Hi all,

I'm looking to install a electrical socket outlet outside, I was wondering what is the correct height to install this? And is there a min height it should be by law?

Fit the outside socket at the height you want. It's your socket and your house.


Just make sure that it meets the electrical regs.

For a caravan site it states:-

708.553.1.9 The socket-outlets shall be placed at a height of 0.5 m to 1.5 m from the ground to the lowest part of the socket-outlet. In special cases, due to environmental conditions such as risk of flooding or heavy snowfall, the maximum height is permitted to exceed 1.5 m.

I would say following that would make sense although there are no electrical rules. Part M of building regulations says 450mm to 1200mm for dwellings. Although really only for new build and rarely worried about for existing.

Part P says work outside needs notification.

So I would use common sense. I had with a new build where due to change in plans the sockets up-stairs were under 450mm. I told building inspector it was so moving the beds would not damage sockets and got away with it. So if for example you said its low so car bumper will not damage it likely a building inspector would let you get away with it even with new build.

It's not really a law more common sense. If you are working under the watchful eye of LABC I would play safe and ask them. They charge enough so why not ask them?

Thank you for the reply guys. I was thinking 450mm as well, just wanted to make sure it was right. Thanks once again :)

The 450mm is rather odd as with commercial it's 400mm and really speaking disabled people can reach lower than able bodied so really does not make sense. Plus floor mounted are still allowed. I would mount at 450mm if not told otherwise.

to comply with part m building regulation, it needs to be within 450mm to bottom upto 1200mm to top of finished floor level.

I agree but I have had many an argument over these heights. The thermostat was main bone of contention as it says if used with hands max 1200mm but if needs to be looked at min is 1200mm and with a person in a wheel chair at 1200mm it's impossible for them to use. People standing can bend down but people in wheel chairs often can't stand up. Also of course what is the point of getting the air at 1200mm to temperature when the occupants are in the main sitting down well under that height.

The limits as to putting sockets in corners makes sense but the heights are a load on non sense and one has to use some common sense rather than just read rule book. The hight is all well and good for able bodied people and it saves them bending down but not much good for people in a wheel chair.

522.6.1 Wiring systems shall be selected and erected so as to minimize the damage arising from mechanical stress, e.g. by impact abrasion, penetration, tension or compression during installation, use or maintenance.

Thinking about that to place a socket at a height where for example a bed head will hit it would be wrong. With a fitted bedroom it is common to provide sockets for bed side lamps to be plugged into. These need to be either above the bed side table or more common hidden by the bed. Because these are not intended to be in regular use but the lamp is plugged in before the bed is rolled into place the 450mm rule does not really apply and one should be more interested in setting lower than height of bed legs so they are not damaged.

Although you may say this is a special case the same could be said for outside sockets. My father-in-law has a socket to power his motor caravan set at about 6'6" as the cable would then go over the roof mounting at 1200mm would likely strangle someone. So low enough to reach and high enough to keep cable aerial. At 450mm it would be trip hazard.

Also there is consideration of children playing. Putting sockets out of a child's reach has some advantages.

So yes mount at 450mm if there are no other factors but common sense should prevail. And it's only 450mm with domestic it seems when we leave the house we all shrink by 50mm so with non domestic it's 400mm. Go on find another explanation as to why higher in domestic. I guess we all walk tall at home!