Project inputs
Example data table
| Scenario | Total area | Floors | Walls | Band | Users | Devices | Estimated Mbps | Recommended APs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Office fit-out | 2,000 m² | 2 | Drywall | 5 GHz | 120 | 240 | 480 | 14 |
| Concrete-heavy build | 3,600 m² | 3 | Concrete | 5 GHz | 150 | 300 | 600 | 28 |
| High-density hall | 1,500 m² | 1 | Mixed | 6 GHz | 300 | 600 | 1,200 | 24 |
Formula used
- A_total = total building area (m²)
- A_floor = A_total ÷ floors
- R_eff = R_base × wall_mult × layout_mult × height_mult
- A_cell = π × R_eff² × overlap_mult
- AP_coverage = ceil((A_total ÷ A_cell) × (1 + coverage_margin))
- Devices = users × devices_per_user
- Mbps_total = Devices × Mbps_per_device
- Clients_adj = AP_max_clients × (1 − capacity_margin)
- Mbps_adj = AP_max_mbps × (1 − capacity_margin)
- AP_capacity = max( ceil(Devices ÷ Clients_adj), ceil(Mbps_total ÷ Mbps_adj) )
How to use this calculator
- Pick an input method: enter dimensions or total building area.
- Set floors and ceiling height to match drawings.
- Select wall type and layout complexity based on partitions.
- Choose a band, then decide if you will use a custom radius.
- Enter user counts and device demand for realistic performance.
- Review the recommended count, then export CSV or PDF.
- Use the result for planning, then validate with a survey.
Coverage planning for construction environments
Early WiFi planning reduces rework, supports digital inspections, and keeps crews connected. This calculator estimates access point counts by combining building area with an effective coverage radius. The radius is adjusted for walls, layout complexity, ceiling height, and roaming overlap. The output is a practical starting point for drawings, budget estimates, and temporary site phases.
Why walls and materials change the count
Concrete cores, masonry partitions, and metal decking absorb or reflect radio energy. As attenuation increases, the usable cell edge shrinks and more access points are required to maintain consistent signal levels. Selecting the closest wall type helps the model apply a conservative multiplier, which is especially useful when floor plans are still evolving.
Balancing roaming overlap and stability
Overlap is a deliberate design choice that improves roaming and reduces dead zones near doorways and corridors. Higher overlap means each access point covers less unique area, so the coverage-based count rises. For many indoor builds, 15–25% overlap supports stable handoffs and keeps throughput predictable during movement-heavy tasks.
Capacity sizing for real user demand
Coverage alone does not guarantee performance. The calculator estimates concurrent devices from users and devices per user, then multiplies by expected Mbps per device. It compares this demand against the usable client and throughput capacity per access point after applying a capacity margin. The capacity-based count is critical for meetings, commissioning, and high-density zones.
Using the results for bids and deployment
Use the final recommendation as a planning quantity and refine with placement constraints such as corridor spacing, equipment rooms, and power availability. The redundancy percentage can represent spares, staged rollouts, or resilience for critical areas. Export CSV for estimating sheets and PDF for submittals, then validate assumptions with a site survey.
FAQs
1) Is this number suitable for a final design?
No. It is a planning estimate for quantity and budgeting. Final designs should use a predictive survey, on-site validation, and channel planning for your exact access points and mounting locations.
2) What does “capacity margin” represent?
It reserves airtime for retries, interference, protocol overhead, and growth. A higher margin reduces usable per‑AP capacity, increasing the calculated count in performance-sensitive areas.
3) When should I use a custom coverage radius?
Use it when you have survey data, vendor design guidance, or measured cell edges for similar buildings. If uncertain, keep the typical radius and increase coverage margin for conservatism.
4) Why can 6 GHz require more access points?
Higher frequencies usually have shorter reach and lower penetration through materials. That can reduce the effective radius, raising the coverage-based count, even if peak throughput looks higher.
5) How do floors affect the calculation?
The calculator divides total area across floors and sizes coverage per floor, then totals it. It assumes similar layouts; unusual floor plans should be sized individually in a detailed design.
6) Can I size outdoor yards or open sites with this?
Yes, as a rough estimate. Choose “Mostly open,” lower overlap, and set a realistic radius. Outdoor RF varies widely, so validate with field measurements and mounting heights.