I pulled wire for several years and primarily worked residential. I only ran 12 in the kitchen, bath, dining and outside outlets along with the garage and certain utilities. All lighting circuits were 14. Each bedroom was in 14 but each had a separate circuit. Hallways were tied in main bath lights and fart fans. Smokes were also picked up with general lighting circuit. Why run 12 everywhere when there is a significant price difference between 12 and 14. If you figure in a conservative load calculation you will be fine. Always remember to rate your circuit to 80% of full load. Example: 15 amp circuit should be designed to run 12 amps continuously. 20 amps kitchen,bath,dining,or garage figure 16 amps continuous amp draw. If I keep going. I might as well layout a typical 2000 square foot ranch with 3 car garage and unfinished basement.... just Kidding. This is a very basic description and always refer to your state and local codes. NEC etc...
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How much wire goes into a new house?
- Thread starter homebuilt burner
- Start date
MushCreek
Well-known member
Wire is cheap compared to paying a pro to do it. Our house is about 1400 square feet, one bedroom and three baths, and I used over 2000 feet of NM, but that includes three circuits in the basement for expansion when I finish it. I'm not a pro, and probably put in too many separate circuits, but that's the way I like it. I have 25 circuits. All of my outlets are 20A, with 12 cable, and all of the lighting is 15A an 14 cable. Just the kitchen alone is 8 circuits- 3 for outlets, and separate ones for dishwasher, range, fridge, microwave, and lighting. I could easily run all of the house lighting on one circuit as I have LED lighting, but I like to have separate zones so you're not totally in the dark if a breaker trips.
Future plans are to add a bedroom in the basement (it already has a bath), but I have enough leftovers to finish it up.
Future plans are to add a bedroom in the basement (it already has a bath), but I have enough leftovers to finish it up.
This is like asking how big a hole to dig for a tree. Lots of options and not one is really wrong.
Who is living in the house? Old people or young? That could change the approach. If this is going to be the primary residence for a younger couple then run a circuit for each room for outlets. Don't skimp on outlets. Adding one later will be costlier. USB charging duplex outlets in key locations makes things tidier. Run enough 240v outlets. Finishing garage in drywall is nice and clean. Bright paint will make you want to be there. Sub panel in basement with room for future circuits will make it easy to make additions.
All of our kitchen appliances were specd to have separate circuit.
1 Ft/sqft would likely set you up well. Do you need that? You could get by with less but is that the goal?
Sounds like a fun project.
Who is living in the house? Old people or young? That could change the approach. If this is going to be the primary residence for a younger couple then run a circuit for each room for outlets. Don't skimp on outlets. Adding one later will be costlier. USB charging duplex outlets in key locations makes things tidier. Run enough 240v outlets. Finishing garage in drywall is nice and clean. Bright paint will make you want to be there. Sub panel in basement with room for future circuits will make it easy to make additions.
All of our kitchen appliances were specd to have separate circuit.
1 Ft/sqft would likely set you up well. Do you need that? You could get by with less but is that the goal?
Sounds like a fun project.
Last edited:
reader2580
Well-known member
I have a 1300 square foot rambler (2,600 square feet with basement). I've easily used up 1,000 feet of wire just making upgrades and repairs since I bought the house in Sept 2014.
I had a house built in 2001. I wired the house with the help of my father. I figured I probably spent almost as much on electrical as the bid the builder got, but the builder was going to do bare minimum. My father and I went well beyond minimums by adding more outlets in many areas and such.
I have no idea how much wire I ended up using in that house.
I had a house built in 2001. I wired the house with the help of my father. I figured I probably spent almost as much on electrical as the bid the builder got, but the builder was going to do bare minimum. My father and I went well beyond minimums by adding more outlets in many areas and such.
I have no idea how much wire I ended up using in that house.
OP
homebuilt burner
Well-known member
Thank you for all your advice. Some of the ideas I had not even considered, but most are right in line with what I was already thinking. As with anything, there are a lot of different ways to run electrical and still be well within the code.