How to install an electrical box in drywall

Follow these expert tips to install an electrical box into drywall or plaster without the need for wall studs or joists.

Lee has over two decades of hands-on experience remodeling, fixing, and improving homes, and has been providing home improvement advice for over 13 years. Installing electrical boxes is one of the first stages in electrical rough-in work. Electrical box installation is regarded as easy work—more like carpentry than electrical wiring. But there are still some common errors that do-it-yourselfers frequently make. Follow these easy tips to make sure your electrical box installation looks professional and meets code requirements. Electrical boxes typically are mounted to the sides of studs for stability.

How to install an electrical box in drywall

Adding an electrical box to your existing wall for a switch or outlet is easy when you have the right materials and know a few tricks. And you don't have to remove any drywall. The walls can stay in place. The key is to purchase an electrical box called a remodel box or an old-work box rather than a new-work or new-construction box. Many of these old-work boxes from home centers and other big home improvement stores do not come with paper templates. Either you make your template, transfer measurements to the wall with a ruler, or use the box itself as a template. Because these boxes taper from smaller to larger, you cannot use the back sides as templates. Fortunately, you can use the face as a template, since the face is flat. Tape the box to the wall with painter's tape, face-first. Apply tape to the top and bottom. It's not necessary to tape the sides. If you have an assistant, there's no need to tape the box. Just have the assistant hold the box firmly against the wall as you draw the outline. Because of the uneven outlines of most old-work electrical boxes, it's not easy to simply draw four pencil lines around them. You'll need to draw lines where you can find them and then fill in the missing parts.

Use profiles to select personalised advertising. With a utility knife cut the line deeply enough to cut through the drywall paper.

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Follow these expert tips to install an electrical box into drywall or plaster without the need for wall studs or joists. Not all fixtures need to be attached to a wall stud or joist. Installing these handy boxes only takes about 15 minutes and they give you the freedom to decorate your space exactly how you want. Try your hand at this small electrical project using our step-by-step instructions below. Before you get started, plan the job carefully, as running cable through walls covered with drywall or plaster can be difficult.

How to install an electrical box in drywall

Adding an electrical box to your existing wall for a switch or outlet is easy when you have the right materials and know a few tricks. And you don't have to remove any drywall. The walls can stay in place.

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Measure content performance. And you don't have to remove any drywall. This type of box has wings that extend outward when you start to drive the screw, then grasp the back of the drywall as the screw is tightened. Use limited data to select content. If it fits tightly, do not force it or you may damage the drywall. In new construction, attaching a strip of drywall to the front face of studs can serve as a guide for attaching wall boxes. Reviewed by Larry Campbell. Create profiles for personalised advertising. Materials Old-work or remodel electrical box Drill with auger bit. Measure advertising performance. But this distance can range from 43 to 53 inches, depending on your preference. Electrical box installation is regarded as easy work—more like carpentry than electrical wiring. Irregular box heights will flag a home's electrical work as that of an amateur.

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Understand audiences through statistics or combinations of data from different sources. The less expensive Level 2 EV chargers have no wall station, so they plug directly into the outlet. Develop and improve services. The common practice for receptacle outlet boxes is to install them so the bottom edge is between 12 and 16 inches above the floor. Fortunately, you can use the face as a template, since the face is flat. If you have an assistant, let the assistant hold a shop vacuum nozzle under the saw as you cut. Learn more about The Spruce's Review Board. Push the box into the hole. After cutting a rectangular hole in the drywall, you insert the electrical box in the hole. But sometimes, it's not always possible to find a suitable mounting point against the studs. Trending Videos. More from The Spruce. She is a writer and editor with nearly a decade of interior design expertise.