Where Should You Place Your Router?
The best place to put a WiFi router is usually in a central, elevated, and open location, away from walls, large metal objects, and sources of electrical interference. In learning how router placement can affect WiFi coverage, reliability, and performance throughout your home, you’ll also learn how to get better WiFi.
Where should you place your router for the best WiFi signal?
Whether you're streaming your favourite shows, working from home, gaming online, or scrolling on your phone, a strong WiFi connection can make everyday tasks feel easier and smoother. If you're wondering how to improve WiFi signal around your home to help stay connected, one of the easiest places to start is with your router.
Many people assume that slow WiFi must mean they need faster broadband. However, much more goes into your internet speed than just your broadband package. Where you put your router can also impact the wireless connection in and around your home. A poorly positioned router can create weak signal areas, buffering, and connectivity issues, even when the broadband connection itself is working fine.
Many people assume that slow WiFi must mean they need faster broadband. However, much more goes into your internet speed than just your broadband package. Where you put your router can also impact the wireless connection in and around your home. A poorly positioned router can create weak signal areas, buffering, and connectivity issues, even when the broadband connection itself is working fine.
Why router placement matters
Router placement matters because WiFi signals weaken as they travel through walls, floors, furniture, and other obstacles. The farther a device is from the router, the weaker the connection might become.
A WiFi router creates a wireless network that allows your devices to connect to your broadband service. The signal spreads out from the router in multiple directions and gradually becomes weaker over distance. This means a laptop sitting a few metres from the router may experience a stronger connection than another device at the opposite end of the house.
A WiFi router creates a wireless network that allows your devices to connect to your broadband service. The signal spreads out from the router in multiple directions and gradually becomes weaker over distance. This means a laptop sitting a few metres from the router may experience a stronger connection than another device at the opposite end of the house.
Impact of walls, furniture, and layout
The design and construction of your home can affect how the WiFi signal travels. Materials such as brick, concrete, metal, water, and glass can weaken wireless signals, while large furniture may also obstruct the WiFi.
For example, a router positioned behind a sofa, inside a cupboard, or on the far side of a thick wall may struggle to provide the same coverage around the house as one placed in an open area.
For example, a router positioned behind a sofa, inside a cupboard, or on the far side of a thick wall may struggle to provide the same coverage around the house as one placed in an open area.
Where should you put your router in a house or flat?
The best router placement depends partly on the shape of your home.
• In a flat, try to place your router near the centre of the space, raised off the floor and close to the rooms where you use WiFi most.
• In a house, especially one with more than one storey, a central position on the middle floor can help the signal travel more evenly upstairs and downstairs.
Wherever you live, keep the router out in the open and away from thick walls, large furniture, and electronics. If you're wondering how to improve WiFi signal or how to get better WiFi, you can test the connection in the rooms you use most and adjust until you find the best position.
• In a flat, try to place your router near the centre of the space, raised off the floor and close to the rooms where you use WiFi most.
• In a house, especially one with more than one storey, a central position on the middle floor can help the signal travel more evenly upstairs and downstairs.
Wherever you live, keep the router out in the open and away from thick walls, large furniture, and electronics. If you're wondering how to improve WiFi signal or how to get better WiFi, you can test the connection in the rooms you use most and adjust until you find the best position.
Why poor placement leads to slow speeds and dead zones
Poor router placement can create areas where the WiFi signal is significantly weaker than elsewhere in the home. These are often referred to as WiFi dead zones.
Common signs of poor WiFi coverage include:
- Buffering while streaming
- Video calls that freeze or disconnect
- Slow downloads
- Latency during gaming
- Rooms where devices regularly lose connection
Common signs of poor WiFi coverage include:
- Buffering while streaming
- Video calls that freeze or disconnect
- Slow downloads
- Latency during gaming
- Rooms where devices regularly lose connection
Where to put your router
For the strongest WiFi signal, place it near the centre of your home, off the floor, and in an open area where the signal can travel more freely.
A central location is often the best router placement because it helps send the signal more evenly around the property.
Good, centralised spots include:
- A central hallway
- A living room near the middle of the property
- A shared family space regularly used for connected devices
Routers generally perform better when they are raised off the ground. A shelf, desk, or sideboard can often provide better coverage than placing the router directly on the floor.
Other examples of elevated positions include:
- A bookshelf
- A cabinet top
- A wall-mounted shelf
- A desk in a home office
Open spaces help reduce the number of obstacles that signals have to pass through. Where possible, leave some clear space around your router and avoid surrounding it with furniture or household items.
If there are rooms in your home where consistent internet performance is important, positioning your router closer to those areas may help with signal and speed.
For example:
- A home office used for video calls
- A living or television room used for streaming
- A gaming room or setup
- Bedrooms where multiple devices connect regularly
Central location in the home
A central location is often the best router placement because it helps send the signal more evenly around the property.
Good, centralised spots include:
- A central hallway
- A living room near the middle of the property
- A shared family space regularly used for connected devices
Elevated position
Routers generally perform better when they are raised off the ground. A shelf, desk, or sideboard can often provide better coverage than placing the router directly on the floor.
Other examples of elevated positions include:
- A bookshelf
- A cabinet top
- A wall-mounted shelf
- A desk in a home office
Open, unobstructed space
Open spaces help reduce the number of obstacles that signals have to pass through. Where possible, leave some clear space around your router and avoid surrounding it with furniture or household items.
Near main usage areas
If there are rooms in your home where consistent internet performance is important, positioning your router closer to those areas may help with signal and speed.
