The capacity for sharing resources among computers and other devices on a network, whether wired or wireless (Wi-Fi), is finite. As you connect laptops, multiple PCs, and a handful of smartphones to your network, trying to stream Netflix or Hulu on the television can become increasingly challenging. With more devices joining the network, the need for more bandwidth arises. The router decides how to allocate capacity and manage devices. It balances various devices to ensure they all function to some extent.
How many devices can a router connect?
Most home networks and public Wi-Fi hotspots operate using a single wireless access point (often a broadband router in home networks). In contrast, commercial computer networks install multiple access points to extend wireless network coverage to larger physical areas.
Each access point has limits on the number of connections and the network load it can handle. Integrating multiple access points into a larger network can increase the overall scale.
The theoretical limits of Wi-Fi network expansion
Many standalone wireless routers and other access points can support up to approximately 250 connected devices.
From a wired perspective, routers can accommodate a small number (usually between one to four) of wired Ethernet clients, with the remaining clients connecting wirelessly.
The speed rating of access points indicates the maximum theoretical network bandwidth each access point can support. For instance, a Wi-Fi router rated at 300Mbps connected to 100 devices would provide an average of 3Mbps per device (300/100=3).
If you're unsure about what your router can support, searching the model online should help you find this information.
Most people only occasionally use their network connections, and the router reallocates available bandwidth to the devices that need it. These changes depend on the specific devices' demands at specific times.
The practical limitations of Wi-Fi network expansion
Most people don't come close to the maximum number of devices a typical router can accommodate. This is a good thing because although connecting 250 devices to a single Wi-Fi access point is theoretically feasible, for several reasons, it's not practical.
Administrators typically set restrictions to maintain the reliability of routers and networks.
In home networks, all devices usually share a single internet connection. As more devices join the network and simultaneously use it, performance decreases. Even a few active devices streaming videos or downloading files can quickly saturate the shared internet link.
When access points run for extended periods under extreme loads, even handling local traffic without internet access, they can overheat and stop functioning.
A concentration of many Wi-Fi devices in close physical proximity, such as in homes or office buildings, generates wireless signal interference. Radiofrequency interference between Wi-Fi devices reduces network performance (due to frequent rebroadcasting of messages that can't reach their destination), ultimately leading to disconnections.
Some home routers include a feature that allows administrators to control the number of clients that can connect simultaneously. For instance, many Linksys routers default to a maximum of 50 devices.
Maximizing the potential of the network
Installing a second router or access point on a home network can help distribute the network load. By adding more access points to the network, support for any number of devices becomes possible. However, this complicates network management.
If you have one or multiple routers that support a large number of devices, another option is to increase the available bandwidth for each device connected simultaneously by subscribing to a higher-tier plan from your internet service provider (ISP). For instance, if your network devices and internet subscription download at a speed of 1Gbps, connecting 50 devices simultaneously could consume up to 20 megabits of data per device per second.
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