Electrical installation
Electrical planning for a new build: how many sockets does a room need?
A house is built twice – once in stone and once in copper. Here is how to plan that invisible second half so that it still fits in twenty years' time.
TOKSEL Elektrotechnik editorial team Published on 5 min read
A house is built twice. Once from stone, timber and glass – the house everyone sees. And once from copper, plastic and ideas: a nervous system that vanishes behind the plaster before the first guest rings the bell. This second build decides whether the house thinks along with you or whether, ten years from now, extension leads will be snaking across the living room.
The good news: plan early and you get more comfort for less money. The bad news: whatever is missing once the walls are plastered can only be added afterwards, amid dust and freshly cut chases.
The right time
Electrical planning belongs in the phase when the floor plan and furniture layout are settled but there is no plaster on the walls yet. By the first fix (Rohinstallation) at the latest, all outlets, cable routes and empty conduits (Leerrohre) must be decided. Bring your furniture plan to the meeting: where will the bed go, where the TV, where the desk? Sockets follow the furniture, not the other way round.
How many sockets does a room need?
DIN 18015-2 sets out the minimum provision for residential buildings. Beyond that, RAL-RG 678 distinguishes three equipment levels (Ausstattungswerte) – from one star for basic provision to three stars for a comfortable specification. In practice, we recommend aiming for the upper end: an extra socket costs little while the building is still a shell, but many times as much later on.
Our rules of thumb for a modern detached family home (a double socket counts as two outlets):
| Room | Recommendation (outlets) | What matters |
|---|---|---|
| Living room | 10–14 | media wall, reading corner, every wall |
| Bedroom | 6–8 | a double socket on each side of the bed |
| Children's room | 6–8 | desk, bed, later gaming and studying |
| Kitchen | 8–12 plus appliances | worktop, 400 V cooker, sink, fridge |
| Bathroom | 3–4 | washbasin, mirror, heated towel rail |
| Study | 8–10 | desk, printer, network sockets |
| Hall and entrance area | 2–3 | vacuum cleaner, charging station, coat rack |
| Outdoors | at least 1 per entrance | switchable from inside, splash-proof |
Do not forget lighting outlets, roller shutter motors, network and aerial sockets, or smoke alarms (Rauchwarnmelder), which are mandatory in North Rhine-Westphalia in bedrooms, children's rooms and hallways.
Installation zones: where cables may run
So that nobody drills into a cable when hanging pictures years later, DIN 18015-3 specifies fixed installation zones (Installationszonen):
- horizontally 15–45 cm below the ceiling and 15–45 cm above the floor, and in rooms with worktops additionally 90–130 cm above the floor,
- vertically 10–30 cm beside doors, windows and room corners.
Switches are usually set at a height of around 1.05 m, sockets mostly about 30 cm above the finished floor, and in the kitchen above the worktop at roughly 1.10–1.20 m.
Light, switches and atmosphere
Light is more than brightness. Plan ceiling outlets where tables will stand, wall outlets for indirect lighting, and two-way or intermediate switching at every entrance to a room. Motion detectors are a convenience in hallways and stairwells, and a must outdoors.
Spare capacity for tomorrow: wallbox, PV, heat pump, network
A new build today has to carry tomorrow's energy. We recommend:
- empty conduits from the meter cabinet (Zählerschrank) to the roof (photovoltaics), to the garage or parking space (wallbox) and to the heat pump location,
- a meter cabinet with spare spaces in line with VDE-AR-N 4100 – more on this in our guide Replacing a meter cabinet,
- network cables (at least Cat 7) to every living room and workroom,
- a neutral conductor in every switch box and deep device boxes – so that smart switches can be retrofitted later without new cables,
- surge protection, which is mandatory in new builds anyway – see Surge protection under VDE 0100-443.
If you are already planning a wallbox, you will find everything else in our guide Installing a wallbox; for the heat pump, see Connecting a heat pump electrically.
The plan as a document
At the end comes an installation plan: which cable runs where, which circuit supplies which room, how is the distribution board fitted out? Together with the test report (Prüfprotokoll), it is your house's memory – for conversions, for tradespeople and for the next owner.
Conclusion
Sockets are the punctuation marks of a house: leave them out, and everyday life starts to stumble. Plan generously, think about tomorrow and document whatever disappears behind the plaster. We plan and install electrical systems for new builds in Cologne, Hürth and the Rhein-Erft district – find out more under Electrical installation or get in touch directly via our enquiry form.
Frequently asked questions
How many sockets are required by law in a room?
There is no legal requirement for a specific number. DIN 18015-2 describes a minimum provision, and RAL-RG 678 more comfortable levels. For living spaces, we recommend considerably more than the minimum.
What does the equipment level under RAL-RG 678 mean?
RAL-RG 678 rates the electrical provision of a home with one to three stars. One star essentially corresponds to the minimum provision; three stars stand for a high level of comfort with more sockets, lighting outlets and communication connections.
At what height are sockets installed?
Around 30 cm above the finished floor is usual. In the kitchen, sockets above the worktop are mostly at 1.10 to 1.20 m. What matters is that cables run within the installation zones.
Is it worth planning a smart home while building?
Preparing for one is almost always worthwhile: neutral conductors in switch boxes, deep boxes, empty conduits and network cables cost little while the building is still a shell. You are then free to decide whether to set up the system straight away or later.
Related service
Electrical installation
Electrical installation for commercial and residential buildings – new builds and refurbishments, including meter boards and sub-distribution.
This article provides a general overview (as of October 2026) and does not replace an assessment or advice in the individual case. The applicable standards, laws and the requirements of your grid operator are decisive.
