Cat 6 vs Cat 7 Ethernet Cable: Which One Do You Need?
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The Problem: Bigger Number, Better Cable?
You're shopping for an Ethernet cable and see Cat 6, Cat 7, even Cat 8. Naturally you wonder: does the higher number mean faster internet? Not necessarily. Here's the no-hype answer.
Explained in Plain English
Cat 6 handles up to 1 Gbps at full length (100 m / 328 ft) and up to 10 Gbps over shorter runs (about 55 m / 180 ft). That's already faster than almost every home internet plan.
Cat 7 is rated for 10 Gbps up to 100 m and adds heavy shielding around each wire pair to block interference. The catch: Cat 7 was designed around special GG45/TERA connectors, and it was never officially adopted by the main US cabling standard (TIA). Most "Cat 7" cables sold with regular RJ45 plugs don't get the full benefit.
Quick Compare
| Cat 6 | Cat 7 | |
|---|---|---|
| Max speed | 1 Gbps (10 Gbps up to ~55 m) | 10 Gbps up to 100 m |
| Bandwidth | 250 MHz | 600 MHz |
| Shielding | Usually unshielded | Fully shielded |
| Flexibility | Thin, easy to route | Thicker, stiffer |
| Price | Lower | Higher |
Our Recommendation
For most homes and home offices, Cat 6 is the smart buy. Your internet plan and router are the real speed limit, not the cable. Cat 6 is cheaper, thinner, and easier to run behind a desk or along a wall.
Consider shielded, higher-grade cable only if you run cable near lots of electrical interference (think garages, workshops, next to power lines) or you're wiring for 10 Gbps+ gear. In that case, skip Cat 7 and look at Cat 8, which uses standard RJ45 connectors and is officially standardized.
Picks from Gadget Zone
- Short desk connections: Cable Matters 10Gbps Snagless Short Cat 6 Ethernet Cable - 1ft
- Everyday router-to-PC: Cable Matters 10Gbps Snagless Cat 6 Ethernet Cable - 9ft
- Whole-setup value: Cable Matters 10Gbps 5-Pack Snagless Cat 6 Ethernet Cable - 8ft
- Across the room: GEARit Cat 6 Ethernet Patch Cable 35 ft Blue
- Long runs: Cable Matters 10Gbps Snagless Long Cat 6 Ethernet Cable - 150ft
- Future-proof, shielded: Cat 8 Ethernet Cable 125 ft, 26AWG 40Gbps 2000Mhz Ultra Speed Cat8 LAN Network
Pros & Cons
Cat 6
👍 Affordable, flexible, plenty fast for home internet
👎 Full 10 Gbps only on shorter runs
Cat 7
👍 Strong shielding, 10 Gbps over long distances
👎 Pricier, stiffer, not a US standard, limited benefit with RJ45 plugs
GZ Verdict
If it were our money: buy Cat 6 for everyday home use. If you truly need shielding or 10 Gbps+ over long distances, jump straight to Cat 8 instead of Cat 7.