Single Blanking Plate - Matt Black

A blanking plate does one quiet job, and does it without drawing attention: it closes off a position on the wall that is no longer in use, so the run of plates in a room reads as finished rather than half done. This is the single gang version, an 88mm square face in matt black, with no screw heads interrupting the front. The matt surface keeps glare down and takes fingerprints less obviously than a gloss finish.

We use blanking plates most often during refurbishments, where a point has been taken out of service or a position has been left spare for later and something neat is wanted in the meantime. They suit kitchens, hallways, home offices and media walls, and they earn their place anywhere a wall carries several plates in a row and one of them has nothing to do. If you are working in black switchgear, this is the one we would put alongside your sockets and switches to keep the line consistent. It is meant for dry indoor rooms, not for outbuildings or anywhere open to the weather.

Moulded in polycarbonate, it is light in the hand and holds its colour well; the plastic is a sensible choice for a part that is looked at far more often than it is touched. Cleaning asks very little: a dry or barely damp cloth across the face, and nothing abrasive or solvent based, since scouring creams will polish a matt finish into shiny patches. It carries a ten year warranty. Black plates like this look best against pale walls, where the square face reads as a small dark punctuation mark. It is one we keep on the shelf next to the black switches and sockets rather than treating it as an afterthought.

What size is the plate?

The face measures 88mm by 88mm, the standard single gang footprint, so it lines up with other one gang plates in a row.

What does screwless mean here?

It means the finished face has no visible screw heads across it, giving a clean flat front.

What is it made from?

Polycarbonate, a tough moulded plastic, finished in matt black. It weighs only 0.07kg.

How should I clean it?

A dry cloth for dust, or a slightly damp one for marks. Avoid cream cleaners, scouring pads and solvents, which will leave shiny or dulled patches on a matt surface.

Can it be used in a bathroom or outdoors?

No. It is rated for dry indoor use only, so keep it to rooms away from splashing and the weather.

Is there a warranty?

Yes, it carries a ten year warranty.