Best Standard Electrical Outlets in 2022

Last update: January 15, 2023

Are outlets 12 or 14 gauge?

Most outlets in the United States are either 12 or 14 gauge. The vast majority of homes have 14 gauge outlets. 12 gauge outlets are typically used for heavier appliances such as air conditioners or stoves.

Can I replace a 15 amp outlet with a 20 amp outlet?

Yes, you can replace a 15 amp outlet with a 20 amp outlet. The 20 amp outlet will be able to handle more electricity and will be less likely to trip the circuit breaker.

Can I use 12 2 outlets on a 15 amp outlet?

Yes, you can use 12 2 outlets on a 15 amp outlet. The 15 amp outlet can handle up to 1800 watts of power, and the 12 2 outlet can handle up to 1440 watts of power.

Can I use 15a outlet with 12 gauge wire?

Yes, you can use a 15a outlet with 12 gauge wire. The outlet will be fine and the wire will be fine as well.


Leviton T5320-WMP 15 Amp 125V Tamper Resistant Duplex Receptacle, 10-Pack, White Review:


When I'm just shy of the $25 add-on item minimum, I always pick up a handful of these. In my neighborhood hardware store, they charge me $3 for one that isn't tamper-resistant. This costs about the same as buying in bulk, but you may purchase them separately. All the outlets in my apartment, which are more than 30 years old, in poor condition, and frequently painted over, have probably been changed. These have been in use by me for more than a year, and they are holding up without any problems. The outlets with the tamper resistance marking are safer than those without since they comply with the regulations. In comparison to regular outlets, I'm confident there is a lot less possibility of getting shocked when using these.



Smart Plug Compatible with Alexa Google Assistant IFTTT for Voice Control, Teckin Mini Smart Outlet Wifi Socket with Timer Function, No Hub Required, White FCC ETL Certified Review:


2/16/19 - I first bought (2) 4-packs. since made another 4-pack buy. Very erratic setup (see description below), but once set up, they function well! I use them for lamps in my home in addition to Christmas lights because I can turn them on and off remotely and set timers in the app. discovered how to remove scenes (had to swipe them off the screen in the app).The UL certification is making me a little curious. Both the packaging and the units themselves make no mention of their UL listing. I'm unsure of the level of confidence we have in the security of these units.————————11/30/18 - Amazing how wonderfully these perform. I'm using them to manage my home's Christmas lights. While walking the dog, enjoy abruptly turning on and off all the lights. Have one on the coffee maker as well so that we can just turn off the outlet with our phone when we leave the house and aren't sure if we turned off the coffee maker.It had a shaky setup. My phone needed to be connected to the 2.4GHz wi-fi. Then, after connecting each plug, our wi-fi network would briefly go wild and lose connection with all of the connected devices. Additionally, when connected, each plug appeared to function slightly differently. But once set up, they function flawlessly!(Now, I'd be happy if I could find out how to delete certain scenarios I mistakenly added to the Smart Life app. It doesn't seem possible for me to erase such scenes.)



TOPGREENER 3.1A USB Outlet, USB Wall Outlet, 15A TR Receptacle, for iPhone XS/MAX/XR/X/8/7/6s/Plus, iPad, LG, HTC and more, Compatible Samsung Galaxy S9/S8/S7/S6, Note9/8/7 and more, 2-Pack, White Review:


After purchasing around 8 of them from Sunco, I purchased these. More than half of the Sunco items I installed failed after just three months. 5 out of 8!!!! The USB ports ceased to function, however the outlets continued to function. To replace them, I purchased TopGreener, and I haven't turned back since. What you want is these. And unless you are an electrician, which is the only way I would recommend installing products like these and smart switches (many handymen have failed me in different ways, and if you're not a pro, you will zap yourself or cause sparks or fry something or cause arcs that kill the product more quickly over time — don't think you won't... you will), you need to pay someone to install these products. Imagine, then, that you chose to cut corners and, like me, purchased some, paid to have them put, and now you need to have them replaced because they malfunctioned. Any sense of wisdom you may have had in trying to save a little additional money was completely misplaced because getting what you wanted required doubling your installation costs and hassle.



CyberPower GT300RC1 3-Outlet Triple Wall Tap Review:


My bathroom now has a Google Home Mini, therefore I wanted to increase the number of power outlets there to make up for it. Due to its size and compact design, it doesn't interfere with the other wall outlet. However, because it is a little too small, you frequently can't access all three plugs. Many beard trimmers, tooth brush plugs, and other items feature bulky outlets that limit their use to the two outer ones. Since it needs to be quite dispersed in order to function, this plug isn't really to blame. If the cable is just a regular wall outlet, you can easily accommodate all three.



