5 of the Best Wi-Fi Routers for Long Range in 2024

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By

Evan Shephard Avatar

Reviewed By

Evan Shephard
Updated Jun 17, 2024 6:01 PM
best wifi routers long range guide that shows the top best router model

A whopping 75% of electronic and appliance reviews are untrustworthy. That’s why every reviewer gets a Trust Rating so our True Score System filters out the fake reviews. See how we do it.

When you’re looking for the best Wi-Fi routers for long-range, key features such as range, speed, and reliability become crucial. The ideal router should support a 5 GHz download speed surpassing 200 Mbps and maintain low latency under 30ms. Additionally, ensuring a range greater than 100 feet is vital for covering large homes or office spaces without signal drops.

Among these options, finding a top router that meets these criteria can significantly enhance your internet experience. We analyzed 37 routers, certifying 5 as tested and worthy of a spot on our buying guide. This rigorous selection process involved evaluating 193,620 reviews and filtering out fake and low-quality ones with our scientifically proven True Score methodology. Our verified products have proven their capabilities in real-world scenarios, ensuring they deliver the reliable long-range performance you need​​​​.

How Did We Rank the Best Wi-Fi Routers for Long Range?

Our approach to finding the best Wi-Fi routers for long-range connectivity involved a detailed review of over 200 sites, analyzing expert and customer reviews. We examined various testing methodologies to understand what truly matters. Through this process, we identified the 2 required test results and 2 nice-to-have test results, ensuring our guide highlights the top performers for long-range connectivity.

Our commitment to unbiased reviews is powered by our ‘True Score’ system, targeting low quality and fake reviews. When you shop through our links, you’re backing our mission. Dive deeper to see how.

? Test Criteria

  • Router Range: A range of at least 100 feet before the signal from the router begins to become noticeably weaker.
  • 5 GHz Download Speed: A download speed on the 5 GHz band of at least 200 Mbits.

? “Nice To Haves”

  • Latency: A latency of 30 ms or less.
  • 2.4 GHz Download Speed: A download speed on the 2.4 GHz band of at least 50 Mbits.

Latest Updates

  • 06/17/2024: Republished the list to include the best Wi-Fi routers for long range based on our True Score system.

Top Wi-Fi Routers for Long Range For 2024

Prices accurate at the time of publishing

See how we test the testers

  • Runner Up

    Best Value

    Best Budget

    gr recommended award

    Best Mid-Range

    Netgear Nighthawk RAXE300

    • Best For Fiber Optic

    For high-speed internet across vast areas, the Netgear Nighthawk RAXE300 excels with impressive speeds and expansive coverage, ideal for streaming and gaming.

    Netgear Nighthawk RAXE300 Review →

    True Score

    84
    82
    9

    Experts

    90
    4k

    Customers

    SAVE $110
    $399.99
    $289.97
  • Runner Up

    Best Value

    Best Budget

    gr recommended award

    Best Mid-Range

    Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500

    • Best For Streaming

    The Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 offers unparalleled long-range connectivity with exceptional speeds, making it perfect for large homes or spaces.

    Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 Review →

    True Score

    84
    83
    7

    Experts

    89
    3k

    Customers

    SAVE $150
    $599.99
    $449.99
  • Runner Up

    Best Value

    Best Budget

    gr recommended award

    Best Mid-Range

    Asus RT-AX86S

    • Best For Parental Controls

    The Asus RT-AX86S offers affordable, robust performance and extensive coverage, ideal for uninterrupted streaming and online activities.

    Asus RT-AX86S Review →

    True Score

    83
    82
    3

    Experts

    89
    1k

    Customers

    SAVE $102
    $240.72
    $139.00
  • Runner Up

    Best Value

    Best Budget

    gr recommended award

    Best Mid-Range

    TP-Link Archer AX55

    For extensive coverage and fast speeds in larger spaces, the TP-Link Archer AX55 is a top choice, ideal for streaming, gaming, and small businesses.

    TP-Link Archer AX55 Review →

    True Score

    80
    79
    3

    Experts

    86
    6k

    Customers

    SAVE $40
    $149.99
    $109.66
  • Runner Up

    Best Value

    Best Budget

    gr recommended award

    Best Mid-Range

    Linksys Atlas Pro 6 MX 5503

    For extensive coverage and decent speeds, the Linksys Atlas Pro 6 MX 5503 is a solid mid-range choice, ideal for streaming and small businesses.

