How to Place Your Router for Best Wi-Fi Coverage

If your Wi-Fi is slow, drops frequently, or works better in some rooms than others, router placement is often the problem—not your internet speed or service plan.

This guide explains where to place your router for the best Wi-Fi coverage, in simple terms.

You don’t need technical knowledge to use this guide.

Why Router Placement Matters

Wi-Fi signals spread outward from your router like ripples in water.

Where the router sits affects:

Signal strength
Stability
Coverage across rooms
How often devices disconnect

A poorly placed router can cause weak or unstable Wi-Fi, even with fast internet.

The Best Place to Put Your Router

Central Location

Place the router as close to the center of your home as possible.

Helps distribute signal evenly
Reduces dead zones
Improves overall coverage

Avoid placing it at one far end of the house.

Elevated Position

Wi-Fi signals travel better downward and outward.

Place the router on a shelf or table
Avoid placing it on the floor

Higher placement usually improves range.

Open and Unobstructed Area

Wi-Fi signals weaken when blocked.

Avoid placing the router:

Inside cabinets
Behind TVs
Inside closets
Near large metal objects

Open space allows the signal to spread freely.

Places to Avoid Putting Your Router

Near Interference Sources

Keep the router away from:

Microwaves
Cordless phones
Baby monitors
Bluetooth-heavy areas

These devices can interfere with Wi-Fi signals.

Basements or Corners

Routers placed in basements or corners:

Send most of the signal in one direction
Leave large areas with weak coverage

This often causes drops and slow speeds upstairs.

Near Thick Walls or Appliances

Avoid placing the router next to:

Concrete or brick walls
Refrigerators
Metal shelving

Dense materials block Wi-Fi signals.

How Antennas Affect Placement (If Your Router Has Them)

If your router has external antennas:

Point one antenna vertically
Point another slightly angled

This helps spread the signal in different directions.

You don’t need to be precise—just avoid pointing them all the same way.

Testing Your Router Placement

After moving the router:

Test Wi-Fi in multiple rooms
Walk around with a phone or laptop
Check for drops or slow spots

Small placement changes can make a big difference.

When Placement Isn’t Enough

Better placement may not fully fix Wi-Fi issues if:

Your home is very large
You have multiple floors
Walls are thick or reinforced
Many devices use Wi-Fi at once

In these cases, coverage solutions may be needed.

How This Guide Helps Troubleshooting

This guide supports Fix articles by helping you:

Improve Wi-Fi stability
Reduce drops and dead zones
Avoid unnecessary router replacements
Decide when extenders or mesh systems are needed

Good placement often solves problems before anything else.

Final Tip

Before upgrading your internet plan or buying new equipment, try improving router placement first. It’s free, simple, and often the most effective fix for weak or unstable Wi-Fi.