Top 7 Best Wi-Fi Routers for Long Range in 2024

Greetings! Thanks for joining us as we reveal the seven best Wi-Fi routers for long range.

We’ve been putting tonnes of routers to the test to find out which gets the best performance from furthest away.

Overall, we felt that the best offering came from the ASUS ZenWifi AX (XT8) AX6600. In terms of what you get for what you pay, this is the one for anyone with a large home or workplace.

ASUS ZenWiFi AX (XT8) AX6600 White
Source: Asus.com

ASUS ZenWiFi AX (XT8) AX6600

Best Overall

  • Type: Wi-Fi Mesh router
  • Tested max speed: 836.45 Mbps 
  • Overall range: theoretically 720ft
  • Wireless standard: Wi-Fi 6
  • Warranty: 2 years

But there are a few more factors at play here, so make sure you check out the other categories too. And stay tuned for our long range router buying guide later on!

Let’s check ‘em out.

7 Best Long Range Routers

In summary, here are our favorite long range routers:

7 Top Long Range Routers

Here we go! Check out what we think are the best routers for long range.

#1 Best Overall: ASUS ZenWiFi AX (XT8) AX6600

ASUS ZenWiFi AX (XT8) AX6600 White
  • Type: Wi-Fi Mesh router
  • Tested max speed: 836.45 Mbps 
  • Overall range: theoretically 720ft
  • Wireless standard: Wi-Fi 6
  • Warranty: 2 years

Pros

  • Fast speed
  • Great range
  • Tri-band for more bandwidth
  • Useful features (QoS, Parental Controls, etc)

Cons

  • Slower 2.4 GHz band
  • No WPA3 security

If you have a massive home or workplace and a download speed of up to 800 Mbps, we really commend the ASUS ZenWiFi AX (XT8) AX6600.

This Mesh system offers serious speed and range but without breaking the bank like some of the competition does.

When it comes to Wi-Fi routers with a strong range, it’s best to go down the Mesh route.

Mesh is a technology that allows you to connect multiple satellite nodes to the same network and connect to each seamlessly as you move around the house. That’s unlike traditional Wi-Fi repeaters which force you to reconnect to each new satellite as you go.

It’s possible to connect up to nine of these satellite nodes to your ZenWifi Mesh system. When we consider that the range of an individual node is around 80ft, that means there is a theoretical range for this Mesh setup of 720ft.

Of course, there are a few factors that will reel that in. These include the fact that Wi-Fi performance decreases with the more nodes the signal has to pass through and that walls and furniture will have a negative impact on the range of a network as well.

That being said, the satellites do tend to hold onto the speed pretty well, so you should still see decent performance as you move further away from the original router.

The original router offered a top speed of 836.45 Mbps when we tested it from 5ft away.

That’s fast. When you consider that 800 Mbps could get you 32 Ultra HD Netflix streams or download 100GB in just under 17 minutes. You can be safe in the knowledge that this kind of speed is more than enough for any family or small workplace.

There’s also the matter of warranty. With the AX6600, you’ll get two years. That’s pretty good, as it’s double the legal requirement in the US and, therefore, better than some of the competition.

In terms of other features, there’s a few things to discuss. The AX6600 is a tri-band router, meaning that there is an extra 5 GHz band to free up bandwidth and improve overall performance.

There’s also the benefit of Quality of Service, allowing you to prioritize certain devices on the network to improve their performance.

And, you get AiProtection Pro for free for life. That’s ASUS’s advanced antivirus technology and parental controls software wrapped up into one.

Overall, it’s all positive for this router! That’s why it’s our pick of the bunch. 




