{
 "version": "2026-10-20",
 "license": "Dimension sheets: CC BY 4.0. Standard and published-size files: CC BY 4.0. Xem Studio's own designs (files_license = Xem Studio Design License): free to use and sell things from, not to redistribute as files — https://xemstudio.com/license/. Other publishers' files: their own license, linked beside them.",
 "slug": "nema-plug-receptacle-configurations",
 "name": "NEMA plug and receptacle configurations: 1-15, 5-15, 5-20, 6-15, 6-20, 14-30, 14-50, L5-30, L14-30 (blade numbers as published)",
 "kind": "standard",
 "category": "Electronic components",
 "group": "Connectors",
 "year": null,
 "question": "What are the blade sizes and spacing of a NEMA 5-15 plug, and what do 5-20, 6-15, 14-50 and L5-30 look like?",
 "tags": [
  "nema",
  "plug",
  "receptacle",
  "outlet",
  "electrical",
  "wd 6",
  "5-15",
  "14-50",
  "twist lock"
 ],
 "aliases": [
  "nema 5-15 plug dimensions",
  "nema 5-15p blade size",
  "us plug blade width and spacing",
  "nema 14-50 plug dimensions",
  "nema l5-30 dimensions",
  "nema 6-15 blade spacing",
  "nema 1-15 vs 5-15",
  "nema 5-20 vs 5-15",
  "type b plug dimensions mm",
  "nema wd 6",
  "nema l14-30 vs 14-30",
  "us plug ground pin diameter",
  "nema plug configuration chart",
  "us power plug blade length",
  "nema 14-30 vs 14-50"
 ],
 "overall_mm": {
  "length": null,
  "width": null,
  "height": null
 },
 "official_cad": false,
 "xem_status": "not-scanned",
 "les": false,
 "free_files": 0,
 "url": "https://xemstudio.com/objects/nema-plug-receptacle-configurations/",
 "sheet_txt": "https://xemstudio.com/objects/nema-plug-receptacle-configurations/sheet.txt",
 "sheet": {
  "basis": "ANSI/NEMA WD 6 as summarised by Wikipedia, worldstandards.eu, NEMA's wiring devices FAQ, Hubbell Bryant and distributor listings; numbers only, no files",
  "overall_mm": {
   "length": null,
   "width": null,
   "height": null
  },
  "notes": [
   "NEMA configuration names read as: a number for the family (1 = 125 V no ground, 5 = 125 V grounded, 6 = 250 V grounded, 14 = 125/250 V four-wire), a hyphen, the amps; an L in front means locking (twist-lock). P is the plug (male), R the receptacle (female) and C the cord connector.",
   "The dimensional standard for all of them is ANSI/NEMA WD 6, which is sold, not free. The numbers on this page are the ones that public summaries and maker pages print; the sources read give a full set of blade numbers for the 1-15 and 5-15 only. Every blank in the table is a number Xem could not read in a source, not a missing blade.",
   "Maker drawings were read for the 5-15P (Pass & Seymour PS5266 and the Turnlok L630 sheet): they print overall housing numbers such as 2.791, 1.752, 1.516 and 1.358 in without saying which length each is, so none is used. Hubbell's 14-50 housing numbers have the same problem.",
   "Disagreement kept: the 5-15 ground pin is 3.2 mm longer than the power blades on Wikipedia and worldstandards.eu, 4 mm longer on the Museum of Plugs and Sockets page. dimensions.com adds a 21.4 mm earth pin length and a 6.3 to 7.9 mm 'height' for the power blades without saying what they are measured from; those are not used.",
   "No receptacle slot sizes, contact positions, or plug body outlines were read, so no file is drawn: a plug drawn from the blade numbers alone would not be the part you can buy. Wall plate and box numbers are on the pages wall-plate-duplex-us, wall-plate-toggle-us and device-boxes-us.",
   "A polarised 1-15P fits a 5-15R: the receptacle has the same wider neutral slot (Wikipedia). IEC 60320 appliance couplers (C13 / C14 and others) are on their own page."
