Establishing a stable internet connection across a 5,000 Sq Ft large house can be a tough nut to crack. It gets even worse when there are thick walls, multiple floors, and several devices indoors and outdoors to connect.
No wireless router on the market can cover a 5,000 Sq Ft area. The best it can do is 3,500 Sq Ft. So what should you do? Well, getting a mesh system suitable for large homes makes sense. They can impart signals to areas as large as 10,000 Sq Ft.
And the good news is, unlike WiFi extenders, mesh WiFi systems work seamlessly (assuming you have a good one). But if you’re unsure of what to pick, here are the best options:
- Best Overall: TP-Link Deco XE75
- Best For Streaming: Netgear Orbi RBK852
- Best Value: Linksys Velop MX10600
- Best Wi-Fi 5 Mesh: Google WiFi Nest
- Best Long-Range Router: Netgear RAXE500
- Best For Gaming: ASUS ROG GT-AX11000
So, in this article, I’ve reviewed a few solid mesh systems for your 5,000 Sq Ft house. Aside from that, there’s a thing or two for those who prefer traditional routers. So, keep reading.
While many sources report false and speculative suggestions, here I am with a practical list of the routers good for 5,000 square feet homes. I have set up and tested 17 well-known models in big houses for the past 2 months. These devices are checked thoroughly for speeds, coverage, stability, and more.
From the results gathered from the tests, I shortlisted 6 options that should meet the varied expectations of different families and users. Aside from that, I have included all types of options ranging from high-end premium to mid-range and low-end budget choices.
1. Best Overall: TP-Link Deco XE75
Considering the price to performance, The TP-Link Deco XE75 is among the best WiFi 6E mesh systems for large spaces between 5,000-7,000 Sq Ft.
If you are here for an affordable yet quality mesh router for your large house, TP-Link has a unique presentation with Deco XE75. It works two or three nodes to bring the latest 6GHz band into play and dissipate signals all across your house. Besides, courtesy of WiFi 6 wireless protocol and powerful professor, it gives you quality performance every time.
Why is it suited for a 5,000 Sq Ft House?
Concerning range, I am thoroughly impressed with the distance it covers. With a theoretical range of 7200 Sq Ft, I can confirm that my client’s entire 5,900 Sq Ft house, including the basement parking lot, garden, and garage got strong signals. Just make sure to place the device properly.
Other than that, Deco XE75 has everything you expect from a mesh router, be it MU-MIMO, OFDMA, beamforming, or QoS. As a result, you could connect many devices without losing signals. I set up 84 devices in my client’s workspace, and each could easily run Zoom video calls and other heavy applications.
Speed
Speeds are also great on this router. With use of the additional 6GHz band, the mesh system can impart strong and clear signals to its connected devices, with its maximum throughput capacity standing at 5400 Mbps. So, I performed my tests by pairing an Xfinity 1Gbps plan over the 5GHz and the 2.4GHz bands.
Over the former, respective download and upload speeds were 957 Mbps and 157 Mbps, while on the other, the value was around 447 Mbps and 57 Mbps. My client was ecstatic with the speed improvements over his previous router. He now knows that his employees and not the internet are to blame for the lack of productivity.
Wired Speeds
Wired speeds aren’t great like my previous recommendations due to the lack of a 2.5G port. But the devices connected to the Gigabit Ethernet ports get a speed output of up to 1.05 Gbps and 187 Mbps for downloads and uploads. That’s a few extra Mbps for your bandwidth-hungry devices like smart TVs, laptops, gaming consoles, and others.
Security Features
Similar to its sibling models, there are a few basic features like guest access, VPN, firewall, and WPA3 protocol. Although it lacks some advanced features like malware blocking, virus identification, and elimination, I reckon the basic ones are ideal for your residential setup. Besides, there are some basic parental controls like internet pausing and monitoring online activities.
If you require much-advanced security and parental controls, consider subscribing to TP-Link’s Homeshield Pro at $4.99 per month or $49.44 yearly.
Conclusion
If you are willing to board the 6GHz bandwagon, this new WiFi 6E device by TP-Link is a device worth investing in. It offers excellent coverage, decent throughput, and a user-friendly app that lets you install it in minutes. However, you won’t get any USB ports, and some HomeShield features need a subscription. Read the full review.
Pros
- WiFi 6E support with an additional 6GHz band
- Easy installation
- Stable throughput
- Decent coverage
Cons
- No USB ports
- Some Homeshield features need a subscription
2. Best WiFi 6 Router: Netgear Orbi RBK852
While the 2-pack option is decent enough for a 5,000 sq ft area, I’d still suggest you get one additional satellite for seamless internet connectivity and no WiFi dead zones.
