Cat6 vs Cat6a cable: which should you install?
Cat6 or Cat6a? A plain-English comparison of speed, distance, PoE, cost and CPR ratings so you specify the right cable for the job.
Short answer: install Cat6 for a cost-effective 1 Gb/s office network where you will never need 10 Gb/s over the full 100 m channel. Install Cat6a if the site will run 10 Gb/s, dense Wi-Fi 6/7 access points, PoE++ devices or has a 15-year-plus design life. The cable price difference is small compared with the labour of re-pulling later.
What is the difference between Cat6 and Cat6a?
Both are 4-pair twisted copper cables. Cat6 (Class E) is specified to 250 MHz. Cat6a (Class EA, the “a” stands for augmented) is specified to 500 MHz and adds alien crosstalk requirements, which is why Cat6a cable is physically larger, stiffer and often includes a foil (F/UTP) or a cross-web separator.
| Cat6 | Cat6a | |
|---|---|---|
| Bandwidth | 250 MHz | 500 MHz |
| 1 Gb/s | 100 m | 100 m |
| 10 Gb/s | 37 to 55 m (environment dependent) | 100 m |
| Typical OD | 5.5 to 6.2 mm | 6.5 to 7.8 mm |
| Containment fill | Lower | Roughly 30 to 40% more space |
| PoE (802.3bt, 90 W) | Supported, higher temperature rise in bundles | Better, larger 23 AWG conductors run cooler |
When Cat6 is the right choice
- Small and medium offices with 1 Gb/s to the desk.
- Budget-sensitive refits where containment is already tight.
- Short horizontal runs (under 37 m) where 10 Gb/s still works on Cat6.
- CCTV, access control and IP phone runs.
See our range of Cat6 solid cable in LSOH and external grades.
When you should specify Cat6a
- Any link that may carry 10GBASE-T over the full channel.
- Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 access points, which use 2.5 and 5 Gb/s uplinks and are usually PoE++.
- Healthcare, education and data-heavy commercial sites with long design lives.
- Tenders that reference ISO/IEC 11801 Class EA or manufacturer 25-year warranties.
Browse Cat6a solid cable and matching Cat6a keystone jacks.
Screened or unscreened?
U/UTP Cat6a relies on cable geometry to control alien crosstalk and is simpler to terminate. F/UTP and S/FTP Cat6a use foil screens, need a bonded earth path through screened jacks and panels, and are preferred in electrically noisy environments such as plant rooms and factories. Do not mix screened cable with unscreened connectivity; the channel will not certify.
Do not forget the CPR rating
Under the Construction Products Regulation every fixed cable in a building must carry a Euroclass. Dca is the common minimum for UK commercial buildings; Cca and B2ca are specified for escape routes and high-occupancy buildings. Read our CPR Euroclass guide before you order.
What Bownet recommends
For new commercial installations we default to Cat6a U/UTP Dca with Cat6a toolless keystone jacks and 24-port keystone panels. For domestic and small office work, Cat6 U/UTP with Euro or LJ6C modules keeps costs down. Call 01322 553822 with your run lengths and outlet count and we will price both options.