Hide Ethernet Cables Around Your Home for Faster Internet Access

Although Wi-Fi is great, you can still get a faster and more stable internet connection by running ethernet cables. Whether you want to move your router to the center of your home to maximize signal strength, set up a wired link for a mesh system, or run a cable to an EV charger, wired is best. But no one wants messy cables. Follow this guide and I’ll show you how to choose cables, plan your route, and hide everything to make it look nice and neat.

If you can’t run cables, we also have ideas on how to make your wifi faster, how to fix your wifiand guides for Best Mesh Routers, Best Wi-Fi RoutersAnd Best Wi-Fi Extenders.

A word about speed

Remember that bandwidth and speed are always limited by your incoming Internet connection. If you have a 1Gbps connection, you won’t be able to exceed this speed when interacting with the Internet. That said, you may be able to move files across your network from one device to another faster by using higher quality equipment. But everything must be evaluated at the same speed. You’ll be limited by the weakest (slowest) link, whether that’s the Ethernet port on your router, the cable, the Ethernet switch it plugs into, or the port on your PC or other device.

Choosing Ethernet Cables

You can get good Ethernet cables without spending a lot of money. I go into more detail in my Ethernet Guidebut there are a few things to watch out for.

Category: Ethernet cables are divided into different categories which determine the maximum bandwidth and data rates. While most homes can probably get by with Cat 5e or Cat 6 cables, which allow speeds of up to 1 Gbps, I’d opt for Cat 6a or Cat 7, which can go up to 10 Gbps, for your primary routes, like from the router to your switch. The price difference isn’t huge and the faster cables will still be useful if your needs increase in the future. Cat 7a or Cat 8 cables, capable of 40 Gbps, are overkill for the average home and are generally much more expensive.

Shielding: Most Ethernet cables have pairs of wires twisted together with a plastic covering (Unshielded Twisted Pair or UTP), but some cables have metal or foil shielding (STP or FTP, which stands for Shielded Twisted Pair or Foiled Twisted Pair). You only really need to worry about shielding if you run the cable next to power lines or other sources of interference. Shielded cables are less flexible and easier to damage, so most people who use cables at home may prefer to stick with UTP.

Cable shape: I recommend avoiding flat cables as they are more prone to interference and seem to get damaged more easily. Anecdotally, I’ve had more problems with flat cables than with regular cables, but it’s important to avoid sharp kinks or heavy footsteps on any cable.

Manufacturer: Choose a recognized brand, but don’t spend too much. I have had good experiences with Cable matters, Monoprixand Amazon basics. Here is a patch cable to consider:

Do you need an Ethernet switch?

Routers and mesh systems have a limited number of Ethernet ports, but you can use an Ethernet switch to turn one port into several. Determine how many ports you need to route cables to where you want them. Unmanaged plug-and-play switches (no configuration required) are usually sufficient for home networks.

Most people will be happy with a five- or eight-port expander, but I suggest getting a switch with one or more spare ports that you currently need, in case you want to add more cables in the future.

You can get much larger switches with 12 or even 24 ports if you need them. But the available bandwidth will be split between these ports. If you want to prioritize ports, set security conditions, or explore other configuration settings, you’ll need a managed switch.

Planning Ethernet Cable Routes

Before you begin, carefully plan the route of your cables. Whether you use one or more cables, there are a few things to avoid:

• Avoid bends as much as possible, as sharp kinks or twists can damage the cables.
• Avoid high traffic areas, as people standing on the cables or anything passing over them will damage them over time.
• Avoid electrical interference. This is unlikely to be a big problem, but try to keep them away from power cables.

Whichever route you take, it’s worth adopting some cable management to keep things tidy.

Cable ties are ideal for holding multiple cables tied together and making them more manageable. You probably already have a bunch, but you can buy one package of 60 ($7) reusable at lower cost.

Cable sleeves are even better, as they provide mesh coverage for cable bundles, making it easier to remove or add cables.

Label your cables

If you have multiple cables, be sure to label them. This can save you a lot of trouble later. Choosing a different color for your Ethernet cables (or at least not black, white, or gray) can help you immediately distinguish them from other types of cables, which is especially handy if you install them behind walls or under the floor.

How to Hide Ethernet Cables

There are several ways to hide Ethernet cables, and some are much more durable and invasive than others.

Running an Ethernet cable along your baseboard or plinth can be reasonably neat, and it’s easy to do. Depending on the style of your plinth, there may be a suitable channel or recess, and you can use cable ties with nails or adhesive. The tricky part is doors and transitions between rooms. If you’re lucky, there may be enough space under your door, although it may be cleaner and safer to drill a hole in the wall to run the cable from one room to another.

Probably the easiest way to hide cables is to stick them under your rugs. It’s best to stay tight against the baseboards to minimize the risk of someone standing on the cable. If you have carpet clips around the edges, you may be able to run cables on either side to keep them neatly out of the way. Just be sure to avoid high traffic areas, and if you need to run a cable through a door, get a suitable cable protector.

If you don’t want visible cables, but can’t run in or under the wall, cable trays or trunking might be the solution. You can get kits with different lengths of trunking with angled turns to run your cable through. The best pipes can also be painted to match your baseboards or walls, which really helps them blend in.

Perhaps your cable tray could be an excuse to enhance your rooms with crown molding or cornices. Crown molding that runs around the top of a room, where the wall meets the ceiling, is easy to install and can add a decorative touch and hide paint. It can also hold a channel with an Ethernet cable inside, although you’ll still need a neat solution for getting the cable in and out.

To get the neatest finish, there’s nothing better than running a cable behind your wall or under the floor, but it’s also the most difficult way to do it. You need a variety of tools, and it can be a messy job, with potential hazards including electrical cables and water pipes. If you’re up for the challenge and your home is right for you, here are a few things that can help you do a good job.

Boeray Fiberglass Flexible Snake Rods ($19): These extendable, flexible rods make it easy to run cables from point A to point B with limited access.

10-Pack VCE Brush Wall Plates ($20): If you’re running one or two patch cables, the brush plates are just a little neater than a hole in the wall and they allow you to add or remove cables quite easily.

1,000 ft Roll of Monk Cat 6 Ethernet Cable ($140): If you are running several long cables, it may be a good idea to purchase a roll of cable. Although I can’t personally vouch for it, this Cat 6 roller has decent reviews. You’ll also need to be sure about wiring them into keystone jacks or patch panels.

500ft Roll of Soibke Cat 7 Ethernet Cable ($160): If you want something a little faster, this Cat 7 roller might do the trick.

Cable Matters Punch Tool ($10): You can use it to terminate your cables or a keystone jack.

Cable Matters 10-Pack RJ45 Keystone Jack ($16): If you’re cutting lengths of cable from a roll, you can use a punch tool to connect sockets like this, allowing you to attach them to wall plates.

Wall plaques ($13 and up): You can insert keystone jacks into these wall plates and then route patch cables to devices in the room.

When running cables behind walls, under floors, or other tricky areas, I often include a length of string. This allows you to attach a new cable and run it through if you ever need to upgrade or add cable.

Hide switches and power strips

If you have Ethernet extension cords and switches, you may want to hang a box to hide them.

Boxes with spaces to run cables in and out can look nice and neat. Ikea seat box (£6) is also decent but only seems to be available in the UK at the moment.