Where should I put my Wi-Fi router?

Wi-Fi works best when the router is central, elevated, and not boxed in by dense or metal objects.

Place it high, central, and out in the open—not inside a cabinet or beside large metal objects.

Why placement matters so much

Wi-Fi is radio, and radio weakens every time it passes through something solid. Brick, concrete, metal, and even water (a fish tank counts) soak up signal, while distance thins it further. A router in a corner cabinet is trying to serve the whole house through the maximum number of walls. Moving it is free, and it is the biggest improvement most homes can make.

What to do, step by step

1. Aim for the center of your home — or the center of where you actually use the internet — not the corner where the cable enters.
2. Raise it up: a shelf or the top of a bookcase. Wi-Fi spreads outward and slightly downward, and the floor is wasted coverage.
3. Keep it out in the open: not inside a cabinet, not behind the TV, not on the floor behind furniture.
4. Keep it away from big metal objects, mirrors, and the microwave oven, which disturb or block the signal.
5. If it has adjustable antennas, try one straight up and one angled — handy in two-story homes where signal must travel between floors.
6. Test as you go: run a speed test in your weakest room before and after each move. A few feet can matter more than a whole room.