7 Best Routers for 2000 Sq Ft House in 2021 [No Dead Spots]

Finding a highly capable router for a 2000 sq ft home can be trickier than you think. It neither falls within the purview of most of the entry-level routers and makes the sophisticated routers look like overkill for the requirements. You got caught in a dilemma but took matters into your own hands and started doing the research.

But the number of routers in the market is overwhelming you? And you are not sure about the dynamics involved in choosing a single pack mesh router or a standalone router or the value addition that a Tri-band router brings to your home network. Read further to get the requisite clarity and make an informed decision.

The article narrows down and highlights the products with the features imperative for offering a satisfying internet performance. Features like beamforming, OFDMA, MU-MIMO, and powerful antennas are crucial to extend the coverage up to 2000 sq ft and minimize the loss of bandwidth while multiple devices operate simultaneously.

Best Routers for 2000 Sq Ft House in 2021

I dedicated hours of research into finding the best router amongst a list of 40 routers available in the market that fit into your criteria for covering a 2000 sq ft house and envisioning potential scenarios.

The article starts with the products with advanced technologies like OFDMA, future proof speeds, support to 160MHz channels and extends the list to more value for money choices that balance price and utility.

1. Best Overall: Netgear Nighthawk RAX45

A triple-core 1.5GHz processor and the combination of a 512MB operating memory, 256MB of flash storage offer ample power to handle the load of a medium household and gamers. The security features and parental controls of the Netgear Armor make Nighthawk RAX45 the perfect router for gaming and 4K media streaming.

Speed and Coverage

This WiFi 6 enabled router has individual top speeds up to 480mbps in 2.4GHz, 3840mbps in 5GHz channels, and an aggregated speed of 4.3Gbps that can be handy to cover simultaneous connections spread across a 2500 sq ft house.

Design and Ports

At 1.25 lbs, the lightweight router from Netgear comes in a stylish black chassis and sufficient heat-regulating ventilation with the antennas in the back. The device has 4 external antennas spread across the device, geared with Beamforming+ and OFDMA to deliver signals to multiple devices simultaneously.

The presence of one WAN port, four LAN ports, and one USB 3.0 port assures stable wired connectivity and access to shared devices within the home network.

Security & App Support

Netgear’s Nighthawk app may not bring the most user-friendly design, nonetheless, it keeps the installation smooth with its simplified setup. Moreover, smart parental control allows you to create profiles, set time schedules, allot bedtime, monitor history, and more.

Final Thoughts?

If you require real-time extensive internet security for your gaming needs, the subscription of Netgear Armor and the features in the router will complement your high-speed internet connection. Look for plans ranging from 500mbps-1Gbps from prominent ISPs like Xfinity, Verizon FiOS, Spectrum, or Google Fiber.

2. Best Runner Up: TP-Link Archer AX50

The TP-Link Archer AX50 finds balance in the latest WiFi standards, features like OFDMA, and the support of 160MHz channels that offer a congestion-free internet experience to your home. A dual-core processor, the operating memory of 256MB, and the flash storage of 128MB remain crucial to its performance.

Speed and Coverage

The Wi-Fi 6 standard brings high-speed capacity to this router. Aggregated speeds of 3 Gbps and an individual top speed of 574mbps in 2.4GHz and 2402mbps on 5GHz give adequate bandwidth for several devices in a household spanning 2500 sq ft.

Design and Ports

The router weighs 1.20 lbs, contrary to its speed-heavy performance. Archer AX-50 router has a glossy, sleek modern black design with a beveled cross on its top that leaves an impression of a futuristic device.

The 4 external rectangular antennas at the rear deliver stable signals to multiple devices, credit to the latest OFDMA technology. One gigabit WAN port, four LAN ports are crucial for offering wired internet for a gaming console, smart TV, and laptops at home. The USB 3.0 makes the job of sharing data within the home network easier.

Security & App Support

TP-link boasts of a simplistic yet user-intuitive application in Tether. Cruise through the installations, irrespective of the choice of mode. The web interface opens up access to a wide range of customizations.

The nifty feature in parental control helps you create multiple user profiles for your kids. The access content filters give an additional layer of control over internet consumption. Homecare security is paramount for protecting your network from intrusions and malware.

Final Thoughts?

If you are looking for a router that supports WiFi 6, works great for gaming on Xbox One, PS4, and other platforms, Archer AX-50 brings the latest technology to your home at a very competitive price. With high-speed plans like Ultra from Spectrum, Gigabit connections from Google Fiber, gaming, HD streaming fall within the purview easily.

