Outlets - How far up the wall?

[hades02]

I did a search and can't find my answer. I know that code for residential receptacles
is 12 in center from the floor minimum. My question is, what does
everyone recommend for the garage for outlet height?

 

[Orangestang]

I have all mine at 48" center, works good for me and my workbench I built is 40" to the top.

 

[Submarine_Sailor]

All of the ones I put in (other than on the workbench) are at 48" as well. Makes them at a good useful height. I have put two in the ceiling for lighting, but I feel that doesn't count here.

 

[hades02]

Thank you both for your inputs. I was looking some of the garages in the gallery and
they all seem to have the outlets at 48".

 

[Gooch]

48 and a half to the top, only have to cut one sheet of drywall.

 

[rsanter]

4 ft from the ground is best
you may also want to put a few up twards the ceiling
also put a few in the ceiling for drop lights and drop cords

bob

 

[irishtom]

I have 18" for undercounter and housekeeping outlets, 48" for over counter and 80" for clocks, mounted TV, etc.

 

[2LTim]

I like 52" to the center. That way, if you stand 4 X 8 sheets of material against the wall, they don't cover the outlets.

 

[Killer95Stang]

I put two at 18" by the garage door; one on each side. This makes it nice when powering vacuums and polishers out in the driveway.

 

[badinf]

Mine are at 52 on center, works good for me. I also have some installed at the top of walls in case I wanted to mount fans or whatever up high.

 

[marty_p]

Thx, 2LTim & badinf, for the 52" at bottom suggestion for those temporary (LMAO) leaning sheets of 4x8 materials we'll eventually get around to using.........

G' luck, hades02, and keep us posted!

 

[Shocker]

48" from the floor for mine. Nice and convenient as well as protecting from any explosive sparks and fumes of any kind.

 

[ddawg16]

All good answers and for different reasons.....

A few points to consider....

The 'average' workbench is 36" high....you typically want the outlet to be at least 6-12" above that....hence, 48"

On the wall where there is no workbench....being above 48" is a good idea so as to clear a 4x8 sheet of something against the wall.

 

[flatheadguy]

Phew!! Without any outside advice, I put all my shop outlets at 48 inches from the florr. Sometimes we get lucky!! I thought about bench height when "logic-ing" my way through the install. After reading the above, I feel better. Thanks for the question and the answers.

 

[hades02]

Thank you everyone for your answers. Today I start putting in the boxes and running
wire. Hopefully tonight I can start insulating at least part of the garage. It's cold
this morning and I don't have heat in the garage yet.

 

[hidollartoys]

Anywhere you want them.

 

[DustynF]

I put mine around 50 inches. I also put two very close the ceiling, one for the LCD and for the heater.

 

[Steevo]

12" or more above the surface of the workbench height.

 

[kb2tha]

I like 52" to the center. That way, if you stand 4 X 8 sheets of material against the wall, they don't cover the outlets.

X2 This is what I did as well. Might have been one of your posts that persuaded me to go 52". Thanks. Ken

 

[v7guy]

I did mine at 48" and yes, it was annoying cutting the sheetrock top and bottom lol

 

[larry4406]

I used 48" for the reasons stated. If you have a slope in your garage floor, use a laser level or measure from the top down so your boxes don't follow the grade but remain level. I did not do that, wasn't thinking. Later when I added a painted wall stripe, the error became noticeable.

 

[Kevin54]

One thing to remember at 48" you are only cutting one sheet of drywall but it makes it a little harder to tape and mud the seam due to the fact that the area at the top of the box is a bevel on the next sheet of drywall. 52" seems to be a better height for that and for leaning a 4x sheet against the wall. I don't know how many times I have had a piece of plywood or drywall against the wall and that outlet would have been handy to have access to. Also if any weight against the outlet, you can bust the cover. Not a big deal but something to consider.
If you plan on having plug in clocks, tv, stereo, or whatever higher up. add some outlets there also. I have one in each corner of the ceiling just in case I want to plug something in that I will have in the corner. Also add an outlet close to each corner in case you have a plug in gas pump or some similar item you want to put there.
If you have to run the wire anyways, it's just as easy to cut in an outlet along the way.

 

[thdewey]

I like 52" to the center. That way, if you stand 4 X 8 sheets of material against the wall, they don't cover the outlets.

I put mine at 48.5" for this reason. It also saved time cutting holes into the edge of the interior sheathing that was 1/2" from floor.

 

[Herb]

I put mine the same height as my wall switches, as I think it "looks better" that way. I think it was 48''.

 

[jkeyser14]

Put them wherever you want. There's no code on outlet height.

 

[mikeyr]

about 6" above my workbench and went the same height all the way around the garage that way in the future I can move my workbench anywhere I want. Since my workbench has a shelf on the back that works out to around 50" inches (just guessing here, my bench is 37" tall plus shelf).

I also put one plug at each corner about 8" down from the ceiling for future TV in a corner somewhere and coax at each corner also. That way in the future I can put a TV high up out of the way.

I also put in 4 plugs in the ceiling next to some hooks for droplights, the hooks were put in to stay before the drywall, that was a ***** working the drywall around them

 

[bobemmerich]

I've got mine (20amp) at 48" from the floor. But that is what is called for (suggested) in my local code. Whatever code says for your area. Also you may want to put in GFCI outlet(s). My local code calls for any outbuildings to be GFCI protected either from a GFI outlet or AFCI breaker in the main panel.