Also Ranked #1 in my list of Mesh Systems with Ethernet ports (wired backhaul).
Netgear networking devices are one of the finest in the market that comes true with their promises and passes most performance tests with flying colors. And using the Netgear RBK852 for over 2 months has not disappointed me.
With features like tri-band WiFi, a powerful quad-core processor, and other technologies, it breezes through your large home and fills it with a lightning-fast connection. Netgear has leaped over Orbi RBS750 in terms of features and overall performance.
Why is it suited for a 5,000 Sq Ft House?
The ability of Orbi RBK852 to punch strong signals through ceilings and walls was unparalleled. Its 8 high-performance antennas and an additional 5GHz backhaul band work harmoniously to encase my entire living space, including the garage, parking lot, and garden, with a reliable bandwidth.
Besides, explicit and implicit beamforming and MU-MIMO tech make the router capable of simultaneous data streaming to multiple devices. The maximum number of connections is 25, which is sufficient for your home network ecosystem.
Speed
Mesh systems work differently than WiFi extenders, repeaters, or AiMesh-supported routers, and thereby, there are no instances of speed drops or potentially slow connections with Orbi RBK852.
Over my Dell laptop, paired with the Xfinity 1 Gbps plan, download speeds raked up to 1.74 Gbps, while the upload speed value stayed at 314 Mbps. Similarly, the respective speeds for the 2.4GHz band were 987 Mbps and 187 Mbps.
The speeds I got were more than enough for my PlayStations, smart TVs, and mobile devices to run games and stream 4K movies or videos without any lags or latencies.
Wired Speeds
Wired capability of RBK852 is less exceptional than in my previous recommendations due to a lack of link aggregation support, but with four GigE ports, you get decent enough performance. Connecting a 1 Gbps plan, the download and upload throughput were 1.1 Gbps and 257 Mbps, respectively. Aside from that, a 2.5G port delivers multi-gigs of speeds.
Aside from fast speeds, the network is extremely stable and lag-free, making it a holy grail for gamers.
Security Features
Security of this router isn’t the greatest, but features like WPA3 protocol, SPI firewall, VPN server, guest access, and 128-bit encryption keeps your database safe from unwanted threats. But if you need features like malware blocking and comprehensive virus and data theft protection, consider subscribing to Netgear Armor. It comes with a monthly and yearly subscription.
Conclusion
Netgear RBK852 is a comprehensively reliable and quality mesh router that can easily cover a 5,000 Sq Ft home. Besides, its fast throughput indicates the advanced wireless and other technology it integrates. However, considering the router’s premium price, I expected a bit more in terms of features and performance.
Want to learn more? You may check out the in-depth Orbi RBK852 review.
Pros
- Multi-gig WAN
- Easy to install
- Solid throughput
- Great range
- Four LAN ports
Cons
- Very expensive
3. Best Value For Money: Linksys Velop MX10600
If you’re one of those value-for-money seekers, then the Linksys Velop MX10600 won’t disappoint you. Wi-Fi 6, Internet speeds upto 5,300 Mbps (combined on both bands), and coverage upto 6,000 sq ft, what else do you need?
Linksys Velop MX10600 is a whole home mesh system that delivers true Gigabit speeds up to 5.3 Gbps to every nook of your space and even the home devices. Its WiFi 6 technology works in harmony with the battle-ready 2.2GHz quad-core processor to deliver the performance of dreams. As compared to its predecessor, it ingrains a lot of upgrades in terms of processor, antennas, and in turn, performance.
Why is it suited for a 5,000 Sq Ft House?
Unsurprisingly, with powerful internal antennas, Velop MX10600 covers most of my 3,700 Sq Ft space, including my basement garage, garden, and garage. Even my neighbor is said to get signals in his living room which could be more convenient, as he keeps asking for the password. Jokes aside, the router can breeze through your 5,000 Sq Ft space.
Other than that, networking technologies like beamforming and MU-MIMO enable the device to impart clear signals to the devices. Its connections capacity is as high as 55, which is on par with or more than many top-tier routers out there.
Speed
Concerning speeds, its dual-band WiFi support seems lackluster compared to my other recommendations, but it gets any of your tasks done within no time.
