General living areas · Receptacle location
Wall-space receptacle spacing
In covered habitable rooms, arrange receptacles so no point measured along the floor line of a wall space is more than 6 ft from a receptacle.
- Covered rooms include living, family, dining, parlor, library, den, sunroom, bedroom, recreation, and similar areas. Wall spaces at least 2 ft wide are generally included.
- Doorways and similar openings affect where each wall space begins and ends. Fixed panels, room dividers, and floor receptacles have additional conditions.
- The rule sets a maximum distance to a receptacle; it does not prescribe one receptacle every 12 ft in every room layout.
- Floor receptacles count only when their location meets the code conditions. Check the full rule for fixed panels, fireplaces, built-ins, and room dividers.
NEC references: 210.52(A)
Kitchen, dining, and pantry · Branch circuit
Small-appliance branch circuits
Provide at least two 20 A small-appliance branch circuits for the covered kitchen, dining, pantry, and similar receptacle outlets.
- These circuits supply the receptacle outlets covered by the small-appliance rules, including applicable countertop outlets and refrigeration equipment.
- They are generally not allowed to supply unrelated outlets. Review the specific exceptions and multiwire-branch-circuit rules before combining loads.
NEC references: 210.11(C)(1), 210.52(B)
Kitchen, dining, and pantry · Receptacle location
Wall countertops and work surfaces
Provide receptacle outlets for covered countertop and work-surface wall spaces that are at least 12 in. wide.
- Arrange outlets so no point along the wall line is more than 24 in. horizontally from a receptacle. This determines placement from the usable wall-line length, not simply the number of cabinets.
- Sink, range, and other breaks can change the measured wall space. Use the complete 210.52(C) text for those boundaries and permitted outlet locations.
NEC references: 210.52(C)(1)
Kitchen, dining, and pantry · Receptacle location
Island and peninsula work surfaces
A receptacle is not generally required on an island or peninsula solely because the work surface is present. If a receptacle is installed, it must meet the 2026 location rules; if none is installed, provide the required provisions for a future receptacle.
- The 2026 rule changes the earlier mandatory outlet-count approach. Do not use the island perimeter alone to calculate a required receptacle count.
- The code limits where an installed receptacle may be placed, including certain countertop-side and below-counter locations. Review the listed exceptions and future-provision requirements before rough-in.
NEC references: 210.52(C)(2), 210.52(C)(3), 210.52(C)(4)
Bathroom · Receptacle location
Bathroom basin receptacle
Provide at least one receptacle outlet within 3 ft of the outside edge of each basin.
- Permitted locations include the adjacent wall or partition, the countertop, or the side or face of the basin cabinet, subject to the placement limits in 210.52(D).
- GFCI and AFCI requirements are separate checks. Use the GFCI/AFCI Requirement Finder for those questions.
NEC references: 210.52(D)
Bathroom · Branch circuit
Bathroom branch circuit
Provide at least one 20 A branch circuit for bathroom receptacle outlets.
- A circuit that supplies receptacles in more than one bathroom is limited to bathroom receptacle outlets.
- A circuit that supplies receptacles in only one bathroom may also supply other equipment outlets in that same bathroom, subject to the code conditions and load limits.
NEC references: 210.11(C)(3)
Laundry area · Receptacle location
Laundry-area receptacle
Provide at least one receptacle outlet in the area designated for laundry equipment.
- The required location can be near the laundry equipment, but the receptacle must remain accessible and satisfy other applicable rules.
- Receptacle placement does not determine the dedicated circuit requirement; see the laundry branch-circuit reference.
NEC references: 210.52(F)
Laundry area · Branch circuit
Laundry branch circuit
Provide at least one 20 A branch circuit for the laundry-area receptacle outlets.
- This circuit is generally not permitted to supply other outlets. Confirm the applicable exceptions and any local amendments.
NEC references: 210.11(C)(2), 210.52(F)
Garage · Receptacle location
Garage receptacles
Provide at least one receptacle outlet for each vehicle bay in an attached garage and in a detached garage supplied with electric power.
- The required receptacle must be no more than 5.5 ft above the floor. Apply the specific measurement and exception conditions in 210.52(G).
- Accessory buildings with electric power and unfinished basement areas have separate outlet requirements under the same section.
NEC references: 210.52(G)
Garage · Branch circuit
Garage branch circuit
Provide at least one 120 V, 20 A branch circuit for the covered dwelling-unit garage receptacle outlets.
- The circuit is generally restricted to garage outlets. Exceptions apply to some outdoor receptacles and certain single-vehicle-bay garages.
- Verify the exact conditions in 210.11(C)(4) and 210.23(B) before assigning other outlets to this circuit.
NEC references: 210.11(C)(4)
Outdoors, balcony, deck, or porch · Receptacle location
Outdoor dwelling-unit receptacles
One-family dwellings require at least one readily accessible outdoor receptacle at the front and at the back of the dwelling, no more than 6.5 ft above grade.
- Balconies, decks, and porches accessible from inside the dwelling have separate receptacle requirements; the outlet is limited to 6.5 ft above the walking surface.
- The outdoor location, height, and access conditions differ by dwelling type. Check 210.52(E) for two-family and multifamily applications.
- GFCI protection is a separate requirement; see the GFCI/AFCI Requirement Finder.
NEC references: 210.52(E)
Basement or accessory building · Receptacle location
Basement and accessory-building receptacles
Provide at least one receptacle outlet in each separate unfinished basement area and in each accessory building supplied with electric power.
- Some receptacles also need to be located for equipment service or other specific uses. This quick reference does not replace those separate requirements.
NEC references: 210.52(G)
Hallway · Receptacle location
Hallway receptacle
A hallway 10 ft or longer, measured along the centerline, requires at least one receptacle outlet.
- Use the full section for hallway measurement and any project-specific layout questions.
NEC references: 210.52(H)
