How many Wi-Fi access points does my house need?
Plan roughly one access point per 1,200 to 1,800 square feet per floor, with one added for outdoor areas or a detached structure. Two covers most homes under 3,000 square feet; three to five suits larger or multi-level homes.
Adjust for construction
Plaster and lath, brick, concrete, foil-backed insulation and metal studs all cut range significantly — add one where any of these are present.
Open modern floorplans with drywall need fewer than the square footage alone suggests.
Placement beats count
Ceiling mounts near the centre of each coverage zone outperform wall jacks and shelves. Avoid placing access points inside media cabinets, above metal ductwork or next to the electrical panel.
More access points, badly placed on overlapping channels, performs worse than fewer placed well. Transmit power often needs to be reduced, not raised, once you have several.
Outdoor coverage
Patios, pools, driveways and shops need their own exterior-rated access point. Indoor units pointed at a window are not a substitute.
Best for
Planning coverage before buying equipment.
Things to consider
- Square footage is a starting point, not an answer
- Floors, plaster and foil-backed insulation all cost coverage
- Outdoor coverage usually needs its own access point
Common mistakes
- Placing access points in closets and cabinets
- Adding more access points instead of repositioning them
What we recommend
Place fewer access points in better positions — ceilings, central to the area they serve, each on its own cable.