Leviton T5632-W 15-Amp USB Charger/Tamper Resistant Duplex Receptacle, White, 1-Pack Review:


I've started replacing the outdated duplex outlets in our home with USB outlets from Topgreener and Leviton as well as commercial-grade Leviton Decorated Plus outlets.Since I can't add much to what other reviewers have already said, let me briefly discuss the distinctions between the two best-selling products.Leviton is better in terms of quality. They are both UL approved and built in China. Unlike the rebranded no-name-odd-wallplate stores that are everywhere here, neither one feels cheap. (I believe the Topgreener is also a rebranded generic store, but it is less common than the unusual $12 stores.) However, the Leviton has a slightly more streamlined and substantial feel. Plug action is slightly more fluid. It is not a generic store with a new name. It's a well-known brand.Tie for appearance. The Leviton wallplate projects a few millimeters from a typical Decora/decorator wallplate while having a flat surface. Using a Lutron Claro wallplate and using spacers or washers both assist a little. Although the Topgreener's surface is a little rougher, it fits flush against a typical wallplate.Topgreener provides accessories. Both a typical decorator wallplate and a beautiful replica of the more expensive Lutron Claro wallplate are included. There aren't any extra wallplates on the Leviton.Installation simplicity - tie. Both support push-in screw-secured back wiring and conventional side wiring, precisely like the majority of commercial grade outlets.If someone gets me a USB tester, I'll update this section on charging power.the packaging Topgreener. a straightforward cardboard box with attractive branding and images and a cellophane window. The Leviton is packaged in a clamshell/cardboard hybrid that is simple to open but still contains plastic.not a buzz or hum. Both cannot be wired for outlets with a half-hot switch. Both lack indicator lights. Both come with accessible English instructions. (And French and Spanish for the Leviton.The result was essentially a tie. Choose Leviton if you are brand conscious, don't mind spending a little bit more for wallplates, don't mind that it takes some effort to make the face flush, and don't mind the extra work. Topgreener has the advantage if you're seeking for value and employing Lutron Claro wallplates (and emptying your wallet in the process).



Leviton CR020-W 20-Amp, 125 Volt, Slim Body Duplex Receptacle, Straight Blade, Commercial Grade, Self Grounding, White Review:


The wiring in my 1960s house is set up so that the circuit runs through the outlets. The outlets I had previously installed would get warm when a significant load was applied to them before I installed these. These keep their temperature even when a powerful appliance is plugged in and running. Due to the larger screws and the plating allowing current to travel between the two neutral and hot wires attached to this, there is also little voltage drop on the circuits I installed this on. Just be careful not to unscrew the screw too far, as you won't be able to put it back in if it comes out. Although this is readily damaged during installation, once it is done and in use, these work quite well.



TOPGREENER 3.1A USB Wall Outlet Charger, 15A Tamper-Resistant Receptacles, Compatible with iPhone XS/MAX/XR/X/8, Samsung Galaxy S9/S8/S7, LG, HTC & other Smartphones, UL Listed, TU2153A, White 6 Pack Review:


The outlet performed as it should have. Four of them are functional after installation. When you plug something in, this tamper-resistant outlet does not fight you like so many others on the market do. The charging times for the USB ports are pleasant and quick. Anyone seeking for a nice USB outlet at a fair price should definitely consider these.



Leviton GFNT1-W Self-Test SmartlockPro Slim GFCI Non-Tamper-Resistant Receptacle with LED Indicator, 15 Amp, White Review:


I have zero experience with electrical work. Because there are only two prong plugs in my house, I frequently have to use the little adapters, which I don't like. This is making me more and more upset. When I looked into switching to three-prong outlets, I also learned that the circuits in my 1957-built home appear to have only two wires. Before, there was a long fluorescent bulb fixture over a large mirror in my bathroom. However, at some point, it was removed, and a rig that was unattractive and maybe hazardous was created in its place. On one side of the mirror was mounted a vintage wall-mounted gas lamp that had been transformed into a light socket. Someone had discovered an extremely thin gauge cord with one plug that divided into two 6 foot extension cords to power this. Very strange One end of the socket was used to plug in the lamp, and the other plug was left loose on the mirror's other side. Because of its age, this cord didn't even have the bigger opening socket for polarized plugs. But what was worse was that they had merely wrapped a wire exiting the wall through the tiny hole at the tip of each plug prong and covered it with electrical tape.GFCI outlets can be linked to two wire systems and offer some kind of protection even without a ground, according to the study I did.In order to hook it to the cables coming out of the wall, I ordered this and clamped the wires straight into place. (It features a clamping option for straight wire or a conventional looping option for the wire) I accidentally pressed the test and reset buttons to determine if they were functional. I turned on the switch that was wired to the outlet and reset the circuit breaker. When I plugged in the lamp, nothing functioned, and the status indicator on the outlet briefly flashed red before going out. I didn't understand why it wouldn't function because I was confident that I had it wired properly. I gave up and attached an abandoned two-prong outlet I stole from the basement, and it worked.The following day, I kept reflecting about it before acting as usual (but not this time)... I did read the instructions.I discovered that the test switch is tripped when it ships. It was instructed to plug in a lamp or other object, restore power, and then push the reset button for it to function. Therefore, I removed the outdated outlet and rewired it, this time by wrapping the wire around the screw. After playing with the test and reset buttons as directed, I must have followed the directions correctly since, much to my relief, everything functioned as planned. Now, the green light turns on when I flip the switch, giving the lamp electricity. I added a power strip to the second socket, giving me three accessible pronged outlets.