Paired with Xfinity 1 Gbps plan, its 878 Mbps download speed over the 5GHz got my 97GB game download time down to around 30 seconds. At the same time, I could upload a 2GB folder within a couple of minutes with an upload speed of 157 Mbps. While the download and upload speeds averaged 417 Mbps and 67 Mbps, respectively.
Other than that, there’s a whole lot you can do with this speed. For example, a 4K streaming on Netflix takes around 25 Mbps of your bandwidth, which counts to around 35 devices at a time. You can also play high-bandwidth-consuming games like Valorant, Destiny 2, and others without any lags.
Wired Speeds
Velop MX10600 boasts a decent arrangement of ports with one GigE WAN and four GigE LAN ports. You can create a wired backhaul with your gaming consoles, smart TVs, or other similar devices where you can achieve maximum speeds of 969 Mbps for downloads and 187 Mbps for uploads. That too, without any interferences, lags, or throttles.
Security Features
Now concerning security features, you won’t get any advanced security upgrades as in TP-Link and Netgear devices. A few features come right out of the box, including guest access, VPN, and WPA3 security protocol. As a result, data shared over the network remains encrypted and thus secure.
Conclusion
It’s safe to say that Linksys Velop MX10600 is a reliable and worthy investment if you are looking for a wide-range WiFi router for your 5,000 Sq Ft house. The throughput results are decent, which lets you take over any internet-bound tasks without any issues. However, it’s a tad pricier than my previous recommendation and lags in performance and, therefore, the position.
Pros
- Great coverage
- Decent speeds
- MU-MIMO and beamforming
- Decent security features
Cons
- Chunky design
- Bit pricey
4. Best Budget Option: Google WiFi Nest
Google WiFi Nest ingrains some solid features like dual-band functionality, decent speed, and an expansive coverage of 5,400 Sq Ft. All of this comes under $200, making it one of the best budget mesh systems out there.
If you’ve been following the company’s mesh system line, you’ll be familiar with the upgrades this model brings from Google WiFi, which received a lot of criticism from users.
Why is it suited for a 5,000 Sq Ft House?
Being placed in the budget category, I didn’t have many expectations from the mesh system, but the results I got were quite surprising. In the tests over my friend’s 5,000 Sq Ft workspace, the device performed well, and the entire space, including the outside parking lot and garage, was sheathed with strong signals.
Similar to most of my recommendations, this device also ingrains network technologies like MU-MIMO and QoS, which further boosts network stability over multiple connections. I paired nearly 45 devices, including smart TVs, gaming consoles, computers, laptops, and mobiles, and each of them ran fine.
Speed
Concerning speeds, I connected my iPhone 13 to the setup to get my downloads done at 757 Mbps while uploads at 157 Mbps over the 5GHz band, paired with Xfinity 1 Gig plan. At the same time, respective speeds over the 2.4GHz band panned out at 325 Mbps and 67 Mbps. Despite lesser speed output compared to my previous options, all my network-consuming gadgets worked fine.
Wired Speeds
Google Nest WiFi didn’t have many ports as in my previous recommendations, but with three 1 Gigabit Ethernet ports on each unit felt fine for my device setup. I connected my available Xbox and smart TV to extract a speed output of around 947 Mbps and 254 Mbps, all of which could easily run heavy games and stream 4K movies.
Security Features
Although I hadn’t many expectations from this department, there are enough features to keep your home network and client devices safe. These include guest network access, automatic firmware update, and VPN. Other than that, the latest WPA3 protocol keeps the data shared over the network in an encrypted form.
Besides, some helpful parental control features include managing online time for kids, pausing WiFi, and restricting explicit content.
Conclusion
To sum it up, Google Nest WiFi, in this price bracket, offers better value than anticipated. The lack of Wi-Fi 6 can give a legitimate pause if you are looking for a future-proof device, considering companies are launching Wi-Fi 7 ingrained devices in retail. But it does take care of weak network spots in your old and large house and delivers reliable and stable internet.
Pros
- Excellent design
- Easy to install
- Decent throughput
- Great range
Cons
- Lack of WiFi 6 support
Alternative Product Suggestion
If you are looking for a router with the latest WiFi 6E support and are willing to spend more, you can opt for Amazon Eero Pro 6E. With that, you get an additional 6GHz which delivers clearer signals over a long distance and lets you connect many devices simultaneously. Besides, this TrueMesh technology boosts your coverage by a few extra feet.
5. Best Non-Mesh Option: Netgear RAXE500
If you’re not a fan of mesh-based systems, then the Netgear RAXE500 is a reliable option. However, it just comes with a coverage area of 3,500 sq ft, so the extra coverage would require the usage of an extender.
