How to Replace a Cover for an Outlet in the Floor

Floor outlets are so convenient and offer a safe way to get access to power in the center of a room.

You can use them to plug in accent lamps in your living room or to power your laptop from the comfort of the couch without the tripping hazard of running an extension cord to the nearest wall.

If a floor box cover is missing or damaged, you may be looking for a new replacement cover. Or maybe a new floor is prompting your search for a cover in a different finish. Maybe just a round cap is missing and you want it replaced to put your home on the market.

Replacement covers can be very difficult to find. That's because many floor outlet manufacturers don't sell the covers apart from the floor boxes.

Here is a Guide to Replacing a Cover for an Outlet in the Floor:

STEP 1

First, you need to identify the brand of your floor box. Common brands include Pass and Seymour, Leviton and Allied.

Leviton's brand is often stamped close to the spot where the outlet is screwed into the box.

If you have Leviton brand, you can purchase new round screw-in caps to cover the plugs, but the cover itself isn't sold separately. Go to Step 2.

Pass & Seymour's brand name may be stamped on the front or back of the receptacle or down inside the box. It may simply say "P&S". You may need to cut the power, unscrew the receptacle from the box and flip it over to see the brand markings.

Pass & Seymour doesn't sell caps or covers apart from the boxes. You'll need to purchase an entire new floor box kit.

Allied Moulded's brand name may or may not be on the receptacle. You might find it down inside the box, as shown here:

Allied sells new covers to replace damaged or missing ones. Keep reading to find the correct one.

STEP 2

Next, look to see if you have a single round outlet or a duplex outlet.

It's important to note if there is a single plug or 2 plugs in the box.

Note that in addition to having either 1 or 2 caps, the replacement cover may have different spacing between the screws as well as different cap sizes.

Also - the cap sizes are not only different for single vs duplex outlets, but they also vary in size by brand:

If you have Leviton brand and need just the replacement caps, note that the single round caps are larger than the duplex caps.

Order replacement Leviton caps here:

• Large Single Round Leviton Floor Box Cap
• Small Duplex Outlet Screw Cap for Leviton Floor Box

STEP 3

Finally, take measurements to ensure you are looking at the correct replacements.

Measure 3 things:

1. the size of the old plate or the uncovered box
2. the screw spacing (where the cover screws into the box or device)
3. the cap (or cap opening if cap was misplaced)

Each brand makes covers and caps in slightly differing sizes. The screw spacing is different as well.

Again, note that:

• Allied sells the covers separately (for their boxes only - see links below)
• Leviton sells the caps separately; small or large (for their covers only)
• Pass & Seymour only sells the entire floor box kit.

Allied Moulded:

• Single Cap Size: 1.47"
• Single Outlet Cover: 5.125" H x 3.5" W
• Screw Spread: 4-1/16"
• Buy cover only in brass or nickel.

• Duplex Cap Size: 1.46"
• Duplex Outlet Cover: 5.125" H x 3.5" W
• Screw Spread: 4-1/16"
• Buy cover only in brass, bronze or nickel.

Leviton:

• Single Cap Size: 1.75"
• Single Outlet Cover: 5.5" H x 2.75" W
• Screw Spread: 2-5/8"

• Duplex Cap Size: 1-7/16"
• Duplex Outlet Cover: 3.75" W x 4.5" H
• Screw Spread: 3-13/16"

Pass & Seymour:

• Single Cap Size: 1.74"
• Single Outlet Cover: 4.87" H x 3.25" W
• Screw Spread: 3-13/16" 

• Duplex Cap Size: 1.45"
• Duplex Outlet Cover: 4.87" H x 3.25" W
• Screw Spread: 3-13/16""

Shop all floor box outlets & replacement covers at Kyle Switch Plates.