BLOG: https://www.circuitbreakerwholesale.com/blogs/circuit-breakers/what-is-the-difference-between-single-pole-and-double-pole-circuit-breakers Physically, single-pole and double-pole circuit breakers have obvious differences. Single-pole breakers are thinner and have a single switch for on/off positions. A double-pole breaker will have the appearance of double the width of the single-pole breaker, with the appearance of two switches, bridged to function as a single switch.