Extending WiFi to the garage is one of the most common hurdles that internet users face. In some cases, even long-range wireless routers fail to provide seamless connectivity in detached garages. So what’s the way out?
WiFi extender! But which one? Well, to help you decide on that, I bought 16 different devices and tested them thoroughly for various aspects (coverage, signal quality, device-handling capacity, and more).
According to my tests, the following 7 are the best range extenders to use in a garage:
- Best Overall: TP-Link RE550
- Best Runner-Up: Linksys RE7000
- Best from Netgear: Netgear EX6250
- Best with Multi Modes: Wavlink WN572HP3
- Best with Wi-Fi 6: Tenda A33
- Best Budget Option: Cudy RE1200
- Cheap Yet Reliable: Netgear EX5000
7 Best WiFi Extenders for Garage in 2024
Garages are the mythic origin for some of the iconic tech companies like HP, Amazon, and Apple. Some non-tech companies like Harley-Davidson and Mattel have also these spider-infested spaces as their first headquarters. So who knows if some path-breaking idea comes from your garage!
But all your innovation and creativity go down the drain if you don’t have access to the most basic thing: the internet. No worries, the WiFi extenders reviewed below should serve you well. You’ll find varying options of different specs and budgets.
Let’s find an ideal match for your garage!
1. Best Overall: TP-Link RE550
- WiFi Range: Up to 2,800 Sq Ft
- Devices Capacity: 35
- Suitable For: Gigabit Connection
- WiFi Standard: Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)
- Ports: 1 x Gig Ethernet
- App Support: Yes
Designed to expand the range of your router to extremities, TP-Link RE550 is my top pick for detached garages. Its 3-antenna setup should cover your entire garage with strong & consistent WiFi signals. And, despite the older Wi-Fi 5 standard, it delivers excellent performance in all aspects.
WiFi Coverage & Devices Capacity
TP-Link RE550 boasts three powerful external antennas that make for its exceptional 2,800 Sq Ft max range. It’s probably one of the best out there and should resonate with any decent router to get the signals to reach your garage.
In my tests, the standalone device displays an excellent wall penetration ability and travels through three thick walls to cover up to 2,300 Sq Ft.
Besides, the signals spread over such a large space are stable and decently powerful with the integration of MU-MIMO. This assists in concentrating the signals on a single device rather than spreading them around. I could connect 30 devices over the extender bandwidth alone.
Wireless Speeds
The RE550 has a speed rating of AC1900, where each frequency band bolsters a maximum speed of:
| 5 GHz: 1300 Mbps | 2.4 GHz: 600 Mbps |
Despite being a traditional extender with no mesh tech support, it performed well in my throughput tests.
Paired with a TP-Link AX90 running on Xfinity 1200 Mbps plan, the extender registered a speed of 232 Mbps and 21 Mbps, respectively, for downloads and uploads in the center of a garage. At the furthest point, the speeds of 109 Mbps and 11 Mbps were decent.
I used it to handle all smart lights, security cameras, and connectivity, and I never faced any connection drops.
Conclusion
Overall, TP-Link RE550 ticks most of the boxes and qualifies as the top WiFi extender for the garage. Paired with any decent router delivers an unequivocal performance in terms of speeds and coverage. Although there’s no Wi-Fi 6, at this price, I can’t really complain!
Pros
- Exceptional range
- 3 external antennas
- Stable throughput
- Easy to install & set up
- Handles multiple devices
Cons
- No mesh tech support
2. Best Runner-Up: Linksys RE7000
- WiFi Range: Up to 2,500 Sq Ft
- Devices Capacity: 30
- Suitable For: Gigabit Connection
- WiFi Standard: Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)
- Ports: 1 x Gig Ethernet
- App Support: Yes
Linksys RE7000’s powerful internal antennas and a 2,500 Sq Ft theoretical coverage take it to the 2nd spot on the list. Its notable features include dual-band Wi-Fi 5 and MU-MIMO for excellent signal strength over multiple devices.
