Guides

How to Measure Switch Plate
Screw Holes

July 21, 2026  ·  VARØ Industries
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If you're ordering a custom switch plate — especially for an older home — the most important number isn't the plate's size. It's the distance between the two mounting screws. Get that right and the cover drops onto your existing switch and screws like it was made for them. Get it wrong by even an eighth of an inch and the holes simply won't line up.

Here's the good news: it takes one measurement and about five minutes, and there's a trick that makes it accurate without any guesswork.

Why Older Homes Don't Always Match

Modern switches follow a consistent screw spacing, so a plate cut to today's standard fits the vast majority of what's on the wall right now. But switches installed decades ago — or specialty and vintage devices — can sit at a different spacing. Instead of trying to guess whether you have an "old" or "new" layout, the reliable move is to measure the plate you actually have and cut the cover to match it exactly.

The One Measurement That Matters

You're after the center-to-center distance between the two screw holes — the vertical gap from the middle of the top screw to the middle of the bottom screw. That single number is what determines whether the cover lines up.

MEASURE HERE top edge top edge
The trick: measure from the top edge of the top hole to the top edge of the bottom hole. Because both holes are the same size, edge-to-matching-edge equals center-to-center — no eyeballing where the middle of a hole is.

Step by step

  1. Turn the switch off and remove the existing cover plate. Keep the two screws.
  2. Lay the old plate face-down on a flat table.
  3. Measure from the top edge of the top hole to the top edge of the bottom hole. Read it to the nearest 1/16″.
  4. Write the number down. That's your screw spacing.

What "Standard" Looks Like

A modern single toggle switch has its screws about 2‑11/32″ (roughly 2.35″) apart, center to center. If your measurement lands within about 1/16″ of that, you're on the current standard and a stock-spacing cover will fit. Flat rocker (Decora), round-dial, and push-button devices each have their own standard spacing — so always measure rather than assume.

If Your Number Is Different

Measure something clearly off — 2‑3/4″, 2″, or anything that doesn't match — and you've almost certainly got an older or specialty layout. That's not a problem. A custom cover can be cut to your exact spacing; you just have to know the number, which you now do.

A Few More Things to Note

Overall Size
Measure the old plate's height and width so the new cover matches its footprint.
Switch Style
Flip toggle, flat rocker (Decora), round dial, or push-button — the opening shape depends on it.
How Many
One, two, three switches in the same plate — the count sets the layout and gang spacing.
A Couple of Photos
The switch from the front and the plate next to a ruler let the maker confirm the fit before cutting.

No ruler handy?

Lay the old plate flat and photograph it next to a US quarter (0.955″ across). A known object in the shot gives a solid scale to work the spacing out from the photo.

Get a Cover Cut to Fit

Once you've got your screw spacing, overall size, and switch style, a custom wood switch plate can be cut to line up with the hardware you already have — standard or not. Get in touch with your measurements and we'll match them, or browse the rest of our maker tools and projects.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I measure the distance between switch plate screws?
Remove the cover plate and measure the vertical distance between the two mounting screw holes, center to center. The easiest accurate way is to measure from the top edge of the top hole to the top edge of the bottom hole — because both holes are the same diameter, that distance equals the center-to-center spacing without having to guess where the centers are.
What is the standard switch plate screw spacing?
A modern single toggle switch has its two mounting screws about 2-11/32 inches (roughly 2.35 inches) apart, center to center. If your plate measures within about 1/16 inch of that, it is on the current standard. Rocker/Decora and other device types use their own standard spacings.
Do I measure to the center or the edge of the screw holes?
You want center-to-center, but you don't have to find the centers. Measure from the top edge of the top hole to the top edge of the bottom hole. Since the two holes are the same size, edge-to-matching-edge equals center-to-center, and it removes the guesswork of eyeballing a hole's center.
Why don't my old switch plates match new ones?
Switches installed decades ago, or specialty and vintage devices, can sit at a different screw spacing than modern hardware. Rather than assume an old versus new layout, the reliable approach is to measure the plate you actually have and have a cover cut to that exact spacing.
How do I measure switch plate screws without a ruler?
Lay the old plate flat and photograph it next to a US quarter, which is 0.955 inches across. A known object in the same photo gives a reliable scale reference to work out the screw spacing from the picture.
What measurements do you need for a custom switch plate?
The screw-hole center-to-center spacing, the plate's overall height and width, and the switch style and count (for example, two toggle). A couple of photos — the switch from the front and the old plate next to a ruler — let us confirm the fit before cutting.

More maker tools and projects at varo.industries/apps.

Sources & References

  1. How to Install a Wood Switch Plate — VARØ Industries Blog
  2. 1/2" or 3/4"? Screw Lengths for Switch and Outlet Plates — VARØ Industries Blog
  3. How to Clean Wood Switch Plates Without Damaging Them — VARØ Industries Blog
  4. Request a custom-fit switch plate — VARØ Industries
  5. VARØ Industries Apps & Maker Tools