# Cat 6 vs Cat 6A: Choosing Office Network Cable

> Cat 6 and Cat 6A are categories of twisted-pair network cable. Cat 6 is specified to 250 MHz and supports 10 Gbps only over shorter runs, around 55 metres; Cat 6A is specified to 500 MHz and supports 10 Gbps over the full 100-metre channel.

## Why it matters

Network equipment is replaced every few years; the cable is expected to last the
fit-out. Choosing its category is a decision about what the office can support a
decade from now.

## How it works in practice

| | Cat 6 | Cat 6A |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Bandwidth | 250 MHz | 500 MHz |
| 10 Gbps distance | ~55 m | 100 m |
| Cable size | Thinner | Thicker |
| Best for | General desk points | APs, backbone, high PoE |

## Common mistakes

- **Sizing containment for Cat 6, then installing Cat 6A.** It does not fit.
- **Skipping certification.** A link that connects is not proven to perform.
- **Mixing categories in one channel.** The link performs at the lowest grade.

## Standards referenced

Generic cabling under **ISO/IEC 11801**. Commercial cabling under **TIA-568**.

## Frequently asked questions

### Which should a new office use?

For most desks Cat 6 is still adequate. Cat 6A is the safer choice for wireless access points, backbone links and anything drawing higher power-over-ethernet, and for fit-outs expected to last many years, because the cable in the ceiling is the part that is expensive to replace.

### Is Cat 6A harder to install?

It is thicker and stiffer, so containment has to be sized for it and bend radius respected. That is a design point, not an obstacle — trays sized for Cat 6 may not fit the same number of Cat 6A cables.

## Sources

- [ISO/IEC 11801](https://www.iso.org/standards.html) — Generic cabling for customer premises
- [TIA-568](https://tiaonline.org/) — Commercial building telecommunications cabling

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Source: https://hagerstone.com/glossary/cat6-vs-cat6a