Garage Electrical Requirements: Outlets, Lighting, and EV Wiring
Garages have become much more than just parking spaces. They’re now workshops, gyms, home offices, and EV charging stations. The electrical requirements for garages reflect this — mandatory GFCI protection, specific outlet placement rules, and increasing demand for EV charging circuits. Here’s what the NEC requires and what a well-wired garage needs.
Required Outlets
The NEC requires at least one outlet in each attached or detached garage. For larger garages, at least one outlet must be accessible from grade level for each vehicle bay. This is a minimum — practical garage wiring includes outlets on all walls at regular intervals, typically every 6-8 feet for workshop use.
GFCI Protection
All 120V and 240V receptacles in garages require GFCI protection — no exceptions. This applies to all outlets regardless of height above floor. The 240V GFCI requirement was added in recent NEC cycles and includes outlets for things like air compressors, freezers, and EV chargers operating at 240V. 240V GFCI breakers cost $100-$150 but are now required.
Garage Lighting
The NEC requires at least one lighting outlet (controlled by a switch) in attached garages. Switched outlets can serve a lamp, but ceiling-mounted fixtures are far more practical for vehicle work. LED shop lights (4000K color temperature) are the standard choice for modern garages — they’re bright, efficient, and long-lasting. Plan for a minimum of 50 foot-candles of illumination at work areas.
Garage Door Opener Circuit
Garage door openers require a 120V outlet near the motor unit — typically ceiling-mounted above each door. A single 15 or 20-amp circuit can serve multiple openers and the overhead lighting if loads are calculated correctly.
Planning for EV Charging
If you don’t have an EV now, running conduit to a junction box near the parking area during initial garage wiring costs almost nothing but positions you to add a Level 2 charger later. A typical garage EV charger needs a 50-amp, 240V GFCI circuit with 6 AWG copper wire. Plan conduit routing from the panel to the charging location when framing is exposed.
Size your garage circuits. Use the Circuit Load Calculator on electricalcalcpro.com to plan your garage circuits for tools, lighting, EV charging, and appliances.