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Electrical work contracted under C K ELECTRIC · CSLB Lic. #354550 (C-10) · Farmer Works Electric license in process

NEC 220.14 · Homes and commercial

Load values for receptacles and other outlets

In non-dwelling load calculations, each receptacle yoke counts as at least 180 VA. In homes, general-use receptacles are instead covered by the 3 VA/ft² general lighting load, and offices use the larger of 1 VA/ft² or the 180-VA count.

Diagram of receptacle loads: 180 VA per yoke in non-dwelling buildings, covered by 3 VA/ft² in homes, the larger of 1 VA/ft² or 180 VA per yoke in offices.
A duplex receptacle is one yoke, so it counts once at 180 VA, not twice. In a home the count of general-use receptacles does not change the calculated load at all. Diagram: Farmer Works Electric, free to share under CC BY 4.0 · Download PNG · How to credit

What the code requires

Section 220.14 sets minimum volt-ampere (VA) values for receptacles and other outlets that are not general lighting, for use in load calculations. Each single or multiple receptacle on one yoke counts as at least 180 VA, so a standard duplex receptacle counts once.

In homes, general-use receptacles are not added at 180 VA each; they are covered by the 3 VA/ft² general lighting load in 220.41. In office buildings, 220.14(J) sets the receptacle load at the larger of 1 VA/ft² or the 180-VA-per-yoke count. For feeders and services, 220.43 makes the same comparison after the Table 220.47 demand factors are applied.

On the job

  • Older worksheets may cite the 2020 dwelling, office and hotel rules as 220.14(J), (K) and (M). In the 2023 code the dwelling rule is 220.41, the office rule is 220.14(J) with a feeder version in 220.43, the hotel rule is 220.44, and the old 220.14(L) for other outlets is now 220.14(K). Check which edition a 220.14 letter reference uses.
  • In a home, the number of general-use receptacles does not change the calculated load, because the 3 VA/ft² figure already covers them.
Standard US duplex wall receptacle with a white cover plate on a gray wall
Duplex wall receptacle (representative stock photo).

What changed in 2023

The 2023 NEC moved the dwelling and hotel receptacle rules out of 220.14 into 220.41 and 220.44, relettered the office rule from 220.14(K) to (J), added a feeder-level office rule in 220.43, and relettered other outlets from (L) to (K).

Related sections

Where this comes from

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Answers come from this library only and are written by AI. They can be wrong, so check the cited section and confirm with your building department.

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Electrical work contracted under C K ELECTRIC · CSLB Lic. #354550 (C-10) · Farmer Works Electric license in process