Best Router Placement to Maximize WiFi Coverage
Most routers are placed in the worst possible spot. Moving yours five metres can double your WiFi speed.
1. The golden rule: centre of your home
WiFi signals radiate in all directions like a sphere. Place your router at the geometric centre of your home to minimise the maximum distance any room is from the signal. A router in one corner creates a signal "desert" in the opposite corner. Centre placement alone can increase average signal strength by 30–50% throughout the home.
2. Height matters
WiFi signals spread outward and slightly downward from the antenna. Mount your router at shoulder height (1–1.5 m from the floor) on a shelf or cabinet — not on the floor where the signal struggles to reach upstairs rooms. In a two-storey home, the ceiling of the ground floor or the floor of the upper level is ideal.
3. Materials that kill WiFi signal
| Material | Signal loss |
|---|---|
| Air / drywall | Minimal (1–3 dB) |
| Wood doors/floors | Low (3–5 dB) |
| Brick / concrete walls | High (10–15 dB) |
| Metal / reinforced concrete | Very high (20–30 dB) |
| Water (aquariums, pipes) | Medium (5–10 dB) |
Each wall between your router and device reduces signal strength. Place the router to minimise the number of walls in the path to your most-used areas.
4. Keep it away from interference sources
These devices operate on the same 2.4 GHz frequency as WiFi and actively degrade it: microwaves, baby monitors, cordless phones and some smart home devices. Keep your router at least 2 metres from any of these. Baby monitors and microwaves in particular can reduce 2.4 GHz throughput by up to 80% when active.
5. Open spaces, not enclosed cabinets
Routers generate heat and need airflow. Placing them in a closed cabinet both reduces signal (the cabinet walls absorb it) and causes overheating, which throttles performance. Always leave the router in an open space with ventilation on all sides.
6. Antenna orientation
For a single-storey home: point antennas vertically for maximum horizontal coverage. For a two-storey home: point one antenna vertical, one horizontal to cover both floors. For routers with internal antennas, placement height is the only lever you have.
7. Test before and after
Walk around your home running a speed test in different rooms before and after moving the router. The signal strength difference is often immediately visible. Focus on your most-used locations — the bedroom, home office or living room — and optimise placement for those specifically.
Conclusion
Central placement, raised height, away from walls and interference sources — these four rules resolve most WiFi coverage problems without spending a penny. If coverage is still patchy after optimal placement, a mesh system or WiFi extender is the next step. See the full weak signal guide →