Which Ethernet Cable is Right for Your Users? – Cat-5 vs. Cat-6 vs. Cat-7
Can different Ethernet cables affect internet connection and speeds?
As a data service provider offering Ethernet cable connections, you need to test and maintain the cables for maximum performance, and inform buyers about making the right choice.
This article can be a handy source for you to use the right testing equipment during maintenance of high-quality Ethernet cables, and to help your clients make the right buying decision.

Data Speed and Bandwidth Comparison for Cat-5 to Cat-7a Cables
This table shows the Cat rating with the maximum speed of data transmission and maximum bandwidth of each category.
|
Category |
Max Data Transmission |
Max Bandwidth |
|
Cat-5 |
100 Mbps |
100 MHz |
|
Cat-5e |
1,000 Mbps |
100 MHz |
|
Cat-6 |
1,000 Mbps |
250 MHz |
|
Cat-6a |
10,000 Mbps |
500 MHz |
|
Cat-7 |
10,000 Mbps |
600 MHz |
|
Cat-7a |
10,000 Mbps |
1,000 MHz |
Source
“Tip for cable users – Each Ethernet cable comes with a ‘Cat’ (Category) rating. Higher Cat rating means higher bandwidth and data transmission speeds.”
Users can easily choose the cable based on the data transmission and bandwidth they need. But they often do not know what speed is ideal for their requirement. Here’s how you can help them –
- Run a speed test on their network to determine the actual speed. For example, Cat-7 cable for a 50 Mbps connection could be overkill. They could easily work with a Cat-5 cable.
- Know your client’s end usage – this is essential. Business users, who need to transfer huge files, run games over the network, or connect multiple employees, may need Cat-7a Ethernet cables. This may be totally unnecessary for home users.
- Check the maximum speed the client’s router provides. Most home routers provide much less than 1Gbps in working conditions and users may be able to work with Cat-5e cables.
Cat-5 vs. Cat-6 – Which Ethernet Cable Should You Recommend to Users?
It completely depends on what speed the users’ network service and router provide.
Cat-5 is U/UTP (unshielded) cables that are almost discontinued due to their slow speed. Network service providers now work with Cat-5e cables where ‘e’ stands for ‘Enhanced.’
Cat-5 and Cat-5e cable use – Low cost of production and high speed makes it one of the highest demanded Ethernet cables among home-users.
Estimated price – Less than $10 for a 12-ft cable.
Cat-6 cables can provide a maximum speed of 10 Gbps, but only up to 55 meters, and under 1Gbps up to 100 meters. They come with braided mesh to provide extra protection from crosstalk. But all of it comes at a higher price, and users should opt for a Cat-6 cable only if their data transmission speeds are greater than 1,000Mbps in actual working environments.
On the other hand, Cat-6a cables where ‘a’ stands for ‘augmented’ are thicker and less flexible because they provide superior shielding against crosstalk, and can support gigabit speeds up to 100 meters. They are marked as F/UTP (shielded) cables. Cat-6 and Cat-6a cables needn’t be changed during network upgrades, thus making them cost-effective. However, the thicker cable means you need larger trays, patch panels and behind-the-wall outlets. Cat-6a supports a life of 10-years or more.
Cat-6 and Cat-6a cable use – They are used as a minimum requirement in data centers, hospitals and universities, and provide enhanced performance for Power over Ethernet (PoE).
Estimated price (for a 12-ft cable) –
- Cat-6 – $10-$15
- Cat-6a – $15-$20
“Do your users need the Ethernet cable to meet their current bandwidth requirements only, or for future expansion also? – Advise accordingly.”
