Cat 6 23 AWG vs 24 AWG: Which LAN Cable Should You Choose?
When you buy a 305-metre box of Cat 6 LAN cable, you will usually see two options: 23 AWG and 24 AWG. Both are sold as Category 6, both carry Gigabit Ethernet, and both end in the same RJ-45 plugs. So does the difference matter? For short desk runs it often does not. For long runs, Power over Ethernet (PoE) devices such as access points and IP cameras, and large cable bundles, it can. This guide explains what AWG means, how 23 AWG and 24 AWG Cat 6 compare, and how to choose the right cable for your network.
What does AWG mean?
AWG stands for American Wire Gauge, the standard way of describing the thickness of a copper conductor. The scale runs backwards: the lower the number, the thicker the wire. So a 23 AWG conductor is thicker than a 24 AWG conductor. A thicker conductor has more copper, which means lower electrical resistance, less heat when carrying current and a little more physical strength.
A Cat 6 cable has eight conductors arranged as four twisted pairs, so the gauge applies to all eight wires. The Category 6 standard (ANSI/TIA-568.2-D and ISO/IEC 11801) allows solid conductors from 22 to 24 AWG, provided the finished cable meets all the electrical requirements. That is why both 23 AWG and 24 AWG cables can legitimately be called Cat 6.
23 AWG vs 24 AWG Cat 6 at a glance
| Feature | 23 AWG Cat 6 | 24 AWG Cat 6 |
|---|---|---|
| Conductor diameter | About 0.57 mm | About 0.51 mm |
| Copper DC resistance (typical, pure copper) | About 6.7 Ω per 100 m | About 8.4 Ω per 100 m |
| Category 6 limit for conductor resistance | 9.38 Ω per 100 m (both must meet it) | 9.38 Ω per 100 m (both must meet it) |
| Bandwidth | Up to 250 MHz | Up to 250 MHz |
| 1 Gbps (1000BASE-T) | Up to 100 m channel | Up to 100 m channel |
| 10 Gbps (10GBASE-T) | Short runs, up to about 55 m | Short runs, up to about 55 m |
| Cable diameter | Usually larger, often with a cross filler | Usually slimmer |
| PoE and heat in bundles | Better: less voltage drop and heat | Good for most PoE loads |
| Ease of installation | Stiffer, needs more conduit space | More flexible, easier to pull |
| Best for | Long runs, PoE, CCTV, Wi-Fi APs, big bundles | Offices, homes, short runs, tight spaces |
Speed and bandwidth: the same on paper
Gauge does not change the category. A properly made 23 AWG or 24 AWG Cat 6 cable is tested to the same 250 MHz frequency range and supports the same Ethernet speeds: 1 Gbps over a full 100-metre channel (90 m of fixed cable plus up to 10 m of patch cords) and 10 Gbps over shorter runs of up to about 55 m, depending on the installation and the amount of alien crosstalk between neighbouring cables. If you need guaranteed 10 Gbps over the full 100 m, you need Cat 6A, not a thicker Cat 6.
Where 23 AWG does help is margin. Its lower resistance and, in most designs, a cross filler that separates the four pairs give slightly better attenuation and crosstalk figures. That extra headroom is useful on runs close to the 90-metre limit and in busy cable trays.
Power over Ethernet: where 23 AWG really pays off
Today many network cables carry power as well as data. Wi-Fi access points, IP cameras, IP phones, door controllers and small switches are often powered through the LAN cable using PoE. The power standards keep rising:
| PoE standard | Common name | Power at the switch port (PSE) |
|---|---|---|
| IEEE 802.3af | PoE (Type 1) | Up to 15.4 W |
| IEEE 802.3at | PoE+ (Type 2) | Up to 30 W |
| IEEE 802.3bt | PoE++ (Type 3) | Up to 60 W |
| IEEE 802.3bt | PoE++ (Type 4) | Up to 90 W |
Current flowing through copper loses some energy as heat, and the amount depends on resistance. A 23 AWG conductor has roughly 20% less resistance than a 24 AWG conductor, so it delivers less voltage drop over distance and runs cooler. Heat matters most in bundles: when dozens of PoE cables are tied together in a tray, the cables in the middle warm up, and higher temperature increases attenuation and can reduce the maximum usable length. Industry guidance such as TIA TSB-184-A on supporting remote powering recommends larger conductors and smaller bundles for high-power PoE.
In practice: if you are installing PoE+ cameras on long runs, PoE++ access points, or large bundles of powered cables in a data room, choose 23 AWG Cat 6. For ordinary PoE phones and short runs, 24 AWG works fine.
