How do you know if you need a Wi-Fi extender?

If you have “dead zones” in your house where the Wi-Fi doesn’t work or the signal is very weak, a Wi-Fi extender can help bring the Wi-Fi from an area where it’s fairly strong to those areas where it doesn't work very well. The best Wi-Fi extenders can even speed up your Wi-Fi connection in areas of your house where it’s weak and slow. If you’re having coverage problems in multiple areas in different parts of your home, you’ll need multiple extenders or a long-range router.

What causes Wi-Fi dead zones?

Think of your Wi-Fi signal like a radio playing; it gets quieter as it travels and goes through walls, doors, and floors. If you play music in one room, and then travel to the opposite side of your home or go downstairs to the basement, you may only be able to hear the music faintly (or not at all). Wi-Fi signals also weaken over longer distances, especially through doors, walls, floors, appliances, and other obstacles.

What is the difference between a Wi-Fi extender, a mesh Wi-Fi system and a Wi-Fi repeater?

All serve the same goal of increasing the range of your wireless network, but they all work slightly differently. Most, but not all, Wi-Fi extenders connect to your main router over Wi-Fi. On the other hand, a mesh Wi-Fi system uses a central router that connects to the modem and one or more satellite routers (or nodes) that all act as access points for the Wi-Fi signal.

Do Wi-Fi extenders work with any router?

Unlike mesh Wi-Fi systems, Wi-Fi extenders are designed to work with almost any router, in much the same way as any other wireless device. If you’re concerned about performance, make sure the extender supports the same version of Wi-Fi as your router. For example, if your router supports Wi-Fi 6, getting an extender that supports Wi-Fi 6 will provide the best experience.

How much area will an extender cover?

In the product’s description, you’ll often find a square footage amount that indicates the extender’s coverage range. If you opt for an extender, you can expect to extend coverage by about 1,200 square feet. If you purchase an extender with 1,200 square feet of coverage, that coverage is in addition to your router, so if your router provides 2,000 square feet of coverage, you can expect about 3,200 square feet of total coverage—assuming you place the Wi-Fi extender at the very edge of your existing router's range. In most cases, you'll likely end up with some overlap.

The Best Wi-Fi Range Extenders

TP-Link RE505X — Photo:
Lifewire / Erika Rawes

If you could use a little extra range in your Wi-Fi network but don't need a full router upgrade or the expandability of a mesh system, Wi-Fi extenders are a simple, cost effective solution to use with your existing router.

After doing the research, these are our picks for the best Wi-Fi extenders for boosting coverage.

Note: Prices are subject to change.

Our Top Picks

Just Buy This (All Around Best):

ASUS WiFi 6 Range Extender at Amazon $80

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Also Great:

SALE

TP-Link RE815X at Amazon ~~$180~~ $120

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Easiest on the Budget:

SALE

TP-Link RE315 at Amazon ~~$30~~ $20

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Just Buy This (All Around Best)

ASUS WiFi 6 Range Extender

Amazon ASUS RP-AX58 AX3000 Dual Band WiFi 6 Range Extender

Credit: Amazon

$80 at Amazon $103 at Walmart $80 at Best Buy

TL;DR: This solid extender combines Wi-Fi 6, mesh node support, and more potential bandwidth from a 160MHz frequency.

Why We Recommend It

If you're looking for a speedy and effective Wi-Fi extender, the Asus RP-AX58 is our top choice.

This dual-band extender supports Wi-Fi 6 and up to 3,000Mbps speeds for fast file transfers and internet speeds.

The RP-AX58 also gets more bandwidth from a 160MHz Dynamic Frequency Selection (DFS) frequency.

Pros

Dual-band, Wi-Fi 6 support
160MHz for added bandwidth
Use as a node in AIMesh networks
Easy setup and installation

Cons

No Wi-Fi 6E or Wi-Fi 7
Higher bandwidth not a guarantee everywhere

Another check in the plus column: This extender supports AIMesh networking too. If you have an AIMesh system in place, you can use this device as a node instead for an even more stable and speedy connection.

Though the RP-AX58 lacks newer Wi-Fi support, it's backward compatible with older Wi-Fi 5 devices, so there's a little room to grow from older hardware.

Who else recommends it? PCMag and Dong Knows Tech also look favorably at this extender, noting it's overall reliability and flexibility as a mesh node too.
What do buyers say? Amazon purchasers give this extender an average 4 out of 5 stars, with over 60 percent of reviewers awarding it a perfect 5-star rating.

Also Great

TP-Link RE815X

Credit: Amazon

$180 $120 at Amazon $200 at Best Buy View on B&H Photo Video

TL;DR: Get fast Wi-Fi 6E, tri-band support, and a Gigabit Ethernet port from this OneMesh-compatible model.

Why We Recommend It

If you're in the market for a feature-rich Wi-Fi 6E extender, the TP-Link RE815XE is a good bet.

It includes a 6GHz backhaul channel and a 5GHz band to reduce congestion and can support up to 96 devices at once, according to TP-Link.

You can also take advantage of a Gigabit Ethernet port if you need an extra stable connection.

Pros

Wi-Fi 6 support, a rarity for extenders
Tri-band support (6GHz, 5Ghz, 2.4GHz)
OneMesh mesh networking support
Includes Gigabit Ethernet port

Cons

Lacks Wi-Fi 7
External antennas are a little garish

Like our top pick, the RE815XE has up to 160MHz channel width, though it only works in select areas, giving it more bandwidth to support activities like 8K streaming.

