LAN Cable: Choosing the Right Category the First Time
Quick answer / TL;DR: Short answer: Cat5e covers 1G to 100 m, Cat6 covers 10G to 55 m, Cat6A covers 10G to 100 m and Cat7/8 are specialist products. Choose shielded cable only for noisy environments with bonded panels, and match the jacket to the space: riser for shafts, plenum for air-handling ceilings.
One category, three axes: shielding, conductor and jacket create the SKU.A LAN cable is twisted-pair copper with a category rating that sets its bandwidth and its speed at distance. Every other decision follows from that rating.
This guide covers the categories, the shielding options and the jacket rules that decide whether an installation passes certification.
Categories at a Glance
| Category | Bandwidth | Speed and distance |
|---|
| Cat5e | 100 MHz | 1G to 100 m |
| Cat6 | 250 MHz | 10G to 55 m |
| Cat6A | 500 MHz | 10G to 100 m |
| Cat7 | 600 MHz | 10G to 100 m, GG45/TERA |
| Cat8 | 2000 MHz | 25G/40G to 30 m |
Cat6 and Cat6A are the practical choices for new work; Cat5e remains adequate where 1G is the ceiling.
Shielding and Jacket
- U/UTP for offices and homes
- F/UTP or S/FTP for industrial noise
- Bond the shield at the panel
- Riser jacket in vertical shafts
- Plenum jacket in return-air ceilings
- LSZH where smoke toxicity matters
Unshielded cable is not a compromise in normal environments; it is the correct engineering choice and the cheapest to install.
Real-World Applications
A home with 1G service and 20 m runs needs Cat5e. An office planning 10G to the desk needs Cat6A throughout, including patch cords, and should certify every link. A factory backbone uses fibre and Cat6A only for the last few metres to devices.
Standards and Verification
| Reference | Relevance |
|---|
| TIA-568.2-D | Categories and practice |
| ISO/IEC 11801 | Classes D to FA |
| IEEE 802.3 | Speed by PHY |
Certification results for a specific link are not provided in the knowledge base. Test with a field tester against the class claimed.
References
- TIA-568.2-D, Balanced Twisted-Pair Telecommunications Cabling Standard
- ISO/IEC 11801-1, Generic cabling for customer premises
- IEEE 802.3, Ethernet
Practical Notes
Record the category and length of every run. Those two numbers decide what upgrades are possible later.
Related reading: ethernet cable — blogs/news/ethernet-cable
Related reading: cat6 lan cable — blogs/news/cat6-lan-cable
Related reading: optical fibre lan cable — blogs/news/optical-fibre-lan-cable
Frequently Asked Questions
Which category should I buy?
Cat6A for new builds, Cat5e for 1G-only jobs.
Do I need shielded cable?
Only in high-interference environments.
What is the maximum length?
100 m channel for any twisted-pair category.
Does jacket rating matter?
Yes. It is a code requirement, not a preference.
Sourcing cables for a project, a store, or a private-label line? Contact our B2B sales team for specifications, certification evidence, and volume terms – FOB and CIF options available. Request a quote or sample.
