Network Cables for Home Servers Explained

Quick Recommendation

Buy Cat6 and stop thinking about it. Cat6 handles 1 Gbps at any length and 10 Gbps up to 55 meters. A 50-foot Cat6 patch cable costs $8. Cat5e works fine for 1 Gbps but can’t do 10 Gbps — and since you’re running cable that might stay in your walls for 10+ years, the marginal cost of Cat6 over Cat5e is worth the future-proofing.

Don’t buy Cat6a unless you’re running 10GbE today or doing in-wall runs that you never want to redo. Don’t buy Cat7 or Cat8 — they use non-standard connectors and offer no practical benefit for home use.

The Cable Tiers

Cable	Max Speed	Max Length (at speed)	Frequency	Shielding	Price (50ft)	Use Case
Cat5e	1 Gbps	100m	100 MHz	UTP (unshielded)	~$5	Budget 1 Gbps runs
Cat6	10 Gbps	55m (10G) / 100m (1G)	250 MHz	UTP or STP	~$8	Default choice
Cat6a	10 Gbps	100m	500 MHz	STP (shielded)	~$15	In-wall 10GbE runs
Cat7	10 Gbps	100m	600 MHz	S/FTP	~$18	Not recommended (non-standard)
Cat8	25/40 Gbps	30m	2000 MHz	S/FTP	~$20	Datacenter short runs only

What the Specs Mean for You

1 Gbps (Gigabit Ethernet): What 99% of home networks run. Any Cat5e or better cable handles this at the full 100m spec.
2.5 Gbps (Multi-Gig): Increasingly common on newer routers and NAS devices. Cat5e handles it. Cat6 handles it easily.
10 Gbps (10GbE): For NAS-to-workstation transfers, Proxmox clusters, or serious homelabs. Requires Cat6 (up to 55m) or Cat6a (up to 100m).

The practical takeaway: If you’re running 1 Gbps or 2.5 Gbps, even Cat5e works. But Cat6 costs a few dollars more and gives you a 10GbE upgrade path. There’s no reason not to buy Cat6.

Solid vs Stranded Core

Type	Use Case	Flexibility	Signal Quality	Termination
Solid core	In-wall runs, permanent installations	Stiff, don’t bend repeatedly	Better over long runs	Punch-down keystones, wall jacks
Stranded core	Patch cables, short runs, movable connections	Flexible, handles bending well	Slightly worse over long runs	RJ45 plugs (crimped)

Rule of thumb: Solid core for anything permanent (through walls, ceilings, conduit). Stranded core for anything that moves (server to switch, desk to wall plate). Pre-made patch cables are almost always stranded.

Shielded vs Unshielded

UTP (Unshielded Twisted Pair): Default for home use. Works perfectly unless you’re running cables parallel to high-voltage electrical lines.
STP/FTP/S/FTP (Shielded): Has foil or braid shielding around pairs or the whole cable. Required for Cat6a at full 10GbE spec. Requires grounded shielded connectors and switches — improperly grounded shielded cable performs worse than unshielded.

For home servers: Use UTP unless you’re doing 10GbE runs over 55m or have severe electromagnetic interference (running cables through a workshop with motors, etc.). Shielded cable is thicker, stiffer, harder to work with, and unnecessary for most homes.

How to Run Cables Properly

Cable Run Best Practices

Avoid running parallel to electrical wiring. If you must cross power cables, cross at 90° angles.
Don’t exceed bend radius. The minimum bend radius for Cat6 is 4x the cable diameter (~25mm). Sharp bends degrade signal quality.
Don’t staple through the cable. Use cable clips or J-hooks that hold the cable without compressing it.
Leave service loops. Leave 1–2 feet of extra cable at each end. You’ll thank yourself later.
Label everything. Label both ends of every cable run. Use a label maker, not masking tape.
Pull, don’t push. When running cable through walls or conduit, pull from the far end. Attach the cable to a fish tape or pull string.

