How to Childproof Electrical Outlets: Options and Costs

Childproofing electrical outlets is one of the first safety upgrades most parents make when a baby starts crawling or a toddler becomes curious about wall outlets. Here are the main options, how well they work, and what each costs.

Plastic Outlet Covers (Plug-In Caps)

The most common and cheapest option: small plastic caps that insert into unused outlet slots. They block access to the outlet holes but do not protect against a child removing a cap and then inserting something else. Caps can also become choking hazards if a child removes one.

Cost: typically a few dollars for a pack of 20 or more.

Effectiveness: limited. A determined toddler can often remove plastic caps. They are better than nothing for very young infants but are generally considered the weakest long-term solution.

Tamper-Resistant Outlets

Tamper-resistant outlets have built-in shutters that only open when equal pressure is applied to both slots simultaneously. A child cannot open them by inserting a single object. You have to insert a standard plug - which contacts both slots at once - to open the shutters.

Modern electrical codes widely require tamper-resistant receptacles in dwelling-unit locations, but the adopted code and local amendments vary. A home's construction date alone does not confirm whether every receptacle has this protection.

Replacing a standard outlet with a tamper-resistant one costs $3 to $7 per outlet for the part and about $50 to $100 per outlet in electrician labor. A confident DIYer can swap outlets themselves using the same process as any outlet replacement.

This is the most effective permanent solution.

Outlet Box Covers with Sliding Plates

These replace the standard cover plate with one that has a sliding cover over each outlet slot. The cover slides aside when you need to plug something in, and returns to the closed position when removed. Harder for small children to operate than plain plastic caps.

Cost: $5 to $15 per cover plate. DIY installation - just swap the existing cover plate.

In-Use Covers for Plugged Outlets

Standard outlet covers only protect unused slots. If a charging cable is plugged in at child height, the cord and plug remain accessible. In-use covers are enclosures that fit over the outlet and the plug together, preventing a child from pulling the cord out.

Cost: $5 to $15 each.

What to Prioritize

Focus first on outlets at floor level or within easy reach, outlets in rooms where children spend the most time (bedroom, living room, play areas), and any outlet with a device currently plugged in at low height. Upper wall outlets out of reach are lower priority until the child is older and able to climb.

Which Option Is Best

Sources and editorial notes

Prices and permit requirements vary by location, property, equipment, and scope. Treat price ranges as planning estimates and confirm current requirements with the relevant authority and contractor.

• US Consumer Product Safety Commission - home safety

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