Every twisted pair Ethernet cable we make, in one place: Cat5e and Cat6 for everyday gigabit links, Cat6A for full-distance 10G, and Cat7 and Cat8 for short, high-throughput runs in racks and server rooms. Patch cords come booted and snagless from half-foot jumpers up to long room-to-room lengths, with slim profiles for dense patch fields and armored anti-rodent jackets where cable abuse is the real threat.
Quick guide
Cat6 carries 1Gbps to 100 metres and 10Gbps over shorter runs; Cat6A holds 10Gbps for the full 100 metres; Cat8 runs 40Gbps up to 30 metres and belongs inside the rack. Shielded (S/FTP) construction earns its cost in electrically noisy spaces and dense bundles, while unshielded (UTP) stays lighter, cheaper and easier to route. Jacket fire ratings (CM, CMR and friends) are stated on every listing. Check them before running cable through walls, risers or ceilings.
Pulling your own runs? 1000 ft bulk pull boxes of solid copper cable live in our Bulk Cables collection, and multi-packs cover patch panel work without per-cable pricing.
Ethernet cable categories compared
| Category |
Bandwidth |
Max speed |
10 Gbps reach |
Shielding |
Best for |
| Cat5e |
100 MHz |
1 Gbps (2.5G on short runs) |
N/A |
UTP |
Gigabit homes and offices on a budget |
| Cat6 |
250 MHz |
10 Gbps |
55 m |
UTP with spline |
Most new installs, PoE cameras |
| Cat6A |
500 MHz |
10 Gbps |
100 m |
UTP or F/UTP |
Future-proof in-wall runs, PoE++ |
| Cat7 |
600 MHz |
10 Gbps |
100 m |
S/FTP |
Electrically noisy environments |
| Cat8 |
2000 MHz |
25/40 Gbps |
30 m |
S/FTP |
Switch-to-server links in racks |
All distances assume solid-copper cable and category-rated terminations. Shielded cable only performs as rated with shielded, grounded connectors.
Common questions
Which Ethernet cable should I buy for a home network? Cat6 for most homes: it carries gigabit everywhere and 10 Gbps on runs under 55 m. Choose Cat6A if you are pulling cable through walls and want 10 Gbps for the life of the house. Cat8 belongs inside a rack, not a home.
Does a Cat8 cable make my internet faster? No. Your speed is set by your plan, router and the slowest port in the link; a cable only needs to match the fastest port it connects. Cat8 pays off only on 25 or 40 Gbps switch-to-server links under 30 m.
What is the difference between UTP and S/FTP? UTP (unshielded twisted pair) is lighter, cheaper and fine almost everywhere. S/FTP wraps each pair in foil and the whole bundle in braid to reject interference in noisy spaces and dense bundles; it only performs as rated with shielded, grounded jacks at both ends.
How long can an Ethernet cable be? 100 m (328 ft) per channel for gigabit on any category and for 10 Gbps on Cat6A; Cat6 holds 10 Gbps to about 55 m and Cat8 holds 40 Gbps to 30 m. Past 100 m, add a switch or move to fiber. See how long an Ethernet cable can run.
Shop by use: Gaming cables · Home network wiring · PoE camera cables · Outdoor & armored cables · Server rack cables & power cords
Further reading: Cat6 vs Cat6A: Which Do You Actually Need? · Cat6 vs Cat7 vs Cat8: What Actually Changed? · From Cat3 to Cat8: A History of Ethernet Cable · How Long Can an Ethernet Cable Run? · How to Wire Your Home Network · Best Ethernet Cable for Gaming · Best Ethernet Cable for Security Cameras · Outdoor vs Direct Burial Ethernet Cable · Cat5e vs Cat6: Which Do You Actually Need? · What Ethernet Cable Do You Need for 2.5G and 10G?
