Most, if not all, new receptacles have terminals that accomodate 14, 12 and 10 wire. Even the 15-amp 5-15R. The limiting factor is not the wire but the circuit breaker. The breaker must not pass more current than the wire ampacity that's it's connected to. So you could put a set of 500MCM wires on a 20-amp breaker feeding a 15-amp receptacle (that's not physically possible, I'm making a point). In your case, #10 wires are good for 30-amps but when used for a branch receptacle circuit, the breaker can only be 20-amps max. When the breaker limits the current, a larger wire size is not an issue. Correct wire sizes are equivalent to steel beam sizes - you can go bigger than what's needed to do the job if you don't care about money.
Where and why #10 instead of #12 when a 20-amp breaker is the most permitted? When voltage drop is a concern. Generally, #10 is used when there is a 50 foot or more total wire length from panel to receptacle. Less than that, you are wasting money as #12 is more than adequate.
Also keep in mind that any 115 volt device with a UL label can be safely be put on a 15-amp circuit. That's where the confusion lies over 15-amp receptacle with 20-amp breakers. The circuit will never draw the 20-amps as you are limited by code to size your system based on a ten receptacle maximum on a circuit, each one 180 VA, or 1,800 VA (15-amps) total.
Overheating a circuit is an end-user created problem (power strips and extension cords). It's your choice for the wire sizes, #10 will work and fit properly.
Where and why #10 instead of #12 when a 20-amp breaker is the most permitted? When voltage drop is a concern. Generally, #10 is used when there is a 50 foot or more total wire length from panel to receptacle. Less than that, you are wasting money as #12 is more than adequate.
Also keep in mind that any 115 volt device with a UL label can be safely be put on a 15-amp circuit. That's where the confusion lies over 15-amp receptacle with 20-amp breakers. The circuit will never draw the 20-amps as you are limited by code to size your system based on a ten receptacle maximum on a circuit, each one 180 VA, or 1,800 VA (15-amps) total.
Overheating a circuit is an end-user created problem (power strips and extension cords). It's your choice for the wire sizes, #10 will work and fit properly.