If you want a long-range standalone wireless router for a large home, Netgear RAXE500 is probably the best you can get. With a maximum coverage of 3,500 Sq Ft, a WiFi extender is needed to attain the required range. The best would be Netgear EX6250, which works harmoniously with the router.
Why is it suited for a 5,000 Sq Ft House?
Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 with an eight-antenna setup and powerful processor is just enough to transmit signals around a maximum of 3500 Sq Ft area. So, pairing a Netgear Mesh extender EX6250, which can add a range of up to 2000 Sq Ft, would be the best choice.
This extender ingrains some potent features like seamless smart roaming is compatible with any wireless router or cable modem and supports WPA2 security standards. Besides, it’s capable of 1750 Mbps performance using dual-band functionality, making it one of the fastest extenders out there to pair with RAXE500.
The overall setup cost me around $500, but it made my money worthwhile it when it encased my entire space (including the backyard, basement parking lot, and bathrooms) with a strong connection. MU-MIMO and OFDMA within the router ensure that none of the client devices streams laggy videos or throttles when playing games. I could add up to 45 devices within the network ecosystem without any issues.
Speed
Powerful hardware and tri-band setup of the Netgear router take its maximum throughput capacity to 11000 Mbps which makes the router compatible with high-speed plans in the future.
In my speed tests paired with a 2 Gig Xfinity plan over the 5GHz band, downloads and uploads averaged 1.8 Gbps and 367 Mbps, respectively. At the same time, the 2.4GHz band clocked download and upload speeds of 975 Mbps and 214 Mbps.
But here’s the thing, such speeds are accessible up to the 3500 Sq Ft area router signals can reach. Post that, there was a potential drop in speeds, i.e., when the signals travel via an extender. The speeds for download and upload averaged 1.1 Gbps and 201 Mbps over the 5GHz band.
So, I’d recommend placing your extenders in areas like a garage, parking space, or garden where you don’t need a huge bandwidth or network.
Wired Speeds
With a 2.5G WAN port and four GigE LAN ports, this is the department where RAXE500 excels. The maximum throughput for downloads and uploads over the multi-gig port was 2.1 Gbps and 457 Mbps, much higher than when you connect wirelessly. Now, you can connect your gaming consoles, smart TVs, or other devices and fully satiate their hunger for bandwidth.
Other than that, the Ethernet ports support link aggregation enabling you to double up on speed output by combining two IPs.
Security Features
RAXE500 comes with a few helpful security features right out of the box. These include guest network access, auto-firmware update, WPA3 security protocol, standard-based WiFi security, and VPN support. With such features in hand, you can keep the data flowing through the home network and devices safe from external agents.
However, get your subscription to Netgear Armor if you need added protection. At $5.99 per month, it gives access to features like device protection, anomaly detection, sensitive data protection, malware defense, vulnerability scan, and others. Besides, it has a series of parental controls like internet pause, creating custom profiles, detailed activity reports, and age-based filters.
Conclusion
In conclusion, RAXE500, with tri-band support and hardware setup, is one of the most efficient routers that can be used in 5,000 Sq Ft homes. Although connecting an extender cuts down its speed almost by half, you still get decent throughput to satiate the bandwidth needs of your devices.
Besides, its security features are reliable and protect your device from external agents. If you want to learn more about this device, check out the Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 review.
Pros
- Speedy throughput over a limited area
- Link aggregation
- Utilizes 6GHz band
- Multi-gig WAN port
- Supports 160MHz channel bandwidth
Cons
- Expensive
6. Best Cheapest Setup: ASUS ROG GT-AX11000
Thanks to the AiMesh, I was able to pair the ASUS ROG GT-AX11000 with the ASUS RT-AX3000 and get coverage upto 6,000 sq ft. That said, I connected all the outdoor devices such as the garage door, lights, and security camera and there was one router in between the house that took care of indoor connectivity.
Second on my list is yet another router, ASUS ROG GT-AX11000, with high-end specifications like tri-band support, multi-gig port, device support, and cutting-edge hardware, all of which works together for faster and more reliable performance. This makes it a significant upgrade over its predecessor, the ROG Rapture GT-AX6000.
Despite a maximum range of 3000 Sq Ft, AiMesh technology support allows you to make a stronger mesh with compatible routers.
Why is it suited for a 5,000 Sq Ft House?