    Linksys Atlas Pro 6 MX 5503 Review →

    True Score

    74
    73
    2

    Experts

    79
    373

    Customers

    SAVE $150
    $349.99
    $199.99

Which Criteria Matters for Testing Best Wi-Fi Routers for Long Range?

By focusing on these criteria (2 required, 2 nice to have), anyone can quickly and easily compare these routers and how they’ll perform. This helps you make an informed decision and purchase a router that will meet your needs.

CRITERIARANGEREQUIREDDEFINITION
Router Range> 100 ftYesHow far a device can be from a router before the signal starts degrading. It is worth noting that 2.4 GHz reaches further than 5 GHz.
5 GHz Download Speed> 200 Mbits/sYesThe maximum speed that the router can reach when downloading on the 5 GHz band.
2.4 GHz Download Speed> 50 Mbits/sNo (Nice to have)The maximum speed that the router can reach when downloading on the 2.4 GHz band.
Latency< 30 msNo (Nice to have)The delay that is created by a signal being sent by the router and then received.

Our Trusted Data Sources

We looked at 120+ router reviewers and found that 46 are trustworthy (60%+ Trust Rating). The three we have listed below are our most trusted for routers.

  1. James Morris – Kit Guru, LinkedIn
  2. Matt Spencer – TechGearLab, LinkedIn
  3. Brian Nadel – Tom’s Guide, MuckRack

Interested in a comprehensive analysis of our data sources? We’ve got you covered. Below, you’ll find a detailed list of every router review website we’ve identified, organized by their respective Trust Ratings from highest to lowest. But we didn’t stop there. We’ve meticulously reviewed each publication and verified the data by checking whether the authors have bio links to MuckRack or LinkedIn. We’re committed to not only checking the facts but ensuring their veracity.

Router Test Data & Results

Disclaimer:

Evaluating router performance is more than hardware analysis. While hardware tests are straightforward, the challenge lies in contextualizing the results within the limits of real-world usage. Routers operate under conditions that testers cannot fully standardize, including variations in Internet Service Providers (ISPs), network traffic congestion, discrepancies between advertised and actual internet speeds, and the physical layout of homes. These factors introduce a degree of unpredictability, making it hard to draw universal conclusions. As such, our router recommendations aim to provide useful general guidance, accommodating a wide range of home environments and internet setups.

1. Router Range (ft)

Router range is exactly what the name suggests: how far can you get from the router before you start experiencing issues with your connection? The complicating factor is the simple fact that range depends on the band you’re using. 2.4 GHz is a band that offers greater range, so it gives tests results that show a greater range than tests that use the 5 GHz band. In general, our research found most publications used the 5 GHz band, so our recommendations are based on that.

As such, we recommend your router have a range of at least 100 ft. This gives you a good “bubble” around the router that you can connect to, but it’s important to know that things like the walls in your home can cause issues. Thicker walls block more signal, thinner walls block less. Some materials will also do a better job than others will at stopping signal, so if you see a router with a range of 65 ft, know that it might not reach that far in your home. It could reach further – or not nearly as far. This is also why you get dead zones in your home – it’s a matter of geometry and materials.

Router Range (ft; higher is better; 0 = No Data)

2. 5 GHz Download Speed (Mbits/s)

The much faster 5 GHz band offers up much greater bandwidth and is much, much better at meeting high-speed demands. Streaming high-quality video, using streaming services, gaming, downloading large files and games – the 5 GHz band is what makes all of these activities quick and bearable. It reaches a lower range than the 2.4 GHz band, but it’s also much faster, so you’ll use it more, especially on newer devices that actually support the band.

Given how much you’ll be using this band, we recommend a speed of at least 200 Mbits/s to ensure you’re able to enjoy streaming and gaming on at least a few devices simultaneously. Any lower and you start to run into real bottleneck concerns, such as endless buffering, lagging, or drops in connection.

