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Home / Code Guides / Outlet Spacing

Receptacle Spacing Rules — The 6/12 Rule, Countertops & Walls

The NEC’s receptacle-placement logic is simple: no point along a wall should be far from a plug, and countertops get their own denser rules. It all lives in NEC 210.52.

DWELLING RECEPTACLE LOCATIONS (IRC 2021)D17A · HALLWAY (PLAN)centerline10 ft or morelength: at least one receptacleB · LAVATORY (ELEVATION)basin36"from basin edge12" MAXbelow topC · OUTDOORS AND GARAGE6 ft 6 in MAXabove grade5.5 ft MAXabove floorexterior wallgarage vehicle bayLOCATIONREQUIREMENTIRC 2021Hallway10 ft or more in length: at least one receptacle§E3901.10Foyerfoyer over 60 sq ft: receptacle in each wall space 3 ft or wider§E3901.11Bathroomwithin 36" of each lavatory; 12" MAX below basin top§E3901.6Laundryappliance receptacle within 6 ft of the appliance location§E3901.5Outdoorsfront and back of dwelling, 6 ft 6 in MAX above grade§E3901.7Garageeach vehicle bay, 5.5 ft MAX above the floor§E3901.9HVAC equipmentservice receptacle within 25 ft, same level§E3901.12Required outletsoutlets over 5.5 ft above the floor do not count as required receptacles§E3901.1Living areas, bedroomsliving areas and bedrooms: see §E3901.2§E3901.2The living-area spacing rule in §E3901.2 is not reproduced here; verify with the current edition.Drawn to scale at the limits shownDWELLING RECEPTACLES · IRC 2021 §E3901.1 · §E3901.5 to §E3901.12
Receptacle spacing in dwelling units — NEC 2023 210.52.Open full diagram →
RequirementModel Code StandardSection
General wall spacingNo point along the floor line more than 6 ft from a receptacle — i.e., receptacles at least every 12 ft of wallNEC 210.52(A)(1)
Short wallsAny wall space 2 ft or wider needs a receptacleNEC 210.52(A)(2)
CountertopsReceptacle for every countertop space 12 in. or wider; no point along the wall line more than 24 in. from a receptacleNEC 210.52(C)(1)
Islands & peninsulasUnder the 2023 NEC, island/peninsula receptacles became optional-but-provisioned (junction box required); under 2017/2020 rules at least one receptacle was required per islandNEC 210.52(C)(2)
Small-appliance circuitsAt least two 20-amp small-appliance branch circuits serving kitchen/dining receptaclesNEC 210.52(B), 210.11(C)(1)
BathroomsReceptacle within 3 ft of each basin edge, on a 20-amp circuitNEC 210.52(D), 210.11(C)(3)
LaundryAt least one receptacle for laundry areas on a dedicated 20-amp circuitNEC 210.52(F), 210.11(C)(2)
OutdoorsOne receptacle front and back of each dwelling, max 6-1/2 ft above grade, plus balconies/decks/porchesNEC 210.52(E)

Worth knowing

  • Doorways, fireplaces, and fixed panels break wall space; sliding-door glass counts as wall space.
  • The 6-ft measurement follows the wall line, around corners — a lamp cord should reach a plug without crossing an opening.
  • Countertop receptacles may not be installed face-up in the counter and, per recent cycles, are measured to the wall line, with limits on below-counter mounting.
  • Which edition applies is a state adoption question — island rules in particular changed materially in the 2023 NEC.

Common questions

What does the code say about general wall spacing for Outlet Spacing?

No point along the floor line more than 6 ft from a receptacle — i.e., receptacles at least every 12 ft of wall. (NEC 210.52(A)(1))

What does the code say about short walls for Outlet Spacing?

Any wall space 2 ft or wider needs a receptacle. (NEC 210.52(A)(2))

What does the code say about countertops for Outlet Spacing?

Receptacle for every countertop space 12 in. or wider; no point along the wall line more than 24 in. from a receptacle. (NEC 210.52(C)(1))

Adopted edition by state

Base-code year from BuildSpec’s adoption records. States often amend the base code, and your city or county may differ, so confirm with your building department.

This guide is BuildSpec’s own summary, not code text. It cites the 2021 International Residential Code and the 2023 National Electrical Code as model standards. The IRC 2021 text itself is in the Code Library for signed-in members; BuildSpec publishes no NEC text, which is at nfpa.org.Neither is an adoption record: your state may be on a different edition with amendments — check your jurisdiction page or get an Address Report.
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