#2 Fastest Mesh: Netgear Orbi RBK852

Netgear Orbi RBK852
  • Type: Wi-Fi Mesh router
  • Tested max speed: 851.86 Mbps
  • Overall range: theoretically 640ft
  • Wireless standard: Wi-Fi 6
  • Warranty: 1 year

Pros

  • Super quick
  • Great coverage
  • Fast satellites

Cons

  • Expensive
  • No USB ports

If you want to squeeze even more speed out of a Mesh system, you could opt for Netgear’s offering: the Orbi RBK852. This one managed an extra 15 Mbps from 5ft away compared to the ASUS model. But it does cost quite a bit more money.

We found that the individual range of an Orbi satellite was, just like the ASUS offering, 80ft. However, you can connect one fewer device to this network (8). This leaves a theoretical range of 640ft.

Slightly disappointing compared to the competition, Netgear’s warranty for all their Wi-Fi routers is one year. If the router were to break down after the year mark, there would be nothing you could do.

The RBK852 will allow you to connect to up to 100 devices and that’s quite remarkable. Plus, it comes with Netgear Armor security. That includes antivirus technology to protect your network and parental controls to protect the little ones.

So is it worth paying the extra money for this router by comparison? It depends on personal preference. The Orbi RBK862 performs highly even from further away satellites but it really is only slightly better than the ASUS model. That’s a decision you’ll have to make for yourself!




#3 Fastest overall: Netgear Nighthawk AXE11000 RAXE500

Netgear RAXE500
  • Type: Wi-Fi router
  • Tested max speed: 1203.59 Mbps
  • Overall range: 100-110ft
  • Wireless standard: Wi-Fi 6e
  • Warranty: 1 year

Pros

  • Very fast
  • Good range
  • Tri-band for more bandwidth

Cons

  • Expensive
  • Lacking features

If it’s raw speed you’re looking for, you can find it here. The Netgear Nighthawk AXE11000 RAXE500 is literally one of the fastest consumer routers in the world and it comes with great range despite not actually being part of a Mesh system.

When we tested the speed of this device from 5ft away, it clocked in at an astonishing 1203.59 Mbps. Seriously, it does not get much better than that!

Imagine what you could do with a speed of over 1000 Mbps… you’d be looking at well over 40 Ultra HD streams, for a start. At 1203.59 Mbps, it would take just 11 minutes to download 100GB.

We found that we couldn’t get a signal from this router past 110ft but that’s still very impressive. It proves that you don’t need Mesh to get decent range! Plus, if you want to extend this range, you can always pick up a Wi-Fi extender. We’ve put together a few of the best ones here.

There are some cool extra features here as well. These include Netgears’s Armor antivirus technology and the neat Nighthawk app which allows you to set up your router and control its settings with ease.

Unfortunately, there are one or two things missing here. This Nighthawk router has no QoS. That means you can’t direct more network power to specific devices if you feel like they need a boost above others on the network.

Just like the Orbi RBK852, the RAXE500 only comes with a warranty of one year if you’re based in the US. After that, you’ll be on your own if you encounter any issues. There’s also the price. It’s not extortionate but it will set you back a few bucks, that’s for sure.




#4 Best for gaming: ASUS RT-AX88U

ASUS RT-AX88U
  • Type: Wi-Fi router
  • Tested max speed: 927.17 Mbps
  • Overall range: 100-110ft
  • Wireless standard: Wi-Fi 6
  • Warranty: 2 years

Pros

  • Very fast
  • Extremely good range
  • Loads of great features

Cons

  • A little pricey

The hardcore gamers out there will know how important it is to have a strong network when you game. ASUS’s RT-AX88U router is perfectly tailored to that.

One of the main reasons for this is something called Quality of Service (QoS). This allows you to redirect the main network performance to a handful of specific devices, lowering latency and improving speed.

ASUS’s QoS is second to none and even comes with a gaming setting. So, if you’re about to embark on an online session, just switch the setting to your games console through the neat ASUS Router app and get going.

This comes alongside some rapid speeds. When we carried out our 5ft download test, the RT-AX88U managed a top speed of 927.17 Mbps. This means it would take under 15 minutes to download 100GB.

