Receptacle height
- Thread starter jap
- Start date
- Status
- Location
- Massachusetts
18", 48"
zbang
Senior Member
- Location
- Roughly 5346 miles from Earls Court
Aren't recept's supposed to be one hammer-length up 
.
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- Location
- Tennessee NEC:2017
- Occupation
- Semi-Retired Electrician
You shouldn't be so thorough in your answers
18" to what?
bottom of box, center of box, top of box
same questions for the 48"
- Location
- Massachusetts
You shouldn't be so thorough in your answers
18" to what?
bottom of box, center of box, top of box
same questions for the 48"
Center, always to center.
I use various types of boxes so measuring to the top or bottom would result in different heights of the devices.
- Occupation
- Licensed Electrician
We used to suggest 44" off the floor in a kitchen, one height all around the way around for counter top recepts and wall switches.
Custom homes, designers get all kinds of ideas and you do your best to make dreams come true.
Custom homes, designers get all kinds of ideas and you do your best to make dreams come true.
jaylectricity
Senior Member
- Location
- Massachusetts
- Occupation
- licensed journeyman electrician
I used to use these, but it was to the higher nub that set the box out 1/2". 46" for kitchen counter, and 44" for bathroom gfci.
Lately I've been going 19 and 49 to the top 6/32 hole.
- Location
- Massachusetts
I am a firm believer I going to center, less chance of confusion when you have multiple people roughing a building
Besides, that is how most prints specify it.
mopowr steve
Senior Member
- Location
- NW Ohio
- Occupation
- Electrical contractor
I've used
12" to center for receptacles( I know it seems low but works well for desks with back board and the like) unless it needs to be ADA compliant.
48" to center for switches/ garage, basement, utility devices
44" to center for kitchen devices and bathroom vanity recepts
8" to top of range recept box and stay at least 3" away from edge of range space and away from center 8"of range space (works with majority of ranges, will get a odd ball once in a blue moon PITA)
12" to center for receptacles( I know it seems low but works well for desks with back board and the like) unless it needs to be ADA compliant.
48" to center for switches/ garage, basement, utility devices
44" to center for kitchen devices and bathroom vanity recepts
8" to top of range recept box and stay at least 3" away from edge of range space and away from center 8"of range space (works with majority of ranges, will get a odd ball once in a blue moon PITA)
alive wire
Member
- Location
- Phoenix, AZ US
16 inches to the top of the receptacle box, 46 inches to switch boxes and 44 inches for both bathroom receptacles and switches just me though
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James L
Senior Member
- Location
- Kansas Cty, Mo, USA
- Occupation
- Electrician
I try to match existing when I do remodel work.
new work I put receps at hammer height to bottom, switches at 48" to top.
in kitchens I don't measure each box off the floor. I measure one and mark it, then use a 6' level from there around the room. Floors aren't always going to be level, but counters will be. This ensures that kitchen receps are same height above countertops
new work I put receps at hammer height to bottom, switches at 48" to top.
in kitchens I don't measure each box off the floor. I measure one and mark it, then use a 6' level from there around the room. Floors aren't always going to be level, but counters will be. This ensures that kitchen receps are same height above countertops
jaylectricity
Senior Member
- Location
- Massachusetts
- Occupation
- licensed journeyman electrician
Prints? What are those? :lol:
I work for myself, mostly alone so that isn't an issue for me. The prints for the job we're trying to finish up now didn't specify heights on receptacles and switches. Just "to code" for receptacles and locations for switches.
- Location
- Massachusetts
- Occupation
- Licensed Electrician
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Contractor
GerryB
Senior Member
- Location
- woodbridge, ct. USA
I do 48" center, but this modular I'm doing they are at 48 to the top. I was told once if you do 48 to the top it lines up with the sheet rock and they don't fill your box with mud.
48" to the top still puts the box ~ half-way into a horizontal-board joint... so you only get the upper end of the box filled with mud?I do 48" center, but this modular I'm doing they are at 48 to the top. I was told once if you do 48 to the top it lines up with the sheet rock and they don't fill your box with mud.
James L
Senior Member
- Location
- Kansas Cty, Mo, USA
- Occupation
- Electrician
Whenever possible, I don't run a circuit for a range until I see the unit. 8-3/g used to be really standard, but nowadays many of them need 6-3/g.
so through the floor with a surface mounted recep.
so through the floor with a surface mounted recep.
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Contractor
48" to the bottom was standard for switches around here about 30 years ago. Not sure how 43" got started here but I remember using 43" and the architects and designers loved it. I think a customer asked to have them lower. That is pretty much the unspoken rule now.
At 48" the switches often interfered with pictures etc that were hung on the wall so 43" was, IMO a great compromise.
At 48" the switches often interfered with pictures etc that were hung on the wall so 43" was, IMO a great compromise.
- Status