For example:
- A home office used for video calls
- A living or television room used for streaming
- A gaming room or setup
- Bedrooms where multiple devices connect regularly
Where not to put your router
Knowing where not to place your router is just as important as knowing the right locations. Certain building materials, home appliances, and room layouts can impact signal strength.
Large furniture and enclosed spaces can block your wireless signal. While hiding a router away may make the room look tidier, it can also reduce WiFi coverage.
Examples include:
- TV cabinets
- Storage cupboards
- Closed shelving units
- Behind large sofas
Brick walls, radiators, metal shelving, and other large metal objects can affect wireless signals, so positioning routers away from these objects may help improve performance.
Some electronic devices can interfere with your WiFi signal, so it's best to keep routers away from appliances and devices such as microwaves and baby monitors where possible.
Do:
- Place your router in a central location
- Keep it elevated on a shelf or table
- Position it in an open space
- Keep it away from appliances
- Test coverage in different rooms
Don’t:
- Put it in a corner of the home
- Leave it on the floor
- Hide it inside a cupboard
- Place it beside a microwave or TV
- Assume the signal strength is the same throughout the home
Behind furniture or inside cupboards
Large furniture and enclosed spaces can block your wireless signal. While hiding a router away may make the room look tidier, it can also reduce WiFi coverage.
Examples include:
- TV cabinets
- Storage cupboards
- Closed shelving units
- Behind large sofas
Next to thick walls or metal objects
Brick walls, radiators, metal shelving, and other large metal objects can affect wireless signals, so positioning routers away from these objects may help improve performance.
Near TVs, microwaves, or other electronics
Some electronic devices can interfere with your WiFi signal, so it's best to keep routers away from appliances and devices such as microwaves and baby monitors where possible.
In summary:
Do:
- Place your router in a central location
- Keep it elevated on a shelf or table
- Position it in an open space
- Keep it away from appliances
- Test coverage in different rooms
Don’t:
- Put it in a corner of the home
- Leave it on the floor
- Hide it inside a cupboard
- Place it beside a microwave or TV
- Assume the signal strength is the same throughout the home
How to improve WiFi signal with better placement
Looking to improve the WiFi signal around your home without overhauling your entire setup? Adjusting your router's position is one of the simplest changes you can make.
Even moving your router a short distance may make a noticeable difference in signal.
Try:
- Moving it higher up
- Positioning it more centrally
- Moving it away from smart appliances or interfering devices
- Removing nearby obstructions
- Moving it out of cupboards or cabinets
These small changes can help improve signal coverage in priority areas around the house.
If you're trying to work out why your WiFi is weak in certain rooms, you can test your connection in multiple locations throughout the house.
You might find that some rooms consistently receive a weaker signal because of their distance from the router or the layout of the building.
When trying to improve your WiFi coverage, focus first on rooms where reliable connectivity matters most.
Common priorities include:
- Home offices
- Living rooms
- Gaming spaces
- Bedrooms
- Study areas
Make small adjustments
Even moving your router a short distance may make a noticeable difference in signal.
Try:
- Moving it higher up
- Positioning it more centrally
- Moving it away from smart appliances or interfering devices
- Removing nearby obstructions
- Moving it out of cupboards or cabinets
These small changes can help improve signal coverage in priority areas around the house.
Test signal strength around your home
If you're trying to work out why your WiFi is weak in certain rooms, you can test your connection in multiple locations throughout the house.
You might find that some rooms consistently receive a weaker signal because of their distance from the router or the layout of the building.
Prioritise key areas
When trying to improve your WiFi coverage, focus first on rooms where reliable connectivity matters most.
Common priorities include:
- Home offices
- Living rooms
- Gaming spaces
- Bedrooms
- Study areas
What to do if placement isn't enough
Router placement can help to improve WiFi coverage, but it cannot increase the speed of your broadband package. If you've optimised your router placement and are still experiencing issues, additional equipment or a faster broadband service may help.
If your home is large and has areas that are tough for your WiFi to reach, WiFi boosters and mesh systems may help improve coverage by extending your signal to different parts of the room or building.
Older routers may not support the same performance, coverage, or number of connected devices as newer models. In some cases, upgrading equipment can improve the overall WiFi experience.
Wifi boosters or mesh systems
If your home is large and has areas that are tough for your WiFi to reach, WiFi boosters and mesh systems may help improve coverage by extending your signal to different parts of the room or building.
Upgrading your router or broadband package
Older routers may not support the same performance, coverage, or number of connected devices as newer models. In some cases, upgrading equipment can improve the overall WiFi experience.
When to consider Full Fibre broadband
It's important to remember that WiFi and broadband are not the same thing. Broadband is the internet connection coming into your home, and WiFi is the wireless network that connects your devices to that broadband connection.
Even a perfectly optimised WiFi system cannot outperform its broadband service. If your household regularly streams, games, works from home, or connects lots of devices at once, a faster, Full Fibre broadband package may be worth considering if it’s available in your area. Sky Full Fibre Broadband offers fast, reliable broadband speeds and packages that are customisable to your household’s needs to help you stay connected.
Even a perfectly optimised WiFi system cannot outperform its broadband service. If your household regularly streams, games, works from home, or connects lots of devices at once, a faster, Full Fibre broadband package may be worth considering if it’s available in your area. Sky Full Fibre Broadband offers fast, reliable broadband speeds and packages that are customisable to your household’s needs to help you stay connected.