If you are fitting out an office, a lab or a comms room, someone will ask: Cat6 or Cat6A? Both are copper data cables. Both look similar. The difference is in how much they can carry, and how far.
The short answer
For most new commercial buildings, we recommend Cat6A. It runs at 10 gigabits per second over the full 100 metres a copper link is allowed, it copes better with Power over Ethernet, and it gives you headroom for the next 10 to 15 years. Cat6 still makes sense for smaller jobs where speeds above 1 gigabit will never be needed.
What the numbers mean
| Cat6 | Cat6A | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Gb/s | Up to 100 m | Up to 100 m |
| 10 Gb/s | Short runs only, typically up to 55 m | Up to 100 m |
| Bandwidth | 250 MHz | 500 MHz |
| Cable size | Thinner, easier to fit | Thicker, needs more containment space |
Think of bandwidth like the width of a road. A wider road carries more traffic at speed without jams. Cat6A is the wider road.
Things people forget
- Space. Cat6A is thicker. Your trays, baskets and cabinets need room for it, and it needs a gentler bend. Plan this before the containment goes in.
- Power over Ethernet. Wi-Fi access points, cameras and door entry often take their power down the data cable. More power means more heat in the bundle. Cat6A handles that heat better.
- Wi-Fi. Modern access points can use more than 1 gigabit. Cat6A gives them room to run at full speed.
- The whole system matters. Cat6A cable with Cat6 jacks or panels is a Cat6 link. Every part has to match, and the link has to be tested to prove it.
Our advice: pulling cable is the expensive part, not the cable itself. If you are paying engineers to install it once, install the one that will last.
Still not sure?
Try our cable guide for a quick answer, or send us your drawings and we will tell you what we would install and why.