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Planning 6 GHz and Wi-Fi 7: range, walls and AP count
Last updated: October 9, 2026.
6 GHz (Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7) adds a lot of clean spectrum, but the signal does not travel as far as 5 GHz or 2.4 GHz. Plan for more access points or tighter spacing if you want 6 GHz coverage everywhere.
Why 6 GHz reaches less far
Path loss grows with frequency. Compared with 2.4 GHz, 6 GHz loses roughly 8 dB more in free space, and about 1.5 dB more than 5 GHz. Walls hurt more at higher bands too: Signal Plan scales your wall values by 1.2 for 5 GHz and 1.35 for 6 GHz as a planning assumption.
What you gain
6 GHz offers wide channels and less interference from neighbours and legacy devices. Wi-Fi 7 adds 320 MHz channels in 6 GHz and multi-link operation. Only 6 GHz-capable clients benefit, and 6 GHz requires WPA3.
How to plan it
- Select 6 GHz as the primary design band in step 2.
- Keep a minimum RSSI of -65 to -67 dBm for voice, video and data.
- Draw every wall, because 6 GHz is the least forgiving band.
- Choose a Wi-Fi 6E or Wi-Fi 7 model, or let the tool recommend one, and compare the AP count with 5 GHz.
- Check your country's 6 GHz rules before you buy.
Worked example: the same access point on three bands
Assume a ceiling access point at 20 dBm EIRP, the planner's 8 dB link margin, a typical office (path-loss exponent 2.25) and a -65 dBm target. Higher bands lose more in free space and more again through walls (the planner scales wall loss by 1.0, 1.2 and 1.35). Real 6 GHz power is often limited by regulation, so treat this as a like-for-like comparison, not a forecast.
| Band | Open-space reach | Through one 3 dB drywall wall | Through one 10 dB concrete wall |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4 GHz | 43.2 m | 31.8 m | 15.5 m |
| 5 GHz | 21.3 m | 14.8 m | 6.2 m |
| 6 GHz | 18.1 m | 12.0 m | 4.5 m |
The 6 GHz reach through concrete is only 29% of the 2.4 GHz reach, which is why a 6 GHz design usually needs more access points or tighter spacing.
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Forecasts are planning estimates. Validate with an on-site survey before buying or installing equipment. See also the AP placement guide, the RSSI guide and planner pages by brand.
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