Best Cat-6 Cables
| Photo | Product | Description | Features | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() |
Cable Matters Snagless Cat6 | High-performance, snagless Cat 6 Ethernet cable | 1 ft to 150 ft lengths, RJ45 connectors, gold-plated contacts, snagless moldings, ETL verified | ![]() |
![]() |
AmazonBasics RJ45 Cat6 Ethernet | Reliable, affordable Cat 6 Ethernet cable by AmazonBasics | 3 ft to 50 ft lengths, RJ45 connectors, gold-plated contacts, universal compatibility | ![]() |
![]() |
Mediabridge Ethernet Cable | Heavy-duty Cat 6 Ethernet cable for high-speed networking | 1 ft to 100 ft lengths, RJ45 connectors, gold-plated contacts, 550 MHz bandwidth, UL Listed | ![]() |
![]() |
Jadaol Cat 6 Flat Ethernet | Flat, flexible Cat 6 Ethernet cable for easy installation | 1 ft to 100 ft lengths, RJ45 connectors, gold-plated contacts, flat design, bundled cable clips | ![]() |
![]() |
Monoprice Flexboot Cat6 | Durable Cat 6 Ethernet cable with flexible strain relief boots | 1 ft to 150 ft lengths, RJ45 connectors, gold-plated contacts, flexible boots, 550 MHz bandwidth | ![]() |
Cat-7 and Cat 7a – Higher Bandwidth than Cat-6 series
The performance of Cat-6a and Cat-7 is similar, i.e. both offer 10,000 Mbps of data transmission. However, Cat-7 offers slightly higher bandwidth. It can be used in data centers where bandwidth up to 600MHz is needed.
Estimated price – $15-$25 for a 12-ft cable.
Cat-7a is the costliest and the highest-performing Ethernet cable in production. Data speeds of 10,000 Mbps with 1,000 MHz bandwidth is above the need of an average user, and should be recommended to those who have very high usage and don’t mind paying more for future expansions.
Estimated price – $25-$35 for a 12-ft cable.
Best Cat-8 Cables
| Photo | Product | Description | Features | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() |
CableGeeker Cat 7 Shielded Ethernet Cable | High-speed Cat 7 Ethernet cable | 10 Gbps speed, 600 MHz bandwidth, shielded, gold-plated connectors, various lengths | ![]() |
![]() |
Jadaol Cat 7 Ethernet Cable | Flat, high-performance Cat 7 cable | 10 Gbps speed, 600 MHz bandwidth, flat design, shielded, gold-plated connectors | ![]() |
![]() |
Vandesail Cat7 Ethernet Cable | Durable, high-speed Cat 7 cable | 10 Gbps speed, 600 MHz bandwidth, shielded, gold-plated connectors, snagless design | ![]() |
![]() |
Ultra Clarity Cables Cat7 Ethernet Cable | High-speed Ethernet cable for gaming and streaming | 10 Gbps speed, 600 MHz bandwidth, shielded, gold-plated connectors, various lengths | ![]() |
![]() |
Matein Cat 7 Ethernet Cable | High-quality Cat 7 cable for home and office use | 10 Gbps speed, 600 MHz bandwidth, shielded, gold-plated connectors, multiple colors | ![]() |
Other Factors to Help Choose the Right Ethernet Cable
The Length of the Cable
The length of Ethernet cables ranges between 3 and 300 ft or more. You may need to check the location of the users’ router to suggest the length. Running the cord along the walls will tend to take more length.
The Material of the Ethernet Cable
Pure copper or ‘TIA-568-C22’ cable will be more expensive but will provide better connectivity. Copper-clad aluminum or ‘CCA’ cable will be cheaper, but it can give you lower quality of connection.
Post-Installation Ethernet Cable Maintenance
As a network service provider helping businesses and home-users meet their data requirements, you need to inform them about the frequency of maintenance; you also need to be ready for both planned and unforeseen maintenance with the right cable test equipment.
Ethernet and network cable testers can help you install and maintain the cables regularly. They help you measure wire map, return loss NXT, attenuation, DC loop resistance, and length among other things. All pre-configured cable testers are automated with Pass/ Fail requirements, and can quickly test the network performance.
Knowledge of maintenance cost and frequency can help your clients make better buying decisions. Testers that meet TIA-568-B and ISO 11801:2002 standards can help you do this job quickly and effectively thus helping the users keep their maintenance costs low.
Cat-8 – The Future of Ethernet Cables
Cat-8 Ethernet cables are a quantum leap in next-generation networks. With frequencies between 1-2 GHz and bandwidth of 40 Gbps up to 100 feet, they are ideal for data centers and server rooms that use high-speed gear to connect with multiple corporate clients. Cat-8 category provides connectors to join up to 3 cables providing a collective length of 100-ft.
Cat-8 cables are still not widely available, but hardware manufacturers, data centers and IT managers are looking for a copper cable to match fiber speeds and Cat-8 is their go-to solution. They are substantially more expensive than Ethernet cables of earlier generations as they require complete shielding from crosstalk with foil wrapping and 4-pair braided shield.
Conclusion
With the rapid pace of research and development, Cat-9 and Cat-10 may not be far. Although many users already get high speeds through FTTH, we cannot rule out the power of copper cables that provide speeds hundreds of times faster than standard connections.