3. Best Tri-Band Router: Linksys MR9000

The Linksys MR9000 gets the power of tri-band technology supporting the internet needs of a 2000 sq ft home. The 512MB of RAM and 256MB of flash storage are crucial to support devices using data-intensive applications.

Speed and Coverage

The tri-band router achieves a merged speed of 3000 Mbps over three bands while reaching top speeds of 400mbps on 2.4GHz band and 867mbps, 1733mbps on dual 5GHz bands, respectively. The tri-band technology can offer a congestion-less network for multiple devices and coverage of 3000 sq ft.

Design and Ports

Neither the bulky-looking antennas nor the large rectangular base contributes to the weight of the router. It weighs approximately 1.30 lbs.

This sub $200 router gets the advantage of 4 adjustable antennas. The privilege of MU-MIMO, beamforming, and band steering to ensure quality and signal strength in every corner of your 2 story house. Linksys doesn’t disappoint in terms of connectivity with four Gigabit Ethernet ports, one Gigabit WAN port, and 1 USB 3.0 port.

Security & App Support

The Linksys app has a guided setup for the non-tech savvy crowd to ease through the initial setup. With the application, you can monitor the network even when you are away from your home. Block websites restrict internet access with parental controls easily.

Final Thoughts?

If you are on the lookout for a tri-band router to support multiple devices and avoid network congestion in your 2 story house, Linksys MR9000 is quite a reliable option. It can work best with the 500 Mbps connection from prominent ISPs like Xfinity or Spectrum.

4. Best with 2 USB Ports: ASUS RT-AC68U

ASUS punches above its weight with the power of a quad-core processor, a RAM of 256MB, and storage of 128MB. With extended coverage, the ASUS RT-AC68U will be ideal router for your 2000 sq ft home.

Speed, Performance, Coverage

An aggregated speed of 1900mbps comes in handy when you have multiple devices operating simultaneously. The top speed of 600mbps on 2.4GHz, and 1300mbps on 5GHz are good enough for gaming and HD streaming via Firestick.

Design and Ports

This sub $150 router comes in a glossy chequered design, the notable flaw in an otherwise perfect combination. The router weighs 1.70 pounds but surprises with heavyweight performance.

The 3 antennas tower from the rear of the router has the power of AiRadar beamforming act a carrier as signals. The budget-friendly price doesn’t stop ASUS from offering 4 Gigabit LAN ports, 1 Gig WAN port, and 2 USB ports.

Security & App Support

The parental controls make the job easier for parents to control kid’s internet exposure. It allows the creation of multiple user profiles, assign schedules, restrictions and brings multiple traffic monitoring reports. With QoS and access control, users can prioritize devices and utilize the bandwidth diligently.

The mobile application and the ASUS WRT web interface are an effective combination for novices and experts alike. The initial setup hardly takes more than a few minutes with the guided setup. With the web interface, users can customize the network to its in-depth details.

Final Thoughts

If you can ignore the uninspiring design, the Asus RT-AC68U is a great fit for users looking for a budget router with high-speed capabilities, set of advanced features that bring the best out of your high-speed 200 Mbps internet plan.

5. Best WiFi Mesh System: TP-Link Deco X20

The TP-Link Deco X20 works with the synergy of a 1GHz quad-core processor, an operating memory of 512MB, and a flash memory of 128MB. Its standalone performance and the upgradeability to a mesh system make this a steal at a $100 price tag.

Speed, Performance, Coverage

The total speed of 1800 Mbps is ideal for a limited number of gadgets in a household spanning 2000 sq ft. With a high-speed internet connection, the devices can reach up to 600mbps and 1200mbps on 2.4GHz and 5GHz respectively. It is ideal for working professionals and handling smart appliances within the 2000 sq ft household.

Design and Ports

The cylindrical disc-like design is a testament to TP-Link simplistic yet elegant design. The router weighs close to 1 lb and has an amicable presence that adorns any household.

The absence of external antennas shouldn’t bother the users. The deco comes with 4 internal antennas at the behest of OFDMA, and MU-MIMO delivers stable signals to multiple devices. With a limited choice of 2 Gigabit Ethernet ports, users should prioritize and plan their wired connections.

Security & App Support

The Deco application comes with an assisted setup to keep overhead for finding the perfect location within your 2200 sq ft home simple and hassle-free. The luxury of remotely monitoring the internet, prioritizing user devices will be handy for parents/households with teens and kids.

The user-friendliness of the Deco mobile app is its strength. Users can create profiles for a family member, map devices, and control internet exposure with well-defined categories. The real-time protection of TrendMicro antivirus from malware and infected devices is vital to your network security.

