It’s a simple question, but one that gets asked quite a bit: Does Wi-Fi travel through walls? Yes, but not completely. I didn’t understand fully myself, so I spoke with several experts, including a CNET lab technician, to find the answers. Read on to hear what they have to say.
With the introduction of Wi-Fi 6, Wi-Fi 6E and the latest standard, Wi-Fi 7, Wi-Fi technology has steadily improved in recent years. Having an adequate Wi-Fi connection is a must, yet many people still struggle with their home internet. In a recent CNET broadband survey, 42% of respondents complained about having an unreliable connection.
Many factors play into that, but when it comes to Wi-Fi, there are quick fixes to boost the Wi-Fi connection throughout your home. To optimize your Wi-Fi connection, though, we need to get back to the question: Does Wi-Fi travel through walls? To better answer this, it helps to start by looking at how Wi-Fi technology works.
You’ll primarily see three Wi-Fi standards when shopping for routers: Wi-Fi 6, Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7. Most smart home devices in your abode are compatible with Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E technology. However, Wi-Fi 7 will produce the fastest speeds and boast the lowest latency of the three. Wi-Fi 7 builds on features from the previous standards. If you have Wi-Fi 6, it’ll have the 2.4 and 5GHz bands. Wi-Fi 6E added the 6GHz band, and Wi-Fi 7 doubled its channel size.
According to Netgear, “Wi-Fi 7 helps to ensure your home is ready for 10 gigabit internet speeds as they become available.”
How does Wi-Fi pass through walls?
Your router wirelessly exchanges data with other devices nearby through radio waves, which use electromagnetic radiation. As seen from the image below, Wi-Fi operates on these radio waves through the electromagnetic spectrum.
From left: The 2.4GHz band has better range but slower speeds, while the 5GHz band has faster speeds at close range.
Samantha De Leon/CNET
The team averaged all the data from the tests in a summary table. They then combined the scores to get one throughput metric for each frequency band. The data shows that routers with a 2.4GHz band outperformed those with a 5GHz band at long distances. Keep in mind that the typical indoor broadcast range of a router is 150 to 300 feet, according to the United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team.
The ideal spot for your router should always be centrally located in your home. Keep in mind that placing your router in an area with large metal objects, nearby electronics or many walls can interfere with your Wi-Fi signal. If you can, try mounting your router high on the wall or raising it on a bookshelf.
Adjusting your Wi-Fi antennas
If you own a router that has antennas, positioning these antennas properly can improve your signal. If there are two or more antennas on your router, don’t position them all in the same direction. The antennas should be perpendicular to one another — one should be horizontal and the other should be vertical. If that still doesn’t make a difference, try experimenting with placing the antennas at several different angles. During this process, run several internet speed tests to note the differences with each antenna configuration. CNET’s top pick for the best speed test overall is Ookla for its consistency and reliability. (Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.)
Invest in a Wi-Fi extender
A Wi-Fi extender will typically be a cheaper alternative to a mesh router if you’re still experiencing laggy internet and dead zones after repositioning your router. Similar to a mesh router system, a Wi-Fi extender will help boost your speeds throughout your home. CNET’s top pick for the best Wi-Fi extender is the Linksys RE7310. When tested, it delivered plenty of speeds, and it supports Wi-Fi 6 technology. If there are one or more rooms in your home that are dead zones, then a Wi-Fi extender could help improve the signal in these areas. You can either plug your extender into your router or into an outlet on your wall. If you live in a larger home and are facing issues with your connection, then a mesh router would be a better option.
Final thoughts: Wi-Fi can travel through walls, but it’s not magic
Yes, Wi-Fi technology allows your home internet connection to pass through walls, but you still need to take steps to optimize your Wi-Fi connectivity. The thickness of a wall can interfere with your internet signal, leaving you with dead zones in your home. Other factors, such as large objects and nearby electronics, can also cause your broadband connection to suffer.
As far as walls are concerned, of course, changing the layout of your home may not be an option. And before you make a hasty decision such as canceling your internet service or switching internet service providers, you can first try optimizing your Wi-Fi connection through the tips outlined on this page. If you’re still running into trouble, then maybe it’s time to consider whether you’re facing a larger issue, such as throttled speeds from your ISP.
Wi-Fi and walls FAQs
Yes, Wi-Fi can pass through walls. Wi-Fi technology operates on the electromagnetic spectrum and transmits data via radio waves. Data from your router is wirelessly transmitted to other devices nearby. Through a process called refraction, Wi-Fi signals are able to permeate walls, allowing your internet to travel throughout your home. However, this doesn’t mean that you won’t experience interference. The thickness of a wall can obstruct the signal from your router, leaving you with dead zones in your home. Other factors, such as large objects and nearby electronics, can also affect your Wi-Fi connection.
Where is the best place to put your router?
The better Wi-Fi band will depend on what you’re looking for. If you live in a larger home, you should prioritize a Wi-Fi band that can broadcast internet farther. Though the 5GHz band might offer you faster speeds, the 2.4GHz band has a better range. CNET broadband expert Joe Supan recently visited CNET’s labs in Louisville, Kentucky, to help test routers. Our team determined that most routers using the 2.4GHz band performed better in terms of range.