But we’re looking at long range routers today. And the RT-AX88U claims its place in our list in style. It’s not Mesh, but the router does have an outstanding range of 100-110ft and it comes in at a lower price than the Nighthawk.

Furthermore, you can actually hook the RT-AX88U up to Mesh extenders through ASUS’s AiMesh technology. It’s not as powerful as ZenWiFi and it might get a bit expensive to do this but the option is there. And the price is the only real drawback to this router despite not even being that high.




#5 Best traditional router: TP-Link Archer AX73

TP-Link Archer AX73 AX5400
  • Type: Wi-Fi router
  • Tested max speed: 827.85 Mbps 
  • Overall range: 100-110ft
  • Wireless standard: Wi-Fi 6
  • Warranty: 2 years

Pros

  • Quick speed
  • Incredible range
  • Useful features (QoS, Parental Controls, etc)

Cons

  • Need to pay a subscription for Antivirus

Another router that performs extremely well and for a fantastic price is the TP-Link Archer AX73

It competes with the Netgear and ASUS models previously mentioned (the range comes in at 100-110ft once again here, enough for a medium-sized home) but for a lower price. 

And if you want to go even further, this router supports TP-Link’s OneMesh, an entry into the world of Mesh albeit not as powerful as their Deco or Orbi systems.

You might think that you’ll need to compromise on speed for a drop in price. This is partially true, but not by much. You’ll still manage to get 827.85 Mbps out of the AX73 which is going to be enough for most families.

What about extra features? Well, there’s excellent security in this router thanks to the TP-Link HomeShield feature. This is a bundle of antivirus software (protecting your network from outside threats) and parental controls (allowing you to protect vulnerable internet users by restricting access to the network).

The only downside is the performance on the 2.4 GHz band for Wi-Fi 5 devices, which is quite bad. It managed only 44.79 Mbps from 5ft away which is less than half of the ASUS RT-AX88U. That means some older devices that don’t support 5 GHz could struggle for speed.

In conclusion, we recommend this router to anyone who has devices that support 5 GHz only. 




#6 Best budget: TP-Link Deco S4

TP-Link Deco S4 Overview
  • Type: Wi-Fi Mesh router
  • Tested max speed: 317.27 Mbps
  • Overall range: theoretically 700ft
  • Wireless standard: Wi-Fi 5
  • Warranty: 2 years

Pros

  • Reasonable price
  • Excellent range
  • Great features (QoS, Parental Controls, etc)

Cons

  • Not the fastest kit

Those looking to pick up a Mesh system for a low price should take a real close look at the TP-Link Deco S4. It’s one of our favorite Mesh systems and it’s super affordable!

If you have an internet plan of over 300 Mbps, however, we do not recommend this router. It’s only Wi-Fi 5-ready and managed a top download speed of 317.27 Mbps. Not slow, but far from the speed of some of the other contenders we’ve been looking at today. 

To calculate the theoretical range of this Mesh system, we calculated the range of one satellite which looked to be around 65-70ft. If you were to sustain this across the max amount of satellites (10), you could technically get a range of 700ft.

However, this would probably be unlikely in practice. That’s because connecting 10 satellites to this system would be a bit of a push, especially considering the speed isn’t so fast. Towards the 700ft mark, you’d be really struggling for speed.

But that’s the only downside we have to mention about this one. It’s all good in every other respect, including its extra features.

You’ll get Alexa compatibility so you can tell it what to do, antivirus technology to protect from outside threats, and QoS like we mentioned before, allowing you to direct network attention to specific devices and improve their performance.




#7 Best for extra features: Google Nest Wi-Fi AC2200

Google Nest Wi-Fi
  • Type: Wi-Fi Mesh router
  • Tested max speed: 87.76 Mbps
  • Overall range: theoretically 280ft
  • Wireless standard: Wi-Fi 6
  • Warranty: 2 years

Pros

  • Affordable
  • Looks great
  • Great features with Home integration

Cons

  • Poor performance

For an alternative Mesh network, the Google Nest Wi-Fi system is pretty cool. But we only recommend it for people who have a number of IoT (Internet of Things) devices in their home. And that’s only if they have a low internet plan.

