How to Measure Cat-6 Cable Runs Before Ordering

Measure the route, not a straight line

Follow the cable path through attics, ceilings, walls, conduits, corners, and drops. Add vertical travel and the route back to the recorder.

Add service allowance

• Leave working length at the camera and recorder.
• Account for routing around obstructions.
• Label each run before ordering.
• Round up to the next offered length when uncertain.

Confirm before purchase

Custom terminated cable cannot be returned. The Plan a System tool records one length per camera so the package can be prepared accurately.

Measure the installed route

Measure along the route the cable will actually follow: from the recorder or switch, through the permitted pathway, around obstructions and up to the camera connection. A straight-line distance across a floor plan can miss ceiling height, wall drops and the route around finished rooms. Record a separate length and endpoint label for every run.

Include a modest, deliberate service allowance at the equipment and camera ends without leaving unnecessary coils. Check the cable pathway, bend requirements and the size of any pre-terminated connector before choosing a route. Do not pull a finished connector through an opening that will damage it.

Choose cable for the environment

Premium Cat6 riser cable cut to length is available for purchase from our store. Riser designation alone does not establish suitability for a plenum, direct burial, outdoor exposure or wet conduit. Match the cable rating and installation method to the actual route and applicable requirements; request qualified installation help when the pathway is uncertain.

Before ordering a custom length, verify both measurements and the product's termination details. Label both ends, protect exterior connections with the appropriate compatible enclosure, and test the completed link before closing the pathway. Review the custom-cable return terms before purchasing made-to-order material.