Shielded vs Unshielded Ethernet Cables: Which Do You Need?

While similar in appearance, shielded cables are generally thicker and less flexible than unshielded ones. Internally, shielded cables include a foil layer surrounding the twisted pairs and a drain wire for grounding, whereas unshielded cables contain only the twisted copper pairs.

Ethernet cables must manage two types of interference: crosstalk and electromagnetic interference (EMI). Crosstalk occurs between the internal wires and is mitigated by the standard design of twisted pairs. EMI originates from external sources like heavy machinery or power lines.

Shielded cables are only necessary when you cannot avoid placing cables near high-interference sources like AC power lines. In most standard home and office environments, unshielded cables are sufficient.

Shielded cables add significant complexity to network installation because they require proper grounding through compatible connectors and couplers. If not grounded correctly, the shielding is ineffective, making unshielded cables the better default choice for most users.