Best GFCI outlet for outdoors

Our picks

Best for most homes

Leviton SmartlockPro Slim GFCI GFWT1-W, 15 A

A 15 A weather-resistant (WR), tamper-resistant outlet that tests itself and has a status light.¹

$20.48 on Amazon

Best if the outdoor circuit is 20 A

Leviton SmartlockPro Slim GFCI GFWT2-W, 20 A

The same outlet in 20 A.⁴

$17.49 on Amazon

All-in-one: outlet plus cover

ELEGRP Outdoor GFCI with Extra-Duty in-use cover, 20 A

Its listing says the 20 A weather-resistant outlet and a lockable in-use cover come in one box.⁵

$21.99 on Amazon

Cover to buy with a bare outlet

Leviton 1-gang Extra Duty while-in-use cover 5980-UCL

Leviton's Extra Duty while-in-use cover, lockable. This is the vertical model.⁶

$16.79 on Amazon

Every outdoor GFCI and cover we checked

This table shows what each maker or seller says about size, weather resistance, self-test and covers. We read the maker's page where there is one, because the Amazon title leaves most of this out.

Every outdoor GFCI and cover we checked

Product	Size	Weather resistant	In-use cover	Self-test	Price
Leviton SmartlockPro Slim GFCI GFWT1-W, 15 A1	15 A	Yes	Not included	Yes	$20.48
Leviton SmartlockPro Slim GFCI GFWT2-W, 20 A4	20 A	Yes	Not included	Yes	$17.49
ELEGRP Outdoor GFCI with Extra-Duty in-use cover, 20 A5	20 A	Yes (listing)	Included, lockable (listing)	Yes (listing)	$21.99
Leviton 1-gang Extra Duty while-in-use cover 5980-UCL6	Cover, not an outlet	Not applicable	It is the cover (lockable)	Not applicable	$16.79
Amazon Basics Weather-Resistant GFCI 58487, 15 A7	15 A	Yes (listing)	Not published	Yes (listing)	$16.05
ELEGRP GFCI Outlet G1920T, 20 A2	20 A	Not shown	Not included	Yes, every 5 s (listing)	$12.99
Leviton SmartlockPro Slim GFCI GFTR1-W, 15 A3	15 A	Not listed by Leviton	Not included	Yes	$22.59

Prices on Amazon, November 2, 2026.⁸

Two outlets that look right outdoors but are not weather rated

How do I tell if a GFCI is weather resistant?

Read the maker's page, not the Amazon title. Leviton's page for the GFWT1-W calls it a weather-resistant outlet,¹ and its GFTR1 page lists no weather resistance.³ The outdoor Leviton has WT in the model name.

Of the outdoor GFCI listings we pulled, the top seller was the only one with no weather-resistant rating shown.² The Amazon Basics 58487 and the ELEGRP outdoor model both say weather resistant on their listings.^{5, 7}

Do I need an in-use cover?

Leviton sells the GFWT1-W without a wallplate.¹ A while-in-use cover keeps the outlet covered while a cord is plugged in. Leviton's 5980-UCL is its Extra Duty cover and is the vertical model.⁶ The 5981 is the horizontal one, so pick by how your box faces.

Whether your outlet must have an in-use cover is a local rule. Ask a licensed electrician or your local inspector. ELEGRP's listing sells a lockable cover with the outlet and says it meets the "Extra Duty" requirement.⁵ We did not check that claim against a UL listing, and we found no ELEGRP maker page.

15 amp or 20 amp outdoors?

Match the new outlet to the one you have and the breaker behind it. Leviton makes the weather-resistant GFCI in 15 A and 20 A.^{1, 4} If you are not sure which size you have, an electrician can tell you.

Why does self-test matter outside?

An outdoor outlet is one you check less often than a kitchen outlet. UL required GFCIs made from June 29, 2015 to test themselves, so a new one from a major maker should have self-test.⁹ The status light on the Leviton shows you the state when you do look.¹

Why is my outdoor GFCI tripping?

Siemens, in a guide to its breakers, says the main sources of nuisance tripping are wiring issues and incompatibility with electronic devices. It names damaged wires, loose connections and incorrectly wired circuits.¹⁰

If it trips again and again, ask a licensed electrician to check the circuit. A new outlet may not fix a wiring problem.

Questions people ask

Do I need a GFCI outside?

Codes vary by place and by when the home was wired. Ask a licensed electrician or your local building inspector.

Can I use the Leviton GFTR1 outdoors?

Leviton's page for it lists no weather resistance.³ The GFWT1 is the weather-resistant model.¹ Where each is allowed is a local rule, so ask an electrician or your inspector.

Does the Leviton GFWT1 come with a cover?

Leviton says the wallplate is sold separately.¹ The 5980-UCL is Leviton's while-in-use cover.⁶

Is the ELEGRP outlet with a cover a good deal?

It puts the outlet and a lockable cover in one box, according to its listing.⁵ We found no maker page for ELEGRP, so its claims come from Amazon only.

Sources

1. Leviton GFWT1-W product page, read November 1, 2026. Quote: “Improved immunity to high-frequency noise reduces nuisance tripping”
2. ELEGRP's Amazon listing, read November 1, 2026.
3. Leviton GFTR1-W product page, read November 1, 2026. Quote: “Automatically self-tests to ensure it can respond to ground fault ... Improved immunity to high-frequency noise reduces nuisance tripping”
4. Leviton GFWT2-W product page, read November 1, 2026. Quote: “Improved immunity to high-frequency noise reduces nuisance tripping”
5. ELEGRP's Amazon listing, read November 1, 2026.
6. Leviton 5980-UCL product page, read November 1, 2026. Quote: “Designed for use with Leviton GFCI/Decora/Standard Outlets. Page says it meets NEC 2017 Section 406.9(B)(1) for Extra Duty applications.”
7. Amazon Basics' Amazon listing, read November 1, 2026.
8. Prices and photos: Amazon product data, read November 2, 2026.
9. IAEI Magazine, UL Question Corner: self-testing GFCI requirements, read November 1, 2026. Quote: “GFCIs 'were required to be manufactured with an auto monitoring or self-test function', 'Effective June 29, 2015.'”
10. Siemens AFCI/GFCI guide (covers circuit breakers, not outlets), read November 1, 2026. Quote: “The main sources of nuisance tripping are wiring issues and incompatibility with electronic devices.”