In-Wall Runs

For permanent in-wall installations:

Use solid core cable rated for in-wall use (CM or CMR rated)
Terminate at keystone jacks on both ends (wall plates and patch panel)
Use a punch-down tool for keystones — don’t crimp RJ45 plugs onto solid core
Test every run with a cable tester before closing up the wall

Patch Cables (Pre-Made)

For connections between devices:

Buy pre-made slim Cat6 patch cables for tight spaces behind switches and patch panels
Standard lengths: 1ft, 3ft, 6ft for rack/shelf connections; 10–25ft for room runs
Color-code by function: blue for LAN, red for WAN, yellow for management, etc.

Recommended Cables and Accessories

Pre-Made Patch Cables

Cable Matters Cat6 Snagless (multi-pack) — $12 for 5-pack of 5ft cables. Solid quality, consistent lengths.
Monoprice SlimRun Cat6 — $4–8 each. Thinner than standard cables, great for dense rack environments.

Bulk Cable (for in-wall runs)

Monoprice Cat6 Bulk (1000ft) — ~$80. Solid core, UTP, CM-rated. The go-to for home cable runs.
Cable Matters Cat6a Bulk (1000ft) — ~$160. Shielded, solid core. For future-proof 10GbE in-wall runs.

Tools

Klein Tools VDV226-110 Crimper — ~$40. Professional-grade RJ45 crimper. Worth the investment over cheap crimpers.
TRENDnet TC-PDT Punch Down Tool — ~$10. For terminating keystone jacks.
Klein VDV501-851 Cable Tester — ~$25. Tests continuity and wiring order. Essential for verifying runs.

Keystone Jacks and Wall Plates

Cable Matters Cat6 Keystone Jacks (25-pack) — ~$20. Tool-free or punch-down.
Cable Matters 2-port Wall Plates (10-pack) — ~$12.

Prices approximate as of February 2026.

Common Mistakes

Using Cat7 or Cat8 for Home Networking

Cat7 uses a non-RJ45 connector (GG45/TERA) — the “Cat7 cables” sold on Amazon with RJ45 plugs are Cat6a at best. Cat8 is designed for 30-meter datacenter patch cables, not home runs. Stick with Cat6 or Cat6a.

Crimping Solid Core Cable

Solid core copper wires break easily when crimped into RJ45 plugs. Terminate solid core at keystone jacks (punch-down) and use stranded patch cables between the wall plate and your devices.

Running Cable Through HVAC Ducts

Fire code in most jurisdictions requires plenum-rated (CMP) cable if running through air-handling spaces. Standard CM/CMR cable produces toxic smoke when burned. Check your local codes.

Using Flat Cables for Long Runs

Flat Ethernet cables are convenient but have worse crosstalk performance than round cables, especially over longer distances. Fine for a 3-foot desk connection, not ideal for a 50-foot run.

FAQ

Is Cat6 backward compatible with Cat5e?

Yes. Cat6 uses the same RJ45 connectors and works with any Gigabit or faster Ethernet device. It’s a physical cable spec, not a protocol — you can mix Cat5e and Cat6 on the same network.

Can I run Ethernet and power in the same conduit?

Code typically prohibits running low-voltage (Ethernet) and high-voltage (mains power) in the same conduit. Use separate conduits or maintain the required separation distance (usually 12+ inches).

How do I fish cable through existing walls?

Use a fish tape or pull string. Drill a hole at the destination, attach the cable to the fish tape, and pull it through. For tricky runs, consider using existing cable paths (old coax or phone lines) as pull strings for new Ethernet.

Do I need to ground shielded cable?

Yes. Shielded cable without proper grounding is worse than unshielded cable — it acts as an antenna for interference. The shield must connect to ground through shielded connectors, a shielded patch panel, and grounded switch ports. If you can’t ground the full path, use unshielded cable.