Should I Run Cat8 in My House?
Introduction
If you’re planning to wire your home for internet, you may ask yourself which type of ethernet cable to use. Maybe you’ve heard of Cat6, Cat7, and even the latest Cat8 cables. With higher numbers promising more speed and power, many people wonder—should I run Cat8 in my house? The answer depends on how you use the internet, what speeds your home network supports, and whether you want to spend extra for future proofing. Let’s break this down step by step so it’s easy to understand.
What are Ethernet Cables?
Ethernet cables are the wires that connect your devices directly to your router or switch. Unlike Wi-Fi, they give you a steady and reliable signal, which is perfect for gaming, streaming, and work. Over the years, different categories of cables have been created to carry more data and handle faster internet speeds. These categories are known as Cat5e, Cat6, Cat6a, Cat7, and Cat8.
Starting Point: Cat 5e Cables
Before talking about Cat8, let’s look at the basics. Cat 5e cables are still the most common ethernet cables you’ll find in homes today. They support up to 1 Gbps speed, which is enough for streaming, browsing, and even gaming if you don’t need gigabit-plus speeds. They’re affordable, easy to install, and perfectly fine for standard households with average internet plans.
What Makes Cat8 Special?
Cat8 is the newest ethernet cable type. It’s built for ultra-fast speeds up to 25–40 Gbps and has a bandwidth of up to 2000 MHz. This makes it extremely powerful, but with a catch. Cat8 only works well over shorter distances, around 30 meters. It’s perfect for data centers and professional setups where huge amounts of data need to move quickly, but not necessarily for everyday families.
The Exact Answer
So, should you run Cat8 in your house? The honest answer is no, Cat8 is overkill for most homes. Home internet providers rarely give more than 1–2 Gbps, and Cat6 or Cat6a already handle these speeds easily. Unless your home internet is above 10 Gbps or you run a professional server setup, Cat8 doesn’t give you an advantage.
Cat8 vs Cat6 vs Cat 5e Cables
To keep it simple, here’s how they compare. Cat 5e cables support 1 Gbps and are great for most plans. Cat6 supports up to 10 Gbps at shorter runs and is more future friendly. Cat6a improves on Cat6 by holding 10 Gbps over 100 meters. Cat8 takes it to 40 Gbps, but only up to 30 meters and at a much higher cost. For regular households, Cat6 or Cat6a offer the best balance of price and performance. Cat 5e cables are still fine if your internet plan is under 1 Gbps.
Does Cat8 Make Your Internet Faster?
No, and that’s a key point to remember. Your internet speed depends mainly on the plan you buy from your service provider, not just the cable you use. If you pay for 500 Mbps, even Cat 5e cables can handle it. Cat8 won’t speed it up magically. It only ensures that if you had access to 25 or 40 Gbps internet, your cable could keep up.
When Would Cat8 Make Sense?
Cat8 wiring in your house is only useful in very rare cases. If you are building a home lab or have professional servers, Cat8 could help. If your job requires transferring massive files daily between devices at super high speeds, Cat8 can make sense. But these cases are not common in a typical home. That’s why Cat8 is mostly recommended for data centers, not family houses.
Thinking About Future Proofing
Some people think installing Cat8 is smart so they won’t have to upgrade later. While that seems reasonable, keep in mind newer technologies keep coming out. By the time home internet providers give average households 25–40 Gbps plans, Cat8 might be outdated and replaced by something even newer. Spending a lot on it today doesn’t really guarantee future security.
Cost vs Benefit
Price is another big difference. Cat 5e cables are the cheapest, Cat6 and Cat6a are fairly affordable, and Cat8 is the most expensive by a big margin. If you’re wiring an entire house, the cost of Cat8 adds up quickly. For most families, that money is better invested in a stronger router, mesh Wi-Fi systems, or simply upgrading the internet plan itself.
Easy Example to Understand
Think of your internet like water flowing through pipes. Cat 5e cables are like normal-sized pipes, enough for a family’s daily needs. Cat6 is a bigger pipe that handles more water. Cat6a is a pipe designed for both high capacity and long distances. Cat8 is like an industrial super pipe meant to carry massive amounts of water that your house will never use. If you only get water flow from a small tank (your internet provider), having a giant industrial pipe doesn’t improve the water coming out of your tap.
Why Most Homes Don’t Need Cat8
Most homes today stream Netflix, play games, do video calls, and work online without issues on Cat5e or Cat6. Even competitive gaming doesn’t require the insane speeds Cat8 supports. Stability matters more, and Cat6 gives you that already. Cat8 won’t lower your ping or make your videos load faster unless you already have internet running at extreme speeds beyond what providers sell to households.
Final Recap Answer
To be clear, you should not run Cat8 in your house unless you have a very special use case. For 99% of families, Cat6 or Cat6a is the smarter choice, and Cat 5e cables still work well for basic use. Cat8 cables are designed for businesses and data centers, not for regular homes.
Conclusion
When choosing ethernet cables for your home, don’t get blinded by higher numbers. Think about what your internet plan actually gives you and what your daily needs are. Cat 5e cables are still good for simple browsing and streaming. Cat6 or Cat6a are affordable, reliable, and ideal for most modern households. Cat8 sounds exciting, but it’s overkill for homes and ends up costing far more than it’s worth. So save yourself the money, run Cat6 instead, and enjoy a strong and stable internet connection without overspending.
Sources: https://spoxor.com/ethernet-cables-explained-a-comprehensive-overview/
https://zekond.com/read-blog/234100
https://www.flexsocialbox.com/read-blog/50814
