How to Replace an Electrical Outlet

If your old outlet has become so loose that a cord barely stays in place, it's time to change it. It's not just an annoyance—it's a hazard.

Warning
Working with electricity is very dangerous — be extremely careful and, if you have any doubts, contact a professional.

Step 1: Cut the power
Cut the power to the outlet by flipping the circuit breaker or removing the fuse at the main panel.

Tip
If you have a voltage detector, test that the power is off by inserting the tip of it into the outlet’s smaller slot. Or just plug in an electrical fixture that you know is in working condition and test it.

Step 2: Remove outlet cover
When you’re certain the power is off, unscrew and remove the outlet cover.

Step 3: Remove the outlet
Unscrew and remove the outlet itself from the electrical box. Notice how the wires are connected to it, either by two screws on the sides of the outlet, or fastened to the back.

Tip
Take a digital picture of the back of the outlet so you’ll have a reference of what wire attaches where.

Step 4: Detach wires
Detach the wires. If they are attached on the side by screws, loosen the screws with the screwdriver. If they’re inserted in holes in the back, place the screwdriver in the slot located next to each hole to release the wire.

Step 5: Get a new outlet
Take your old outlet to the hardware store and purchase a new one just like the old one.

Step 6: Reconnect wires
Install the new outlet by connecting the green or bare copper ground wire first. Bend the tip of the wire into a loop with the wire cutter and curl it around the screw in a clockwise direction. Use the screwdriver to tighten the screw into place.

Tip
You’ll need about half an inch of bare wire to wrap around the screw; if you don’t have enough, use the wire cutters to remove excess insulation.

Step 7: Connect wires
Connect the white wire, followed by the rest of the wires.

Step 8: Replace the outlet
Replace the outlet in the electrical box, making sure the green or bare copper grounding wire is not touching the other wires.

Step 9: Replace the cover
Replace the outlet cover.

Step 10: Restore power
Turn the power back on. You can use a voltage detector to check the outlet for power, or test it with an appliance. Congratulate yourself for a job well done.

Did You Know?
Electricity travels at the speed of light — more than 186,000 miles per second!

[janetluvfostermom]

To all of the complainers, I do not care how fast electricity goes, but I do care how to install a new outlet. I am happy to be able to see on YouTube how to do it. I do like the idea of plugging in a radio and when you hear it go off to know the outlet should not be working. ( I have all of my switches marked. but it is good to be double sure.) I do agree it is important to have a tester. So happy you did not need to swear like the other videos that are up on YouTube. Thanks for posting.

[Haceti]

I don't even know why im wathcing this. I dont need to change an outlet lmao

[darkheat]

Electric current is defined as the ordered movement of charge. The charge that moves in electricity could be ionic charges in a liquid or a gas. Most of us usually think of electrons as the charge carrier in electricity. Lets refine the question “How fast is a current comprising of moving electrons?”. One ampere of current flows when one Coulomb passes a given point in a circuit in one second. The Coulomb is the unit of charge as is equivalent to 6.25 x 10^18 electrons.

[DeucesWildGaming]

Uhm. How did you go from 3 wires in the old one, to 5 wires attached to the new outlet? i need to know how to do a 3 wire.

[keveng]

I already know how to do this, its pretty easy and you dont have to cut off the power, simply dont touch the screws in the outlet and if you do its not a big scary shock its just a little pinch that tickles you. and use any screw driver it doesnt matter. Put the white wires on the gold screws and the black wire on the black screws, simple.

[trucksoner]

@Nornamwiley hot is never referred to as positive, it is often called the negative, but even this isn't correct AC terminology

[trucksoner]

@trucksoner it's called "electrical code simplified", so that's why i called it "the code book", everyone i know calls it that even though it's a bit misleading

[maybachlover]

@blackcraft2 If electricity travels at the speed of light why are we replacing old copper telephone wires to much faster fiber optic lines? because light moves much faster. I agree with your logic.

[trucksoner]

it depends where you live. in a lot of places you need a permit for some or all stuff

but honestly screw a permit, this is so easy

[userd]

2) you risk electrocuting yourself if you make contact with both the neutral or hot and the tab at the same time. Or if a wire hits the tab it will arc, probably wouldn't even trip the breaker but you risk damaging the integrity of the wire. So the order of wiring is actually important (in some cases).

[EverB]

When he installed the wires he didn't do it right. Your suppose to mount the wire on the screw in the direction your turning it not in the opposite direction. That allows for the wire to bite into the screw correctly. Also, the order that you attach the wiring doesn't matter whatsoever. When you bend the wires to make the perfect circle better to use an electricians screw driver with the added prong to make the circle in your wire. Electricity does NOT travel 187K, otherwise good video.

[SaviourSole]

Don't depend on this video. If you don't know what you are doing, then you won't know if you are doing it wrong. And there are frequently tons of wires packed in there, making it difficult to work with. Frequently the wires are very old with the insulation brittle and falling off right in your hands.
At 1:45 it shows the neutrals all connected (poorly) to the receptacle, basically using the receptacle as if it were a wire nut. This used to be standard but is no longer acceptable.

[hodges]

is this replcement the same for a coleman 6250 generator

[flwalkman]

I thought this was going to be funny; but it is just a home improvement video.

[nunbiz]

This guy started out pulling the outlet out and had only three wires hanging out of the box a black white and copper @ 1:16 then at 1:46 he has six or seven wires hanging out of the wall how did that happen?

[DeathByGravityBlast]

they could have pigtailed those neutrals off of 1 termination...or used 1 neutral for multiple circuits...that just looked like it was more than necessary

[userd]

That's only true if your not working live. If you are, you should ALWAYS hook the ground on last. The reason being that when it is hooked on, the metal mounting tabs become grounded, and

[darkheat]

@blackcraft2 A electric field is created by electrically charged particles, or by time varying magnetic fields; electric fields exert a force on other electrically charged particles.

[scannerwa]

Admittedly, backcraft2 is right that electricity doesn't travel @ the speed of light. However there are other factors that determine how fast current travels. Not that this matters to the typical Joe who may not have much experience with electrical work & just wants to safely change their outlet without turning themselves into a briquette or paying a fortune having someone do it for them, which this video does sufficiently.

So, minus several points for physics, but kudos for the rest! :)

[MattD]

If it travels 186, 000 miles a second, shouldn't my iPod charge in less time then an hour and a half.