Deep wall plates are specialty switch and outlet covers designed for installations where an electrical box or device extends beyond the finished wall surface. They provide additional depth to help conceal protruding electrical boxes, devices, and unsightly gaps that a standard wall plate may not cover properly.
Deep plates are available in two distinct styles: 9/16-inch deep wall plates with a straight 90-degree return and 3/8-inch deep wall plates with a broad beveled edge. They are especially useful for backsplash, tile, paneling, remodeling, and other specialty electrical installations.
What Are Deep Wall Plates?
A deep wall plate, sometimes called a deep switch plate or deep outlet cover, is designed with substantially more depth around its perimeter than a conventional electrical wall plate.
Standard wall plates are intended to sit close to the finished wall surface. However, there are installations where the electrical box or wiring device extends farther outward than normal. When this happens, a conventional switch or outlet cover may leave a visible gap, fail to sit properly, or create an unfinished appearance.
A deep wall plate provides the additional clearance needed to help cover the exposed area while creating a cleaner and more professional finished installation.
9/16-Inch Deep Wall Plates with a 90-Degree Return
Our 9/16-inch deep wall plates are designed for installations where the electrical box extends significantly out from the finished wall surface. These plates have a full 9/16-inch depth and use a straight 90-degree return around the outside edge rather than a beveled profile.
The straight sides extend outward from the face of the wall plate and then return directly toward the wall, helping conceal the exposed sides of a protruding electrical box or device. Because there is no beveled edge, the 9/16-inch style provides substantial usable depth and is especially useful where additional clearance is required.
3/8-Inch Deep Wall Plates with Beveled Edges
Our 3/8-inch deep wall plates feature a substantially deeper profile than a standard wall plate, along with a broad beveled edge. Instead of using the straight 90-degree return found on the 9/16-inch deep plates, the face of the 3/8-inch plate extends outward and then slopes back toward the surrounding finished wall surface.
This deeper bevel helps conceal the sides of a protruding electrical box or device while creating a smoother, more decorative transition back to the wall. The 3/8-inch beveled style is especially well suited for backsplash, tile, paneling, and remodeling applications where both additional depth and a finished appearance are important.
When Do You Need a Deep Switch Plate?
Deep wall plates can solve a variety of unusual electrical installation problems. They may be useful when:
- An electrical box extends beyond the finished wall surface
- A standard wall plate leaves a visible gap behind the cover
- A kitchen backsplash or tile installation creates an unusual transition around the electrical box
- Stone, marble, paneling, or another wall treatment changes the finished wall depth
- An older electrical box is not perfectly aligned with a remodeled wall surface
- A switch or receptacle installation requires additional clearance
- A standard flat wall plate does not provide a clean finished appearance
These situations are especially common during renovations, where the original electrical box may remain in place while the surrounding wall surface is changed, rebuilt, tiled, or otherwise modified.
Deep Wall Plates for Backsplash and Tile Installations
One common application for a deep outlet cover or deep switch plate is around kitchen backsplashes, tile, stone, and other finished wall surfaces.
Adding a new wall covering can change the relationship between the electrical box, electrical device, and finished wall. In some installations, the electrical box or device may project farther outward than expected, causing a standard wall plate to leave an unattractive gap.
A deep wall plate can help cover this transition and provide a cleaner finished appearance around the switch or receptacle. Depending on the amount of depth required and the desired appearance, either the 9/16-inch 90-degree return style or the 3/8-inch beveled style may be appropriate.
9/16-Inch vs. 3/8-Inch Deep Wall Plates
The two styles of deep wall plates serve a similar purpose but have noticeably different profiles.
| Deep Plate Style | Depth | Edge Style | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90-Degree Return | 9/16" | Straight sides with no bevel | Installations requiring greater depth or clearance |
| Beveled Deep Plate | 3/8" | Broad beveled edge | Backsplash, tile, remodeling, and installations where a smooth transition is preferred |
The correct style depends primarily on how much additional depth is required and whether you prefer the straight profile of the 9/16-inch plate or the smoother beveled appearance of the 3/8-inch plate.
Deep Wall Plates vs. Oversized Wall Plates
Although they can both help solve unusual wall plate installation problems, deep wall plates and oversized wall plates are designed for different purposes.
A deep wall plate provides additional depth away from the wall. It is useful when the electrical box or device protrudes outward or when a standard cover leaves a gap behind the plate.
An oversized or jumbo wall plate provides additional height and width. Oversized plates are typically used to cover larger wall openings, drywall damage, oversized tile cuts, paint lines, or other imperfections surrounding an electrical box.
If your problem is a gap behind the wall plate, a deep plate may be the better solution. If the area you need to cover extends around the wall plate, an oversized plate may be more appropriate.
Deep Wall Plates for Specialty Electrical Installations
Not every electrical installation can be solved with a standard switch plate or outlet cover. Deep wall plates are one of many specialty wall plate solutions designed for situations where conventional covers simply do not fit correctly.
At Wallplate.store, we specialize in standard, oversized, deep, specialty-size, combination, and hard-to-find wall plates for residential, commercial, industrial, institutional, renovation, and replacement applications.
Frequently Asked Questions About Deep Wall Plates
What is a deep wall plate used for?
A deep wall plate is used when an electrical box or device extends farther from the finished wall than a conventional wall plate can comfortably cover. The additional depth helps conceal the exposed area and reduce visible gaps.
What is a 9/16-inch deep wall plate?
A 9/16-inch deep wall plate has a deeper profile with straight sides and a 90-degree return. It does not have a beveled edge and is designed for installations requiring substantial additional depth.
What is a 3/8-inch deep wall plate?
A 3/8-inch deep wall plate provides additional depth while using a broad beveled edge around the perimeter. The bevel creates a smooth transition from the face of the plate back toward the finished wall.
Can deep wall plates be used with tile or kitchen backsplashes?
Yes. Deep plates can be particularly useful in certain tile, backsplash, stone, paneling, and remodeling installations where the finished wall surface and electrical box do not align normally.
Is a deep wall plate the same as a jumbo wall plate?
No. A deep wall plate provides additional depth away from the wall. A jumbo or oversized wall plate provides additional height and width to cover a larger area of the wall.
Should I choose a 9/16-inch or 3/8-inch deep wall plate?
Choose based on the amount of additional depth you need and the desired edge style. The 9/16-inch style provides greater depth with a straight 90-degree return, while the 3/8-inch style uses a broad beveled edge for a smoother transition back toward the wall.