Complete Wall Plate & Outlet Cover Glossary (Expanded Terminology Guide)
A detailed glossary of wall plate, switch plate, and outlet cover terms—covering common names, technical definitions, and real-world usage.
Electrical wall plates are known by many different names, including outlet covers, switch plates, light switch covers, plug covers, and electrical cover plates. This expanded glossary explains common and technical terms used by homeowners, electricians, contractors, facility managers, and maintenance teams when choosing the correct wall plate or switch cover.
This page is designed as a growing reference guide. Over time, we will continue adding more wall plate terms, product names, device styles, sizing references, installation terms, and industry phrases to help customers better understand what they need.
A
Adapter Plate
An adapter plate is a wall plate or cover used to help fit one device style, box style, or opening type into another installation setup. In wall plate terminology, customers may use this phrase when they are trying to cover an unusual opening, convert from one device style to another, or solve a problem where a standard switch plate or outlet cover does not fit correctly.
Adapter-style solutions are often needed in retrofit work, older homes, commercial buildings, and specialty electrical installations where the existing box, device, or wall opening does not match a common wall plate configuration.
B
Blank Wall Plate
A blank wall plate is a cover plate with no switch, outlet, or device opening. It is used to cover an unused electrical box, junction box, or wall opening where no active device needs to be accessible from the front.
Blank wall plates are commonly used after removing an old switch or outlet, covering low-voltage or abandoned openings, or finishing an electrical box that must remain covered for safety and code reasons.
Box-Mounted Wall Plate
A box-mounted wall plate attaches directly to the electrical box rather than to the device itself. This is different from many switch and outlet wall plates that screw into the device strap.
Blank covers and certain utility-style plates are often box-mounted. Understanding whether a wall plate is box-mounted or device-mounted is important because the screw hole spacing and installation method may be different.
Build America, Buy America (BABA) Compliance
Build America, Buy America (BABA) compliance refers to domestic preference requirements that may apply to certain federally funded infrastructure projects. For wall plates and electrical covers, BABA-related product questions usually focus on whether the item is made in the United States and whether documentation is available for procurement review.
Wallplate.store offers many Made in USA metal wall plates that may be suitable for government, commercial, school, hospital, municipal, and infrastructure-related projects where domestic sourcing is important.
C
Combination Wall Plate
A combination wall plate is a wall plate with more than one type of opening. For example, one plate may include a toggle switch opening next to a duplex outlet opening, or a rocker/GFCI opening next to a blank section. Combination wall plates are especially useful when multiple electrical devices are installed side by side but are not all the same device style. They are common in kitchens, bathrooms, offices, commercial spaces, and retrofit installations where switches, outlets, dimmers, and specialty devices are grouped together.
Cover Plate
A cover plate is a broad term that can refer to a wall plate, switch plate, outlet cover, blank cover, or electrical box cover. Customers often use “cover plate” when they are looking for the visible plate that finishes the electrical installation on the wall.
Because the phrase is general, it is important to match the cover plate to the exact device type, gang size, and wall opening. A cover plate for a toggle switch will not fit the same device as a duplex outlet or GFCI receptacle.
D
*Decora® / Decorator / Rocker Devices
Decora® devices, decorator devices, and rocker devices are common terms used for the large rectangular device style found on many modern switches, dimmers, GFCI outlets, USB outlets, timers, sensors, and smart switches.
Many customers use these terms interchangeably when searching for a wall plate with a large rectangular opening. A decorator-style wall plate is commonly used for rocker switches, GFCI receptacles, dimmers, motion sensors, and other modern electrical devices.
*Decora® is a registered trademark of Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc. In this glossary, “Decora-style” refers to a widely used rectangular device format found in rocker switches, GFCI outlets, and similar devices from various manufacturers. Unless otherwise specifically stated, products described or sold on Wallplate.store are not manufactured, endorsed, or affiliated with Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc.
Device-Mounted Wall Plate
A device-mounted wall plate attaches to the electrical device itself, such as a switch, outlet, dimmer, or GFCI receptacle. The wall plate screws into the device strap rather than directly into the electrical box.
Many common wall plates, including toggle switch plates, duplex outlet covers, and decorator/GFCI plates, are device-mounted. This is one reason screw hole spacing can vary depending on the type of wall plate and device being used.
Duplex Outlet
A duplex outlet is the traditional two-socket electrical outlet commonly found in homes, offices, and commercial buildings. A duplex outlet wall plate has two rounded openings that fit the upper and lower receptacle outlets.
Duplex outlet covers are different from GFCI or decorator-style wall plates. Even though both are used for receptacles, the opening shape is not the same, so the wall plate must match the outlet style.
