Where are the electrodes placed for a 12-lead ECG?

The limb electrodes record the first 6 leads, and the electrical
activity is measured in the coronal plane. The leads include Leads I-
III, aVR, aVL and aVF.

The chest electrodes record the remaining 6 leads, which is

measured in the transverse plane. The leads include V1-6.

The following table shows the spatial orientation of each lead and
its respective view of the heart.

Electro View of the

Spatial Orientation of the Lead
de Heart
Lead I From right arm to left arm Lateral
Lead II From right arm to left leg Inferior
Lead III From left arm to left leg Inferior
aVR From right arm to heart None
aVL From left arm to heart Lateral
aVF From left leg to heart Inferior
From the heart to the fourth intercostal
V1 Septal
space (right border of the sternum)
From the heart to the fourth intercostal
V2 Septal
space (left border of the sternum)
V3 Halfway between V2 and V4 Anterior
Fifth intercostal space on the mid-
V4 Anterior
clavicular line
Fifth intercostal space on the left anterior
V5 Lateral
axillary line
Fifth intercostal space on the left mid-
V6 Lateral
axillary line

The following image shows the placement of the electrodes for a 12

lead ECG
The following picture shows the standard limb leads (Leads I-III,
aVR, aVL and aVF)

References
http://ecg.utah.edu/lesson/1
http://content.onlinejacc.org/article.aspx?articleid=1136033
http://www.scst.org.uk/resources/CAC_SCST_Recording_a_12-
lead_ECG_final_version_2014_CS2v2.0.pdf
http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/nursing/practice/resources/cardiology/f
unction/chest_leads.php
http://www.emtresource.com/resources/ecg/12-lead-ecg-placement/
https://www.nurseslearning.com/courses/nrp/nrp1619/section
%205/index.htm