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Kitchen countertop electrical receptacles

Height & spacing of electrical receptacles or "outlets" in countertops:

Requirements for electrical receptacle (outlet or wall plug) spacing, height, and clearances in countertops. In general, electrical receptacles are installed along building walls such that at no point along the wall is the distance to the nearest electrical receptacle more than six feet - i.e. receptacles can be spaced 12 ft. on center.

Details about spacing, height, and clearance for receptacles at or in countertops are provided in this article.

This article series describes how to choose, locate, and wire an electrical receptacle in a home. Electrical receptacles (also called electrical outlets or "plugs" or "sockets") are simple devices that are easy to install, but there are details to get right if you want to be safe.

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Countertop Electrical Outlet Spacing, Location & Height

Maximum distance to an electrical outlet along a kitchen countertop (C) adapted from City of Freemont CA 2016 Electrical Code

Summary: Electrical Outlet Heights & Horizontal Distances along Countertops (kitchen)

Using the City of Fremont, California electrical code (2016, cited below) as an example:

Kitchen Countertop Receptacles, Two Circuits Required.

125 volt, 15, or 20 ampere receptacles used for countertop surface appliances in a dwelling unit kitchen must be supplied by at least two 20 ampere circuits [210-11(c)(1) and 220-16(a)].

These small appliance branch circuits can supply receptacles in the kitchen as well as the pantry, breakfast room, dining room, or other similar areas where food is likely to be served. 

Sketch showing maximum distances to an electrical receptacle along a kitchen countertop, adapted from City of Freemont CA 2016 Electrical Code.

[Click to enlarge any image]

 

U.S. NEC Citations for Receptacles Along Walls/Countertop Areas

210.52(C)(1) Electrical Receptacles Along Wall Counter Spaces.

A receptacle outlet shall be installed at each wall counter space that is 12 inches (300 mm) or wider.

Receptacle outlets shall be installed so that no point along the wall line is more than 24 inches (600 mm) measured horizontally from a receptacle outlet in that space.

Counters that are attached to “stub” or “pony walls” that extend above the countertop shall have the number receptacles installed as required by this section.

210.52 (C)(2) Island Counter Spaces.

At least one receptacle outlet shall be installed at each island counter space with a long dimension of 24 inches (600 mm) or greater and a short dimension of 12 inches (300 mm) or greater.

Where a range top or sink is installed in an island or peninsular counter and the width of a counter behind the range top or sink is less than 12 inches, the range top or sink is considered to divide the island into two separate spaces as defined in 210.52(C)(4).

An island counter is a counter supported only by cabinetry which is not attached to a wall.

210-52(C)(3) Peninsular Counter Spaces.

At least one receptacle outlet shall be installed at each peninsular counter space with a long dimension of 24 inches (600 mm) or greater and a short dimension of 12 inches (300 mm) or greater.

A peninsular countertop is measured from the connecting edge.

A peninsular counter is a counter supported only by cabinetry which is connected to a wall or other cabinet at one end.

210(C)(4) Separate Spaces.

Countertop spaces separated by range tops, refrigerators, or sinks shall be considered as separate countertop spaces in applying the requirements of 210.52(C) (2).

210.52(C) 5) Receptacle Outlet Location.

Receptacle outlets shall be located above, but not more than 20 inches (500 mm above), the countertop.

Receptacle outlets rendered not readily accessible by appliances fastened in place, appliance garages, or appliances occupying dedicated space shall not be considered as these required outlets.

Exception: To comply with the conditions specified in (1) or (2), receptacle outlets shall be permitted to be mounted not more than 12 inches (300 mm) below the countertop.

Receptacles mounted below a countertop in accordance with this exception shall not be located where the countertop extends more than 6 inches (150 mm) beyond its support base.

(1) Construction for the physically impaired.

(2) On island and peninsular countertops where the countertop is flat across its entire surface (no backsplashes, dividers, etc.) and there are no means to mount a receptacle within 20 inches (500 mm) above the countertop, such as an overhead cabinet.

Receptacles can be located below the countertop level only when the conditions noted by the 210.52(C)(5) exceptions are met.

Receptacle outlets are required behind sinks and ranges if the counter space behind the sink or range along a wall is greater then 12 inches wide or greater then 18 inches from the deepest part of the corner mounted sink or range.

Electrical Receptacle Codes

OPINION: (not "code") for minimum distance above the countertop surface to a receptacle bottom: if you can, keep receptacles 6-10 " above a countertop to avoid wetting them during countertop cleaning and to make appliance plugging-in convenient.

OPINION: (not "code") for maximum distance above the kitchen countertop to a receptacle top: I don't like to see receptacles jammed up high tight under the bottom of overhead cabinets. We have more dangling wires and less convenience. 20" is the common maximum receptacle height above the countertop.

While there are spacing / access requirements (six feet) and some fire clearance needs (not over a stove or burner) there are not height restrictions in the code.

There are height recommendations for accessibility, discussed elsewhere in this article series.