Final Thoughts

The standalone unit of WiFi 6 mesh router is affordable and works well with a 300-500 Mbps internet plan from Xfinity or AT&T, or Spectrum, depending on the feasibility and availability of service providers. The comfort of scalability that comes with Deco, in case of future requirements, offers great investment value.

6. Best for Home Use: Motorola MR2600

While Motorola is known for a lot of other products today, something that the company got really popular for back in the early 2000s was their wireless communications division. The Motorola MR2600 router is a continuation of this legacy.

Speed, Performance, Coverage

As the name suggests, it provides internet speeds of 2600 Mbps, with two wireless bands providing speeds of 1733mbps at 5GHz and 800mbps at 2.4GHz. The router makes use of the 802.11ac Wave 2 MU-MIMO technology, which ensures faster communication between all your connected devices within 2000 sq ft areas.

Design and Ports

Talking of design, Motorola has aced it in terms of how the router looks like. A slightly curved top, along with four antennas (two on the back and two on the sides), gives it a very sleek look. Diamond-shaped patterns with a line going through them cover the top, making it quite a visually aesthetic device.

There are four LAN ports on the back, along with one WAN port. There’s only one USB port, and thankfully it is the USB 3.0 port. The port isn’t placed on the back but on the front, which is actually a good design choice, as plugging the drive, there is more convenient than doing it if the port were placed on the back side.

Security & App Support

Unlike all the routers on this list, the Motorola MR2600 doesn’t come with mobile app support. However, it has a user-friendly web interface to set up and manage your home network. The web interface has advanced settings like parental controls, QoS, etc.

In addition to that, one more thing that really makes it a great router for home use is the DLNA support. It allows your router to turn into a media server when you plug a pen drive/hard drive into it, and you can access this shared media from any device across your home.

Final Thoughts

To sum it up, not only is this one of the cost-effective routers for home use, but it is also a media lover’s delight. You can easily stream HD movies on Netflix or Prime Video using this router, and you can also use it to stream stored media across devices!

7. Cheapest Option: Asus RT-ACRH12

While there are quite a few routers in the market that can spread out the wireless network uniformly up to 2000 sq ft or even more, nothing on the list seems better poised than the Asus RT-ACRH12 when 5GHz throughput and theoretical to real speed trade-offs are concerned.

Also, as compared to the likes of RT-AC1900P, which seems more like a premium router, the AC1200 maintains its stead and credibility for better 5GHz performances. Plus, it comes with MU-MIMO functionality for connecting multiple devices to the network. 

Speed and Coverage

The standard MIPS processor, clocking at 775MHz, is a bare minimum for most Wi-Fi 5 routers. The chipset works in tandem with 128MB RAM and allows you to get decent speeds of up to 300Mbps on the 2.4GHz band and up to 867Mbps on the 5GHz band. The coverage for the same extends up to 3000 sq ft, but the best speeds are experienced up to 2000 sq ft.

As far as the performances are concerned, the Beamforming support makes it possible for the speeds to be uniform across distances.

Design and Ports

From a structural purview, the Asus RT-ACRH12 feels more like a rectangular plastic slab, with four antennas protruding out of the same. As far as the dimensions are concerned, the well-ventilated router measures 4.92 x 7.56 x 1.18 inches. This router weighs close to 0.8 pounds, which seems a taciturn trait considering some of the heavier products on the list.

The port arrangement gets a nod of credibility with 4 Ethernet slots and one USB 2.0 port to work with.

Security & App Support

As far as the security traits are concerned, the RT-ACRH12 supports network monitoring, parental control, bandwidth monitoring, and encryption of the guest network. Plus, each of these attributes can be accessed and customized via the dedicated router application that also helps with the setup. 

Final Thoughts?

Overall, the Asus RT-ACRH12 AC1200 seems like the best choice of router if you want something dependable for your mid-sized homes and offices. However, it is the MU-MIMO functionality and exceptional 5GHz throughput that sets it apart from some of the other products on the list.

Frequently Asked Questions

Verdict

The challenge of finding a good router for a 2000 sq ft house relies on understanding the current requirements and the foresight of various scenarios in the future. Considering the uncertainties, one can figure out the basic requirements and look for additional features to cater to the changing scenarios and requirements.

• The TP-Link Archer AX50 comes with powerful hardware and future-proof WiFi standards to support gaming and multiple HD streaming.
• The Linksys MR9000 is ideal for congested apartments and households with several devices and gadgets operating concurrently.
• The single unit of TP-Link Deco X20 and ASUS RT-AC68U are the ideal budget routers to invest in, if you are planning to expand your coverage on a mesh network.