Guide · Updated October 2026

House electrical plan:
6 steps to a clean electrician quote

From PDF import to pro export: the method to build a house electrical plan that gets you accurate quotes. 370+ IEC 60617 symbols, AS/NZS 3000 circuits, auto-generated legend.

Reading time: 8 min·Updated: October 2026·By the Planelico team

What is a house electrical plan?

A house electrical plan (also called an electrical floor plan) is a technical document showing the position of all electrical equipment on your floor plan: power points, switches, lighting, the switchboard, data points and dedicated appliances.

The installation itself has to be designed and certified to AS/NZS 3000, the Wiring Rules — cited in New Zealand by the Electricity (Safety) Regulations. The Wiring Rules govern circuits, protection and cable sizing; they do not prescribe a drawing format, which is why a clear layout is worth producing deliberately.

Note: Planelico's symbol library follows IEC 60617, the international reference the Australian and New Zealand drawing conventions are based on. For the rules themselves, see the AS/NZS 3000 electrical plan guide.

Create your electrical plan in 5 steps with Planelico

1

Get your floor plan

Obtain a PDF of your house floor plan from your architect, builder or building designer, or use the plan from the sale documents. Even a hand-drawn scan works.

2

Import into Planelico

Upload your PDF into Planelico in one click. The floor plan becomes a background layer you can annotate without modifying the original.

3

Place electrical symbols

Drag & drop from 370+ standardised IEC 60617 symbols: power points, switches, lighting points, data outlets, smoke alarms and smart home devices.

4

Add zones & wiring connections

Draw coloured zones for each room and connect switches to their light fittings with wiring lines. Your electrician will immediately understand the intent.

5

Export the PDF

Generate a professional PDF with legend, room-by-room summary and title block — and, with Premium, the AS/NZS 3000 switchboard design pack. Ready to share with your electrician or builder.

Standard electrical symbols in Planelico

Planelico includes 370+ standardised electrical symbols. Here are the most commonly used:

Double power point
Weatherproof power point
Ceiling lighting point
Downlight
One-way switch
Two-way switch
RJ45 data outlet
Smoke alarm
Switchboard
Exhaust fan

See the complete guide to the electrical symbols →

How much to provide, room by room

AS/NZS 3000 sets no minimum number of power points per room — that is a design decision, not a regulation. The figures below are a comfortable provision for a modern home, where the cost of an extra power point at rough-in is trivial next to the cost of adding one later.

RoomSuggested power pointsLighting points
Living room6 – 8 doubles≥ 1
Kitchen (bench)6+ doubles≥ 2
Main bedroom3 – 4 doubles≥ 1
Other bedrooms3 doubles≥ 1
Study4+ doubles≥ 1
Hallway1 double≥ 1, two-way
BathroomOutside zones 0 and 1 only≥ 1, IP rated
Laundry / garage2 – 4 doubles≥ 1

Frequently asked questions

Do I need professional software to create a house electrical plan?
No. Planelico is a browser-based tool accessible to everyone — no download, no technical skills required. It includes 370+ standardised IEC 60617 symbols and exports a professional PDF in one click.
Is a house electrical plan legally required?
In New Zealand, no regulation obliges you to produce a layout drawing before work starts — but the electrical worker certifies the completed work with a Certificate of Compliance and an Electrical Safety Certificate either way. In practice a clear plan is what makes quotes comparable and avoids variations later.
How many power points should each room have?
AS/NZS 3000 sets no minimum count per room — it is a design decision. As a comfortable provision for a modern home: a living room with six to eight double power points, bedrooms with three or four, a kitchen with six or more above the bench plus dedicated circuits for the cooktop and oven. Table C9 (informative) then guides how many points a circuit can carry: about 20 on a 20 A circuit.
Can I create the electrical plan myself without being an electrician?
Yes. With Planelico you can create the floor plan layout (symbol placement) yourself. The installation must be done by a licensed electrical worker. Having a good plan helps you communicate requirements clearly and get accurate quotes.
How long does it take to create a house electrical plan?
For a typical 3-bedroom house, plan for 1-3 hours in Planelico, depending on your familiarity with the tool and the complexity of your project. The onboarding demo helps you get started in minutes.

Related guides

Electrical plan software compared

Design packages versus layout tools, and which fits a home job.

AS/NZS 3000 electrical plan

Final subcircuits, RCD protection, certification.

Switchboard layout

RCDs, RCBOs and the circuit schedule.

Create your electrical plan now

Planelico lets you create a professional electrical plan in minutes. Free, no installation.

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