E
Electrical Cover Plate
An electrical cover plate is another common name for a wall plate, switch plate, outlet cover, or electrical box cover. The term is often used by electricians, contractors, maintenance teams, and customers who are looking for a protective or decorative cover for an electrical device or box.
Electrical cover plates come in many configurations, including toggle, duplex, GFCI, rocker, blank, combination, oversized, jumbo, stainless steel, painted metal, and specialty layouts.
F
Finish
The finish of a wall plate refers to the visible color or surface treatment of the plate. Common wall plate finishes include white, ivory, black, brown, stainless steel, brass, chrome, red, and other specialty finishes.
Choosing the right finish can be based on appearance, room design, durability, cleaning needs, visibility, or code-related use. For example, stainless steel wall plates are often used in kitchens, commercial spaces, garages, industrial areas, and other high-use environments.
G
Gang Size
Gang size refers to the number of side-by-side devices or openings a wall plate is designed to cover. For example, a 1-gang wall plate covers one switch, outlet, or device opening, while a 2-gang wall plate covers two devices side by side.
Larger sizes, such as 3-gang, 4-gang, 5-gang, or even 10-gang wall plates, are commonly used in larger switch banks, commercial spaces, kitchens, offices, conference rooms, and other areas where multiple electrical devices are installed together.
Gang size is one of the most important terms to understand when choosing a wall plate, switch plate, or outlet cover because the plate must match both the number of devices and the device style, such as toggle, duplex, rocker, GFCI, or blank openings.
Image idea: Show a labeled 1-gang, 2-gang, and 3-gang wall plate example.
GFCI Wall Plate
A GFCI wall plate is a cover plate with a large rectangular opening used for GFCI receptacles and other decorator-style devices. GFCI outlets are commonly installed in kitchens, bathrooms, garages, basements, outdoor areas, and other locations where ground-fault protection may be required.
The same large rectangular wall plate opening is often used for GFCI outlets, rocker switches, decorator devices, dimmers, USB outlets, timers, sensors, and many smart switches.
H
I
Industrial Wall Plate
An industrial wall plate usually refers to a durable wall plate used in workshops, factories, warehouses, utility areas, garages, maintenance rooms, and commercial buildings. These plates are often selected for strength, durability, and long service life rather than decorative appearance alone.
Metal wall plates, stainless steel wall plates, jumbo wall plates, and 4x4 box covers are commonly used in industrial or high-traffic environments.
J
Jumbo / Oversized Wall Plates
Jumbo wall plates and oversized wall plates are larger than standard wall plates. They are often used to cover gaps, rough drywall cuts, chipped paint, damaged tile, oversized wall openings, or uneven surfaces around switches and outlets.
Oversized outlet covers and jumbo switch plates are especially useful in retrofit work, remodeling projects, older homes, rental properties, commercial spaces, and situations where the wall opening is not perfectly cut.
Image idea: Show a standard wall plate next to an oversized or jumbo wall plate for size comparison.
K
L
Light Switch Cover
A light switch cover is a common customer term for a wall plate used around a light switch. Depending on the switch style, a light switch cover may be a toggle switch plate, rocker switch plate, decorator wall plate, or combination wall plate.
When choosing a light switch cover, it is important to match both the gang size and the switch type. A toggle switch cover has a narrow vertical opening, while a rocker or decorator switch cover uses a larger rectangular opening.
M
Metal Wall Plate
A metal wall plate is a switch plate, outlet cover, or electrical cover plate made from metal rather than plastic. Metal wall plates are commonly chosen for durability, long service life, commercial use, industrial settings, and a more finished appearance.
Metal wall plates may be painted, stainless steel, brass, chrome, or another finish. They are often used in homes, offices, schools, hospitals, garages, warehouses, kitchens, and public buildings.
N
O
Outlet Cover
An outlet cover is a common term used to describe a wall plate that covers an electrical outlet or receptacle. It is often used interchangeably with terms like wall plate, switch plate, electrical cover plate, and plug cover.
Most outlet covers are designed to fit standard electrical devices such as duplex outlets, GFCI outlets, USB outlets, and decorator-style receptacles. Outlet covers are available in many sizes and configurations, including standard, oversized, jumbo, metal, stainless steel, and combination styles.
When choosing an outlet cover, the most important details are the device style, gang size, screw hole spacing, wall condition, and finish.
Oversized Wall Plate
An oversized wall plate is a larger wall plate used when a standard-size plate does not provide enough coverage. Oversized wall plates are commonly used to hide drywall gaps, paint lines, tile cuts, wall damage, or uneven openings around electrical devices.
