How to install an electrical box in drywall

Follow these expert tips to install an electrical box into drywall or plaster without the need for wall studs or joists. Not all fixtures need to be attached to a wall stud or joist. Installing these handy boxes only takes about 15 minutes and they give you the freedom to decorate your space exactly how you want.

Lee has over two decades of hands-on experience remodeling, fixing, and improving homes, and has been providing home improvement advice for over 13 years. Installing electrical boxes is one of the first stages in electrical rough-in work. Electrical box installation is regarded as easy work—more like carpentry than electrical wiring. But there are still some common errors that do-it-yourselfers frequently make. Follow these easy tips to make sure your electrical box installation looks professional and meets code requirements. Electrical boxes typically are mounted to the sides of studs for stability. Whether nailed to the studs or screwed in with adjustable brackets, boxes on studs tend to stay in place for a long time.

How to install an electrical box in drywall

Adding an electrical box to your existing wall for a switch or outlet is easy when you have the right materials and know a few tricks. And you don't have to remove any drywall. The walls can stay in place. The key is to purchase an electrical box called a remodel box or an old-work box rather than a new-work or new-construction box. Many of these old-work boxes from home centers and other big home improvement stores do not come with paper templates. Either you make your template, transfer measurements to the wall with a ruler, or use the box itself as a template. Because these boxes taper from smaller to larger, you cannot use the back sides as templates. Fortunately, you can use the face as a template, since the face is flat. Tape the box to the wall with painter's tape, face-first. Apply tape to the top and bottom. It's not necessary to tape the sides. If you have an assistant, there's no need to tape the box. Just have the assistant hold the box firmly against the wall as you draw the outline.

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Follow these expert tips to install an electrical box into drywall or plaster without the need for wall studs or joists. Not all fixtures need to be attached to a wall stud or joist. Installing these handy boxes only takes about 15 minutes and they give you the freedom to decorate your space exactly how you want. Try your hand at this small electrical project using our step-by-step instructions below. Before you get started, plan the job carefully, as running cable through walls covered with drywall or plaster can be difficult. Remodel boxes also called cut-in or old-work boxes clamp to the drywall or plaster rather than attach to a framing member, making the work easier. However, they are only as strong as the wall surface to which they are clamped.

How to install an electrical box in drywall

Adding an electrical box to your existing wall for a switch or outlet is easy when you have the right materials and know a few tricks. And you don't have to remove any drywall. The walls can stay in place. The key is to purchase an electrical box called a remodel box or an old-work box rather than a new-work or new-construction box. Many of these old-work boxes from home centers and other big home improvement stores do not come with paper templates. Either you make your template, transfer measurements to the wall with a ruler, or use the box itself as a template. Because these boxes taper from smaller to larger, you cannot use the back sides as templates. Fortunately, you can use the face as a template, since the face is flat. Tape the box to the wall with painter's tape, face-first.

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This will keep the box from twisting or deflecting as you attach it. It's not necessary to tape the sides. When nailing the box, use light, careful blows rather than heavy swings of the hammer. Many of these old-work boxes from home centers and other big home improvement stores do not come with paper templates. While a perfect cut-out is ideal, it's always better to have a hole that is too small than too large. Before cutting a hole, use a stud finder to make sure no joist or stud is in the way. Measure content performance. Not all fixtures need to be attached to a wall stud or joist. Make sure to keep your blows perpendicular to the stud. Alternatively use a rotary cutter equipped with a plaster-cutting bit. More from The Spruce. But sometimes, it's not always possible to find a suitable mounting point against the studs. With a utility knife cut the line deeply enough to cut through the drywall paper. Use profiles to select personalised content.

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For your safety, turn off power before starting this project. Sarah Scott is a fact-checker and researcher who has worked in the custom home building industry in sales, marketing, and design. Larry Campbell is an electrical contractor with 36 years of experience in residential and light commercial electrical wiring. You can use these to indicate how far to extend the electrical box from the face of the studs. Tape the box to the wall with painter's tape, face-first. It is standard practice for wall switches to be installed about 48 inches above the floor. In new construction, attaching a strip of drywall to the front face of studs can serve as a guide for attaching wall boxes. This does not completely rid your area of drywall dust but it does significantly help cut down on it. Project Overview. Tug to make sure the cable clamps tightly. Drill starter holes at each corner and then cut with a jigsaw. Installing these handy boxes only takes about 15 minutes and they give you the freedom to decorate your space exactly how you want. This distance, too, can be adjusted for special circumstances. You may accept or manage your choices by clicking below, including your right to object where legitimate interest is used, or at any time in the privacy policy page. Electrical box installation is regarded as easy work—more like carpentry than electrical wiring.