How to Add Electrical Outlets to Your Garage

Electricity in a garage is often an afterthought, usually leaving you with a single outlet buried behind a storage rack or a freezer. Adding more outlets transforms your space from a simple parking spot into a functional workshop where power tools, battery chargers, and lighting can live without the mess of extension cords snaking across the floor. Done well, this project relies on surface-mounted EMT conduit, which keeps your wiring protected and visible for easy maintenance. Because garages often have exposed studs or block walls, running conduit is significantly cleaner than fishing wires behind drywall. Safety is the priority here; follow circuit capacity limits, ensure solid ground connections, and verify your connections are tight to prevent heat buildup.

  1. Kill the Power First. Identify the existing outlet you intend to branch off from and turn off the power at the main breaker. Use a non-contact voltage tester to verify the power is dead before removing any cover plates.
  2. Spot Your Outlets Smart. Mark the locations for your new boxes on the wall using a pencil and level. Ensure the boxes are at a consistent height, typically 48 inches above the floor for workbench accessibility.
  3. Anchor Boxes Plumb. Secure surface-mount metallic utility boxes directly to the wall studs using screws. If you are mounting to masonry, use masonry anchors and a hammer drill to ensure a rigid hold.
  4. Run Conduit Straight. Measure and cut your EMT conduit to span the distance between your boxes, using a conduit bender for corners. Secure the conduit to the wall with pipe straps every 3 feet and at each box termination.
  5. Thread Wire Through. Feed 12-gauge THHN wire through the conduit from the source box to your new outlets. Use a fish tape if the run is long or has multiple bends to pull the black, white, and green wires through easily.
  6. Connect by Code. Connect the wires to the outlet terminals: black to gold (hot), white to silver (neutral), and green or bare to the green screw (ground). Install the outlets into the boxes and attach the cover plates.