Minimum outlet height above countertop

6 years ago

We are remodeling a kitchen. On one wall, we have counter tops that are 36″ above the floor. On the other side, facing the counter top will be a bar. So the bar and counter top share opposite sides of a stub wall. The recommended height for breakfast bars seems to be 42″. That means there is 6″ from the top of the bar to the top of the counter. If I take away the 1 3/4″ that makes up the bar, the 1 1/2″ that is the top of the stub wall, that leaves 2 3/4″ in which to squeeze an outlet box above the counter. Outlets are about 2 1/4″ wide if placed horizontally, leaving about 1/2″ above the counter. Is that far enough above the counter?

Thanks,
Joe

Featured Answer

greg_2015

6 years ago

You're saying that you have a two tiered island (or peninsula) like the photo below and you want to know if there's enough room to have receptacles on the little tiny vertical area?

I don't think there's any requirement that the receptacles are up off the counter, so if you like the look then go ahead.

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Comments (7)

PRO
BeverlyFLADeziner
6 years ago
Hidden outlets under the cabinets
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Joe Boldt
Original Author
6 years ago
greg_2015. Yes, that's exactly the situation. I can find all sorts of information about outlet spacing, but nothing about height above the counter.
Joe Boldt
Original Author
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
BeverlyFLADeziner, there are no upper cabinets though.
Ron Natalie
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
There's no minimum height as far as the code. The only thing that's pretty much forbidden is putting them face up on the countertop (well, there are some that are even approved for that, but they're uncommon).

So your big issue is making sure you can fit the box there, the receptacle itself and make sure the faceplate fits. In my kitchen, I had to trim the faceplates a tad to get them to fit between the window and the backsplash.

If you have the little rise like the last photo, you can put them there. If not you're going to have to install them under the countertop: no further than 12" below the countertop and not under more than a 6" overhang.
Joe Boldt thanked Ron Natalie
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
IMO bar height counters are dated do the same height counter for both main and bar and install an outlet under the counter edge that is what I have in a panel just wide enough to house the receptacle added tot he cabinets in the island.
Ron Natalie
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
I should also point out that there's only ONE receptacle required on the entire island, It's preferably placed above the countertop (if there's a place to put it), but as I said, it can be up to 12" below the countertop provided the overhang is less than 6" where it is located.

On the island in my last house, I had one high up on each end (either of which could qualify as the required outlet). I also put one in the center of the island on the side where the bar stools are. There's too much of an overhang on mine for that to be legal, but that doesn't mean it doesn't come in handy for people plugging in laptops or phones when they're seated on that side.

And yes, we went round and round on whether to make our counters (they're large peninsulas rather than islands) one level or two. For the one in the kitchen, we tended to agree with Patricia. Flat expanses are better for both cooking and entertaining. We just got counter-height stools there. I did go with a stepped counter for my downstairs bar which I like very much (and yes the receptacles are in the riser between the "bartender" side and the stool sitters side.