Cat5e vs Cat6 vs Cat6A: How to Choose the Right Ethernet Cable
Choosing a LAN cable is mostly a balance between bandwidth, distance, PoE power and budget. Here is a practical comparison for installers, distributors and project buyers.
Quick comparison
| Category | Bandwidth | Max speed (100 m) | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cat5e | 100 MHz | 1 Gbps | Homes, small offices, IP cameras |
| Cat6 | 250 MHz | 1 Gbps (10 Gbps up to 55 m) | New offices, PoE devices, CCTV |
| Cat6A | 500 MHz | 10 Gbps | Data centres, Wi-Fi 6/7, PoE++ |
| Cat7 (S/FTP) | 600 MHz | 10 Gbps | High-EMI industrial and broadcast sites |
Conductor: pure copper or CCA?
Standards-compliant Cat5e/Cat6/Cat6A cables use solid bare copper conductors (24 AWG for Cat5e, 23 AWG for Cat6/6A). Copper-clad aluminium (CCA) is cheaper but has higher resistance, which causes heat and voltage drop in PoE applications. For PoE cameras and access points, always choose pure copper.
UTP or shielded?
U/UTP is easier to install and suitable for most offices. Choose F/UTP or S/FTP near motors, drives, fluorescent lighting or in data centres with dense cable bundles, and make sure the shield is grounded at the patch panel.
Jacket: PVC, LSZH or outdoor PE
PVC is standard for indoor use. LSZH (low smoke zero halogen) is often required in public buildings, tunnels and data centres. For outdoor runs, use a UV-resistant PE jacket, or a gel-filled direct-burial version.
Our recommendation
For new projects, Cat6 is the best value for most buildings; Cat6A is the future-proof choice for Wi-Fi 6/7, 10G and high-power PoE. TKG CHINA supplies Cat6, Cat6A and other LAN cables in 305 m boxes with OEM printing. Contact us for samples and prices.
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