Short answer
Expect a separate circuit for the hob, one for the oven, one for the dishwasher, one or two for the worktop sockets and one for the fridge. Induction almost always needs its own connection, on many models two-phase or three-phase. Plan the sockets before the kitchen is ordered, because after that the cabinets are fixed.
Who this article is for Anyone having a kitchen fitted. The connection is work for an installer; you decide the layout together with the kitchen supplier.
Which circuits a kitchen needs
| What | Circuit |
|---|---|
| Hob, induction | own circuit, often 2 or 3 phases |
| Oven or combination microwave | own circuit |
| Dishwasher | own circuit |
| Fridge and freezer | own circuit, not shared with the rest |
| Worktop sockets | one to two circuits |
| Cooker hood and lighting | can share another circuit |
So that is easily five to six. In many older homes the whole kitchen is one circuit, and that is exactly why the breaker trips there as soon as two appliances are on at the same time. See breaker keeps tripping.
A separate circuit for the fridge is not overdoing it: if a circuit trips while you are on holiday, you do not want the freezer to go off with it.
Induction is the most important question
Induction hobs need a lot of power. Many models are designed for two or three phases. On single-phase it is sometimes possible, but with power limiting: you cannot use all zones at full power at the same time.
So check before you order:
- the connection diagram of the hob, which is in the manual
- what your home has: single-phase or three-phase, see difference between single-phase and three-phase
- whether there is room in the meter cupboard
If you need to upgrade your connection, that is an application to the grid operator and it takes weeks. That is why this is the first question and not the last.
Where the sockets belong
- above the worktop, at least three to four points, spread along its length
- not right next to the sink or the hob
- in the cabinets for the microwave, coffee machine or a charging point
- a point for the cooker hood, accessible but out of sight
- a point in the plinth or under the worktop for the dishwasher and the fridge, with a visible switch if the appliance is integrated
That visible switch saves you if an integrated appliance ever develops a fault.
That last one is often forgotten: an integrated dishwasher with the plug behind it cannot be switched off in a fault without taking the cabinet apart. A switch in the cabinet next to it solves that.
Lighting
Worktop lighting under the wall cabinets is the difference between cooking comfortably and standing in your own shadow. Run a separate cable there with its own switch, and allow for the driver if it is LED.
What I need to give a quote
The kitchen design with the appliance list and the drawing with dimensions. With that I can say exactly which circuits are needed, what happens in the meter cupboard and whether the connection needs upgrading. Without that list every quote is a guess.
From my own work
For a kitchen in Meerssen an induction hob had been chosen that needed a three-phase connection, while the home had single-phase. That only came to light during fitting. A hob that can run on 2 phases with power limiting was then chosen instead, because upgrading would take weeks and the kitchen was already in. It works fine, but it would have been better to know beforehand.
When to call an electrician
- You are about to order a kitchen and want to know what the connection can handle
- Induction is going into a home with single-phase
- The kitchen is going in a different place from the old one
Send me the kitchen design with the appliance list and I will tell you what needs to be done. Request a quote.
Frequently asked questions
How many circuits does a kitchen need?
Expect five to six: hob, oven, dishwasher, fridge and one or two for the worktop sockets.
Can induction run on single-phase?
With some models, yes, with power limiting, so you cannot use all zones at full power at the same time. Check the connection diagram of the hob before you order.
Why a visible switch for integrated appliances?
Because in a fault you cannot reach the plug behind an integrated dishwasher without taking the cabinet apart.
Further reading
What does an electrician cost in 2026? Hourly rate and call-out charge explained
Hourly rate, call-out charge, material margin and VAT, without beating about the bush. Including what I charge myself and why a fixed call-out charge is fairer.
Electrics in the bathroom: what is allowed where
The bathroom is divided into zones. For each zone the standard sets what may be installed and how well it must be protected.
Concealed or surface-mounted cabling: what works where
Concealed is neater, surface-mounted is quicker and cheaper. In a load-bearing wall or a listed building you do not always have a free choice.
Questions and comments
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