Wondering what's going on in the wall?
How your outlets get power, in plain English
Power comes from your breaker panel and runs from one outlet to the next. A dead outlet is usually stopped at one point along that path.
- The breaker. Each group of outlets starts at a breaker in the panel. Too much power on it, and it trips off.
- The GFCI outlet. An outlet with Test and Reset buttons. It shuts off power when it senses a leak, like through water. HomeTips says one GFCI can cut power to several outlets after it.
- The outlets down the line. Power runs from one outlet to the next. A loose wire in one can leave the outlets after it dead.
- The wall switch. Mr. Electric says some outlets are wired to a wall switch, usually for floor lamps.
So a dead outlet is usually one of these:
- The thing you plugged in, not the outlet.
- A tripped GFCI, maybe in another room.
- A tripped breaker.
- A wall switch that's off.
- A loose wire or a worn-out outlet.
The questions at the top check them in that order, safest first. Breaker won't stay on? See our guide to a breaker that keeps tripping. Hardwired smoke alarms chirping after the power went out? See a smoke detector that's beeping.
Lights flickering? See our guide to flickering lights.
Rather not do it yourself? Call an electrician.
That's a fine choice. Maybe you're busy. Maybe you're selling the house and just want it done right. An electrician can find out why the outlet has no power and fix it safely.
Most electricians charge $50–$130 an hour, and many charge a $100–$200 service call that covers the first hour.
Find electricians near you
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What to say
Calling a pro? Here's what to say.
A few lines to read when they pick up, and the questions to ask before anyone comes out.
Before you call
Say this
Hi. One of my outlets stopped working. When's the soonest you can get here? And what's your fee for the visit? Does it go toward the repair?
Always ask
- What's your fee to come out, and does it cover the first hour?
- Do you charge by the job or by the hour?
- Will you tell me the full price before you start any work?
Watch out if
- They push rewiring the whole house on the first visit for a small problem.
- They can't show you a license number.
- They won't give you a price before starting.
Feeling pushed to decide on the spot? You can say no and hang up. You owe nothing for a phone call.
Answer up to 5 quick questions. We'll give you the words a pro uses.
Answer the questions →More of a list person?
Common outlet problems, causes, tests and costs
Find the row that sounds like yours. The quick test is something you can check safely in a few minutes.
| What you notice | What it probably is | Quick test | Do it yourself | With a pro | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Warm, buzzing, scorched, or a burning smell | Danger signs at the outlet | Look and sniff from a step back. Don't touch | Pro job | $80–$200 | CALLSee the answer: Danger signs at the outlet |
| A lamp works in the outlet; the device doesn't | It's the device, not the outlet | Plug in a lamp you know works | Free | Not needed | FIXSee the answer: It's the device, not the outlet |
| One or more outlets dead; a GFCI's Reset button popped out | A GFCI outlet tripped | Press Reset on every GFCI outlet | Free | Not needed | FIXSee the answer: A GFCI outlet tripped |
| GFCI won't reset; a breaker or another GFCI was off | The GFCI had no power | Check the breaker and the other GFCIs, then press Reset | Free | Not needed | FIXSee the answer: The GFCI had no power |
| GFCI trips again right away, or won't reset | A GFCI outlet is worn out, or something on it is faulty | Press Reset with nothing plugged in | Pro job | $90–$200 | CALLSee the answer: A GFCI outlet is worn out, or something on it is faulty |
| Several outlets dead; a breaker in the middle or OFF | A breaker tripped | Look for a breaker in the middle | Free | Not needed | FIXSee the answer: A breaker tripped |
| Breaker trips again right after a reset | The breaker keeps tripping | Reset once with things unplugged | Pro job | $100–$260 | CALLSee the answer: The breaker keeps tripping |
| One half dead; works when a wall switch is on | The outlet is controlled by a wall switch | Flip the wall switches with a lamp plugged in | Free | Not needed | FIXSee the answer: The outlet is controlled by a wall switch |
| Dead; no GFCI or breaker tripped; no switch turns it on | The outlet or its wiring has failed | Rule out GFCIs, breakers and switches | Pro job | $80–$200 | CALLSee the answer: The outlet or its wiring has failed |
2026 U.S. averages, rounded. Pro prices include parts and labor. Most electricians charge $50–$130 an hour, and many charge a $100–$200 service call that covers the first hour. Nights, weekends and big cities cost more. See all repair prices
Want proof it's the outlet, not your device?
The lamp test
This tells you whether the outlet or the thing you plugged in is the problem. Mr. Electric suggests it first.
- Unplug the thing that won't work.
- Plug in a lamp or phone charger you know works.
- Then plug the first thing into an outlet in another room.
- The lamp works in this outlet: the outlet is fine. Check the device, its cord or its charger.
- The lamp is dead here, and the device works elsewhere: it's the outlet. Take the questions at the top.
Is a dead outlet dangerous?
Stop using it and call an electrician if…
Most dead outlets are safe to check. These signs are not:
- The cover feels warm, or it buzzes.
- You see scorch marks, melting or a cracked cover.
- You smell burning or hot plastic.
- A GFCI trips again right away with nothing plugged in.
- The breaker trips again after one reset.
Turn off its breaker if you know which one it is. If you see smoke or flames, get everyone out and call 911 from outside.
Got an electrician's quote?
What a fair outlet price looks like
Most dead outlets cost nothing: a reset or a switch. When you need an electrician, HomeGuide lists $80–$150 to replace a standard outlet and $90–$200 for a GFCI outlet. Ask yourself three things:
- Is it one outlet or many? HomeGuide says replacing one outlet takes a pro about 10–15 minutes. Wiring repairs take 30 minutes to 3 hours.