If you are a loyal Linksys customer, you will notice the upgrades it makes over its predecessor, Linksys RE6300 in terms of speed, range, and others, which ultimately translates to its improved performance.
WiFi Coverage & Devices Capacity
Linksys RE7000 with two internal antennas boasts an excellent range of 2,500 Sq Ft, which is above par when compared with similar devices.
When paired with the Linksys MR9610 wireless router, the extender alone covered an entire garage + outdoors, approximately 2,200 Sq Ft area. However, the antennas wouldn’t perform well if MU-MIMO wasn’t there for support.
The signals reaches everywhere in the garage, and I could establish up to 25 connections with the bandwidth emitted by the extender.
Besides, there’s a device prioritization feature, which requires you to make a list of three devices that requires the maximum bandwidth. With that, the extender will supply the most bandwidth to those first and allocate the rest to the others, also qualifying as one of the best gaming WiFi extenders.
Wireless Speeds
Despite entailing 802.11ac Wi-Fi 5, the RE7000 boasts a maximum theoretical speed of 1900 Mbps, and the distribution on its two bands is as follows:
| 5 GHz: 1300 Mbps | 2.4 GHz: 600 Mbps |
In my speed tests, Linksys RE7000 actually clocked a decent performance.
When connected to my router with WiFi and a 1 Gbps Xfinity connection, downloads and uploads proceeded at the rate of 189 Mbps and 18 Mbps, respectively. Note that these speeds were measured in the center of a garage.
My iPhone 13 was online on four-bar signals, and I could surf social media, send important work-related emails, and even listen to HD music without jitters. Other than that, the speeds were more than enough for video conferencing, playing casual games, and downloading large files simultaneously.
Conclusion
To conclude, Linksys RE7000 is a great option to extend WiFi to a detached garage. The speeds although are still enough for entertaining most internet-bound activities. However, staying a tad behind my top recommendation in terms of coverage and device-handling capacity pushed it down to the second position.
Pros
- Solid throughput
- Great coverage
- Device prioritization
- Easy to install
- MU-MIMO
Cons
- No external antennas
3. Best from Netgear: Netgear EX6250
- WiFi Range: Up to 2,000 Sq Ft
- Devices Capacity: 32
- Suitable For: 500 Mbps Connection
- WiFi Standard: Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)
- Ports: 1 x Gig Ethernet
- App Support: Yes
If you like Netgear products, EX6250 is a classy device to set up and use in the garage. It integrates the most important thing that was missing in my previous recommendation, i.e., mesh smart roaming technology. So the speed drops in longer distances wouldn’t be as large as in other WiFi range extenders used for garages.
WiFi Coverage & Devices Capacity
Similar to my previous recommendation, there are two internally-housed antennas, but their capabilities are a tad less, valued at 2,000 Sq Ft.
But it compensates for that by entailing a smart mesh roaming technology. What does it brings to the table? It uses the same channel as the router rather than a separate one, so signal strength remains constant all around the house.
The additional 1,800 Sq Ft range means the network is accessible from the garage. And the antennas resonate well with the smart mesh alongside MU-MIMO tech to transmit steady signals to 25 devices at once.
Wireless Speeds
Netgear EX6250 with dual-band Wi-Fi 5 support, boasts a maximum throughput capacity of 1750 Mbps, split over its bands as follows:
| 5 GHz: 1300 Mbps | 2.4 GHz: 450 Mbps |
The extender connected to the host router yields a decent speed output on my Dell XPS laptop. In the center of a garage, with an Xfinity 800 Mbps connection, the downloads fared at 121 Mbps, and uploads valued at 10 Mbps.
So, irrespective of the distance, I could binge on Netflix shows and movies without any buffering. There still would be enough bandwidth left to engage in other light tasks like sending emails, reading online news, and messaging your friends on social media.
