How to get strong Wi-Fi signal in every room.

Having a good home internet connection is one thing. Getting a strong Wi-Fi signal in every room is quite another. Your home’s wireless signal dropping out can be incredibly frustrating, not just for browsing and entertainment, but especially if you need reliable Wi-Fi for working from home.

If you have fast broadband at home, but it is not translating to strong Wi-Fi, here are some tips and tricks for boosting your Wi-Fi signal.

Key points

• Wi-Fi signal weakens the further away you get from your router, if it has to pass through objects such as walls, and it’s prone to interference from other electronic devices
• There are various tricks you can try to boost your signal without paying a penny
• If you exhaust these options, you could try boosting it with a Wi-Fi extender, new router, powerline adapters or a mesh Wi-Fi system

Why is my Wi-Fi signal weak in certain places?

Like any other signal, Wi-Fi starts off strong and clear but gets weaker the further you get from the source. There are also other factors which can cause it to weaken, such as interference from other signals, or having to pass through dense materials.

So if your Wi-Fi is competing with other signals, or having to pass through walls or floors, it’ll get weaker. The sweet spot is near your router, but your signal is more likely to be patchy in the furthest reaches of your home.

2.4 vs 5 gigahertz (GHz) Wi-Fi

Another thing to take into consideration is the type of signal you’re using. Not all signals are the same, and your router might well use two or three different frequency bands.

The two most common frequencies used for Wi-Fi transmission are:

• 2.4 GHz – This gives slower download speeds, but has a better chance of reaching the furthest parts of your home.
• 5 GHz – This is a faster signal, but with a shorter range. You’re likely to get fast download speeds near the router, but it drops off significantly as you get further away.

If you’re finding your Wi-Fi is not getting to the furthest parts of your house, check if your router’s using the appropriate network.

How to check Wi-Fi signal strength

The quick test for checking your wireless strength is to look at the Wi-Fi symbol on your device. The more bars you’re getting, the better the signal.

You can also try a broadband speed test. It’s worth noting that speed and signal strength are not the same thing. Speed is how quickly you can download. But your internet service provider (ISP) will have told you the broadband speed you can achieve when signing up for your package. If you compare this with the speeds you’re getting in other rooms away from your router, you’ll get an idea of how much your signal is weakening.

Can Wi-Fi go through walls?

Yes, Wi-Fi can pass through walls. But they’re bound to weaken your signal to a certain degree. So you’re going to get signal loss if it has to pass through several walls and a floor, for example.

The degree to which the signal is weakened can be influenced by the following:

• Material – If the signal has to pass through dense material such as plaster, concrete or metal, this will significantly affect the signal.
• Wall thickness – The thicker the wall, the more the signal is likely to drop. Old buildings with particularly thick walls can be problematic for Wi-Fi.
• Insulation - New builds can also cause problems as – despite having thinner walls – they are usually better insulated.
• Furniture – Whatever material the Wi-Fi needs to pass through will have an effect – and this includes furniture, carpets and so on.
• Reflective surfaces – The surfaces of mirrors and shiny metal will also reflect the signal slightly, causing it to disperse.

Best ways to boost Wi-Fi signal

When you know which rooms have weaker Wi-Fi, and a better idea of what’s likely to be causing this, you can work out the best solution for your home.

Here are some ways you can potentially improve your Wi-Fi. There are a few tricks you can try before you start to throw money at the problem.

Your router's location

Where your router’s placed will have a surprising influence on your Wi-Fi coverage. It might look tidier if it’s tucked out of the way, but this will have an effect on your signal. Here’s how to make the most of your router:

• Your Wi-Fi router should be out in the open, away from walls and obstructions. Not only will this minimise interference, but it’ll prevent it from overheating.
• The closer to the centre of your home, the better.
• Try to minimise the number of obstructions (such as walls) between the router and the place where you need a strong signal the most.
• Keep the router’s area free of other electronics and appliances if you can.
• If the router has antennas, point them up.
• Elevating the router can also help, such as putting it on a shelf.