- Does the service call cover it? Many electricians charge $100–$200 to come out, which covers the first hour (HomeAdvisor). Ask them to check other outlets on the same visit.
- How old are the outlets? HomeGuide says standard outlets last about 12–25 years, and GFCIs about 7–15.
Example: $150 to replace one dead outlet is fair. A quote to rewire a whole room for one dead outlet is worth a second opinion.
Ran into a word you don't know?
Electrical words, explained
Read these before you start. The drawings show roughly what each part looks like.
- Outlet (receptacle)
- The place in the wall you plug things into. Most have two halves.
- GFCI outlet
- An outlet with Test and Reset buttons. It shuts off power when it senses a leak, like through water.
- Downstream outlets
- Outlets wired after a GFCI. When the GFCI trips, they go dead too.
- Breaker (circuit breaker)
- A safety switch in the panel. It flips off when too much power flows through one circuit.
- Breaker panel
- The metal box, often in a garage, basement or closet, where all the breakers are.
- Tripped breaker
- A breaker that has flipped off. It sits in the middle, or all the way at OFF.
- Switched outlet
- An outlet, or one half of one, that a wall switch turns on and off.
- Wall switch
- The switch on the wall that usually turns on a light.
- Scorch marks
- Black or brown marks around an outlet. They mean something got too hot.
Still have questions?
Questions people ask most
Why is my outlet not working, but the breaker isn't tripped?
An outlet that's dead with no tripped breaker most often has a tripped GFCI outlet somewhere else on the circuit. Look for outlets with Test and Reset buttons in bathrooms, the kitchen, the garage, the basement and outside. Press Reset on each. It can also be a wall switch or a loose wire.
Is a dead outlet an emergency?
A dead outlet is usually not an emergency, but one that's warm, buzzing, scorched or smells like burning is. Stop using it, turn off its breaker if you know which one, and call an electrician. If you see smoke or flames, get everyone out and call 911 from outside.
Why is my GFCI outlet not working?
A GFCI outlet that isn't working usually just needs its Reset button pressed firmly until it clicks. If it won't reset, check the breaker and your other GFCIs first, since a GFCI can't reset without power. If it trips again right away, something on the circuit has a fault. Call an electrician.
Why won't my GFCI reset?
A GFCI usually won't reset because it has no power, from a tripped breaker or another GFCI that's off. Unplug everything on it, check the breaker box, and press Reset on your other GFCIs. If it got wet, let it dry completely first. If it still won't reset, or the button won't push in or stay in, Leviton says it may be wired wrong or worn out. Call an electrician.
Why does my GFCI keep tripping?
A GFCI that keeps tripping is usually sensing a real leak of electricity, often from something plugged in, a damaged cord, or water in an outdoor outlet after rain. Unplug everything and reset it. Then plug things back in one at a time. If it trips when one goes in, stop using that thing (Leviton). If it trips with nothing plugged in, leave it off and call an electrician.
Do GFCI outlets go bad?
GFCI outlets do go bad, and HomeGuide says they last about 7 to 15 years. CPSC says to test them once a month: press Test, then Reset. Leviton says newer GFCIs that fail lock themselves off and won't reset.
Why is only half of my outlet working?
When only half of an outlet works, that half is often wired to a wall switch, usually for a floor lamp. Flip the switches in the room. If none of them turn it on, call an electrician.
Why did my outside outlet stop working?
An outside outlet usually stops working because its GFCI tripped when it got wet. Let it dry completely. Then press Reset on it, or on a GFCI inside, like in the garage or a bathroom. Keep the outdoor cover closed.
Can I replace an outlet myself?
We suggest an electrician to replace an outlet unless you've done it before. It means working with the wires in your wall. HomeGuide says a pro takes about 10–15 minutes per outlet.
Who do I call for an outlet that's not working?
Call a licensed electrician for an outlet that stays dead after you've checked the GFCI outlets, the breaker and the wall switches. Those checks are free and often fix it. Renters should tell the landlord first.
How much does it cost to fix an outlet?
Fixing an outlet often costs nothing, if it's a GFCI, a breaker or a wall switch. HomeGuide lists $80–$150 to replace a standard outlet, $90–$200 for a GFCI outlet, and $80–$200 to repair one.
How we built this
The questions follow the order an electrician checks a dead outlet: danger signs first, then a lamp you know works, the GFCI outlets (and their power, if one won't reset), the breaker, and the wall switches. Each answer makes some causes more likely and others less likely.
Prices are 2026 national averages from published repair-cost guides, rounded. Your local prices will differ.
- HomeTips, GFCI outlet not working (read October 2026)
- Mr. Electric, what to do if an outlet stopped working but the breaker's not tripped (July 2025)
- UW Environmental Health and Safety, resetting circuit breakers (April 2022)
- HomeGuide, electrical outlet repair cost (September 2025)
- HomeAdvisor, cost to hire an electrician (June 2026)
- Leviton, how to reset a GFCI outlet after lockout (April 2026)
- Leviton, reset lockout technology in GFCI outlets (December 2025)
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, what is a GFCI? (fact sheet, about September 2010; read October 2026)
- Bob Vila, what to do when a GFCI won't reset (updated December 2024)
How we make money: some links go to parts stores that pay us a small commission, and some pro listings pay us when you call them. Verdicts come from the diagnosis, not from who pays more.