WiFi Coverage Calculator
Estimate the number of wireless access points your business needs based on floor area, wall construction, user density, and performance requirements.
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WiFi Standards & Coverage by Environment
| Standard | Max Speed | Frequency | Open Plan | Partitioned | Brick/Concrete |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WiFi 5 (802.11ac) | 3.5 Gbps | 5 GHz | ~130 sqm | ~85 sqm | ~40 sqm |
| WiFi 6 (802.11ax) | 9.6 Gbps | 2.4 + 5 GHz | ~150 sqm | ~100 sqm | ~55 sqm |
| WiFi 6E (802.11ax) | 9.6 Gbps | 6 GHz | ~120 sqm | ~80 sqm | ~45 sqm |
| WiFi 7 (802.11be) | 46 Gbps | 2.4 + 5 + 6 GHz | ~150 sqm | ~100 sqm | ~55 sqm |
Coverage ranges are typical for enterprise-grade access points mounted on ceilings. Actual coverage depends on building construction, interference, and client device capabilities. View our networking solutions
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Frequently asked questions
Most UK offices need roughly one access point per 500-800 sq ft, though thick walls, open-plan layouts, and high user density can push that lower. A single AP typically supports 25-30 concurrent devices comfortably before performance drops. This calculator estimates a starting point based on your floor area and construction type.
Weak spots usually come from wall materials (brick and concrete absorb signal far more than plasterboard), AP placement too high or too far apart, and interference from microwaves or neighbouring networks. Older single-band routers designed for homes also struggle once you add more than a handful of users.
A small office (10-20 users) typically costs £800-£2,500 for a proper installation with 2-4 access points, cabling, and configuration. Larger sites with structured cabling and enterprise-grade controllers can run £3,000-£10,000+. Ongoing licensing for cloud-managed WiFi usually adds £3-£8 per AP monthly.
Consumer routers are built for 5-10 devices and lack the roaming, VLAN segmentation, and management features SMEs need once staff, guests, and IoT devices share the network. Most UK businesses with more than 10 employees benefit from business-grade access points with centralised management and guest network isolation.