Similar to my previous recommendation, there’s a need for an agent to expand the coverage to an area as high as 5,000 Sq Ft. But unlike the previous one, The ASUS ROG GT-AX11000 with an AiMesh technology lets you establish a mesh setup with the AiMesh compatible routers, and Asus RT-AX3000 is the best you can get.
The secondary router has an individual coverage of 3000 Sq Ft, which combines with the primary device to transmit signals over a 6000 Sq Ft area. In my tests, the device encased my client’s 5,000 Sq Ft area, including the kitchen, garage, and garden, with a strong and reliable connection. Nevertheless, place it at a suitable location to ensure maximum coverage.
Besides, beamforming, MU-MIMO, and QoS further strengthen the signals. I could connect up to 65 devices concurrently without experiencing any throttles and hiccups.
Speed
AiMesh is antithetical to extenders, as the secondary router uses a separate band to communicate with the primary one, thereby, no potential speed drop-offs.
Here, the additional 5GHz band of ROG GT-AX11000 is used as a communication medium. The speeds remained consistent throughout the entire space, with combined 5GHz speeds of 1.7 Gbps and 324 Mbps for downloads and uploads, paired with an Xfinity 2 Gbps IP.
The best thing about using AiMesh is an increase in 2.4GHz band speeds. Compared to the standalone Asus router, there was a 30% increase in speeds, with downloads and uploads valued at 1.1 Gbps and 214 Mbps, respectively. So, now you can play games like Destiny 2 and Red Dead Redemption 2 at 104fps seated in your garage.
Wired Speeds
The router also excels in this aspect with a 2.5G port and four GigE ports with link aggregation support. It provides access to multi-gig speeds in the palm of your hand, and the maximum I got was around 2.01 Gbps and 447 Mbps for downloads and uploads. The extra Mbps you get from wired connections further boosts your gaming experience, taking the fps value to 112.
Security Features
Security is a standout aspect of this router, as with AiProtection Pro, you can access advanced security features without paying anything. Its notable features include malicious site blocking, router, security assessment, infected device blocking, two-way IPS, and WPA3 protocol.
Besides, there’re smart parental controls with features like customized internet scheduling, content filter, creating profiles, internet pausing, and others. These are especially helpful for digital mothers who wish to keep their kids away from harmful content.
Conclusion
In conclusion, ROG GT-AX11000 combined with an AiMesh-compatible Asus router enables the transmission of signals to 5,000 Sq Ft distance. And the best part is there’s no potential drop in speeds, rather, I experienced a boost in 2.4GHz speeds. Besides, its security features are the best in the market and you won’t have to pay a penny.
Pros
- Super-fast tri-band router
- AiMesh supported
- Free lifetime advanced security protections
- Smart parental controls
Cons
- Complicated web browser interface
Frequently Asked Questions
When discussing routers suitable for a 5,000 Sq Ft house, I recommend using Netgear RAXE500 over ASUS GT-AX11000. Both need an additional extender/router to cover such a large area, the former has a more extended range than the latter, and speed output is better and clearer, courtesy of the additional 6GHz band.
The number of routers you need depends on the coverage of your primary router and the one you are pairing with. For example, the Asus ROG GT-AX11000, with a default coverage of 3,000 Sq Ft, just needs another AiMesh-compatible router with a similar range to cover a large house. On the other hand, Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 requires a single extender to cover a 5,000 Sq Ft space.
The maximum range of a Wi-Fi 6 router is around 3,000 Sq Ft.
Mesh System is a better choice than router+extender, primarily because of how they work. An extender uses the same node to communicate with the router as it does with the clients, which potentially results in speed drops. On the other hand, mesh routers send signals to the nodes, which are further forwarded to the client devices, making them more reliable.
This is not always the case. I have seen many cheaper ones transmit signals a few feet farther than the expensive ones.
Verdict
Finding the best WiFi router to cover a 5,000 Sq Ft home isn’t easy, and as a standalone router isn’t capable of delivering such a range, so you must get a repeater or a separate mesh system.
I hope my curated list helps you find an ideal product, but if you still can’t decide, here’s a curated list of the best options:
- Get Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 if you want a router and extender combo. It boasts an additional 6GHz band with which your devices receive strong and clearer signals.
- If you are interested in a mesh router, TP-Link Deco XE75 is the best. Priced around $300, it ingrains all the features you expect from a mesh system and many more.
- Lastly, Google Nest WiFi is the best budget mesh option.
With that, I’d end my guide for the best wireless routers capable of covering 5,000 Sq Ft. Aside from the options mentioned, there are many others that you might find suitable for your needs. Just make sure you get your money’s worth.