Using the beautiful Google Home app, Google Nest Wi-Fi connects flawlessly with other devices such as Nest thermostats, security systems, refrigerators and more. The individual Nest satellites also double up as smart speakers which is pretty neat.

There is, however, the issue of speed. In our test, we found that Nest Wi-Fi only managed 87.76 Mbps. So if you have an internet plan of 100 Mbps or more, you might be wasting money with the Nest. Unless you’re really desperate for all the Google Home stuff.

Google recommends a max of five satellites per Mesh system. This may well be a more conservative estimate than the likes of ASUS and TP-Link. You probably could add more than this, but with such a low performance system, it wouldn’t be worth it.

The range of the original router is 80ft with each additional node offering 50ft. Add that altogether and you have an achievable total range of 280ft… provided that you don’t have any walls in your house.

It does seem to hold onto its speed fairly well across satellites, but that’s not saying a huge amount considering how slow the speed is right off the bat.

So, if you do have a low internet plan and a bunch of Google Home compatible smart products, Nest could be the icing on the cake.




Long Range Router Buying Guide

When you’re shopping for a long range router, we recommend considering the following criteria. For a more general guide, read our router buying guide

Mesh or No Mesh?

How important is Mesh when it comes to range, really? To cut a long story short, the answer is ‘very’. Mesh is the best way to increase the range of your home network. Why? Because it does it seamlessly.

When you want to move into the range of another satellite on your Mesh network, you won’t need to manually change the network name on the device you’re using.

It’s all done under one network. So, you can continue to stream or stay in a video call as you move around your home.

We generally recommend Mesh to anyone with a home of 3000 sq. ft. or more. Up until this point, you can just get a regular long range router without Mesh capabilities like the ones we mentioned just now (e.g. the TP-Link Archer AX73.)

Undecided as to whether you should go for Mesh or just a traditional Wi-Fi repeater? We compared the two, and you check that out here.

2.4 GHz strength

Most Wi-Fi routers these days have two bands: 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. The former has slower speeds but a better range whereas the latter is faster but doesn’t travel as far.

So if we’re looking at range, we’ll need to consider how well a router performs on the 2.4 GHz band. Because this is the only one that’s going to reach the far corners of your home in most cases. 

Wi-Fi 5 or Wi-Fi 6?

To get the best possible range at home, you’re probably going to want to opt for a router that offers Wi-Fi 6, as this technically has a better range than its predecessor, Wi-Fi 5.

Let’s break it down. Wi-Fi 5 was the older Wi-Fi standard, released in 2014. But then, in 2019, Wi-Fi 6 was thrown into the mix offering faster speeds and a better range. Supposedly, it has the potential to be up to 250% faster.

That being said, not every device can handle Wi-Fi 6. Make sure you check the compatibility of your primary devices before you commit to spending more on a Wi-Fi 6 router. Because this is the more expensive option, often by quite a long way!

Here’s a closer look at the difference between Wi-Fi 5 and Wi-Fi 6.

What about Wi-Fi 6e?

An even later development to the Wi-Fi protocol, this time in the year of 2021, was Wi-Fi 6e. This adds a third band, 6 GHz. The 6 GHz has the potential to go even faster than the fastest 5 GHz band, but at a cost: the range. 

The range of a 6 GHz can often be really short, so on the subject of range alone, it’s definitely not worth it.

Do tri-band routers help?

A tri-band router can either be a Wi-Fi 6e one (2 GHz, 5 GHz and 6 GHz) or a double 5 GHz one (2 GHz and 2x 5 GHz). The benefit of the second 5 GHz band is to free up bandwidth to improve overall performance on it.

If we’re looking for pure range, there’s not much point in opting for a tri-band router. They tend to cost a lot more money that could be put to better use on a Mesh system or Wi-Fi extenders if you’re on a quest for better range.

