One of the biggest mistakes people make with Wi-Fi is assuming that one router can cover an entire home or business. It never works that way—especially in offices, restaurants, schools, churches, warehouses, or large houses. When Wi-Fi drops, slows down, or has dead zones, it’s almost always because there aren’t enough access points (APs) or they aren’t placed correctly.
So how many access points does your building actually need? The truth is, it depends on the layout, the size, the construction materials, and the number of devices you’re supporting. Here’s a simple breakdown to help you understand what your space really requires.
Square Footage Matters, But Not as Much as You Think
A lot of people try to calculate access points purely based on square footage. While that’s helpful, it doesn’t tell the whole story. A 3,000 square foot open space needs fewer APs than a 3,000 square foot office with 12 rooms and concrete walls.
General guideline:
• Small office or home (1,500–2,500 sq ft): 1–2 APs
• Medium office or home (2,500–4,000 sq ft): 2–3 APs
• Large home or business (4,000–8,000 sq ft): 3–5 APs
• Buildings with multiple floors: 1–2 APs per floor
• Warehouses: depends heavily on shelving and materials
But the real factors are walls, interference, and device load.
Construction Materials Kill Signal
Wi-Fi is easily blocked by dense materials. If your building has:
• Concrete
• Brick
• Metal framing
• Firewalls
• Insulation foil
• Thick drywall
• Glass with metallic coating
Your signal will drop dramatically. These buildings require more APs placed closer together.
Number of Devices = Number of APs
If you think about your own home, you probably have more devices than you realize:
• Phones
• Laptops
• Tablets
• Smart TVs
• Security cameras
• Smart home devices
Now multiply that for a business:
• POS systems
• Handheld tablets
• VoIP phones
• Staff devices
• Guest devices
• Printers
• Cameras
• Computers
One access point cannot handle all of that. More APs spread the load and keep everything stable.
Proper Placement Is Just as Important as Quantity
Even if you have enough access points, placing them incorrectly ruins performance. Common mistakes include:
• Putting APs in corners or hidden behind objects
• Installing them too close to each other
• Installing them too far apart
• Mounting them near metal equipment
• Putting them inside cabinets
The best placement is usually ceiling-mounted in open areas, spaced evenly across the building.
Mesh Systems vs Hardwired Access Points
Mesh Wi-Fi systems are okay for homes, but in businesses or large buildings, hardwired access points are far superior. Hardwired APs give you:
• Faster speeds
• Better stability
• Less interference
• More consistent roaming
• Higher device capacity
If you want truly reliable Wi-Fi, especially for business use, run Ethernet to each AP.
The Wi-Fi Heatmap Test
The only real way to know how many APs you need is to perform a heatmap survey. This shows:
• Strong signal areas
• Weak zones
• Dead zones
• Interference pockets
• Best locations for APs
Most businesses never do this, which is why their Wi-Fi struggles.
Final Thoughts
Wi-Fi always works better when it’s designed, not guessed. The right number of access points—and proper placement—can completely transform your network. Whether it’s a home office, restaurant, church, school, or warehouse, the right setup makes everything faster and more reliable.
If you want help figuring out exactly how many access points your building needs, I can map it out and design a setup that eliminates dead zones and keeps your Wi-Fi running smoothly.
Evan Fisher
480-529-2120
evan@arizonatechpros.com
