This page is about the rough wireing in a kitchen. For information on lighting fixtures visit our sister site Kitchen Lighting Ideas, and visit this page for a step by step how to Install Under Cabinet Lights.  Only do your own Kitchen electrical work if you have experience, and know the local codes.

Modern kitchen electrical requirements by code need 2- 20 amp appliance circuits. No lighting or large appliances except the refrigerator should be on these circuits. If your kitchen does not have two then consider running a home run from the panel.

As far as the major appliances go in kitchen electrical most things need a home run from the panel. The dishwasher, the disposal, the microwave, and of course the range, cook top or wall oven need a home run. The amount of power determines the wire size and the breaker size, this is why the appliances need to be picked out before remodeling begins. Check the specs of each appliance to find out the power used and the recommended wire and breaker size. The Appliance Pages,  and the kitchen Design Pages.

Kitchen lighting should be on a lighting circuit and can be a 15 amp breaker with 14-2 wire. have a detailed lighting plan with accurate locations for all the under cabinet, over cabinet, recessed can placement, and dining table chandelier placement. 

Under Cabinet lights will need a switch. The best way for installing under cabinet wiring is for the wire to go through a hole in the back of the cabinet on the bottom of the cabinet so it is hidden. If you must have low voltage wiring then know that the transformer has to be hidden some where and low voltage wiring is not supposed to be run inside of the wall. The power for under cabinet lighting can come out in one place along a bank of cabinets and then the under cabinet lights can be looped to each other using flexible armor cable wire.

In a Kitchen electrical plan the counter top plugs need to be 4' apart or less, and with in 2' from the sink and cooktop, or range. All kitchen plugs need to be gfci protected. The cheapest way is to run all the plugs on a circuit through one gfci, do not double gfci.

Kitchen islands and peninsulas under 6' need a plug. Islands and peninsulas 6' and over need 2 plugs. Again check your local codes!