Too many devices? Here’s what eero can support

On average, a single eero node can support up to 128 devices connected simultaneously.

However, the capacity highly depends on the activities those devices undertake. Engaging in bandwidth-intensive applications like 4K video streaming, online gaming and transferring large files can reduce the number of devices supported to around 20 to 30 per unit.

Interference by other household electronic devices, physical obstructions and placement of the eero router can also affect device capacity. Optimizing these factors ensures that your router maintains reliable connectivity to as many devices as possible.

The specific eero model you are using influences the device capacity. The advanced tri-band models like eero Max 7 or eero Pro 6e can handle more devices and heavy network usage than the older eero models.

Let’s see what exactly qualifies as a device in a network.

Anything connected to the internet via WiFi or a wired connection using an ethernet port counts as a device. These devices include laptops, smartphones, game consoles, smart TVs and IoT devices such as smart doorbells, light bulbs and kitchen appliances.

However, not all devices consume your home network’s bandwidth equally. For example, devices that stream 4K content or host online gaming sessions take up more bandwidth than checking emails or scrolling through social media. Overloading your network with too many high-usage devices without an adequate eero setup will impact the connection’s performance.

Understanding each eero model’s technical specifications and device limitations is critical when deciding which eero system is best for your home.

• eero Max 7: The eero Max 7 is a high-performance mesh WiFi system with advanced capabilities like WiFi 7 support and tri-band connectivity. It can support over 200 devices simultaneously, making it suitable for large-scale environments. However, its device capacity may be overkill for households with fewer devices and its high cost reflects its emphasis on heavy internet usage.
• eero Pro 6 and eero 6e: The eero Pro 6 and eero 6e (eero Pro 6e) can handle multiple devices. The eero Pro 6 can handle over 75 devices simultaneously, providing 2000 square feet of coverage per unit. Comparatively, the eero 6e supports WiFi 6e, which includes access to the 6 GHz band that allows the eero 6e routers to support additional devices, handling over 100 connected devices simultaneously.
• eero 6+: The eero 6+ model provides a dual-band WiFi 6 connection that supports 75+ connected devices, up to Gigabit speeds and 1500 sq. ft. of coverage per node.
• eero 6: The eero 6 model supports 75+ connected devices, provides up to 500 Mbps internet speeds and covers up to 1500 sq. ft per node.
• eero: The eero model provides dual-band WiFi 5 connectivity and can handle 50+ connected devices. Each node covers 1500 sq. ft.
• eero beacon: The eero beacon is a smaller unit that pairs with the eero router to wirelessly extend the network’s coverage.

The eero device’s capacity depends on the model and the WiFi standards they support. Each WiFi generation provides varying capabilities for handling device capacity, internet speeds and performance.

• WiFi 5 (802.11ac): Operates on the 5 GHz band and introduces the Multi-User Multiple Input/Multiple Output (MU-MIMO) technology for simultaneous device connections. Older models like eero support WiFi 5, which is reliable for moderate device loads but unsuitable for bandwidth-intensive applications’ increasing demands.
• WiFi 6 (802.11ax): Operates on dual-band frequencies (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz), providing enhanced MU-MIMO and OFDMA technologies for simultaneous connections. More advanced eero models like the eero 6, eero 6+ and eero Pro 6 gateways support WiFi 6, which can handle more devices, have higher speeds and improve efficiency.
• WiFi 6e: The eero 6e router supports WiFi 6e, adding access to the 6 GHz band, significantly increasing bandwidth and support for more devices. It’s ideal for more bandwidth-intensive activities like 4K streaming and online gaming.
• WiFi 7 (802.11be): The eero Max 7 supports the latest WiFi standard, WiFi 7. WiFi 7 offers potential speeds of up to 46 Gbps, minimal latency and a higher device capacity, making it ideal for households with multiple devices handling intensive internet usage.

Learn More: What is the difference between WiFi 7, WiFi 6 and WiFi 5

Yes, connecting too many devices to a single eero router can impact your eero’s WiFi performance in several ways, including:

• Bandwidth congestion: Connected devices split the available bandwidth among themselves. When many devices consume various bandwidth capacities, the bandwidth becomes congested, leading to slower speeds and lag.
• Increased latency: An overloaded eero device can delay data transmission, causing higher latency. Higher latency results in slower response times for online activities, such as video conferencing and online gaming sessions, significantly affecting the overall user experience.
• Signal interference: Multiple devices operating on the same frequency band can create signal interference, which dilutes the signal quality and affects the connection’s stability.
• Overloaded eero device: Each eero router and beacon has a maximum number of devices it can efficiently handle. Exceeding this limit overloads the device, reducing speeds and possibly losing connectivity.
• Limited device prioritization: Even when you prioritize bandwidth for specific devices like work laptops or gaming devices in your eero device settings, they may still experience slowdowns when too many devices are connected. The additional devices consume the allocated bandwidth, reducing the effectiveness of prioritization.

Consider adding more eero nodes or beacons to your internet connection to distribute the load evenly across your home. Prioritize essential devices in the eero settings and disconnect idle devices to free up bandwidth.