Cat5e vs Cat6 vs Cat6a: The Complete Network Cabling Guide

Cat5e vs Cat6 vs Cat6A at a glance

All three are twisted-pair copper cables that use the same RJ45 plug, so they all work with the same switches, routers and devices. The difference is how much data they can carry, and how far.

The 100 m figure is the whole channel: up to 90 m of fixed cable in the wall or ceiling, plus up to 10 m of patch leads at the two ends.

Which cable for your job?

Cat5e: still works, but do not install it new

Cat5e is rated to 100 MHz and carries 1 Gbps over 100 m, which is all most home internet plans need today. Many Cat5e runs will also carry 2.5 Gbps. It cannot carry 10 Gbps.

If your building already has Cat5e that tests well, you do not have to replace it. Have it tested before you decide: a damaged run or a poor termination causes far more problems than the category of the cable. For any new cable, the price difference between Cat5e and Cat6 is small, so there is no good reason to install Cat5e in 2026.

Cat6: the right choice for most homes and small offices

Cat6 is rated to 250 MHz. It carries 1 Gbps, 2.5 Gbps and 5 Gbps over the full 100 m, and 10 Gbps over shorter runs of up to about 55 m. That covers almost every Auckland house and most small offices, where the internet connection and the WiFi are the bottleneck, not the cable.

Cat6 is easier to pull through existing walls than Cat6A and costs less, which matters most in a retrofit.

Cat6A: for commercial fit-outs and demanding sites

Cat6A is rated to 500 MHz and carries 10 Gbps over the full 100 m. It is the usual choice for new commercial fit-outs, because offices keep their cabling for 15 years or more, and switches, storage and WiFi 6E and WiFi 7 access points are moving past 1 Gbps.

Cat6A also copes better with heavy PoE loads, such as many cameras and access points powered from one switch, because its thicker conductors run cooler in bundles.

The trade-offs are cost and size. Cat6A is thicker and stiffer, so it needs more room in trays and conduit, a wider bend radius, and more care to terminate. It costs more per outlet than Cat6, and we quote it per job.

Does Cat6A have to be shielded?

No. Cat6A comes in both unshielded (U/UTP) and shielded (F/UTP or S/FTP) versions, and both carry 10 Gbps over 100 m. Shielded cable is worth it next to heavy electrical equipment, such as motors, lift rooms or switchboards. It only works if the shield is continuous and earthed from end to end, with shielded jacks and patch panels, so it is a whole-system choice, not just a cable choice.

What about Cat7 and Cat8?

Cat7 is not a recognised category in the TIA standards most installers work to, and its full performance relies on connectors other than RJ45. In practice, Cat6A does the same job with standard RJ45 equipment. Cat8 is designed for very short, very fast links inside data centres (up to about 30 m), not for office or home cabling. For most buildings, Cat6A is the top of the copper range worth installing.

Copper or fibre?

Copper is the right choice from the comms cabinet to desks, access points, cameras and TVs, as long as each run is within 90 m. Fibre is the right choice when the distance is longer, when you are linking separate buildings or floors far apart, or when the link needs to carry well beyond 10 Gbps. It is also immune to electrical interference. Most commercial sites use both: a fibre backbone between cabinets or buildings, and copper to each outlet. See fibre optic installation for that side of the job.

What matters more than the category

• Proper termination. A badly terminated Cat6A run can perform worse than a well-terminated Cat6 run.
• Testing. Every run should be certified with a cable tester such as a Fluke, and you should get the report. Without it, nobody knows whether the cable meets its category.
• Matching parts. Use jacks, patch panels and patch leads of the same category. One old Cat5 patch lead limits the whole link.
• Distance. Keep each fixed run within 90 m. Beyond that, use fibre or another cabinet.

Cat5e, Cat6 and Cat6A: common questions

Is Cat6 better than Cat5e?

Yes. Cat6 has more bandwidth (250 MHz against 100 MHz), carries 10 Gbps on runs up to about 55 m, and is less prone to crosstalk. For 1 Gbps internet you will not notice a difference today, but for new cable Cat6 is the sensible minimum because the extra cost is small.

Is Cat6A worth it for a home?

Usually not. Cat6 covers nearly every Auckland home. Cat6A is worth it in a new build or major renovation if you want 10 Gbps in every room, have runs close to 90 m, or plan a lot of PoE cameras and access points.

Can Cat5e do 2.5 Gbps?

Usually, yes. The 2.5 Gbps Ethernet standard was designed to run over existing Cat5e up to 100 m. Results depend on the condition of the cable and how it was terminated, so test it first. For 5 Gbps and above, use Cat6 or Cat6A.

How far can an Ethernet cable run?

100 m in total for Cat5e, Cat6 and Cat6A: up to 90 m of fixed cable plus up to 10 m of patch leads. Cat6 only reaches 10 Gbps up to about 55 m. For longer distances, use fibre.

What does it cost to install Cat6 in Auckland?

With Cabling For U, the first Cat6 outlet starts from $480 +GST and each extra outlet from $195 +GST, tested and labelled. Cat6A is quoted per job after a free site survey, because the cost depends on the building and the number of outlets.