What to Look for When Buying a Home Router in 2026

🔧Step-by-Step: What Actually Matters

Feature 1: Wi-Fi Standard (The Most Important Spec)

In 2026, you'll see three main Wi-Fi standards on store shelves:

• Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax): The current standard, offering excellent performance for most homes. These routers handle multiple devices well and offer 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. You can find quality Wi-Fi 6 routers for under $80.
• Wi-Fi 6E: Adds a less-crowded 6 GHz band, which is great if you live in an apartment building where everyone's Wi-Fi overlaps. More expensive but future-proof.
• Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be): The newest standard, with dual-band models around $100 and tri-band models under $200. Offers the best speeds and performance, but only matters if your devices support it.

Our take: Wi-Fi 6 is still excellent for most households in 2026. Wi-Fi 6E or 7 makes sense if you have many devices, live in a congested area, or want to future-proof your setup.

Feature 2: Dual-Band vs Tri-Band

This refers to how many frequency bands the router broadcasts:

• Dual-band: One 2.4 GHz band (longer range, slower speeds) and one 5 GHz band (shorter range, faster speeds). Perfect for most homes with moderate device counts.
• Tri-band: Adds a second 5 GHz band or a 6 GHz band (on Wi-Fi 6E/7 models), allowing more devices to connect without congestion. Worth it if you have 15+ devices or do heavy streaming/gaming on multiple devices simultaneously.

Tri-band routers cost $40-70 more than comparable dual-band models. For a typical household, dual-band is plenty.

Feature 3: Port Configuration

Don't overlook the physical ports on the back of the router:

• WAN port: This connects to your modem. Look for at least 1 Gbps (1000 Mbps) speed. If you have gigabit+ internet, look for 2.5 Gbps or 10 Gbps WAN ports.
• LAN ports: For wired devices like gaming consoles, desktop PCs, or smart TVs. A good configuration is one 2.5 Gbps port and three 1 Gbps ports. If you have many wired devices, make sure you have enough ports.
• USB ports: Some routers include USB 3.0 ports for network storage or printer sharing. Nice to have but not essential.

Feature 4: Coverage Area

Manufacturers advertise coverage in square feet, but take these numbers with a grain of salt. As a rough guide:

• Up to 1,500 sq ft: A basic single router should work fine
• 1,500-2,500 sq ft: Look for a mid-range router with good antennas
• 2,500+ sq ft or multi-story: Consider a mesh system instead

Walls, floors, and interference all reduce range. If you have a larger or complex layout, don't try to stretch a single router—invest in mesh.

Feature 5: Quality of Service (QoS) and Other Features

These software features can make a big difference:

• QoS settings: Let you prioritize certain devices or activities (like gaming or video calls) over others (like downloads). Essential for households with competing bandwidth needs.
• Parental controls: Set schedules, block websites, and manage screen time. Important if you have kids.
• Guest network: Create a separate network for visitors that doesn't access your main devices. Good for security.
• App-based management: Modern routers include smartphone apps for easy setup and monitoring. Much easier than web interfaces.
• VLAN support: Advanced feature for separating smart home devices onto their own network. Nice for tech-savvy users.

Feature 6: Matching Router to Your Internet Speed

Your router needs to keep up with your internet plan:

• 100-300 Mbps internet: Any modern Wi-Fi 6 router will handle this easily
• 500 Mbps internet: Look for routers with AC2600 or higher ratings, or any Wi-Fi 6 model
• 1 Gbps (1000 Mbps) internet: You need a router with gigabit WAN port and strong Wi-Fi 6 or Wi-Fi 6E support
• Multi-gigabit internet: Look for 2.5 Gbps or 10 Gbps WAN ports and Wi-Fi 6E or Wi-Fi 7

Don't overspend on a router that's faster than your internet plan, but also don't bottleneck your connection with an underpowered router.