Network Cables

Cat5e. Cat6. Cat6a. Every Length. Every Color.

Island Electrical Supply carries a full selection of ethernet patch cables in Cat5e, Cat6, and Cat6a standards as part of our cables catalog. Available in lengths from 1 foot to 100 feet and in multiple colors for easy cable management, every cable features snagless boot designs that protect RJ-45 connectors during installation and prevent snagging in cable trays.

Common Network Cable Applications

• Data center and server room patching — short runs from patch panels to ethernet switches in structured cabling environments
• Office network buildouts — desk drops from wall jacks to workstations, printers, and VoIP phones
• PoE device connections — feeding power and data to wireless access points, IP cameras, and VoIP phones over Cat5e/Cat6a
• Rack-to-rack and cross-connect runs — longer patch cables for connecting racks and network closets
• Home networking and gaming setups — reliable wired connections for gaming PCs, streaming devices, and smart home hubs

Ethernet Cable Categories Explained

• Cat5e — supports up to 1 Gbps at 100 meters. The most affordable choice for basic gigabit networking. Sufficient for most office and home applications where 10 Gbps is not required.
• Cat6 — supports 10 Gbps at up to 55 meters and 1 Gbps at 100 meters. Better crosstalk rejection than Cat5e. A solid mid-range choice for new installations that may need headroom for faster speeds on short runs.
• Cat6a — supports 10 Gbps at the full 100-meter distance. Required for 10GbE deployments, high-power PoE (802.3bt), and future-proofing. The recommended standard for all new structured cabling installations.
• Shielded (STP/FTP) — choose shielded variants in environments with high electromagnetic interference such as manufacturing floors, near heavy machinery, or alongside power cables.

Choosing the Right Network Cable

For most office environments and existing gigabit networks, Cat5e patch cables deliver reliable performance at the lowest cost. If you are building out a new network or planning for future 10 Gbps upgrades, Cat6a is the better long-term investment since it handles both higher speeds and higher PoE wattages without degradation.

Color coding simplifies cable management in dense environments. Common conventions include blue for workstation drops, yellow for PoE devices, red for servers, and green for cross-connects. We carry every standard color so you can maintain consistent labeling across your infrastructure.

For connections to SFP modules and fiber uplinks, pair your copper patch cables with the appropriate switch ports. See our ethernet switches collection for models with SFP+ uplink slots.

Why Buy Network Cables from Island Electrical Supply

In-stock network cables ship same day, and qualifying orders ship free. We offer installer discounts, wholesale pricing, and net terms for qualified B2B accounts. Whether you need a handful of patch cables or a bulk order for a full building, reach us directly any time for volume quotes.