A hallway that is 17 feet long requires at least how many receptacles?

• A. 4 total (two on each wall)
• B. 1 total (one on either wall)
• C. 2 total (one on each wall)
• D. 2 total (both on the same wall)

Answer: (B)

In hallways, receptacle outlets must be placed so that no point along the wall line is more than 12 feet from an outlet. This keeps power accessible along the entire length.

For a 17-foot hallway, placing a single receptacle roughly in the middle on one wall puts every point on the wall within about 8.5 feet of that outlet, which is well under the 12-foot limit. So one receptacle satisfies the rule, and it can be on either wall since the distance to all points stays within the required 12 feet. Adding more outlets isn’t required for this length, though you could if you wanted more convenience.