The terms oversized and jumbo are often used together, although exact dimensions can vary by product line and manufacturer. Customers often search for oversized outlet covers, oversized switch plates, jumbo wall plates, and large electrical cover plates when they need extra wall coverage.
P
Plug Cover
A plug cover is a common everyday term customers use when looking for an outlet cover or receptacle wall plate. In most cases, when someone says “plug cover,” they are referring to the wall plate around an electrical outlet, not the outlet device itself.
Because “plug cover” can also mean child-safety outlet inserts, it is helpful to look at the device and opening style before ordering. For wall plates, the correct product may be a duplex outlet cover, GFCI wall plate, or decorator-style outlet cover.
Princess Size Wall Plate
A Princess size wall plate is a specialty wall plate style that is typically slightly taller than a standard wall plate while keeping a similar width. Princess plates often have rounded corners and a more contoured or decorative shape.
Princess size wall plates are useful when customers want a slightly larger or more decorative cover without moving all the way to a jumbo or oversized plate. They may be used for switches, outlets, and certain combination layouts depending on the available configuration.
Image idea: Show a Princess size wall plate next to a standard wall plate.
Q
R
Receptacle
A receptacle is the electrical device that receives a plug. Many people simply call it an outlet. A wall plate or outlet cover fits around the receptacle to cover the electrical box and provide a finished appearance.
Common receptacle types include duplex receptacles, GFCI receptacles, USB receptacles, decorator-style receptacles, and specialty outlets. The wall plate must match the receptacle style to fit correctly.
Rocker Switch Plate
A rocker switch plate is a wall plate with a large rectangular opening designed for rocker switches and decorator-style devices. Rocker switches are wider and flatter than traditional toggle switches.
The same opening style is commonly used for GFCI outlets, decorator receptacles, dimmers, timers, sensors, smart switches, and many modern electrical devices.
S
Screw Hole Spacing
Screw hole spacing refers to the distance between the mounting screw holes on a wall plate or electrical device. This measurement is important because different wall plate styles may mount to different parts of the installation.
Many device-mounted wall plates, such as toggle switch plates, attach to the electrical device. Blank covers and certain utility covers may attach directly to the electrical box. If the screw hole spacing does not match the device or box, the wall plate will not install correctly.
Image idea: Show screw hole spacing marked with arrows on a toggle wall plate or blank cover.
Stainless Steel Wall Plate
A stainless steel wall plate is a metal wall plate with a stainless steel finish or stainless steel construction. Stainless steel wall plates are commonly used in kitchens, garages, commercial buildings, industrial areas, schools, hospitals, labs, and high-traffic locations.
They are popular because they offer a clean, durable appearance and can coordinate well with stainless appliances, commercial equipment, and modern interiors.
Switch Plate
A switch plate is a wall plate used around a light switch or electrical switch. The term is often used interchangeably with wall plate, light switch cover, and switch cover.
Switch plates come in several opening styles, including toggle, rocker, decorator, dimmer, and combination layouts. The correct switch plate depends on the type of switch and the number of devices installed side by side.
T
Toggle Switch Plate
A toggle switch plate is a wall plate with a narrow vertical opening designed for a traditional toggle light switch. Toggle switches are one of the most common switch types found in homes, apartments, offices, and older buildings.
Toggle switch plates are available in many gang sizes, finishes, and configurations, including single toggle, double toggle, combination plates, oversized plates, metal plates, and specialty layouts.
U
Utility Cover
A utility cover is a cover used for utility-style electrical boxes, surface-mounted boxes, or functional electrical installations. Utility covers may be used in garages, basements, workshops, warehouses, mechanical rooms, and other exposed-work environments.
These covers are usually selected for function, durability, and proper box fit rather than decorative appearance.
V
W
Wall Plate
A wall plate is the cover installed over an electrical switch, outlet, receptacle, dimmer, GFCI, or other wall-mounted device. Wall plates help cover the electrical box opening and provide a finished appearance on the wall.
Wall plates are also commonly called switch plates, outlet covers, electrical cover plates, light switch covers, plug covers, and receptacle covers. They are available in many device openings, sizes, materials, colors, and finishes.
Wall Plate Size
Wall plate size usually refers to the outside dimensions of the plate, such as standard, Princess, oversized, or jumbo. Size is different from gang size. Gang size refers to the number of devices or openings, while wall plate size refers to the physical height and width of the plate.
Choosing the correct wall plate size is important when trying to cover wall damage, rough openings, tile cuts, paint lines, or gaps around an electrical device.