  ],
  "table": {
   "columns": [
    "configuration",
    "poles / wires",
    "rating as published",
    "blade or pin numbers as published",
    "source"
   ],
   "rows": [
    [
     "1-15P plug",
     "2 / 2 (hot, neutral, no ground)",
     "15 A, 125 V max",
     "Two flat blades, 1/4 in (6.4 mm) wide (6.3 mm on worldstandards.eu), 0.06 in (1.5 mm) thick, 5/8 to 23/32 in (15.9 to 18.3 mm) long, 1/2 in (12.7 mm) apart; polarised neutral blade 5/16 in (7.9 mm) wide",
     "Wikipedia; worldstandards.eu"
    ],
    [
     "5-15P plug / 5-15R receptacle",
     "2 / 3",
     "15 A, 125 V (Pass & Seymour PS5266 datasheet: 15 A, 125 V, 2-pole 3-wire)",
     "Power blades as on the 1-15P (worldstandards.eu: 6.3 wide, 1.5 thick, 15.9 to 18.3 long, 12.7 apart). Ground pin Ø3/16 in (4.8 mm), round or U-shaped; 1/8 in (3.2 mm) longer than the power blades (Wikipedia, worldstandards.eu) but 4 mm longer in the Museum of Plugs and Sockets; offset 15/32 in (11.9 mm) from the blades, 1/4 in (6.4 mm) edge to edge (Wikipedia)",
     "Wikipedia; worldstandards.eu; dimensions.com; plugsocketmuseum.nl"
    ],
    [
     "5-20P plug",
     "2 / 3",
     "20 A, 125 V (amps from the naming rule; 125 V from Wikipedia's table)",
     "Neutral blade turned 90 degrees; its inner edge is about 1/2 in (12.7 mm) from the hot blade. No other numbers in the sources read",
     "Wikipedia"
    ],
    [
     "6-15P plug",
     "2 / 3",
     "15 A, 250 V max",
     "Collinear horizontal blades 23/32 in (18.3 mm) centre to centre, plus a ground pin. Blade width and thickness not in the sources read",
     "Wikipedia"
    ],
    [
     "6-20P plug",
     "2 / 3",
     "20 A, 250 V max",
     "One blade turned 90 degrees. No numbers in the sources read",
     "Wikipedia"
    ],
    [
     "14-30P plug",
     "3 / 4",
     "30 A; voltage not settled: Wikipedia's table prints 250 V max for the 14-series rows, distributor listings for 14-50 and L14-30 print 125/250 V",
     "L-shaped neutral blade. No numbers in the sources read",
     "Wikipedia"
    ],
    [
     "14-50P plug",
     "3 / 4 (Hubbell: 3-pole 4-wire)",
     "50 A, 125/250 V AC (Hubbell Bryant catalog)",
     "Straight neutral blade, sized so that it does not mate with a 14-30 receptacle. Hubbell's plug housing numbers (A 2.88 in, B 4.13 in) are printed without a legend, so they are not used",
     "Wikipedia; Hubbell Bryant A-27"
    ],
    [
     "5-30 and 5-50 plugs (the bigger 5-series)",
     "2 / 3",
     "30 A and 50 A, 125 V",
     "1 in (25.4 mm) between the power pins; the 5-30 also has an L-shaped neutral blade",
     "Wikipedia (quoting the NEMA locking configuration chart)"
    ],
    [
     "L5-30P locking plug",
     "2 / 3",
     "30 A, 125 V (amps from the naming rule)",
     "Curved-blade, twist-locking. No numbers in the sources read",
     "Wikipedia"
    ],
    [
     "L14-30P locking plug",
     "3 / 4",
     "30 A, 125/250 V AC, single phase (distributor listing title)",
     "Curved-blade, twist-locking. No numbers in the sources read",
     "Zoro listing; Wikipedia"
    ],
    [
     "any plug (duplex receptacle spacing)",
     "-",
     "-",
     "Maximum plug diameter 1.531 in (38.9 mm, computed) so that a plug fits in each half of a duplex receptacle; the FAQ says blade profiles are specified in UL 1659",
     "NEMA wiring devices FAQ"
    ]
   ]
  }
 },
