How to Replace a Standard 120-Volt Outlet Receptacle

Yellow circuit tester inserted into standard 120-volt outlet receptacle

The Spruce / Kevin Norris

Project Overview
  • Working Time: 30 mins
  • Total Time: 30 mins
  • Skill Level: Intermediate
  • Estimated Cost: $2 to $20

Outlet receptacles can wear out over time. The metal contacts inside the receptacle may lose their resilience and stop gripping the prongs on appliance cords. Or, the plastic casing on the receptacle may develop cracks or chips, causing a safety hazard. If you're experiencing either of these issues, it's safe to assume that it's time to repair your outlet.

Standard 120-volt receptacles typically come in two amperage ratings: 15-amp and 20-amp. They look similar, but on a 20-amp receptacle, one of the vertical slots has a "T" shape. This is so that the special plugs on some appliances that need more power can be plugged into them. Standard cords and appliances can also be plugged into 20-amp outlets. When replacing a receptacle, buy one that looks exactly like the old one and has the same amperage rating. Most importantly, never install a 20-amp receptacle on a 15-amp circuit. 

Identifying the Circuit Rating

In addition to the outlet rating (15-amp or 20-amp), the circuit wiring and the circuit's breaker are important clues to the circuit amperage. Circuit wiring (usually non-metallic (NM) cable, or Romex) on 20-amp circuits uses 12-gauge wire and usually has a yellow outer sheathing. Cable for 15-amp circuits has 14-gauge wire and typically has white sheathing. The circuit breaker on a 20-amp circuit must be stamped with a "20," indicating a 20-amp rating; likewise, a 15-amp circuit must have a breaker stamped with "15."

What You'll Need

Equipment / Tools

  • Screwdrivers
  • Non-contact voltage tester
  • Needle-nose pliers
  • Wire strippers (as needed)

Materials

  • Replacement 15-amp or 20-amp receptacle

Instructions

Materials and tools to replace a standard 120-volt outlet receptacle

The Spruce / Kevin Norris

  1. Turn off the Power

    Shut off the power to the receptacle circuit by switching off the appropriate circuit breaker in your home's main service panel (breaker box). If you don't know which breaker to throw, then you'll need to shut off the main breaker, which controls power to the entire house.

    Power turned off in circuit breaker of main service panel

    The Spruce / Kevin Norris

  2. Test for Power

    Use a non-contact voltage tester to check for power at the outlet location: Insert the probe tip of the tester into each of the receptacle's slots. The tester should indicate no voltage.

    Yellow non-contact voltage tester inserted into 120-volt outlet receptacle

    The Spruce / Kevin Norris

    Warning

    Make sure your voltage tester has operating batteries and is functioning correctly by using it to test an outlet or switch you know is activated. Some testers light up when they sense current, others emit an audible sound, some do both.

  3. Open the Outlet

    Remove the center screw on the outlet faceplate, then remove the cover plate. Test for power again by inserting the probe of the voltage tester into the spaces alongside the body of the receptacle and touching all of the wires inside the electrical box, using the tester only (not your hands). The tester should indicate no voltage. 

    Center screw of outlet faceplate unscrewed with screwdriver

    The Spruce / Kevin Norris

  4. Examine the Wiring

    Remove the mounting screws holding the receptacle strap to the electrical box, and gently extract the receptacle out of the box, gripping the receptacle by the top and bottom "ears."

    Examine the wire configuration. In most cases, you will see three wire colors attached to the receptacle. Black wires are "hot" wires that carry live voltage; these should be attached to the brass-colored screw terminals on the receptacle. White wires are neutral wires and are usually attached to the silver-colored screw terminals. Bare copper wires (or sometimes green insulated wires) are ground wires; one of these should be attached to the green grounding screw on the receptacle. Another short grounding wire (known as a pigtail) may link the circuit grounding wires to a metal electrical box.

    Some receptacles will have only one hot and one neutral wire attached to the receptacle, while others may have two hot wires and two neutral wires attached to opposite sides of the receptacle. The wiring will depend on where the receptacle is within the circuit (middle-of-run vs. end-of-run) and on how the previous electrician chose to wire the circuit. In any case, your goal is to recreate the same wiring connections on the new receptacle.

    You may want to take a photo to help you remember how the receptacle is wired.

    Receptacle held by metal strap to examine wiring

    The Spruce / Kevin Norris

    Some outlets have a switched portion and an always hot portion. Be sure to examine the outlet closely and see if the center tab has been broken out on the hot (brass screw side). See Item 8 below.

  5. Confirm the Receptacle Amperage

    Verify the proper amperage for the new receptacle.

    If you find a dangerous contradiction in the wiring—for example, if a 20-amp circuit breaker is feeding wires that are only 14-gauge—it's time to call a professional, as you have a potentially dangerous situation.

    If the circuit breaker, circuit wires, and receptacle all are consistent, you can proceed.

    Amperage rating confirmed from receptacle wiring

    The Spruce / Kevin Norris

  6. Remove the Receptacle

    Disconnect the receptacle wires. Receptacles have two methods of connecting the wires: screw terminals on the sides of the receptacle, or push-in "back-wire" slots in the back of the receptacle.

    Most electricians believe that the screw terminal connections are more secure, and they usually avoid making back-wire connections. If your old receptacle has back-wire connections, remove the wires by inserting a small nail or flat screwdriver into the release slot next to each wire. The wire connection should loosen and pull free of the receptacle body. If your receptacle has screw terminal connections, loosen the screws and remove the wire loops from around the screws.

