Cat 6 or Cat 6A?

Should I specify Cat 6 or Cat 6A?

Specify Cat 6A if the link has to carry 10 Gigabit over its full length, and Cat 6 if it does not. Cat 6 runs 10 Gigabit only to somewhere between 37 and 55 metres depending on the alien crosstalk around it; Cat 6A carries it to the full 100 metres. Cat 6A cable is fatter and stiffer, so containment and bend radius have to allow for it.

Both are defined by ANSI/TIA-568.2-D, ISO/IEC 11801 Classes E and EA.

Published by Data Systems, network material suppliers in Secunderabad, Hyderabad since 1984, which is forty years of experience with these parts. Last checked 2026-08-11. How we check this, and what we got wrong.

Side by side

	Cat 6	Cat 6A
Bandwidth	250 MHz	500 MHz
Gigabit Ethernet	100 m	100 m
10 Gigabit Ethernet	37 to 55 m, crosstalk dependent	100 m
Cable diameter	Smaller, easier to pull and dress	Larger, needs more pathway fill
Specify it when	The link is Gigabit and will stay Gigabit	10 Gigabit is needed now or is planned

Cat 6, on the shelf

NPG-C61TRA501-100
NPG-C62STL502-100
NPG-C62STL502-100-1.3
UniFi Indoor Cable Cat6 CMP U-Cable-C6-CMP
UniFi Indoor Cable Cat6 CMR U-Cable-C6-CMR
Cat 6 U/UTP LSZH Cord, RJ45 to Ceiling Connector, 1.5 ft, Black 760235585
Cat 6 U/UTP LSZH Cord, RJ45 to Ceiling Connector, 1.5 ft, White 760235586
4-pair Cat6 U/UTP, 305m Roll, Gray, LSZH 884036314/10
4-pair Cat6 U/UTP, 305m Roll, White, LSZH 884036914/10
4-pair Cat6 U/UTP, 305m Roll, Yellow, LSZH 884037014/10
Cat 6 U/UTP LSZH Patch Cord (NETCONNECT) · black · 3 m NPC06UZDB-BK003M
Cat 6 U/UTP LSZH Patch Cord (NETCONNECT) · black · 4 m NPC06UZDB-BK004M

What Cat 6 is

Cat 6A, on the shelf

Cat 6A F/UTP Shielded Cord, RJ45 to Ceiling Connector, 2 ft, White COP1KZ2-88F002
Cat 6A U/UTP LSZH Cord, RJ45 to Ceiling Connector, 1.5 ft, Black 760235589
Cat 6A U/UTP LSZH Cord, RJ45 to Ceiling Connector, 1.5 ft, White 760235590
Cat 6A S/FTP LSZH Patch Cord (NETCONNECT 10G) · black · 1 m NPC6ASZDB-BK001M
Cat 6A S/FTP LSZH Patch Cord (NETCONNECT 10G) · black · 2 m NPC6ASZDB-BK002M
Cat 6A S/FTP LSZH Patch Cord (NETCONNECT 10G) · black · 3 m NPC6ASZDB-BK003M
Cat 6A S/FTP LSZH Patch Cord (NETCONNECT 10G) · black · 4 m NPC6ASZDB-BK004M
Cat 6A S/FTP LSZH Patch Cord (NETCONNECT 10G) · black · 5 m NPC6ASZDB-BK005M
Cat 6A S/FTP LSZH Patch Cord (NETCONNECT 10G) · black · 6 m NPC6ASZDB-BK006M
Cat 6A S/FTP LSZH Patch Cord (NETCONNECT 10G) · black · 7 m NPC6ASZDB-BK007M
Cat 6A S/FTP LSZH Patch Cord (NETCONNECT 10G) · black · 8 m NPC6ASZDB-BK008M
Cat 6A S/FTP LSZH Patch Cord (NETCONNECT 10G) · black · 9 m NPC6ASZDB-BK009M

What Cat 6A is

Other choices we get asked about

Still not sure which the job needs? Describe the run and our team will tell you, and quote it.

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