height of the electrical outlets. They can be no higher than 20 inches above the counter. The code allows for the installation of electrical outlets inside the cabinets but they must be within 12 inches below the countertop. If outlets are mounted at the maximum height allowable the space allowable between each outlet may shrink requiring more outlets to be installed.

This means there should be an outlet every 4 ft. How far above a kitchen countertop do electrical outlets have to be. Because the electrical work is among the earliest to be done your electrician has to take into account the height of the base cabinets and the thickness of the countertop underlayment adhesive and surface material tile stone laminate etc. The bottom edges of our outlet covers are 3 75 inches above the finished countertop.

The height of the outlet should be high enough to clear the built in backsplash on the countertop but no higher than 18 inches from the top of the countertop work surface.