That being said, the ASUS Mesh system that we picked as our favorite has a second 5 GHz band and doesn’t cost a fortune. The extra 5 GHz band does increase a Mesh node’s range and speed, which is never a bad thing of course!

For more information on dual-band and tri-band routers, check out our article on the matter.

Warranty

Range aside for a second, it’s important to look at the warranty a router has to offer. Some manufacturers offer one year from the moment of purchase, some two, and some lifetime. 

Warranty covers you for the eventuality that something goes wrong with the router and it needs repairing or replacing. If you’re not covered by warranty at the point this happens, you’re going to need to pay for the repair or replacement out of your own pocket.

A one year warranty is the minimum legal requirement in the US. It’s not ideal to have a router with a warranty this low.

While it would be unlikely for anything to go wrong between the one and two year mark, the extra piece of mind you get from doubling your warranty makes it worth choosing an option that does have two.

Extra features

If you’re going to be splashing the cash for a high performance, long range router, you’re going to want to see some extra features thrown in there to sweeten the deal.

There are some features that can help improve the range of your router. If, for example, your router has a technology called beamforming, it’s likely to be able to extend a little further. 

Beamforming combines each of the routers ‘beams’ from its antennas to direct them to specific devices, resulting in less lost signal and improving speed and range for those devices. 

Other Wi-Fi network technologies MU-MIMO and OFDMA will help to improve the performance of your network as well. These two technologies help to communicate with individual devices, improving their speed and connection time.

MU-MIMO does this by focusing beams in a similar way to beamforming whereas OFDMA assigns sets of subcarriers to devices on the network, also improving efficiency. 

What other features can you get?

Above and beyond these more technical features, there are a few things to look out for. For a start, there’s the Quality of Service we mentioned earlier on.

QoS allows you to prioritize particular devices on the network and divert more bandwidth to them, improving speed and lowering latency. 

Then there’s parental controls. This is a must-have for those sharing their network with young children, elderly relatives or any other vulnerable internet users. It allows you to restrict network access to certain devices.

This means that young eyes can be diverted from inappropriate content and that any website that may contain malware can be avoided. 

Best Long Range Routers FAQ

Here’s a look at what the people want to know about routers with a long range, and the answers to those questions.

Is it possible to get a long range Wi-Fi network on a strict budget?

A few years back, picking up a Mesh system ‘cheap’ would’ve literally been impossible. The entry-level would not have been in the budget category at all. Nowadays, you can pick up really affordable Mesh systems such as the TP-Link Deco S4.

And they’re not even bad! The S4 is a surprisingly good system for the price you pay. So if you’re on a budget, you don’t need to be priced out by Mesh anymore. 

How far can a router’s range go?

For a router alone, the standard max range is around the 100-110ft mark. But you can extend that to as far as 600 or 700ft with the right technologies and hardware.

Some of the Mesh systems we reviewed earlier on in this article will sustain a connection hundreds of feet away from the router. However, you are likely to experience impaired performance this far away from the network source.

Do I need any other hardware when I buy a long range router?

All of the devices we have mentioned today have been standalone routers, not modem/router combos. This means you’ll need to buy a separate modem if you want to use the device with a cable network. 

So, other than additional Mesh satellites or Wi-Fi repeaters, the only other piece of kit you’ll need will be a modem. We’ve put together some of the best modems for your consideration.

Final Thoughts on the Best Long Range Routers

The ASUS ZenWiFi AX (XT8) AX6600 is one heck of a router and that’s why we think it’s the best overall router for long range.

The editor’s choice, if you will. But there are a lot of great options out there, and what’s best for you might differ based on your personal situation.

With the information in today’s article, you’ll be in a prime position to make the decision that’s right for you.

Just consult with our buying guide when you’re in the market and take heed of our recommendations. You’ll be up and running with an awesome long range network in no time!

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