Everything you need to know about kitchen sockets

When designing your dream kitchen, it's important to consider plug sockets. While you may be musing about which tiles to use or getting inspired by breakfast bar ideas, more practical components such as sockets need to be assessed, too. We asked Howard Solomons, head of design at Wandsworth Electrical, for all you need to know.

How many sockets do I need in a kitchen?

For kitchens that are 12-25 square metres, we recommend that you have at least eight twin sockets, and at least ten in a space larger than 25 square metres. Think about the appliances you want and those you use a lot – you’ll want at least one twin socket per appliance.

Once you know what appliances you want, think about what else you use in the kitchen, especially devices such as tablets and smart speakers. I recommend installing twin-switched sockets with integrated USB outlets in areas that are clogged with devices.

Where should I place sockets in the kitchen?

You’ll need to ensure the sockets are far enough away from water sources for safety. It’s important to remember that your kitchen is a hard-working area, so the more outlets you have, the better.

You should also be able to isolate large appliances, such as fridges. You can do this with a regular socket, but a more practical approach would be to use a fused switch for each large appliance. These can be tucked away as long as they're still accessible so that these items can be isolated easily when required.

How high above a kitchen worktop should sockets be?

Place sockets at least 150mm above the work surface to allow you ease when plugging in appliances and other devices. This height also helps reduce the risk of the sockets coming into contact with any kitchen splashes. You also want to make sure sockets are at least 300mm away from a sink or cooker.

How many appliances can you plug into one outlet?

You can use all available outlets per socket, including those integrated with USB outlets. You’d want to plan your kitchen so that you have enough outlets for your purposes, without having to use risky extension cables.

Photo credit: Issy Croker.