 "sheet_text": "NEMA plug and receptacle configurations: 1-15, 5-15, 5-20, 6-15, 6-20, 14-30, 14-50, L5-30, L14-30 (blade numbers as published) — dimension sheet\nSource: Xem Studio, https://xemstudio.com/objects/nema-plug-receptacle-configurations/  (sheet CC BY 4.0)\nBasis: ANSI/NEMA WD 6 as summarised by Wikipedia, worldstandards.eu, NEMA's wiring devices FAQ, Hubbell Bryant and distributor listings; numbers only, no files\nCatalog version: 2026-10-20\n\nSizes: see table below\n- NEMA configuration names read as: a number for the family (1 = 125 V no ground, 5 = 125 V grounded, 6 = 250 V grounded, 14 = 125/250 V four-wire), a hyphen, the amps; an L in front means locking (twist-lock). P is the plug (male), R the receptacle (female) and C the cord connector.\n- The dimensional standard for all of them is ANSI/NEMA WD 6, which is sold, not free. The numbers on this page are the ones that public summaries and maker pages print; the sources read give a full set of blade numbers for the 1-15 and 5-15 only. Every blank in the table is a number Xem could not read in a source, not a missing blade.\n- Maker drawings were read for the 5-15P (Pass & Seymour PS5266 and the Turnlok L630 sheet): they print overall housing numbers such as 2.791, 1.752, 1.516 and 1.358 in without saying which length each is, so none is used. Hubbell's 14-50 housing numbers have the same problem.\n- Disagreement kept: the 5-15 ground pin is 3.2 mm longer than the power blades on Wikipedia and worldstandards.eu, 4 mm longer on the Museum of Plugs and Sockets page. dimensions.com adds a 21.4 mm earth pin length and a 6.3 to 7.9 mm 'height' for the power blades without saying what they are measured from; those are not used.\n- No receptacle slot sizes, contact positions, or plug body outlines were read, so no file is drawn: a plug drawn from the blade numbers alone would not be the part you can buy. Wall plate and box numbers are on the pages wall-plate-duplex-us, wall-plate-toggle-us and device-boxes-us.\n- A polarised 1-15P fits a 5-15R: the receptacle has the same wider neutral slot (Wikipedia). IEC 60320 appliance couplers (C13 / C14 and others) are on their own page.\n\nconfiguration  poles / wires  rating as published  blade or pin numbers as published  source\n1-15P plug  2 / 2 (hot, neutral, no ground)  15 A, 125 V max  Two flat blades, 1/4 in (6.4 mm) wide (6.3 mm on worldstandards.eu), 0.06 in (1.5 mm) thick, 5/8 to 23/32 in (15.9 to 18.3 mm) long, 1/2 in (12.7 mm) apart; polarised neutral blade 5/16 in (7.9 mm) wide  Wikipedia; worldstandards.eu\n5-15P plug / 5-15R receptacle  2 / 3  15 A, 125 V (Pass & Seymour PS5266 datasheet: 15 A, 125 V, 2-pole 3-wire)  Power blades as on the 1-15P (worldstandards.eu: 6.3 wide, 1.5 thick, 15.9 to 18.3 long, 12.7 apart). Ground pin Ø3/16 in (4.8 mm), round or U-shaped; 1/8 in (3.2 mm) longer than the power blades (Wikipedia, worldstandards.eu) but 4 mm longer in the Museum of Plugs and Sockets; offset 15/32 in (11.9 mm) from the blades, 1/4 in (6.4 mm) edge to edge (Wikipedia)  Wikipedia; worldstandards.eu; dimensions.com; plugsocketmuseum.nl\n5-20P plug  2 / 3  20 A, 125 V (amps from the naming rule; 125 V from Wikipedia's table)  Neutral blade turned 90 degrees; its inner edge is about 1/2 in (12.7 mm) from the hot blade. No other numbers in the sources read  Wikipedia\n6-15P plug  2 / 3  15 A, 250 V max  Collinear horizontal blades 23/32 in (18.3 mm) centre to centre, plus a ground pin. Blade width and thickness not in the sources read  Wikipedia\n6-20P plug  2 / 3  20 A, 250 V max  One blade turned 90 degrees. No numbers in the sources read  Wikipedia\n14-30P plug  3 / 4  30 A; voltage not settled: Wikipedia's table prints 250 V max for the 14-series rows, distributor listings for 14-50 and L14-30 print 125/250 V  L-shaped neutral blade. No numbers in the sources read  Wikipedia\n14-50P plug  3 / 4 (Hubbell: 3-pole 4-wire)  50 A, 125/250 V AC (Hubbell Bryant catalog)  Straight