Skip to content

NEMA plug & receptacle chart

Identify any common US plug or outlet: voltage, amperage, wiring, and the breaker it runs on, plus what each one is for and which ones charge an EV.

Common plugs & receptacles

Straight-blade (non-locking) devices, ordered from 120V to 240V. The EV tag marks receptacles used for electric-vehicle charging.

NEMAVoltsAmpsWiringBreakerTypical use
1-15125V15 A2-wire (hot, neutral), no ground15 ALegacy two-prong outlets (pre-1960s). Not for new work.
5-15EV125V15 A3-wire (hot, neutral, ground)15 AStandard US wall outlet; Level 1 EV charging (~1.4 kW).
5-20125V20 A3-wire (hot, neutral, ground)20 A20A kitchen, bath, and garage outlets (T-shaped neutral slot).
TT-30125V30 A3-wire (hot, neutral, ground)30 A"30-amp" RV / travel-trailer service (120V, not 240V).
6-15250V15 A3-wire (2 hot, ground), no neutral15 A240V window air conditioners and small tools.
6-20EV250V20 A3-wire (2 hot, ground), no neutral20 A240V power tools; some plug-in EVSE (16A continuous).
6-30EV250V30 A3-wire (2 hot, ground), no neutral30 A240V tools, A/C, and some EV chargers (24A continuous).
6-50EV250V50 A3-wire (2 hot, ground), no neutral50 AWelders and EV chargers (40A continuous).
10-30125/250V30 A3-wire (2 hot, neutral), no ground30 APre-1996 electric dryers. Non-grounding, legacy only.
10-50125/250V50 A3-wire (2 hot, neutral), no ground50 APre-1996 electric ranges. Non-grounding, legacy only.
14-30125/250V30 A4-wire (2 hot, neutral, ground)30 AModern electric clothes dryer.
14-50EV125/250V50 A4-wire (2 hot, neutral, ground)50 AElectric range, RV service, and the most common Level 2 EV charger plug.
14-60125/250V60 A4-wire (2 hot, neutral, ground)60 ALarge electric ranges and cooktops.
NEMA 1-15, 5-15 and 5-20 receptacle faces side by side. In each the wider left slot is the neutral and the narrower right slot is the hot. The 1-15 has no ground, the 5-15 adds a U-shaped equipment ground, and the 5-20 adds a T-shaped neutral slot so it accepts both a 5-15 and a 5-20 plug.
The three 125 V faces compared. The wider slot is always the neutral: a 5-20P will not fit a 5-15R, which is the point of the T-slot.
Embed this chart· free with credit

Free to use on any site. Paste both lines: the credit link is the only thing we ask in return.

<a href="https://wattsimple.com/reference/nema-plug-chart"><img src="https://wattsimple.com/charts/nema-125v-receptacles.svg" alt="NEMA 1-15, 5-15 and 5-20 receptacle chart" width="1200" height="634" style="max-width:100%;height:auto" loading="lazy"></a> <p style="font:14px/1.5 system-ui,sans-serif;margin:8px 0 0">Chart: <a href="https://wattsimple.com/reference/nema-plug-chart">WattSimple</a></p>

Locking plugs (generators)

Twist-lock devices stay connected under vibration, common on portable generators feeding a transfer switch.

NEMAVoltsAmpsWiringBreakerTypical use
L5-30125V30 A3-wire (hot, neutral, ground), locking30 A120V generator outlet and RV/equipment power.
L14-30125/250V30 A4-wire (2 hot, neutral, ground), locking30 AThe common 30A portable-generator outlet; feeds a transfer switch.
L14-20125/250V20 A4-wire (2 hot, neutral, ground), locking20 ASmaller 240V generator and equipment connections.

How to read a NEMA number

  • The first number is the configuration (voltage and pole pattern); the number after the dash is the amp rating. So 14-50 = configuration 14 (120/240V, 4-wire) at 50 amps. An L prefix (L14-30) means locking.
  • A neutral carries 120V loads; 240V-only devices (the 6-series) skip it. A ground is required on all new installations: the 10-series is non-grounding and no longer permitted for new work (NEC 250.140).
  • The breaker shown is for a single receptacle at the device rating. Continuous loads such as EV charging are limited to 80% of the circuit: a 50A NEMA 14-50 supports a 40A continuous charger (NEC 210.20(A)).
  • Configurations per NEMA WD 6. Always confirm wiring and breaker sizing with a licensed electrician and your local AHJ.

Receptacles worth installing

For an EV on a 14-50, use a heavy-duty receptacle built for hours of continuous load on a 50 A circuit, not a residential-grade range outlet; both 14-50 picks take copper conductors only. On 20 A circuits, a commercial-grade 5-20 keeps its grip on plugs where builder-grade devices loosen and heat. Kitchens, bathrooms, garages and outdoor outlets need GFCI protection.

We earn a commission if you buy through links on this page, at no extra cost to you. It does not change what we recommend. See our affiliate disclosure. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

All receptacle picks

Size and wire it up

Cite or link to this pageAPA · MLA · Chicago · HTML

Free to cite, quote and link. Copy a ready-made citation: the link back is all we ask.

APA

WattSimple. (2026, July 16). NEMA Plug & Receptacle Chart. https://wattsimple.com/reference/nema-plug-chart

MLA

"NEMA Plug & Receptacle Chart." WattSimple, 16 July 2026, https://wattsimple.com/reference/nema-plug-chart.

Chicago

WattSimple. "NEMA Plug & Receptacle Chart." Last modified July 16, 2026. https://wattsimple.com/reference/nema-plug-chart.

HTML link

<a href="https://wattsimple.com/reference/nema-plug-chart">NEMA Plug &amp; Receptacle Chart</a> (WattSimple)