How Far Can a WiFi Extender Reach? - (All You Need to Know)

WiFi extenders can go a long way in enhancing the strength and coverage of your wireless network. But how far can a WiFi extender reach?

You’ll find out in this article.

Getting a WiFi extender will quickly extend your WiFi’s reach. If you’re having any issues with your home’s network coverage, getting one is the quickest way to solve it.

Find out how far your WiFi signals reach!

Depending on your WiFi extender, it’s range can be between 100 and 400 feet. Although there are several factors that can affect how far it will reach in your home.

Since there are still a lot more things you need to know about your WiFi extender’s range, let’s go in-depth so you have a better understanding.

What You Need to Know About WiFi Extender Range

When purchasing a WiFi extender, don’t think it will give you the same speed as your router.

Generally, many factors influence the overall performance of your device. It’s not only the design that plays a role in determining the range. Environmental factors can also affect the range.

✅ Interference and Obstructions

Walls with a thicker build can obstruct WiFi signals. So, if you have cement, brick, stone, metal, and even double-glazed glass walls, your Internet speed can be greatly reduced.

✅ Affected by Your Router

If you have an older router, you may experience a slower Internet connection, so getting a new, quality device can help.

Also, the Internet speed will only be as fast as your current Internet plan, regardless of the type of router.

✅ Placement Matters

The overall performance of your extender can be influenced by its distance from your router.

So, it’s best you position your router in a central location with fewer interference and obstructions.

✅ Consider Signal Degradation

The sources of interference may have increased. Either more people are hooking up to your WiFi, or multiple physical obstructions are present in your home.

Now that you know what factors can affect your WiFi extender’s reach, let’s get into more facts and details about your device.

The Complete Guide on How Far Can A WiFi Extender Reach

As mentioned above, how far can a WiFi extender reach depend mostly on environmental factors.

There’s usually a preset range, but that may not be true. Interference from nearby devices, positioning of the router and extender, and damaged cables are some of the things that can weaken your WiFi signal.

You may want to continue reading if you want to know more about WiFi extenders and what you can do to achieve the best performance and reliable connection.

How WiFi Extenders Work

Getting a WiFi extender is usually the way to go if you want to extend your current WiFi network.

These are devices that are designed to expand the reach of your current wireless network. They work by receiving the signal from your router, then amplifying it.

It will also rebroadcast that signal to other parts of your home and can get WiFi coverage.

Here’s what you need to know about using a WiFi extender:

Create a new and separate WiFi network.
WiFi extenders will receive the signal from your router and rebroadcast it.
WiFi extenders support both 2.4 and 5 GHz frequency bands.
Different types of extenders exist, like plug-ins, desktops, and outdoor models.
Better coverage in exchange for slower speeds.

Note: Improved WiFi coverage has a few drawbacks, from slightly slower speeds and ping times.

What’s the Reach That You Can Expect from WiFi Extenders

The next question you will likely ask is, how far will WiFi extender reach? Now, there are a lot of ways we can go about answering this specific question.

However, as a general rule, you can expect your WiFi extender to improve your wireless network’s range between 500 to 1000 feet.

Several important factors can increase or decrease this. Your home’s layout and the specific WiFi extender model you’re using can determine the actual range increase you will see.

Here are some of the things to consider with your WiFi’s coverage area:

Your home’s layout can disrupt the WiFi signal.
Other gadgets and appliances can contribute to WiFi interference.
Your extender’s printed range may not be its actual range.
Check your extender’s specified range for an idea.

Note: Positioning your router in a central location in your home can help improve its range by minimizing the walls the signal needs to go through.

Factors That Affect the Range of Your Extender

Now that you can expect between 500 to 1000 feet of added coverage, you want to know the main factors affecting its range.

It’s important that you know these to maximize the WiFi range you want to add to your network.

Whenever you’re setting up your WiFi extender, you want to constantly look out for these things to allow you to get the least number of gear for the best possible coverage.

Here are the primary factors that can affect the range of your WiFi extender:

Distance between your extender and router.
Walls, furniture, and barriers can block the WiFi signal.
Placement of devices that can cause major signal interference.
Performance of the extender you’re using.
Configuration of your router and extender.

How Do I Choose Your WiFi Extender Based on Its Range

If you’re choosing the best WiFi extender for your home, you want to check how much-added coverage you want. You want to consider your home’s size and your router’s current range.

There’s also the case of extending your wireless network to areas where you actually need them.

If you have an office in your home, you want to ensure the WiFi signal is optimal.

Here’s how to choose the best WiFi extender based on the range:

Calculate the area where you want to extend your WiFi.
Based on that, look for an extender with enough range.
Get an extender that offers dual-band connections.
Consider your router and extender’s signal strength.

Tip: If you’re looking for a WiFi extender, it’s best to read user reviews before actually getting one so you will have an idea of the range and performance.

Tips to Maximize the Range of Your WiFi Extenders

If you already got WiFi extenders and did not consider all the important factors, facing a couple of issues regarding range is still possible.

Even if you get one advertised as one that can extend your network’s range by 400 get, interference can still be a problem.

tips to maximize the wifi extender range

A not-so-optimal positioning can effectively reduce its range by half.

Even though you got an extender that offers the best range for your needs, if you don’t maximize its range, you won’t be able to enjoy it.

Here’s how you can fully maximize your WiFi extender’s range:

Place the extender not far from your router for better speed and performance.
Ensure a clear line of sight between the router and extender.
Connect your WiFi extender to the 2.4 GHz band for better signal quality.
Update your WiFi extender’s firmware.

Note: We recommend experimenting with different placements and trying the connection quality with your devices.

The Best WiFi Extenders for Improved Reach

Now that you know how far your WiFi extender can reach, it’s time to pick the best one for your home.

You can easily extend your WiFi network by up to 1500 feet. Some models can go beyond that and dramatically improve your home’s network.

If you want to know the best WiFi extenders that can help you cover your home, here are some that you can choose from:

Note: Getting any of these extenders will solve your range issues unless you have a massive home and want to cover outdoor areas.

WiFi extenders are incredibly versatile devices. They are capable of improving your home’s network coverage in an instant.

Extending your network coverage should be quick and easy as installing one in your home. If you want to know more about WiFi extenders, you can contact your ISP and ask if they can provide one.

Bottom Line

How far can a WiFi extender reach? There are a lot of factors that you need to consider to answer this as accurately as possible.

However, if your needs don’t exceed 1,500 square feet, most extenders can provide that type of coverage area.

Finn Wheatley

Finn Wheatley holds a Master’s Degree in Computer Science from UCL, London. He helped small data science consultancy firms, helping large corporations to grow their data capabilities, deploy advanced machine learning-based analytics and troubleshoot tech-related issues.