Smart plug, Gosund Mini Wifi Outlet Works With Alexa, Google Home & IFTTT, No Hub Required, Remote Control Your Home Appliances from Anywhere, ETL Certified,Only Supports 2.4GHz Network(4 Pieces) Review:


None of my plugs responded to Procedure 1, the supposedly "simple" method. Simply said, it would never identify them. So I switched them to AP mode on the plugs, and it worked flawlessly. Using the Smart Life app, AP mode was really simple to use, and I had no issues.When you first install the app, you must create a Smart Life account, which is simple to do. I have four plugs that control the holiday lighting in my home. In the Smart Life app, I made a group and added a timer to it so that all of my holiday lights turn on at 4:30 and go out at 10:30. Utilizing the Smart Life app is quite easy.I then used my Alexa app to activate the Smart Life skill and link it to my Smart Life account so that I could also activate them using voice commands. However, Alexa is unable to recognize the group name. She simply observes the distinct gadgets. Therefore, voice commands must be used to turn on each device individually. For the time being, that's okay because I only use voice instructions for the Christmas tree. Because the "simple" way didn't work and I had to use AP mode, I was torn between rating it four instead of five stars. However, AP mode was really simple, I love that I can control everything with Alexa, and the cost was also extremely reasonable. I received five stars as a result. Hope they endure!



Leviton T5633-W 15-Amp Type A & Type-C USB Charger/Tamper Resistant Outlet, Compatible with Apple Devices, Samsung Devices, Google Devices and More – Not for Laptops, White Review:


I specifically required what this unit offered: A USB-C outlet, a USB-A outlet, two normal outlets, and the color grey are all present. At the time, I could only find one unit that contained every one of these. When you choose grey as your color, your selection of USB outlets quickly becomes more limited. Also want USB-C? The options become more limited. So it works perfectly here. This outlet is a little bit deeper than some wiring boxes can accommodate, as are the majority of USB port combo outlets in use today. Fortunately, the manufacturer constructed the item so that a little portion of its depth really protrudes vertically past the faceplate. Therefore, unlike most outlets, it doesn't sit precisely flat with the faceplate. It protrudes a few millimeters. However, that is a fantastic compromise that allows you to install this unit in "shallower" electrical boxes than you might initially believe. Excellent design and engineering.


How do you tell if an outlet is 120 or 240?

If you're in the United States, you can tell if an outlet is 120 or 240 volts by looking at the plugs. A 120-volt outlet has two vertical slots, while a 240-volt outlet has one vertical slot and one horizontal slot.

Is 20 amp a regular outlet?

20 amp outlets are not regular outlets. They are larger and can handle more power than a regular outlet. You need to be careful when using them because they can cause fires if not used properly.

Is it okay to plug 120V to 110V?

It's not ideal, but if you have an adapter it will work in a pinch. The difference between the two voltages is small, so you'll probably be fine. Just know that your devices will run a little slower and won't last as long as they would with the proper voltage.

Is my outlet 110 or 120?

There are only two possibilities for your outlet: 110 or 120. If your outlet is in the United States, it is most likely 110. If your outlet is in Europe, it is most likely 120. To be sure, check the voltage rating on your appliance. If it is 110-120, it will work on either kind of outlet. If it is 220-240, it will only work on a 220-240 outlet.

What are the 4 types of electrical outlets?

There are four types of electrical outlets: the standard outlet, the GFCI outlet, the AFCI outlet, and the USB outlet. The standard outlet is the most common and is used for appliances that use a standard 120-volt circuit. The GFCI outlet is used for appliances that require a ground fault circuit interrupter. The AFCI outlet is used for appliances that require an arc fault circuit interrupter. The USB outlet is used for appliances that require a USB connection.

What does a 110 plug outlet look like?

A 110 plug outlet looks like a small, rectangular box with a round, silver knob on the front. The outlet is usually located near the floor or behind furniture.