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Reader Comments, Questions & Answers About The Article Above

Below you will find questions and answers previously posted on this page at its page bottom reader comment box.

Reader Q&A - also see RECOMMENDED ARTICLES & FAQs

On 2022-08-03 by InspectApedia-911 (mod) - How to install a pop-up kitchen countertop electrical receptacle

@Sean,

How to install a pop-up kitchen countertop electrical receptacle (outlet)

Yes, you can install a pop-up type countertop electrical receptacle or "outlet" along a kitchen countertop surface at proper intervals and thus meet the electrical code requirement.

Pop-up kitchen electrical outlets are products specifically designed for that installation, are waterproof, sit relatively flush with the surface when closed, and are (or must-be) UL-listed.

For example see

HUBBELL RCT COUNTERTOP POP-UP ELECTRICAL OUTLET (RECEPTACLE) INSTRUCTIONS [PDF] Hubbell, Inc. Wiring, 40 Waterview Dr., Shelton CT 06484-4300 USA Web: www.hubbell-wiring.com

HUBBELL RCT COUNTERTOP OUTLET QUICK-INSTALL DIRECTIONS [PDF]

HUBBELL RCT COUNTERTOP OUTLET UL LISTING CERTIFICATION [PDF]

Obligatory warning:

Watch out: in some jurisdictions, electrical wiring must be done by a licensed electrician. In others you may be permitted to do wiring but it may need to be inspected by a local electrical inspector.

In any event if you're not trained in safe and proper electrical wiring you need to know that you could cause a fire or be shocked or killed.

Thank you for a helpful question; let us know if you need more help.

Note:

Thanks to KitchenPowerPopups for providing some of the PDFs we listed above; that company sells a variety of pop-up kitchen countertop outlets (properly, "receptacles") - https://www.kitchenpowerpopups.com/

On 2022-08-03 by Sean

Please help. If I place a pop up outlet in my countertop does this work for the 24" distance requirement? The plug for these is 15" below the countertop in the cabinet.

On 2021-12-22 by Inspectapedia Com Moderator - What is the U.S. electrical code requirement for receptacles at island countertops?

@Darren,

Thanks for a helpful question that I'll re-phrase as

What is the U.S. electrical code requirement for receptacles at island countertops?

With the reclama that it's your local electrical inspector who is the final legal authority, I expect she'll tell you that for each uninterrupted, island countertop 12" or more wide and 24" or more long you are required on electrical receptacle.

Here's an excerpt from the U.S. 2017 NEC:

210.52(C)(2) Island Countertop Spaces. At least one receptacle shall be installed at each island countertop space with a long dimension of 600 mm (24 in.) or greater and a short dimension of 300 mm (12 in.) or greater.

210.52(C)(3) Peninsular Countertop Spaces. At least one receptacle outlet shall be installed at each peninsular countertop long dimension space with a long dimension of 600 mm (24 in.) or greater and a short dimension of 300 mm (12 in.) or greater. A peninsular countertop is measured from the connected perpendicular wall.

or if your jurisdiction has adopted the 2020 NEC

210.52(C)(2) Island and Peninsular Countertops and Work Surfaces.

Receptacle outlets shall be installed in accordance with 210.52(C)(2)(a) and (C)(2)(b).

(a) At least one receptacle outlet shall be provided for the first 0.84 m2 (9 ft2), or fraction thereof, of the countertop or work surface. A receptacle outlet shall be provided for every additional 1.7 m2 (18 ft2), or fraction thereof, of the countertop or work surface.

(b) At least one receptacle outlet shall be located within 600 mm (2 ft) of the outer end of a peninsular countertop or work surface. Additional required receptacle outlets shall be permitted to be located as determined by the installer, designer, or building owner. The location of the receptacle outlets shall be in accordance with 210.52(C)(3).

A peninsular countertop shall be measured from the connected perpendicular wall.

On 2021-12-22 by Darren

I have a kitchen countertop with a raised bar on a stub wall. I'd like to cut the pony wall to the cabinet height and replace the countertop w/it extended 13" beyond the back of the cabinet. The length from the end of the cabinet and the sink is ~55". This would remove the two electrical outlets above the counter.

I assume this would be treated as a peninsular counter. Will I be in code if I move one outlet to the end of the cabinet within 12" of the counter and the overhand is less than 6" and then terminate the 2nd outlet so there would just be the one outlet on that side?

Island countertop pop up receptacle (C) InspectApedia.com Darren

Question: how close can I put a countertop receptacle to a gas cooktop?

202002/24 dean snyder said:

how close can I put a countertop receptacle to a gas cooktop

Reply:

Dean

The electrical codes don't give a required horizontal distance from a range or cooktop in a kitchen to the electrical receptacle,

however even though some electric ranges actually were sold with an 120V receptacle built right into the range's upright back panel,

in my OPINION it is safer to avoid putting an electrical receptacle right over the stove as well as where its cord could be damaged by a stove or range top burner.

You'll want to review other receptacle clearance distances given at

ELECTRICAL RECEPTACLE HEIGHT & CLEARANCES


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