Conclusion
Netgear EX6250 offers great value for its price by striking a perfect balance between its features and cost. While it may fall just short of the top-tier options in terms of coverage and throughput, it maintains stable signals throughout thanks to its mesh roaming tech.
Pros
- Mesh smart roaming
- Decent coverage
- Great design
- Decent throughput
- Sub $50 price tag
Cons
- Middling device handling capacity
4. Best with Multiple Modes: Wavlink WN572HP3
In search of a long-range WiFi extender for a garage that comes with multiple operational modes? Wavlink WN572HP3 has got you covered!
- WiFi Range: Up to 3,000 Sq Ft
- Devices Capacity: 50
- Suitable For: 500 Mbps Connection
- WiFi Standard: Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)
- Ports: 2 x Gigabit Ethernet
- App Support: Yes
If these one or barely two-dimensional extenders don’t get your motor running, then Wavlink AC1200 should just be the device for you.
Besides decent coverage and throughput capacity, it’s built to work on several models including mesh, access, repeater, and bridge mode. In the subsequent sections, you’ll get to know how well this extender fares in real-life scenarios.
WiFi Coverage & Devices Capacity
Wavlink WN572HP3 is primarily an outdoor WiFi extender and comes with an IP65 heat and water-resistant rating. This means a continued operation in harsh weather conditions or in climates of extreme humidity, heat, or cold.
Moving on, it has got four external antennas which are claimed to extend signals to up to 2,000 Sq Ft. And in a real-life scenario, the numbers could go as high as 1,600 Sq Ft, which installed on my entryway transmitted at least three-bar signals to my garage.
The extender further entails an MU-MIMO tech that resonates with the antennas to transmit stable signals to the devices you connect. Numbers can go as high as 44, which paired with any decent router should encase an entire space.
Wireless Speeds
This versatile extender boasts a maximum speed capacity of 1200 Mbps, which gets divided as follows:
| 5 GHz: 867 Mbps | 2.4 GHz: 300 Mbps |
The unavailability of any easy mesh tech-enabled router had me test the extender on the repeater mode, and the results were achieved accordingly.
With my staple TP-Link Archer AX90 paired with the Xfinity 800 Mbps plan, the maximum download speed I could attain was around 112 Mbps, while uploads clocked at 16 Mbps. The following speeds were attained at the center of my friend’s garage.
With these speeds, this extender can work on any basic internet-bound tasks in your garage without any issues. But what makes it unique compared to my other recommendations is the two Ethernet ports on its rear side.
Instead of one, you can now pair two bandwidth-heavy devices and access speeds of up to 457 Mbps for downloads.
Conclusion
Wavlink AC1200 is a good mid-range option, offering various operation modes for added convenience. With excellent coverage, it supports MU-MIMO, enabling simultaneous connections to multiple devices.
However, when it comes to creating a mesh network, it has compatibility issues, and using modes like repeater can result in significant speed reductions.
Pros
- Multiple operational modes
- Long wireless range
- Stable throughput
- Two Ethernet ports
- Weatherproof
Cons
- Compatibility issues in mesh mode
5. Best with Wi-Fi 6: Tenda A33
- WiFi Range: Up to 2,100 Sq Ft
- Devices Capacity: 25
- Suitable For: 500 Mbps Connection
- WiFi Standard: Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)
- Ports: 1 x Gig Ethernet
- App Support: Yes
Tenda A33 is probably the cheapest WiFi extender alternative with Wi-Fi 6 support alongside powerful antennas designed exclusively for high-performance utilities.
It has got a throughput capacity, probably the highest among my listed options, and should cover most of your blacked-out space with powerful signals.
WiFi Coverage & Devices Capacity
Tenda A33 instills two high-gain external antennas along with MU-MIMO tech to claim a 2,100 Sq Ft on-paper coverage.
I had this extender installed in the contiguity of my yard to get the most in my garage. It resonates well with my staple TP-Link Archer AXE75 router to get four and a few times a five-bar signal in my whole garage.