Size, flexibility and installation
Thicker conductors make a thicker cable. A 23 AWG Cat 6 cable with a cross filler is typically around 6 mm or more in diameter, so fewer cables fit in a conduit, trunking or cable tray, and the cable is stiffer to pull around corners. A 24 AWG Cat 6 is usually slimmer and more flexible, which helps in crowded ceilings, small trunking and home installations.
Whichever gauge you choose, follow the basic installation rules:
- Keep the bend radius gentle. The minimum is about four times the cable diameter for UTP cable. Sharp kinks damage the pair twist.
- Do not over-pull. The usual maximum pulling tension for 4-pair cable is 110 N (about 25 lbf).
- Keep the pair twist close to the termination. Untwist as little as possible at the jack or plug.
- Separate data cable from power cable and avoid running it alongside fluorescent fittings and motors.
- Do not crush bundles with tight cable ties. Hook-and-loop straps are kinder to the cable.
Connectors: check the gauge rating
Many installation problems with 23 AWG cable come from the connectors, not the cable. RJ-45 plugs, keystone jacks and patch panels are designed for a range of conductor and insulation sizes. A 23 AWG conductor with its insulation may not fit properly in a plug made only for 24 to 26 AWG wire, which leads to poor contact and intermittent faults. Before you buy, confirm that your plugs, jacks and patch panels are rated for 23 AWG solid conductors. The same applies to the tools: use a crimp tool and punch-down tool that match the connector.
Watch out for CCA cable
Some low-cost "Cat 6" cable on the market uses copper-clad aluminium (CCA) conductors: aluminium wire with a thin copper coating. CCA has much higher resistance than solid copper, breaks more easily when bent, corrodes at the terminations and heats up under PoE. It does not meet the Category 6 cabling standards, which require solid copper conductors for horizontal cable. A heavier gauge number on a CCA cable does not make up for this. Always buy cable that clearly states solid bare copper conductors. A simple check is to scrape a conductor with a blade: solid copper stays copper-coloured all the way through, while CCA shows silver aluminium underneath.
Solid vs stranded: a separate choice
Gauge is not the same as conductor type. Box cable for installation in walls, ceilings and trays (horizontal cabling) uses solid conductors, which give the best electrical performance and terminate cleanly on keystone jacks and patch panels. Stranded conductors are more flexible and are used for patch cords between the wall outlet and the device, or between the patch panel and the switch.
Which should you choose?
Choose 23 AWG for long runs near 90 m, PoE+ and PoE++ devices, CCTV and Wi-Fi projects, large cable bundles, and new buildings where you want the most headroom.
Choose 24 AWG for offices and homes with shorter runs, standard data and light PoE loads, and installations with limited space in conduit or trunking.
If you are unsure, think about what the cable will carry in five years. Access points and cameras keep drawing more power, and pulling new cable later costs far more than choosing the heavier gauge now.
Frequently asked questions
Is 23 AWG Cat 6 faster than 24 AWG Cat 6?
No. Both are Category 6 and support the same speeds: 1 Gbps up to 100 m and 10 Gbps over shorter runs. 23 AWG gives more electrical margin and handles PoE better, but it does not raise the speed rating.
Can I mix 23 AWG and 24 AWG cable in one network?
Yes. Different links can use different gauges without any problem, because each link is a separate channel. Within one link, use the same cable from the patch panel to the outlet and connectors rated for that gauge.
Is 23 AWG Cat 6 the same as Cat 6A?
No. Cat 6A is a different category tested to 500 MHz and designed for 10 Gbps over the full 100 m. Many Cat 6A cables also use 23 AWG conductors, but a 23 AWG Cat 6 cable is still Cat 6.
What is the maximum length of a Cat 6 cable?
The Ethernet channel limit is 100 m: up to 90 m of solid installation cable plus up to 10 m of patch cords in total. Beyond that you need a switch in between or a fibre link.
When should I use fibre instead of Cat 6?
Use fibre for links longer than 100 m, between buildings, and for backbone links that need more than 10 Gbps. Copper and fibre work together: Cat 6 to the desk and the device, fibre between floors, buildings and sites. Our guide to fibre optic patch cords explains how to choose the fibre side of the network.
Need Cat 6 cable for your project?
Litech supplies Cat 6 LAN cable in 305-metre boxes: Cat 6 23 AWG U/UTP with solid bare copper conductors, and Cat 6 24 AWG for everyday installations. Browse the full copper and Cat 6 range, or tell us about your project and we will recommend the right cable. Message us on WhatsApp +92 313 7776766. Delivery is free across Pakistan.
Sources: ANSI/TIA-568.2-D and ISO/IEC 11801-1 (Category 6 cabling); IEEE 802.3af, 802.3at and 802.3bt (Power over Ethernet); TIA TSB-184-A (guidelines for supporting power delivery over balanced twisted-pair cabling); Litech Cat 6 23 AWG technical data sheet.