Installation and customization is simple via the TP-Link Tether app, which you're likely well familiar with if you have a TP-Link router.

This app is the spot for managing all network hardware, including your mesh network if you're using one. This extender includes OneMesh support for that purpose.

Our only reservation is that this extender is a little obtrusive on the wall, where it takes up considerable space. But the trade-off is excellent performance and range.

Who else recommends it? XDA also likes this extender, particularly for gaming, thanks to its tri-band connection and other features common in top-tier routers.
What do buyers say? The TP-Link RE815XE earns an average 4.3-star rating on Best Buy. Buyers like that it's easy to set up and delivers great coverage.

Easiest on the Budget

TP-Link RE315

Credit: Amazon

$30 $20 at Amazon View on Walmart View on B&H Photo Video

TL;DR: This budget-friendly TP-Link extender covers up to 1,500 square feet with dual-band Wi-Fi 5 support.

Why We Recommend It

The TP-Link RE315 is an inexpensive extender that offers a lot of value for a small investment. It's not for folks who need a big boost in their networks, but it's a great pick for a small bump.

This extender can add 1,500 square feet of coverage in your home and up to 1,200Mbps speeds. Plus, it has a built-in Gigabit Ethernet port to enjoy an extra-speedy wired connection.

Pros

Dual-band Wi-Fi
Supports Onemesh networking
Gigabit Ethernet port

Cons

Limited to Wi-Fi 5 speeds
No passthrough power plug

If you're an existing TP-Link household, the RE315 uses the same fast and handy mobile app for step-by-step setup and network management.

While the RE315 lacks faster Wi-Fi speeds or extras, you can use it as a mesh node instead of as an extender. The dual-band support also assists with relieving some congestion.

Who else recommends it? Many other publications, including Wirecutter, CNN, and CNET also rave about the RE315 as a first-rate budget pick for most people.
What do buyers say? Over 29,000 Amazon customers have reviewed this extender, and 63 percent of buyers give it 5 out 5 stars. This device earns high praise for ease of setup and signal strength.

How We Chose

We used a combination of extensive research, real-world experience, and budget considerations to choose a list of top contenders for most shoppers.

The models we considered included the latest from well-known manufacturers. We surveyed their feature lists and weighed them against user and third-party reviews and overall value for the money.

Our aim is to provide options across budgets, with an eye toward affordability.

What to Look For

The top factors to weigh when shopping for a Wi-Fi range extender include:

Compatibility with your router: Same-branded extenders offer a lot of flexibility and ease of use.
Wi-Fi standard: Another compatibility concern is Wi-Fi standards. It's wise to purchase an extender that matches your router's speed. A faster extender won't be effective on a router using an older Wi-Fi standard.
Price: Finally, resist the urge to shell out a lot of money for extras that you don't need. You can find inexpensive models that perform adequately for basic network expansion in certain areas of your home.

Brands We Considered

We considered all the most respected names in this product range, including but not limited to:

TP-Link
Netgear
Asus
Linksys
D-Link
Google
Amazon

FAQ

How do you know if you need a Wi-Fi extender?

If you have “dead zones” in your house where the Wi-Fi doesn’t work or the signal is very weak, a Wi-Fi extender can help bring the Wi-Fi from an area where it’s fairly strong to those areas where it doesn't work very well. The best Wi-Fi extenders can even speed up your Wi-Fi connection in areas of your house where it’s weak and slow. If you’re having coverage problems in multiple areas in different parts of your home, you’ll need multiple extenders or a long-range router.
What causes Wi-Fi dead zones?

Think of your Wi-Fi signal like a radio playing; it gets quieter as it travels and goes through walls, doors, and floors. If you play music in one room, and then travel to the opposite side of your home or go downstairs to the basement, you may only be able to hear the music faintly (or not at all). Wi-Fi signals also weaken over longer distances, especially through doors, walls, floors, appliances, and other obstacles.
What is the difference between a Wi-Fi extender, a mesh Wi-Fi system and a Wi-Fi repeater?

All serve the same goal of increasing the range of your wireless network, but they all work slightly differently. Most, but not all, Wi-Fi extenders connect to your main router over Wi-Fi. On the other hand, a mesh Wi-Fi system uses a central router that connects to the modem and one or more satellite routers (or nodes) that all act as access points for the Wi-Fi signal.
Do Wi-Fi extenders work with any router?

Unlike mesh Wi-Fi systems, Wi-Fi extenders are designed to work with almost any router, in much the same way as any other wireless device. If you’re concerned about performance, make sure the extender supports the same version of Wi-Fi as your router. For example, if your router supports Wi-Fi 6, getting an extender that supports Wi-Fi 6 will provide the best experience.
How much area will an extender cover?

In the product’s description, you’ll often find a square footage amount that indicates the extender’s coverage range. If you opt for an extender, you can expect to extend coverage by about 1,200 square feet. If you purchase an extender with 1,200 square feet of coverage, that coverage is in addition to your router, so if your router provides 2,000 square feet of coverage, you can expect about 3,200 square feet of total coverage—assuming you place the Wi-Fi extender at the very edge of your existing router's range. In most cases, you'll likely end up with some overlap.