What is the difference between coverage planning and capacity planning?

Coverage planning determines how many APs are needed to reach every corner of the space. Capacity planning determines how many APs are needed to handle the number of devices and bandwidth. A large warehouse may need only 3 APs for coverage but 10 APs for 500 users. Always check both.

WiFi Coverage Calculator

Q: How many access points do I need?

Divide the total area by the expected coverage per AP, rounding up. Coverage per AP depends on frequency (2.4 GHz covers more area but is more prone to interference), environment (open office vs. hotel rooms), and wall density. Typical office APs cover 200–500 m² per unit.

Q: Does 5 GHz WiFi cover less area than 2.4 GHz?

Yes. Higher frequencies attenuate more through walls and air. 5 GHz typically provides about 30% less range than 2.4 GHz for the same AP. However, 5 GHz offers less interference and higher throughput in dense environments.

Estimate how many access points you need based on your space size, environment type, frequency band, and wall density. Results are estimates — always conduct a site survey for critical deployments.

This calculator provides rough estimates only. Wall composition, interference sources, AP placement, and client density all affect real-world coverage. A professional RF site survey is recommended for enterprise and critical deployments.

Estimate Access Point Count

Area Size

Area Unit

Environment Type

Frequency Band

Wall Density

Desired Signal Quality

Coverage Estimate

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Coverage per AP

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Recommended APs

How Coverage Is Estimated

Coverage per AP starts from a base figure for the environment and frequency, then two multipliers are applied:

Coverage per AP = Base Coverage × Wall Multiplier × Quality Multiplier APs needed = ⌈ Total Area ÷ Coverage per AP ⌉

Base coverage figures (approximate, in m²):

Open space: 2.4 GHz ≈ 1,000 m² · 5 GHz ≈ 700 m² · 6 GHz ≈ 500 m²
Office: 2.4 GHz ≈ 500 m² · 5 GHz ≈ 350 m² · 6 GHz ≈ 250 m²
Hotel: 2.4 GHz ≈ 350 m² · 5 GHz ≈ 250 m² · 6 GHz ≈ 180 m²
Warehouse: 2.4 GHz ≈ 800 m² · 5 GHz ≈ 500 m² · 6 GHz ≈ 350 m²

Frequency Band Comparison

2.4 GHz: Longer range, more wall penetration, but heavily congested in dense areas. Best for coverage in large open spaces or through multiple walls.
5 GHz: Higher throughput, less interference, shorter range. The best all-around choice for most office and home deployments today.
6 GHz (Wi-Fi 6E / Wi-Fi 7): Least congested, highest throughput, shortest range. Ideal for high-density venues where you can place APs frequently.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many access points do I need?

Divide the space by the expected coverage per AP, rounding up. A typical 5 GHz enterprise AP covers 200–400 m² in an office. For a 1,000 m² open-plan office you'd need around 3 APs for coverage — but more may be needed if many users are streaming video simultaneously.

Does 5 GHz WiFi cover less area than 2.4 GHz?

Yes. Higher frequencies attenuate faster through air and materials. 5 GHz typically provides 25–35% less range than 2.4 GHz. However, fewer devices use 5 GHz, so interference is lower and actual throughput is much higher for connected clients.

Should I plan for coverage or capacity?

Both. In a large warehouse with a few workers, coverage drives the design — you may need just 2 APs. In a conference venue with 300 attendees, capacity drives the design — you may need 15 APs even though 3 would cover the space. Use this calculator for coverage and the AP Capacity Calculator for user density.