5 GHz Download Speed (Mbits/s; higher is better; 0 = No Data)

3. 2.4 GHz Download Speed (Mbits/s)

The oldest and slowest of the bands on a router is the 2.4 GHz band, but it sticks around for a reason. Generally speaking, while this band features the slowest available speeds and has the lowest bandwidth, but also reaches out the furthest. It’s not the best band to connect to connect if you need high speeds, but if you just need to be connected for light browsing or anything that’s low bandwidth, it works. Alternatively, if you own a lot of old devices, this band may be the only band they can “see” and therefore, use.

Given the age of the band, top speeds on 2.4 GHz cap out very quickly. We recommend a speed of at least 50 Mbits/s, but if you aren’t really going to be using this band for anything other than checking web pages, you can go lower. It’s worth noting, though, that this might lead to a more frustrating and laggier time on modern sites with lots of scripting and high-quality images.

2.4 GHz Download Speed (Mbits/s; higher is better; 0 = No Data)

4. Latency (ms)

On a router, latency refers to how long it takes for the router to send out and receive a signal. The longer it takes, the more delay there is between you sending and receiving data, which can introduce lag in video games and also makes video conferencing harder since the person you’re speaking with now has to contend with your delay and vice versa. If you’ve ever spent a call talking over someone because you don’t know they started talking a second ago, that’s latency.

For that reason, we recommend a latency below 40 ms. As low as you can get it is obviously preferable, but latency is another aspect of your internet connection that is hard to manage. Latency differs to every single place you connect to, and every ISP has its own latency they “add” because you have to connect to their service too. Latency creeps in from your ISP, from the site you’re requesting data from, from your router, and from your own onboard Wi-Fi antenna – and that’s just to name a few sources. If you’re gaming, you also have a delay introduced by your connection to game servers and the delay that exists on a hardware level when you input commands.

Latency (ms; lower is better; 0 = No Data)

Best Wi-Fi Routers for Long Range: Mistakes To Avoid

  1. Neglecting Range Considerations: Don’t overlook the importance of assessing your coverage needs before purchasing a router. Ensure it has the range to cover your entire home or workspace without dead zones. If you find certain areas lacking coverage, understanding the difference between a Wi-Fi repeater and a router can help you choose the best solution.

  2. Ignoring Antenna Quality: Pay attention to the number and type of antennas on the router. Models with high-gain antennas or beamforming technology can significantly improve signal strength and range.

  3. Overlooking Dual-Band or Tri-Band Capability: Opt for routers that support dual-band or tri-band frequencies to mitigate interference and provide better long-range coverage, especially in crowded Wi-Fi environments.

  4. Disregarding Mesh Networking: If you have a large area to cover, avoid relying solely on a single router. Consider investing in a mesh Wi-Fi system with multiple access points to extend coverage seamlessly.

The Best Wi-Fi Routers for Long Range Tests Compared

Product
True Score
2.4 GHz D/L Speed
5 Ghz D/L Speed
6 GHz D/L Speed
Range
Latency

Netgear Nighthawk RAXE300

  • Best for Fiber Optic

84
  • 221.65 Mbits/s

  • 851.59 Mbits/s

  • 756.81 Mbits/s

  • 170 ft

  • 5 ms

$289.97
$400
$110

Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500

  • Best for Streaming

84
  • 416.64 Mbits/s

  • 844.37 Mbits/s

  • 1,004.13 Mbits/s

  • 105 ft

  • 19 ms

$449.99
$600
$150

Asus RT-AX86S

  • Best for Parental Controls

83
  • 89 Mbits/s

  • 563 Mbits/s

  • 0

  • 140 ft

  • 15 ms

$139.00
$241
$102

TP-Link Archer AX55

  • Best for Small Business

80
  • 98.64 Mbits/s

  • 485.2 Mbits/s

  • 0

  • 120 ft

  • 0

$109.66
$150
$40
74
  • 76 Mbits/s

  • 350 Mbits/s

  • 0

  • 160 ft

  • 0

$199.99
$350
$150

Wi-Fi Router for Long Range Questions (FAQ)

What features should I look for in the best Wi-Fi router for long range?

When searching for the best Wi-Fi router for long range, look for features such as high-gain antennas, multiple bands (dual-band or tri-band), MU-MIMO technology, beamforming capabilities, and a strong processor. These features help enhance coverage and ensure stable, fast connections throughout your home or workspace.

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