💡 Quick Answer
For most home and small business installations in 2024, Cat6 is the sweet spot. It's affordable, supports 10 Gigabit speeds at shorter distances, and will serve you well for the next decade.
Cable Category Comparison
| Category | Max Speed | Max Distance | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cat5e | 1 Gbps | 100m | Legacy systems, basic internet |
| Cat6 ⭐ | 10 Gbps | 55m (10G) / 100m (1G) | Most home/office installations |
| Cat6a | 10 Gbps | 100m | Commercial, data centers |
| Cat8 | 40 Gbps | 30m | Server rooms, switches |
Detailed Breakdown
Cat5e
The minimum for modern networks. Supports Gigabit, which is still faster than most internet connections. However, it's being phased out and we don't recommend it for new installations.
Best for: Reusing existing wiring, very budget builds
Cat6 (Recommended)
Our go-to choice for nearly all installations. Supports 10 Gigabit speeds at distances under 55 meters - which covers most homes entirely. The small price premium over Cat5e makes it a no-brainer.
Best for: Home networks, small offices, PoE cameras
Cat6a
Extends 10 Gigabit capability to the full 100m distance and has better shielding against interference. The cable is thicker and harder to work with, making it more expensive to install.
Best for: Commercial buildings, long runs, future-proofing
Cat8
Overkill for nearly all applications. Designed for 40 Gigabit connections in data centers between switches and servers. The 30m distance limitation makes it impractical for general networking.
Best for: Data centers, server-to-switch connections
⚠️ Common Mistakes
- Buying Cat8 for home use: It's expensive and the short distance limit is impractical
- Mixing cable types: Your network runs at the speed of the weakest link
- Cheap patch cables: Even with good in-wall wiring, cheap Amazon cables can bottleneck performance
- Ignoring termination quality: Poorly crimped connectors cause more issues than cable type
Our Recommendation
For new installations, we use Cat6 cable with quality terminations. It provides the best value for current and future needs without the complexity and cost of Cat6a or Cat8.
We can run ethernet throughout your home or office, terminate it professionally, and test every connection.