neutral blade, sized so that it does not mate with a 14-30 receptacle. Hubbell's plug housing numbers (A 2.88 in, B 4.13 in) are printed without a legend, so they are not used  Wikipedia; Hubbell Bryant A-27\n5-30 and 5-50 plugs (the bigger 5-series)  2 / 3  30 A and 50 A, 125 V  1 in (25.4 mm) between the power pins; the 5-30 also has an L-shaped neutral blade  Wikipedia (quoting the NEMA locking configuration chart)\nL5-30P locking plug  2 / 3  30 A, 125 V (amps from the naming rule)  Curved-blade, twist-locking. No numbers in the sources read  Wikipedia\nL14-30P locking plug  3 / 4  30 A, 125/250 V AC, single phase (distributor listing title)  Curved-blade, twist-locking. No numbers in the sources read  Zoro listing; Wikipedia\nany plug (duplex receptacle spacing)  -  -  Maximum plug diameter 1.531 in (38.9 mm, computed) so that a plug fits in each half of a duplex receptacle; the FAQ says blade profiles are specified in UL 1659  NEMA wiring devices FAQ\n\nFiles elsewhere (not hosted by Xem Studio; license as stated by the publisher):\n- ANSI / NEMA: ANSI/NEMA WD 6 Wiring Devices - Dimensional Specifications (the standard behind every NEMA configuration; sold, not free) — web — Standards body's page; dimensions are facts, the standard itself is paid — https://webstore.ansi.org/standards/nema/ansinemawd2012\n- Wikipedia: NEMA connector: rating table and the blade numbers quoted for 1-15, 5-15, 5-20, 5-30, 5-50, 6-15 — web — Publisher's page; dimensions are facts — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NEMA_connector\n- World Standards (worldstandards.eu): Plugs and sockets of types A and B (NEMA 1-15 and 5-15): blade width, thickness, length, spacing, earth pin — web — Publisher's page; dimensions are facts — https://www.worldstandards.eu/electricity/plugs-and-sockets/ab/\n- dimensions.com: Type B plug and socket: blade and earth pin numbers (agrees with the page above on spacing and earth pin) — web — Publisher's page; dimensions are facts — https://www.dimensions.com/element/type-b-plug-socket\n- Museum of Plugs and Sockets: North American plugs: the earth pin of the 5-15P is 4 mm longer than the hot / neutral blades — web — Publisher's page; dimensions are facts — https://plugsocketmuseum.nl/NorthAm1.html\n- NEMA Wiring Devices: Wiring Devices Frequently Asked Questions (WD 11-2023): maximum plug diameter 1.531 in; blade profiles are in UL 1659 — web — Publisher's page; dimensions are facts — https://www.nemawiringdevices.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Wiring-Devices-Frequently-Asked-Questions.pdf\n- Hubbell Bryant: Catalog page A-27: 50 A straight blade devices (5-50, 6-50, 10-50, 14-50, 15-50, 18-50), ratings and housing dimensions — web — Publisher's page; dimensions are facts — https://hubbellcdn.com/catalogpage/BRY_A-27_CatalogPage.pdf\n- Pass & Seymour / Legrand (RS copy): PS5266 straight blade plug, NEMA 5-15P, 15 A 125 V, 2-pole 3-wire (drawing numbers are not labelled) — web — Publisher's page; dimensions are facts — https://assets.rs-online.com/v1698741793/Datasheets/6784b33f28e34c387848b8da8562b6ff.pdf\n- Zoro (distributor listing): Locking plug L14-30P, 30 A, 125/250 V AC, single phase, 3 pole — web — Publisher's page; dimensions are facts — https://www.zoro.com/i/G4439605/\n- McMaster-Carr: Panel-mount NEMA receptacles (per-part CAD; no maker CAD page was reached) (free STEP/IGES per part, for your own design use; no redistribution) — STEP, IGES, PDF — McMaster-Carr site terms: personal design use, no redistribution [verify license at link] — https://www.mcmaster.com/products/panel-mount-nema-receptacles\n\nNo true-size file yet: the published figures do not fix the whole shape; a measured scan is planned.\nAPI: https://xemstudio.com/api/geometry?object=nema-plug-receptacle-configurations\n",