Putting it in numbers, the standalone extender should cover at least a 1,700 Sq Ft area with ease. It also covered my available devices (15) with WiFi signals as I could stay online with various streaming and video conferencing tasks.
Wireless Speeds
Talking about the throughput capacity, this Wi-Fi 6 based extender has a throughput capacity of 3000 Mbps, which tops most options. Its band-wise speed distribution is as follows:
| 5 GHz: 2401 Mbps | 2.4 GHz: 574 Mbps |
Installed in contiguity to my yard, I got the speed results by locating my testing device (Dell XPS laptop) at the center of a garage. For added context, two of the three walls separating Tenda A33 and the testing device were solid and load-bearing.
Paired with the Xfinity Gigabit plan, the test yields values at around 178 Mbps and 14 Mbps, respectively for downloads and uploads. The speeds were more in line with what I would expect from a Wi-Fi 6 extender lacking any mesh tech.
And with the available speeds, downloading any large files should be a walk in the park, and you can attend any work video meeting without pixelating your co-worker’s image or a frozen screen.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Tenda A33, with some top-notch features coming at such a low price, is very appealing and hard to argue with. You can give fuel to your ideation and/or innovation sitting in your garage with quality signals. Its only limitation is the availability of mesh tech, which results in a massive speed drop in the outskirts.
Pros
- Wi-Fi 6 support
- Above-par throughput capacity
- Great WiFi coverage
- Decent device handling capacity
- Easy to install and use
Cons
- No mesh tech
- Lesser-known brand
6. Best Budget Option: Cudy RE1200
- WiFi Range: Up to 1,500 Sq Ft
- Devices Capacity: 30
- Suitable For: 300 Mbps Connection
- WiFi Standard: Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)
- Ports: 1 x Gig Ethernet
- App Support: Yes
Moving on to my list, Cudy RE1200 comes next in the picture. Despite featuring a dual-band Wi-Fi 5, it entails a decent range of features including 1200 Mbps as a maximum speed capacity and a capped range of 1,500 Sq Ft for you to access decent signals in your garage. Continue reading to get an idea about how it fits your need.
WiFi Coverage & Devices Capacity
Its 1,500 Sq Ft of coverage might sound a bit less compared to the options I have included, but it sure gets the job done for people with a comparatively smaller yard.
The two-antenna support of Cudy RE1200 actually manages to transmit signals to my client’s garage located 35 feet away from the house. It translates to around 1,250 Sq Ft, which is a decent enough result.
Despite bolstering a lower range, the extender loses a few points when it comes to multi-device handling capacity. It lacks MU-MIMO, so even though you can connect up to 15 additional devices to the extender bandwidth, the performance might not anywhere be near to the ones with the technology integrated.
Still, most of my smart devices like lights, fans, and switches in the garage stays consistently online.
Wireless Speeds
This dual-band Wi-Fi 5 extender boasts a maximum throughput capacity of 1200 Mbps, and respective values on the bands are as follows:
| 5 GHz: 867 Mbps | 2.4 GHz: 300 Mbps |
Despite being a traditional extender and bolstering a below-par throughput capacity, Cudy RE1200 turned out impressive speed in my throughput tests. With my 500 Mbps Spectrum plan paired with the ASUS RT-AX55, the download and upload speeds turned out at 89 Mbps and 11 Mbps, respectively.
Whereas, in the garage, i.e., 80 feet away from outer placement, the extender only managed to churn out speeds of 31 Mbps and 6 Mbps, respectively. That’s a representative of the smart devices in the garage staying online for hours.
Conclusion
Say goodbye to your network weak spots and dead zones in the garage with this pocket-friendly Cudy RE1200. Despite its lesser speed capacity and range compared to most of my options, anyone residing in a two to three-bedroom house should be benefitted from it.
