Ethernet Cable Types Explained: Cat5e, Cat6, Cat6a, Cat7, Cat8 — What's the Difference?
Quick Answer
For most homes and home offices, Cat6 is the sweet spot — fast enough for gigabit internet, affordable, and widely available. Cat6a is worth it if you're running cables through walls for a permanent install. Cat8 is for data centres and server rooms, not home use.
Why Does the Ethernet Cable Category Matter?
Each "Cat" (category) rating defines the cable's maximum data speed and bandwidth. A higher category cable can handle faster speeds over longer distances — but only if your router, switch, and devices support those speeds too. Buying Cat8 for a 100 Mbps internet connection won't make it faster.
Ethernet Cable Categories Explained
Cat5e (Category 5 Enhanced)
Speed: up to 1 Gbps | Bandwidth: 100 MHz | Max length: 100m
The minimum standard worth buying today. Handles gigabit internet fine for most households. If you're replacing old Cat5 (not Cat5e), upgrade to at least Cat6.
Cat6 (Category 6)
Speed: up to 1 Gbps (10 Gbps up to 55m) | Bandwidth: 250 MHz | Max length: 100m
The current recommended standard for home and office use. Better shielding than Cat5e means less interference and more reliable speeds. This is what most people should buy.
Cat6a (Category 6 Augmented)
Speed: up to 10 Gbps | Bandwidth: 500 MHz | Max length: 100m
Full 10 Gbps at the full 100m run length. Thicker and stiffer than Cat6, making it harder to route but ideal for permanent wall installations or future-proofing a home network.
Cat7 (Category 7)
Speed: up to 10 Gbps | Bandwidth: 600 MHz | Max length: 100m
Heavily shielded but uses a non-standard connector (GG45) that isn't compatible with standard RJ45 ports without an adapter. Generally not recommended for home use — Cat6a is a better choice.
Cat8 (Category 8)
Speed: up to 25–40 Gbps | Bandwidth: 2000 MHz | Max length: 30m
Designed for data centres and server rack connections. The 30m distance limit makes it impractical for home use. Overkill for any residential or small business setup.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Category | Max Speed | Bandwidth | Max Length | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cat5e | 1 Gbps | 100 MHz | 100m | Basic home use |
| Cat6 | 10 Gbps (55m) | 250 MHz | 100m | Home & office |
| Cat6a | 10 Gbps | 500 MHz | 100m | Permanent installs |
| Cat7 | 10 Gbps | 600 MHz | 100m | Not recommended |
| Cat8 | 25–40 Gbps | 2000 MHz | 30m | Data centres only |
Which Ethernet Cable Should You Buy?
For everyday home use (streaming, gaming, working from home): Cat6. It handles gigabit speeds reliably, costs very little, and is easy to work with.
For running cables through walls or under floors: Cat6a. The extra shielding and full 10 Gbps at 100m makes it worth the slightly higher cost for a permanent install you won't want to redo.
For a NAS, home server, or multi-gig switch: Cat6a or Cat8 (if your runs are under 30m and your equipment supports 10G+).
For replacing old cables: Skip Cat5e and go straight to Cat6 — the price difference is negligible and you'll future-proof your setup.
Does Ethernet Cable Brand Matter?
Build quality matters more than brand. Look for cables with pure copper conductors (not copper-clad aluminium, or CCA), proper shielding on Cat6a and above, and clear category certification printed on the cable jacket.
Our Recommended Ethernet Cables
Browse our range of quality Ethernet cables — Cat6 for everyday use and Cat6a for demanding installs.
Shop all Ethernet Cables at DMHA Home →
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cat7 better than Cat6a?
On paper yes, but Cat7 uses a non-standard connector that causes compatibility issues with most routers and switches. Cat6a is the better practical choice for home and office use.
Will a better Ethernet cable make my internet faster?
Only if your current cable is the bottleneck. If you have gigabit internet and a Cat5e cable, upgrading to Cat6 could help. But if your internet plan is 100 Mbps, no cable upgrade will change that.
Can I mix different Ethernet cable categories?
Yes — your network will run at the speed of the slowest link. Mixing Cat5e and Cat6 is fine; the Cat5e segments will cap at their rated speed.
What's the maximum length for an Ethernet cable run?
100 metres for Cat5e, Cat6, and Cat6a. Beyond that you'll need a switch or repeater. Cat8 is limited to 30m.
Is shielded (STP) or unshielded (UTP) better?
UTP (unshielded) is fine for most home environments. STP (shielded) is worth it in environments with lots of electrical interference, like near power cables or industrial equipment.
Ready to wire up your network properly? Browse our Ethernet Cables collection →