It is not just square footage
Two homes of the same size can need different numbers of access points. Layout, floors and wall materials all change how far Wi-Fi reaches.
What affects coverage
These are the biggest factors:
- Brick, plaster and concrete walls
- Number of floors
- Metal ducts, mirrors and appliances
- Basements and detached garages
- Outdoor areas
- Number of devices in use at once
Wired is best
Access points connected by Ethernet keep speeds high. Wireless mesh hops can lose speed in a busy home.
Placement beats power
Ceiling-mounted access points in central locations usually beat a powerful router in a corner.
Try the planner
Our interactive Wi-Fi planner shows how placement changes coverage across an apartment, townhome and large home.
A rough starting point
As a starting point, many homes need one access point per floor for the main living areas, plus one for a finished basement and one outdoors if you use the yard. Larger floors, brick or plaster walls and long, narrow layouts add more. The goal isn't the most access points possible; it's even coverage with each access point serving a sensible area.
Placement beats power
Access points work best on the ceiling, near the middle of the area they serve, away from metal ducts and large appliances. Mounting one in a closet or behind a TV cuts its range. Turning the power all the way up can actually make roaming worse, because devices cling to a distant access point.
Devices matter too
A home with many cameras, streaming TVs, smart speakers and laptops needs more capacity, not just coverage. Wired connections for TVs, consoles and desktops take load off the Wi-Fi.
Common questions
Can I use mesh instead?
For smaller homes, often yes. See UniFi vs mesh.
Do access points need an outlet?
No. They're powered over the network cable (PoE). See what is PoE.
Can you plan it for me?
Yes. See UniFi Wi-Fi and Araknis.