Pros
- Decent speeds
- The range is good enough
- Easy to install and use
- Solid design
Cons
- Lacks in MU-MIMO
7. Cheap Yet Good: Netgear EX5000
- WiFi Range: Up to 1,500 Sq Ft
- Devices Capacity: 25
- Suitable For: 300 Mbps Connection
- WiFi Standard: Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)
- Ports: 1 x Gig Ethernet
- App Support: Yes
Lastly, let me present you with a trustworthy, cheap yet reliable garage extender, Netgear EX5000. The extender boasts a decent 1200 Mbps throughput capacity and a 1,500 Sq Ft range. Compared to its predecessor, it brings along a range of upgrades to deliver a much-improved performance.
WiFi Coverage & Devices Capacity
You must already know that promised coverage is achievable only in ideal settings, i.e., zero obstruction. I got it installed just in between the router and the garage, located 70 feet away. And as expected, the extender managed to impart decent signals in the entire space.
But the signals weren’t as strong as with my top-tier recommendations, which mainly comes from the lack of MU-MIMO.
The 20 devices connected to the extender bandwidth could only work on light tasks like sending emails, surfing the web, lighting up the smart light, streaming HD music, and others. That’s well-rounded to my expectations with this device.
Wireless Speeds
On paper, Netgear EX5000 has a maximum speed capacity of 1200 Mbps, which is distributed over its two bands as follows:
| 5 GHz: 867 Mbps | 2.4 GHz: 300 Mbps |
Based on the specs, I didn’t expect anything top-tier from EX5000. But it wouldn’t be wrong to say that it’s a decent performer, though. Paired with the Spectrum 400 Mbps plan and my Netgear RAX50 router, the speed values at the center of a garage were recorded at 71 Mbps and 10 Mbps respectively for downloads and uploads.
While at the furthest point, the downloads and uploads moved on at the rate of 29 Mbps and 8 Mbps. The performance at a distance seemed much lower but I still could browse the internet and even stream online music in HD quality, which allowed me to work on my workplace project.
Conclusion
If you don’t need to extend the signals very far away, you can save a decent chunk of money by investing in this Netgear EX5000. It comes as a great option if you don’t need or have the desire for a Gigabit internet. But lack of MU-MIMO and below-par speeds have pushed the extender down at the bottom.
Pros
- Decent speeds
- Easy to install
- Decent range
- Good device handling capacity
- Super affordable
Cons
- Lack of MU-MIMO
Frequently Asked Questions
As far as my research goes, theoretically, the maximum a WiFi extender can cover is up to 2,800 Sq Ft, and paired with any decent router, any of your massive corporate or residential spaces should easily be filled with powerful signals.
If you want to install your extender outdoors, you’ll need it to endure any weather and continue to impart signals of decent pace to each corner of the space. One such would be Wavlink AC1200, which is certified to be safe from heat, rain, or any external elements. Besides, it comes with four different modes for added convenience.
The simplest option would be to install a mesh system and additional satellite units. But it’s very much a costly endeavour. So get an extender with a decent range to pair with your router and access wireless signals outside the building.
Pairing a decent extender to a router with at least a 2,000-2,500 Sq Ft coverage, you can take up the signals to up to 4,000 Sq Ft, which is pretty huge.
Verdict
With the list of Garage-friendly WiFi extenders that I have curated, you should be able to find a device that suits your requirements. But if you still are scratching your head, here are my personal suggestions for different scenarios:
- If you want the best extender in terms of coverage, go for TP-Link RE550. With a maximum theoretical range of 2,800 Sq Ft, you can expect a decent speed everywhere in your space.
- If you have a much bigger yard, and the garage is detached from your house, go for Wavlink AC1200. You can install it anywhere outside to get signals to reach everywhere.
- Finally, if you don’t have a much bigger house and an entry-level extender should just work perfectly, the Netgear EX5000 should be a viable option.
With that, I’d conclude this guide. Get your needs and budget sorted, and treat yourself with a value extender. Take care and stay safe until we connect again!