Was this article helpful?
Readers' Questions
-
maksymilian18 days ago
- Reply
-
DINA18 days ago
- Reply
-
jyrki18 days ago
- Reply
-
dina manna18 days ago
- Reply
-
james18 days ago
- Reply
-
KYRAN18 days ago
- Reply
-
Franziska Propst18 days ago
- Reply
-
Jan Lowe18 days ago
- Reply
-
Marlene18 days ago
- Reply
-
Athanaric18 days ago
- Reply
-
aurelia mancini18 days ago
- Reply
-
j18 days ago
- Reply
-
Achille18 days ago
- Reply
-
Jessica18 days ago
- Reply
-
selina18 days ago
- Reply
-
Kifle18 days ago
- Reply
-
Aatifa18 days ago
- Reply
-
Kimberly18 days ago
- Reply
-
dominik18 days ago
- Reply
-
henriikka m18 days ago
- Reply
-
henna18 days ago
- Reply
-
Primula18 days ago
- Reply
-
Folco2 months ago
- Reply
-
sabrina2 months ago
- Reply
-
Jenna2 months ago
- Reply
-
adalberto2 months ago
- Reply
-
gebre2 months ago
- Reply
-
juan2 months ago
- Reply
-
brigitte2 months ago
- Reply
-
macario2 months ago
- Reply
-
tabitha2 months ago
- Reply
-
jose2 months ago
- Reply
-
ilkka2 months ago
- Reply
-
Sue2 months ago
- Reply
-
reima2 months ago
- Reply
-
JYRKI2 months ago
- Reply
-
findlay donaldson2 months ago
- Reply
-
esko2 months ago
- Reply
-
milena2 months ago
- Reply
-
peter2 months ago
- Reply
-
Ali Semere2 months ago
- Reply
-
gavino2 months ago
- Reply
-
mathias schmid2 months ago
- Reply
-
lotho2 months ago
- Reply
-
p2 months ago
- Reply
-
Ryley2 months ago
- Reply
-
SHARON2 months ago
- Reply
-
May2 months ago
- Reply
-
camelia3 months ago
- Reply
-
lydia3 months ago
- Reply
-
Bisrat Teodros3 months ago
- Reply
-
Hannes3 months ago
- Reply
-
DEBORAH MADSEN3 months ago
- Reply
-
uta3 months ago
- Reply
-
piia-noora3 months ago
- Reply
-
semret3 months ago
- Reply
-
Semret3 months ago
- Reply
-
daavid3 months ago
- Reply
-
maxima3 months ago
- Reply
-
catriona3 months ago
- Reply
-
Liberata3 months ago
- Reply
-
angela fleming3 months ago
- Reply
-
caradoc hornblower3 months ago
- Reply
-
arnold3 months ago
- Reply
-
danny3 months ago
- Reply
-
Scudamor3 months ago
- Reply
-
Rebecca3 months ago
- Reply
-
fiorenzo3 months ago
- Reply
-
Quintiliano3 months ago
- Reply
-
lukas urner3 months ago
- Reply
-
Fnan3 months ago
- Reply
-
beata3 months ago
- Reply
-
Klaudia3 months ago
- Reply
-
AGENORE3 months ago
- Reply
-
JOYCE3 months ago
- Reply
-
Fre-qalsi3 months ago
- Reply
-
semira3 months ago
- Reply
-
sabrina3 months ago
- Reply
-
frankie3 months ago
- Reply
-
Veli-Matti3 months ago
- Reply
-
jamie-leigh3 months ago
- Reply
-
mika3 months ago
- Reply
-
salla4 months ago
- Reply
-
abigail4 months ago
- Reply
-
mike4 months ago
- Reply
-
Mirabella4 months ago
- Reply
-
petros4 months ago
- Reply
-
Adalfredo4 months ago
- Reply
-
ilse4 months ago
- Reply
-
tamara zetticci4 months ago
- Reply
-
macey4 months ago
- Reply
-
mandy4 months ago
- Reply
-
habte4 months ago
- Reply
-
christian4 months ago
- Reply
-
pippin hornblower4 months ago
- Reply
-
taimi4 months ago
- Reply
-
LEA4 months ago
- Reply
-
kane4 months ago
- Reply
-
semere4 months ago
- Reply
-
emilia4 months ago
- Reply
-
daisy chubb4 months ago