 "sources": [
  {
   "publisher": "ANSI / NEMA",
   "title": "ANSI/NEMA WD 6 Wiring Devices - Dimensional Specifications (the standard behind every NEMA configuration; sold, not free)",
   "url": "https://webstore.ansi.org/standards/nema/ansinemawd2012",
   "formats": [
    "web"
   ],
   "license": "Standards body's page; dimensions are facts, the standard itself is paid",
   "license_verified": true,
   "hosted": false
  },
  {
   "publisher": "Wikipedia",
   "title": "NEMA connector: rating table and the blade numbers quoted for 1-15, 5-15, 5-20, 5-30, 5-50, 6-15",
   "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NEMA_connector",
   "formats": [
    "web"
   ],
   "license": "Publisher's page; dimensions are facts",
   "license_verified": true,
   "hosted": false
  },
  {
   "publisher": "World Standards (worldstandards.eu)",
   "title": "Plugs and sockets of types A and B (NEMA 1-15 and 5-15): blade width, thickness, length, spacing, earth pin",
   "url": "https://www.worldstandards.eu/electricity/plugs-and-sockets/ab/",
   "formats": [
    "web"
   ],
   "license": "Publisher's page; dimensions are facts",
   "license_verified": true,
   "hosted": false
  },
  {
   "publisher": "dimensions.com",
   "title": "Type B plug and socket: blade and earth pin numbers (agrees with the page above on spacing and earth pin)",
   "url": "https://www.dimensions.com/element/type-b-plug-socket",
   "formats": [
    "web"
   ],
   "license": "Publisher's page; dimensions are facts",
   "license_verified": true,
   "hosted": false
  },
  {
   "publisher": "Museum of Plugs and Sockets",
   "title": "North American plugs: the earth pin of the 5-15P is 4 mm longer than the hot / neutral blades",
   "url": "https://plugsocketmuseum.nl/NorthAm1.html",
   "formats": [
    "web"
   ],
   "license": "Publisher's page; dimensions are facts",
   "license_verified": true,
   "hosted": false
  },
  {
   "publisher": "NEMA Wiring Devices",
   "title": "Wiring Devices Frequently Asked Questions (WD 11-2023): maximum plug diameter 1.531 in; blade profiles are in UL 1659",
   "url": "https://www.nemawiringdevices.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Wiring-Devices-Frequently-Asked-Questions.pdf",
   "formats": [
    "web"
   ],
   "license": "Publisher's page; dimensions are facts",
   "license_verified": true,
   "hosted": false
  },
  {
   "publisher": "Hubbell Bryant",
   "title": "Catalog page A-27: 50 A straight blade devices (5-50, 6-50, 10-50, 14-50, 15-50, 18-50), ratings and housing dimensions",
   "url": "https://hubbellcdn.com/catalogpage/BRY_A-27_CatalogPage.pdf",
   "formats": [
    "web"
   ],
   "license": "Publisher's page; dimensions are facts",
   "license_verified": true,
   "hosted": false
  },
  {
   "publisher": "Pass & Seymour / Legrand (RS copy)",
   "title": "PS5266 straight blade plug, NEMA 5-15P, 15 A 125 V, 2-pole 3-wire (drawing numbers are not labelled)",
   "url": "https://assets.rs-online.com/v1698741793/Datasheets/6784b33f28e34c387848b8da8562b6ff.pdf",
   "formats": [
    "web"
   ],
   "license": "Publisher's page; dimensions are facts",
   "license_verified": true,
   "hosted": false
  },
  {
   "publisher": "Zoro (distributor listing)",
   "title": "Locking plug L14-30P, 30 A, 125/250 V AC, single phase, 3 pole",
   "url": "https://www.zoro.com/i/G4439605/",
   "formats": [
    "web"
   ],
   "license": "Publisher's page; dimensions are facts",
   "license_verified": true,
   "hosted": false
  },
  {
   "publisher": "McMaster-Carr",
