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Needs to be convenient to work on. Top of panel should not be higher than eye level unless it is a very large panel. Try to keep the top of the panel at about 65 to 70 inches.

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In the United States, the NEC requires that an overcurrent device be installed not higher than 6 feet 7 inches. It's important to remember that when you are looking into a panel, you might not have good lighting and you want to be able to see what you're working with. Placing the panel so that working with branch circuits is comfortable without violating the code is preferable IMO.

I'm not writing to disagree with Dave. You will find many panels mounted 65 to 70 inches high. Sometimes, especially in a home, you don't have the room to bring the service conductors into the home and into the panel and mount it higher than that. But it is nice to walk up to a panel and with good light or a flashlight, be able to give the whole thing a good look. ========== Sparkfighter

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Usually it is 5ft 6in eye level but no higher then 6ft

The NEC requires that breakers never be mounted higher than 6 feet 7 inches. Note that this is the highest placement for the BREAKER.

It is my opinion that panels are often mounted too low. Most of the work in a panel happens below the main breaker so it is my opinion that panels should be mounted so most people can look straight into them.

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12y ago
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In the United States, the NEC has no minimum height. The maximum height for BREAKERS, not the panel enclosure, is 6 feet 7 inches.

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Q: How high does a main breaker panel need to be?
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