Your router channel settings

As mentioned, wireless routers can transmit over a couple of frequencies. They can also broadcast on different channels within the frequency. These can occasionally be subject to interference, such as from electronic devices, or other Wi-Fi signals if you live in a densely populated area. You can try changing the channel to see if that helps.

Your router instructions will tell you exactly how to do this. But generally speaking, you can access the router configuration page by popping its internet protocol (IP) address into your browser. Both this and its login details can be found in the manual, or on a label on the router.

Upgrade the router’s firmware

Your router’s firmware controls the way it works, and manufacturers often make improvements. Making sure you’re using the latest version could help to improve its performance, and is also likely to feature security updates.

Find out how to upgrade your router’s firmware.

Switch out router antenna

If your router has an internal antenna, it might be worth adding an external one, as these usually send stronger signals. Your router might have come with additional antennas, otherwise you should be able to pick up an antenna for your router fairly cheaply.

Move cordless phones and appliances that cause interference

A lot of wireless technology operates at 2.4 GHz, which also tends to be the default router frequency. Equipment such as cordless phones, baby monitors, microwaves and garage door openers could all potentially interfere with your Wi-Fi signal. To reduce the amount of signal noise interfering with your Wi-Fi, either keep this equipment as far away from your router as you can, or change the channel in your router settings (see above).

Try a Wi-Fi extender

If you’ve tried the options above but had no joy, it might be time to spend some money to help improve your signal. A Wi-Fi extender is a popular option, as they’re simple to set up and affordable.

These repeat your wireless signal. By positioning these strategically around your home, they can boost the Wi-Fi signal into the corners that are otherwise hard to reach. Also known as Wi-Fi repeaters or Wi-Fi boosters, these start from under a tenner.

Try powerline adapters

Powerline adapters are devices which can send data via the electrical wiring in your home. These are bought in pairs. You plug one by your router, and connect it with an ethernet cable. Then you plug the second in a room where you want a better broadband connection, and this creates an instant internet hotspot – either wired or Wi-Fi.

This means any electric plug in your home can potentially be a hotspot, and you can use multiple adapters if several rooms could benefit from better broadband. You can pick up a starter kit from about £35.

Upgrade to a better router

Routers provided by ISPs are not often the best available, and technology moves on quickly. If you’ve had your router for a few years, it might not support newer wireless standards such as AX (Wi-Fi 6). If you’re a long-standing customer with your ISP, you could ask for an upgrade.

When speaking to your provider, beware of being tied into another 12 or 18-month contract. Only go forward with it if you’re comfortable.

Another alternative is to buy a third-party router not provided by your ISP. This could give you stronger, more reliable Wi-Fi. But these are best suited to those who are confident configuring their own networks. If this doesn’t sound like you, ask for help from a techy friend or family member before you commit.

For complete coverage in every room: Try a mesh Wi-Fi system

If you have a big home with numerous spots the Wi-Fi has trouble reaching, you could consider a mesh Wi-Fi system. These are designed to eliminate dead zones and provide uninterrupted Wi-Fi throughout the entire home. Despite being powerful, easy to set up and user-friendly, there’s usually a higher price tag attached.

These provide multiple Wi-Fi access points throughout the home, and can usually be bought as twin or triple packs. If you walk a device through your home, it’ll automatically switch to the best access point. This gives you the best chance of a fast and seamless signal, wherever you are in your home.

Mesh Wi-Fi systems are also designed to be as easy to use and manage as possible. Without much technical know-how, you can still easily set up guest networks, troubleshoot your access points and so on. While being the most expensive systems, these have come down in price a lot in the last few years, starting from roughly £60.

Make sure you’re with the right provider

Finally, a surefire way to boost your broadband speed is to make sure you’re with the right provider. If you’re out of the minimum contract term with your ISP and have not switched for a few years, compare broadband deals in your area with Go.Compare. That way you can make sure you have fast, reliable broadband at the right price for you.

---

Page last updated: 22 August 2025