    Screw terminals loosened on receptacle for removal

    The Spruce / Kevin Norris

    Tip

    If you cannot discern a color on the insulation around the wires (which is sometimes the case with old wiring), you can label them with small tabs of tape to distinguish which wires were attached to the hot screw and neutral screw.

  7. Connect the New Receptacle

    Attach the bare copper or green insulated circuit wire to the green screw terminal on the receptacle. To do this, bend a C-shaped loop at the end of the wire, loop it in a clockwise direction around the green screw terminal on the receptacle, and tighten the screw firmly.

    Attach the white neutral circuit wire(s) to the silver-colored screw terminal(s) on the receptacle using the same method.

    NOTE: Some receptacles are designed so the straight ends of the wires are inserted into slots next to the screw terminals on the side of the receptacle. Do not connect more than one wire to a single terminal.

    If the old receptacle was back-wired, don't use the back-wire fittings on the new receptacle unless they are the type that can be tightened with a screw. Instead, trim off the bare end of each wire, then strip about 3/4 inch of insulation from the wire, using wire strippers. Bend the wire into a C-shaped loop to connect to the side screw terminal.

    Complete the wire connections by attaching the black (hot) wires to the brass-colored screw terminals, using the same technique. Do not connect more than one wire to a single terminal.

    New outlet receptacle attached to wires and securing screw terminals with screw driver

    The Spruce / Kevin Norris

  8. Mount the Receptacle and Turn on the Power

    Tuck the wires neatly into the box as you push the receptacle into place against the box tabs. Secure the receptacle to the box with the two receptacle screws. Install the faceplate onto the new receptacle.

    Restore power to the circuit by switching on the circuit breaker, then test the receptacle for proper operation.

    Wires tucked into the box before pushing outlet receptacle into place

    The Spruce / Kevin Norris

When to Replace an Outlet Receptacle

Sometimes, the replacement can be for simple aesthetic reasons—for example, replacing old brown receptacles with white or ivory receptacles that are more pleasing on a light-colored wall—but you should replace your outlet receptacle as soon as you notice it's not performing as well as it should.

GFCI receptacles sometimes go bad over time, for no reason other than that they have perhaps been reset too many times. Replacing a GFCI outlet is really no different than replacing a standard outlet, though it is important to make sure that the wires are reattached in exactly the same way as on the old receptacle.

Safety Considerations

15-amp vs. 20-amp receptacles: DIYers are sometimes confused about the use of 15-amp and 20-amp receptacles. In fact, it is perfectly acceptable for 15-amp receptacles to be installed on a 20-amp circuit. Many professional electricians do this as standard practice. Why is this safe? Because a small appliance plugged into a 15-amp receptacle generally can't draw enough power to overload the 12-gauge wires on a 20-amp circuit. For 20-amp kitchen circuits, for example, equipping the circuit with 15-amp receptacles lessens the chance that several small appliances plugged in at the same time will overload the circuit.

But the situation is much different if a 20-amp receptacle is installed on a 15-amp circuit wired with a 14-gauge wire. Here, there is the potential to plug in a larger appliance, which can draw enough power to overload the wires.

In most homes, 20-amp receptacles are fairly rare, even on 20-amp circuits. These receptacles are reserved for outlets where a heavy-duty appliance is likely to be used, such as space heaters or large motor-driven power tools. And they should NEVER be installed on a 15-amp circuit.

Tamper-resistant receptacles: The electrical code now requires that all standard outlets be fitted with tamper-resistant receptacles. This is a safety measure that prevents children from inserting objects into the slots of the receptacle and receiving a deadly shock. While old-style receptacles without tamper-resistant slots can still be purchased, you are well-advised to purchase and install newer receptacles that have the code-required safety design.

Outlet Variations

The vast majority of outlets will be standard appliance outlets that are replaced using the method described above. But you may run into two variations that call for slight differences in the technique used for replacing them.

Split Receptacles

Although not common, your outlet receptacle may be wired so it is "split." In this scenario, the top and bottom halves of the receptacle operate independently. Sometimes this is done so that different circuits can feed the top and bottom halves of the receptacle; for example, when the outlet is wired so that a wall switch controls one half of the receptacle. In this case, one-half of the receptacle operates normally, but the other half is activated only when the wall switch is on.

In split receptacles, a brass connecting tab along the side of the receptacle is broken off, so there is no electrical pathway between the two halves. As you are replacing a receptacle, carefully inspect these tabs. If they have been severed in the old receptacle, then make sure you break off the tab on the new receptacle before installing it. All other steps for replacing such a receptacle are the same as for a standard receptacle.

Brass connecting tab holding split receptacle wiring pointed out

The Spruce / Kevin Norris

GFCI Receptacles

Replacing a GFCI receptacle is not difficult if you've paid attention to how the wires were connected to the old receptacle. It's important to know that a middle-of-the-run GFCI receptacle has two pairs of hot and neutral wires and that each pair must be connected to specific screw terminals. The wires entering the box from the power source must be connected to the hot and neutral screw terminals marked "LINE," while the pair of wires running onward to other receptacles or fixtures must be connected to the corresponding screw terminals marked "LOAD".

When replacing a GFCI receptacle, carefully review the manufacturer's wiring schematic to make sure you connect it correctly. But other than making sure the incoming and outgoing wires are connected to the proper screw terminals, the replacement process is the same as for standard receptacles.

GFCI receptacle with hot and neutral wires pointed out

The Spruce / Kevin Norris

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  1. Electrical Service from Hell. International Association of Certified Home Inspectors.

  2. Tamper-Resistant Electrical Receptacles. National Fire Protection Association.