# 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)

> 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?

- Category: Electronic components › Connectors
- Kind: Standard part
- 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
- Page: https://xemstudio.com/objects/nema-plug-receptacle-configurations/ · JSON: https://xemstudio.com/api/geometry?object=nema-plug-receptacle-configurations · Plain text: https://xemstudio.com/objects/nema-plug-receptacle-configurations/sheet.txt
- License: dimension sheet CC BY 4.0 (Xem Studio); files CC BY 4.0 or their publisher's license
- Use in every chat: add https://xemstudio.com/mcp as a connector (https://xemstudio.com/use-with-ai/)

**Exact dimensions.** Every file is drawn at true size with no tolerance added. The holes and pins that meet another part are listed below under Mating features, with the fit each joint needs; open those by your process's clearance before making the part.

## 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.

## Mating features (exact size; open press / slide / run / socket by your process clearance, leave designed and clamp as drawn)

| feature | exact | mates with | fit | files |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-15P / 5-15P hot blade | 6.3 to 6.4 wide × 1.5 thick, 12.7 between blades | 5-15R receptacle slots (slot sizes not published in the sources read) | designed | all |
| 1-15P polarised neutral blade | 7.9 wide (5/16 in) | the wider neutral slot of a 5-15R (Wikipedia) | designed | all |
| 5-15P ground pin | Ø4.8 (3/16 in), 3.2 longer than the blades (4 in one source), offset 11.9 | 5-15R ground hole (size not published in the sources read) | designed | all |

## Sizes

| configuration | poles / wires | rating as published | blade or pin numbers as published | source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |

## Where the files are

- ANSI / NEMA: [ANSI/NEMA WD 6 Wiring Devices - Dimensional Specifications (the standard behind every NEMA configuration; sold, not free)](https://webstore.ansi.org/standards/nema/ansinemawd2012) — web — Standards body's page; dimensions are facts, the standard itself is paid
- Wikipedia: [NEMA connector: rating table and the blade numbers quoted for 1-15, 5-15, 5-20, 5-30, 5-50, 6-15](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NEMA_connector) — web — Publisher's page; dimensions are facts
- 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](https://www.worldstandards.eu/electricity/plugs-and-sockets/ab/) — web — Publisher's page; dimensions are facts
- dimensions.com: [Type B plug and socket: blade and earth pin numbers (agrees with the page above on spacing and earth pin)](https://www.dimensions.com/element/type-b-plug-socket) — web — Publisher's page; dimensions are facts
- Museum of Plugs and Sockets: [North American plugs: the earth pin of the 5-15P is 4 mm longer than the hot / neutral blades](https://plugsocketmuseum.nl/NorthAm1.html) — web — Publisher's page; dimensions are facts
- NEMA Wiring Devices: [Wiring Devices Frequently Asked Questions (WD 11-2023): maximum plug diameter 1.531 in; blade profiles are in UL 1659](https://www.nemawiringdevices.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Wiring-Devices-Frequently-Asked-Questions.pdf) — web — Publisher's page; dimensions are facts
- 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](https://hubbellcdn.com/catalogpage/BRY_A-27_CatalogPage.pdf) — web — Publisher's page; dimensions are facts
- 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)](https://assets.rs-online.com/v1698741793/Datasheets/6784b33f28e34c387848b8da8562b6ff.pdf) — web — Publisher's page; dimensions are facts
- Zoro (distributor listing): [Locking plug L14-30P, 30 A, 125/250 V AC, single phase, 3 pole](https://www.zoro.com/i/G4439605/) — web — Publisher's page; dimensions are facts
- 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)](https://www.mcmaster.com/products/panel-mount-nema-receptacles) — STEP, IGES, PDF — McMaster-Carr site terms: personal design use, no redistribution (verify at link)

## Questions

**How far apart are the blades on a US 5-15 plug?**

1/2 in (12.7 mm) between the power blades; the ground pin is offset 11.9 mm (15/32 in) from them.

**How big is the ground pin on a NEMA 5-15 plug?**

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.

**What is the difference between NEMA 5-15 and 5-20?**

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.

**What does the L in NEMA L5-30 mean?**

Locking (twist-lock): curved blades; the 30 is the amp rating.

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