- Reply
-
grace4 months ago
- Reply
-
eglantine4 months ago
- Reply
-
Mary4 months ago
- Reply
-
jessica4 months ago
- Reply
-
petri kasvio4 months ago
- Reply
-
essi4 months ago
- Reply
-
rose4 months ago
- Reply
-
rosa4 months ago
- Reply
-
Kathrin4 months ago
- Reply
-
kelli4 months ago
- Reply
-
Stephen4 months ago
- Reply
-
MOLLIE4 months ago
- Reply
-
TUULI4 months ago
- Reply
-
susanna4 months ago
- Reply
-
Kaarlo4 months ago
- Reply
-
Maureen4 months ago
- Reply
-
Emily Monahan4 months ago
- Reply
-
maurizia udinese4 months ago
- Reply
-
Isaac4 months ago
- Reply
-
carmen baresi4 months ago
- Reply
-
ELISABETH4 months ago
- Reply
-
alexander4 months ago
- Reply
-
habaccuc bracegirdle4 months ago
- Reply
-
leonie4 months ago
- Reply
-
sharon4 months ago
- Reply
-
donald4 months ago
- Reply
-
Arrigo4 months ago
- Reply
-
Catherine4 months ago
- Reply
-
Alfrida4 months ago
- Reply
-
Lillo4 months ago
- Reply
-
tesfalem4 months ago
- Reply
-
marhta4 months ago
- Reply
-
ilaria mazzi4 months ago
- Reply
-
james4 months ago
- Reply
-
kayden4 months ago
- Reply
-
folcard diggle4 months ago
- Reply
-
eemil5 months ago
- Reply
-
George5 months ago
- Reply
-
Daniela5 months ago
- Reply
-
daniela5 months ago
- Reply
-
mattiesko5 months ago
- Reply
-
klaus5 months ago
- Reply
-
lobelia5 months ago
- Reply
-
ermenegilda padovesi5 months ago
- Reply
-
PAUL5 months ago
- Reply
-
leah5 months ago
- Reply
-
LEWIS PATERSON5 months ago
- Reply
-
marmadoc goodbody5 months ago
- Reply
-
maria mcintosh5 months ago
- Reply
-
belisarius5 months ago
- Reply
-
kenneth5 months ago
- Reply
-
maria rosa ricci6 months ago
- Reply
-
sophia6 months ago
- Reply
-
daisy6 months ago
- Reply
-
eerik silvan6 months ago
- Reply
-
nile6 months ago
- Reply
-
Hugo6 months ago
- Reply
-
Giacobbe6 months ago
- Reply
-
mylie6 months ago
- Reply
-
Thomas Southard6 months ago
- Reply
-
Connie6 months ago
- Reply
-
Aidan6 months ago
- Reply
-
amanda6 months ago
- Reply
-
melissa6 months ago
- Reply
-
amy6 months ago
- Reply
-
fabio6 months ago
- Reply
-
frank6 months ago
- Reply
-
michael6 months ago
- Reply
-
jak6 months ago
- Reply
-
gebre6 months ago
- Reply
-
v6 months ago
- Reply
-
Michelle6 months ago
- Reply
-
ayden7 months ago
- Reply
-
Tewelde7 months ago
- Reply
-
Rosalia7 months ago
- Reply
-
monika7 months ago
- Reply
-
tellervo taipale7 months ago
- Reply
-
nathan7 months ago
- Reply
-
meghan7 months ago
- Reply
-
hob7 months ago
- Reply
-
primula lightfoot7 months ago
- Reply
-
PRISCA7 months ago
- Reply
-
QUINTILIO7 months ago
- Reply
-
artemia trevisan7 months ago
- Reply
-
grace7 months ago
- Reply
-
tommy7 months ago
- Reply
-
Topias7 months ago
- Reply
-
Sampsa7 months ago
- Reply
-
Thomas7 months ago
- Reply
-
linda7 months ago
- Reply
-
mike7 months ago
- Reply
-
FIORENZO LI FONTI8 months ago
- Reply
-
wilimar8 months ago
- Reply
-
iggi abdullah8 months ago
- Reply
-
janne8 months ago
- Reply
-
Feorie Afwerki8 months ago
- Reply
-
LUKAS8 months ago
- Reply
-
osman8 months ago
- Reply
-
anna8 months ago
- Reply