   "title": "Panel-mount NEMA receptacles (per-part CAD; no maker CAD page was reached) (free STEP/IGES per part, for your own design use; no redistribution)",
   "url": "https://www.mcmaster.com/products/panel-mount-nema-receptacles",
   "formats": [
    "STEP",
    "IGES",
    "PDF"
   ],
   "license": "McMaster-Carr site terms: personal design use, no redistribution",
   "license_verified": false,
   "hosted": false
  }
 ],
 "xem": {
  "status": "not-scanned",
  "sheet_free": true,
  "mesh_price_usd": null,
  "step_price_usd": null,
  "tolerance_mm": null
 },
 "related": [
  "cable-and-plug-sizes",
  "iec-60320-appliance-couplers-c13-c14-c19-c20",
  "wall-plate-duplex-us",
  "wall-plate-decora-us",
  "device-boxes-us",
  "metal-boxes-us",
  "panel-cutouts",
  "awg-wire-gauge-table-astm-b258"
 ],
 "fits": [],
 "dimensions": "exact (nominal, no tolerance added)",
 "dimension_rule": "All geometry on Xem Studio is exact (nominal, true size) with no tolerance added. Where a part meets another part, the object lists its mating features (feature, exact size, what it mates with, fit class: press, slide, run, socket, clamp or designed). Apply your process's allowance to those features only; 'designed' gaps are part of the design and stay as drawn. Typical accuracy by process and ISO 286 fits: https://xemstudio.com/tolerances/",
 "mating": [
  {
   "feature": "1-15P / 5-15P hot blade",
   "exact": "6.3 to 6.4 wide × 1.5 thick, 12.7 between blades",
   "mates": "5-15R receptacle slots (slot sizes not published in the sources read)",
   "fit": "designed",
   "files": "all"
  },
  {
   "feature": "1-15P polarised neutral blade",
   "exact": "7.9 wide (5/16 in)",
   "mates": "the wider neutral slot of a 5-15R (Wikipedia)",
   "fit": "designed",
   "files": "all"
  },
  {
   "feature": "5-15P ground pin",
   "exact": "Ø4.8 (3/16 in), 3.2 longer than the blades (4 in one source), offset 11.9",
   "mates": "5-15R ground hole (size not published in the sources read)",
   "fit": "designed",
   "files": "all"
  }
 ],
 "fit_classes": {
  "press": "stays put: pin, tube, bearing or magnet held by interference. ISO 286 equivalent: H7/p6 (locational interference) or tighter.",
  "slide": "assembles by hand and is held by a grub, pinch or clamp: shaft in a hub, rod in a socket, spigot in a bore. ISO 286 equivalent: H7/g6 or H7/h6.",
  "run": "turns or slides in use: pin in a link, rod through a guide. ISO 286 equivalent: H8/f7 (close running).",
  "socket": "large sliding fit: syringe barrel, sleeve, bobbin in a bore. ISO 286 equivalent: H9/d9 (free running) or looser.",
  "clamp": "split part that closes on the mating part with screws: make it at size.",
  "designed": "a gap that is part of the design (piston fit option, displacer gap, air gap): do not change."
 },
 "faq": [
  {
   "q": "How far apart are the blades on a US 5-15 plug?",
   "a": "1/2 in (12.7 mm) between the power blades; the ground pin is offset 11.9 mm (15/32 in) from them."
  },
  {
   "q": "How big is the ground pin on a NEMA 5-15 plug?",
   "a": "Ø3/16 in (4.8 mm), round or U-shaped; 3.2 mm (1/8 in) longer than the blades on two sources, 4 mm on a third."
  },
  {
   "q": "What is the difference between NEMA 5-15 and 5-20?",
   "a": "The 5-20 has its neutral blade turned 90 degrees (a T slot), with the inner edge about 1/2 in (12.7 mm) from the hot blade; the 5-20 is rated 20 A."
  },
  {
   "q": "What does the L in NEMA L5-30 mean?",
   "a": "Locking (twist-lock): curved blades; the 30 is the amp rating."
  }
 ],
 "files_license": null,
 "offers": [],
 "markdown": "https://xemstudio.com/objects/nema-plug-receptacle-configurations/index.md"
}