Cat6 vs Cat5e Cable: Bandwidth and Performance

For a single IP camera run within the 100 m Ethernet limit, Cat5e carries the video and standard PoE just as well as Cat6, so Cat6 is a judgement call rather than a necessity. Both are rated for 1 Gbps at that length, and the real difference is headroom: Cat6 offers 250 MHz bandwidth against Cat5e's 100 MHz, plus typically thicker 23 AWG conductors in solid cable against 24 AWG. That extra margin earns its premium on bundled runs, higher-power PoE and installs you expect to upgrade.

What actually matters when choosing cat 6 cable vs cat5e

Four things decide it for CCTV: PoE load and bundle size, speed beyond 1Gbps, jacket and screening, and how easily the cable terminates.

PoE load and bundle size

At low-power PoE (15.4W), Cat5e and Cat6 perform comparably even in large bundles, according to trueCABLE's cabling guide. Cat6 uses thicker conductors (typically 23 AWG against 24 AWG for Cat5e), which helps at 30W and above, where heat build-up in a tight bundle becomes the constraint. If your cameras draw more than basic PoE, or many runs share one containment, choose Cat6.

Speed

Cat5e carries 1Gbps up to 100m, per Cabling Installation & Maintenance. The two only separate on multi-gig links: trueCABLE lists 2.5GBASE-T for Cat5e and 5GBASE-T for Cat6, both to 100m. That matters for NVR or switch uplinks more than for a single camera drop.

Jacket and screening

Category does not tell you whether a cable is outdoor-rated or shielded. Outdoor runs need an outdoor jacket (OSP for UV protection and direct burial) whichever category you pick, so check that first.

Termination and cost

Cat6 usually contains a plastic spline between the pairs and is often thicker overall, so on-site termination takes more care. Your own electrician or installer should check the cable's datasheet before cutting. For pre-made leads, cost differences are small in absolute terms. Our 30m shielded Cat6 lead is £11.03, and a 4m Cat6 lead covers a short NVR-to-switch hop.

CAT6 RJ45 Ethernet Cable 30m – Shielded LAN Lead — best for long indoor patch runs

This is a ready-made 30m shielded Cat6 lead with gold-plated RJ45 plugs. It suits anyone linking a CCTV recorder, router or PC to a switch across a building without terminating their own cable.

• 30m length with RJ45 connectors already fitted, so there is no crimping and it can be plugged straight in.
• Shielded construction, a reasonable pick where a run passes interference-prone equipment.
• LSZH jacket (low smoke, zero halogen), which is the usual choice for indoor cabling.
• Cat6 rating, which remains backward compatible with Cat5e equipment, per Cabling Installation & Maintenance.
• £11.03 including VAT.

Trade-off: the product data doesn't describe this lead as outdoor-rated, so don't route it externally. For a permanent run through walls or conduit, bulk cable terminated by your own installer is the better route, since a fixed 30m lead leaves you coiling any excess.

Order the CAT6 RJ45 Ethernet Cable 30m – Shielded LAN Lead.

CAT6 RJ45 Ethernet Cable 15M – Gold Connectors — best for mid-length CCTV and router runs

This is a ready-made 15-metre CAT6 patch lead, best for connecting a camera, NVR, router or PS4 over a room-to-room distance without terminating cable yourself.

• CAT6, 15 metres, with gold-plated RJ45 connectors on both ends.
• Listed uses: CCTV, PS4, routers and home networks.
• Backward compatible: CAT6 remains compatible with older Cat5e cabling, per Cabling Installation & Maintenance, so it works alongside existing Cat5e wall sockets and switches.
• Length margin: 15 m is far inside the 100 m limit that Cat5e and Cat6 category performance is specified to.

Trade-off: the product data doesn't state shielding, jacket type or an outdoor rating. For external runs, or routes past mains cabling, check the product page first. For a permanent in-wall run, bulk cable terminated by your own installer is usually the better route.

Ready to order? Get the CAT6 RJ45 Ethernet Cable 15M – Gold Connectors. Orders placed before 4pm are dispatched the same working day.

CAT6 RJ45 Ethernet Cable 4M – Gold-Plated — best for short patch connections

This 4-metre CAT6 UTP lead suits anyone who needs a ready-made patch cable between a recorder, switch, router or PC without terminating cable themselves.

• 4 metres, pre-terminated: RJ45 connectors are already fitted, so it works straight out of the bag for rack-to-switch or desk-to-router links.
• CAT6 UTP construction: unshielded twisted pair, described in the product data as giving minimal interference for reliable networking.
• Gold-plated connectors: listed for CCTV, routers and PCs.
• Works with older kit: CAT6 remains backward compatible with Cat5e and Cat5, so it can replace an existing Cat5e lead.

Trade-off: on a gigabit network, Cat5e is already rated for 1Gbps over up to 100m, so you won't see a speed gain from this lead alone. It's also unshielded, and the product data states no outdoor rating, so treat it as an indoor patch lead and not a fixed outdoor run.

Buy it here: CAT6 RJ45 Ethernet Cable 4M – Gold-Plated

Cat6 RJ45 Ethernet Cable 5m – Gold-Plated: best for short router, PC and CCTV patch runs

Best for short hops between a router, PC and CCTV kit, this 5m Cat6 lead gives you gold-plated RJ45 connectors and unshielded twisted-pair cabling in a ready-made length.

• U/UTP construction: unshielded twisted pairs, designed to minimise interference and keep high-speed data transfer reliable.
• Gold-plated connectors: RJ45 ends for routers, PCs and CCTV equipment.
• Backward compatible: Cat6 stays compatible with older Cat5e and Cat5 kit, per Cabling Installation & Maintenance.
• Short run, so headroom rather than speed: Cat5e is rated for 1Gbps over up to 100m (same source). On a 5m lead you are unlikely to notice a difference on a gigabit link, but you do get the higher category for later upgrades.

Trade-off: it is unshielded, and the product data gives no outdoor rating. If your route passes electrically noisy equipment, choose a shielded lead. For long fixed runs, choose a longer length rather than joining leads together.

Order before 4pm for same-day dispatch: Cat6 RJ45 Ethernet Cable 5m – Gold-Plated

Which one should you buy?

Choose Cat6 for new CCTV cabling, and keep existing Cat5e only where the cameras are low-power and the runs are modest.

• Budget or an existing install: Cat5e is fine. Both categories carry PoE up to 100W, according to trueCABLE, so there is no reason to rip out a working run to a standard PoE camera. Check the camera's datasheet for its bitrate and power draw first.
• Best overall for new work: Cat6. Its thicker conductors (typically 23 AWG against 24 AWG) cope better with heat in large bundles, which matters once you are feeding 30W-plus PoE devices such as PTZ or heated cameras. For patch leads, the CAT6 RJ45 Ethernet Cable 4M suits a recorder-to-switch hop, and the 30m shielded CAT6 lead is £11.03.
• 10 Gigabit uplinks: Skip both and specify Cat6A. trueCABLE advises against relying on Cat6 for 10GBASE-T.

If your own installer is terminating bulk Cat6, ask them to allow for the internal spline, which makes stripping and termination slightly fiddlier. Browse the range at cctvmaster.co.uk or ask about trade pricing.