How to Wire an Electric Dryer Outlet

By
Timothy Thiele
Timothy Thiele

Timothy Thiele has an associate degree in electronics and is an IBEW Local #176 Union Electrician with over 30 years of experience in residential, commercial, and industrial wiring.

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Updated on 03/28/23
Reviewed by
Larry Campbell
Larry Campbell
Reviewed by Larry Campbell
Larry Campbell is an electrical contractor with 36 years of experience in residential and light commercial electrical wiring. He worked as an electronic technician and later as an engineer for the IBM Corp. He is also a member of The Spruce Home Improvement Review Board.
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Fact checked by
Sarah Scott
SS
Fact checked by Sarah Scott
Sarah Scott is a fact-checker and researcher who has worked in the custom home building industry in sales, marketing, and design.
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How to wire an electric dryer outlet

The Spruce / Kevin Norris

Project Overview
  • Working Time: 20 - 30 mins
  • Total Time: 20 - 30 mins
  • Skill Level: Intermediate
  • Estimated Cost: $15

Some older homes don't come equipped with outlets wired properly to handle the load of a clothes dryer. Fortunately, adding an outlet to handle this essential appliance is easy for a do-it-yourself homeowner who has strong knowledge of basic wiring. To do this, you'll need to know how to work with electrical circuits and wires. If you are not certain how to handle this DIY project or feel at all out of your depth, it is best to have this work done by a professional electrician.

Before You Begin

Make certain you are not working with live wires. Turn off the power at the main service panel. This means either flipping the appropriate breaker or removing the correct fuse. Use the voltage tester to ensure the power is off before proceeding with any of the steps outlined below.

What You'll Need

Equipment / Tools

  • Razor knife
  • Side-cutting pliers
  • Wire strippers
  • Screwdrivers
  • Voltage tester

Materials

  • Wire clamp
  • Outlet cover plate

Instructions

Materials needed to wire a dryer outlet

The Spruce / Kevin Norris

  1. Separate the Wires

    Gently tug the wires out of the box. Using a razor knife, carefully score between the conductors. Be careful not to nick the insulation of the wires when cutting.

    Use side-cutting pliers to trim the excess sheathing from the wire. Remove the paper filler between the wires. This leaves the wires exposed and ready for use.

    Closeup of separating electrical wires in a metal work box

    The Spruce / Kevin Norris

  2. Strip the Individual Wire Conductors

    Using the wire stripper, select the properly-sized cutter hole for the wire you are working with. Position the stripper over the wire and squeeze the handles. Twist the strippers slightly back and forth to loosen the insulation. Pull away from you and the piece of insulation that you are cutting should slide right off. Do the same with the remaining wires.

    Warning

    Never pull the wire strippers or razor knife toward your body. You could injure yourself easily if they slip off the wire.

    Stripping the individual wire conductors

    The Spruce / Kevin Norris

  3. Connect the Wires to the Terminals

    To connect wires to the terminals on the dryer receptacle, unscrew the screws on the terminal connections. Insert the stripped wires into the terminal slots and tighten the screws snugly. Tug on the wire to be sure the connections are tight.

    The wires should be stripped sufficiently to ensure there is bare wire, without insulation, under each of the connections points. Be sure not to have excess bare wire under these connection points that could be a hazard or a point to short out the connection.

    Tip

    On the receptacle, the brass-colored terminals are for the "hot" wires. The black wire connects to the left terminal, and the red wire connects to the right terminal. The silver-colored terminal is for the neutral or neutral/ground connection. The white wire connects to this terminal. The green terminal is for the bare or green ground wire.

    Connecting the wires to the terminals

    The Spruce / Kevin Norris

  4. Install the Outlet Into the Box

    Maneuver the wires back into the box and use the four screws to attach the outlet to the two gang box.

    Installing the dryer outlet into the new box

    The Spruce / Kevin Norris

  5. Install the Outlet Cover Plate

    Slide the cover over the outlet and press it into place. Insert the retaining screw and tighten with a screwdriver. Do not over-tighten because the cover may break. Plumb the cover plate for a more professional look.

    Installing the outlet cover plate

    The Spruce / Kevin Norris

  6. Test the Outlet

    Turn on the power to the dryer outlet.

    Turn the voltage tester on and set the selector to AC volts. Adjust the setting to the 240-volt setting or the next highest setting. Insert the test leads into the two top "hot" slots in the ​receptacle. These are the two slots that are tipped at a 45-degree angle.

    The voltage should read between 220-240 volts. Now read the voltage between each of the two hot leads to the neutral slot. This is the straight slot below the two "hot" slots. The voltage here should read between 110-120 volts. You should read 110-120 volts when measuring between the round hole and either of the hot slots. Zero volts should be read when checking between the neutral slot and ground hole.

    If all of these connections check out, you have a fully functioning dryer outlet.

    Testing the outlet with a voltage tester

    The Spruce / Kevin Norris