PoE Cable Run Length Calculator
The Ethernet limit is 100 metres, about 328 feet, for the whole channel including patch leads at both ends. That leaves roughly 295 feet of cable in the wall. Beyond it, a PoE extender adds another full segment.
Values update as you change the inputs. Where a figure cannot be computed honestly from what manufacturers publish, this calculator says so rather than showing a zero.
Cable rated for this run
Solid bare copper only. Copper clad aluminium is the wrong cable for a powered run.
TRUE CABLE Cat6 Direct Burial Bulk Ethernet Cable, Unshielded, 1000ft, 23AWG Solid Bare Copper
$277.99Direct burial rated with a solid bare copper conductor at 23AWG, which is the thickest common gauge and therefore the least voltage drop over a long PoE run.
- Cable category
- Cat6
- Conductor gauge
- 23 AWG
- Conductor
- Solid bare copper
- Length
- 1000 ft
Prices change often.
TRUE CABLE Cat6 Direct Burial Bulk Ethernet Cable, Shielded F/UTP, 1000ft, 23AWG
$300.99Shielded, which is worth the extra cost and the extra grounding work only when the run parallels mains wiring or a long fence line.
- Cable category
- Cat6
- Conductor gauge
- 23 AWG
- Conductor
- Solid bare copper
- Length
- 1000 ft
Prices change often.
celertec CAT6 Outdoor Cable, 1000ft, 23AWG Solid Bare Copper, Unshielded
$219.99Solid bare copper at 23AWG for noticeably less than the TRUE CABLE equivalent, for outdoor runs that are not being buried.
- Cable category
- Cat6
- Conductor gauge
- 23 AWG
- Conductor
- Solid bare copper
- Length
- 1000 ft
Prices change often.
AiCat Cat5e Ethernet Cable 500ft Riser CMR, Solid Bare Copper
$98.99Cat5e is fully rated for gigabit and for PoE, and for a 4K camera at 8 Mbps it is not remotely the bottleneck, so this is where to save money rather than on the conductor material.
- Cable category
- Cat5e
- Conductor
- Solid bare copper
- Length
- 500 ft
Prices change often.
Voltive Cat5e Ethernet Cable, Riser CMR, 500ft, 24AWG Solid Bare Copper
$109.99Riser rated for running between floors, with a published solid bare copper conductor.
- Cable category
- Cat5e
- Conductor gauge
- 24 AWG
- Conductor
- Solid bare copper
- Length
- 500 ft
Prices change often.
Monoprice Cat5e Ethernet Bulk Cable, Solid, 350MHz, UTP, CMR
$79.82The cheapest solid conductor bulk cable here from a seller that publishes its specifications honestly.
- Cable category
- Cat5e
- Conductor
- Solid
- Length
- 500 ft
Prices change often.
The formula
total channel = horizontal solid cable + patch leads at both ends, and must not exceed 100 m
The limit is signal timing, not power. Power and data are specified to reach the same distance, which is why one limit covers both.
Common questions
How far can PoE cable run before it stops working?
The ANSI/TIA-568 standard caps an Ethernet channel at 100 metres, about 328 feet, measured as the whole path including patch leads at both ends, not just the cable in the wall. A run built from 295 feet of solid cable plus long patch leads can still exceed 328 feet total once those patch leads are added in.
What happens if a camera cable run exceeds 100 metres?
It rarely fails cleanly. An overlength Ethernet run more often works at first, then drops intermittently, or the port negotiates down to 100 Mbps instead of gigabit speeds. The limit is set by signal timing over distance, not by power delivery, which is why a run that measures fine with a meter can still misbehave once real data and PoE power both use it.
Do patch cables at each end count toward the 100 metre limit?
Yes. The 100 metre, roughly 328 foot, channel limit is the solid cable in the wall plus the patch leads at both ends combined, not the wall cable alone. A run with 90 metres of solid cable and 15 metres of patch leads is already over the limit, even though the wall run itself sits under the 90 metre horizontal figure.
What fixes a cable run that is too long for PoE?
A PoE extender, sometimes called a repeater, adds another full 100 metre channel beyond the first, roughly doubling the reachable distance from the switch. Moving the switch or adding a PoE injector closer to the camera also shortens the run back under the limit. Fibre with a media converter removes the distance limit entirely, though it adds cost and complexity for a home system.
Does a longer cable run affect power as well as data?
Yes, both are governed by the same 100 metre channel limit. The standard specifies power and data to reach the same distance, so a cable run within spec for data is also within spec for PoE power, and there is no separate power only distance limit to check once the data limit is already satisfied.
Get the system planning sheet
The camera count, storage and PoE budget worksheet, plus the wiring checklist, as one printable page.
Keep going
A calculated figure is a planning number, not a promise. Every answer here comes from published standards and manufacturer specifications, and real installations vary with light, weather, scene motion and how a camera is actually aimed. Where a figure cannot be computed honestly from what manufacturers publish, this calculator says so rather than showing a zero.
Before you point a camera at anything. Aim at your own property and your own boundary, never into a neighbour's windows. Cameras in bedrooms, bathrooms or anywhere with a reasonable expectation of privacy are a serious legal problem, including for guests and anyone who works in your home. Audio is legally different from video, many US states require the consent of every party to a recorded conversation, and several recorders capture audio by default, so check your own state before enabling it. This is researched general information and not legal advice.