A cord running along the baseboard for two years, a power bar behind every piece of furniture, the couch placed by the only outlet on the wall. You’re not plugging in too much: your home is short on outlets. And adding them is simpler than you’d think.
The permanent extension cord hides a real need
An extension cord that’s run along the baseboard for two years. A power bar tucked behind every piece of furniture. The couch placed “there” because it’s the only outlet on the wall. You unplug the lamp to plug in the vacuum. Sound familiar? Homes built before the 2000s were wired for an era when we plugged in far less. The result: we’re short on outlets everywhere. The good news: adding them is one of the simplest, most affordable and most satisfying upgrades an electrician can make.
The signs you’re short on outlets
If you tick two of these boxes, you’re ripe for an upgrade.
- An extension cord plugged in permanently in the same spot.
- A power bar behind nearly every piece of furniture.
- You unplug one device to plug in another.
- Your furniture is placed around the outlets, not the room.
- Cords that cross a doorway or run under a rug.
How many outlets “should” a room have?
The electrical Code aims at a simple principle: no point along a wall should be too far from an outlet (in practice, you shouldn’t have to travel more than about 1.8 m to reach one). Kitchens have stricter requirements — several outlets spread along the counters. Recent builds follow this logic; older homes often don’t. If you live with two outlets in a whole living room, it’s not that you “plug in too much” — it’s that the installation is dated.
The 3 ways to add an outlet
Depending on the room and the use, our team picks the right approach.
On an existing circuit
The simplest and most affordable: we add an outlet from a nearby circuit with spare capacity. Ideal for a lamp, a desk, a living-room corner.
A dedicated circuit
For a hungry appliance (microwave, space heater, workshop, EV charger, loaded desk), we run a new circuit from the panel. No more tripped breakers.
Move or add nearby
We relocate a badly placed outlet, or add one right beside it — to have it where life actually happens.
First, we check the capacity of the circuit and the panel: adding outlets without accounting for the load just moves the problem (see “Why does my breaker keep tripping”). That’s where an electrician makes the difference.
Ordinary, USB or smart outlet?
While you’re at it, pick the right outlet for the use:
Outlet with built-in USB / USB-C
For the kitchen, nightstand, desk: charge phones and tablets with no block or power bar. One of the most popular additions.
GFCI outlet
Required near water (kitchen, bathroom, outdoors, garage, unfinished basement). We install it compliant the first time.
Smart outlet
Controlled by phone or voice, with a timer: handy for accent lighting, decorations, an appliance to schedule.
Outdoor outlet
GFCI and weatherproof cover, for the porch, entrance or decorations — without running a cord through the window.
Why leave adding an outlet to an electrician
Adding an outlet seems trivial, but it touches several rules at once: circuit capacity (you don’t overload an already-full line), wire gauge, box fill, GFCI/AFCI requirements by room, grounding and often a permit. An outlet added “on the cheap” on a saturated circuit, poorly grounded or non-compliant, means a tripped breaker, a fire risk, and a point that surfaces at a sale inspection. Our team does the math, runs the line cleanly and leaves you a compliant, durable installation.
No more cords: outlets where you need them
A CMEQ-certified company holding an RBQ licence, serving Greater Montreal, Laval, the North Shore, the Laurentians and Lanaudière. We calculate the load, run the line cleanly and leave you a compliant installation — ordinary, USB, GFCI or smart outlets.
Tired of running out of outlets?
We add them where life happens, compliant and durable. Flat-rate quote for several outlets.
What people ask us
How do I add an electrical outlet where one is missing?+
Three approaches exist: add an outlet from a nearby circuit with spare capacity, run a new dedicated circuit from the panel for a hungry appliance, or move/duplicate a badly placed outlet. An electrician first checks the capacity of the circuit and the panel, then picks the method suited to the room and use.
How many outlets should a room have?+
The Code aims for no point along a wall to be too far from an outlet — in practice, no more than about 1.8 m to reach one. Kitchens require several outlets spread along the counters. Recent homes follow this logic; older ones often lack outlets for today’s life.
Can I add an outlet myself?+
It’s more complex than it looks: you must check the circuit capacity to avoid overloading it, respect the wire gauge, the box fill, the GFCI or AFCI requirements by room, the grounding, and often obtain a permit. A poorly added outlet trips the breaker, creates a fire risk and surfaces at a sale inspection. Better to leave it to an electrician.
How much does it cost to add an electrical outlet?+
At Groupe Quenneville, a regular visit is $150 travel plus $140/hr (1 hr minimum). The real cost depends on the distance from the circuit or panel, the access inside the walls, and the type of outlet. For several outlets at once, we offer a flat-rate quote, often better value.
What’s the difference between adding an outlet and adding a circuit?+
Adding an outlet on an existing circuit is simple and affordable, as long as the circuit has spare capacity: ideal for a lamp or a living-room corner. Adding a dedicated circuit means running a new line from the panel for a hungry appliance (microwave, space heater, workshop) so it doesn’t trip the breaker. The choice depends on the load.
Can I install an outlet with built-in USB ports?+
Yes, and it’s one of the most popular additions. An outlet with built-in USB or USB-C lets you charge phones and tablets with no block or power bar — perfect for the kitchen, nightstand or desk. It can be combined with other options by room, such as GFCI protection near water.
Will adding outlets overload my panel?+
Not if it’s done right. Before adding outlets, we calculate the load of the circuit and the panel. If capacity is sufficient, we tie into an existing circuit; otherwise, we run a dedicated circuit or assess a panel upgrade. Adding outlets without that calculation would just move the problem to a tripped breaker.
Is a renovation the right time to add outlets?+
Absolutely. When the walls are open, running new lines costs far less and is done cleanly. It’s the ideal moment to plan outlets generously, add dedicated circuits, USB and GFCI, and avoid living with extension cords afterward. We plan all of it with you in a free quote.
