Do you live in a large 4000 sq ft multi-story house? Are Wi-Fi dead zones making your life more miserable than you expected it to be? Constrained by financial limitations, are you looking for an affordable budget wireless router?
For such a large house, you sure need to supplement your home network with a robust internet security package. I understand that a boost to gaming performance would sweeten the deal for the gamers in your home. But do you need a value-for-money device or a router that handles multiple devices? Confused? Read further to find some clarity of thought before you make a choice.
The article gives you a quick solution for your networking requirements. I have picked the routers considering a wide range of requirements put forth by several large homeowners covering from the latest wireless standards, advanced features like MU-MIMO, Beamforming, OFDMA. I have also listed mesh systems featuring robust internet security.
Best Routers for 4000 Sq Ft House in 2023
After analyzing over 40 routers in the market including standalone routers and mesh systems, I have narrowed it down to the 7 best Wi-Fi routers for a 4000 Sq Ft house. Dominated by mesh systems, the list features a powerful stand-alone router capable of meeting your requirements.
The list starts with tri-band, Wi-Fi 6 mesh systems at the top of the list. It includes a few dual-band mesh systems while ending the list with the best budget alternative mesh routers.
1. Best Overall: Linksys Velop WHW0302
One of the first models in the line of Velop Intelligent mesh system, the two-pack Linksys WHW0302 system brings the advantage of an additional 5GHz band to accommodate plenty of devices backed by a solid hardware unit over its much more recent counterpart.
Speeds & Coverage
Do you have plenty of devices to cover at home? The total speed of 2.2 Gbps gets split across three simultaneous bands offering the requisite congestion-free bandwidth.
It can achieve up to 400 Mbps on 2.4GHz and 876 Mbps on its dual 5GHz frequency. With features like MU-MIMO, the router can transmit signals efficiently to multiple devices and handle over 40 devices spread across a 4000 sq ft home.
Hardware & Design
The white square tower sports a simplistic design with a perforated top. Each unit measures 3.1 x 3.1 x 7.3 -inches in dimensions. The nodes carry 6 internal antennas, equipped with beamforming and high-power amplifiers, making it one of the best routers for 2 story house.
A pair of auto-sensing LAN/WAN ports are at the underside of the tower. The Linksys unit houses a solid quad-core processing unit clocking at 716MHz on a Qualcomm chipset. The processing unit combined with 512MB RAM and 512MB flash storage can handle heavy-duty 4K Streaming, online gaming across multiple devices.
App & Security Features
The two-pack mesh system comes with an easy app-based installation. With WPA2 encryption standards, Linksys velop system works with the apple home kit. The access to subscription-based Linksys shield allows you to have more control over your network with parental controls, access filters, and protection from security threats.
Other Features
A dedicated guest network access keeps your home network safe from external infections. Prioritize up to three devices in your network to receive the best bandwidth.
Who should consider this router and why?
Linksys Velop WHW0302, two-pack systems find the sweet spot between features, utility, and price keeping at the top of the list. Congestion-free tri-band operation and seamless Wi-Fi connectivity make it an ideal device for automated homes or large houses with plenty of devices sharing a single network.
- Tri-band support
- MU-MIMO and Beamforming
- Seamless Wi-Fi connectivity
- Linksys Shield security
- Device prioritization
- No USB port
- Subscription costs of Security
2. Best for Gaming: ASUS RT-AC88U
In RT-AC88U, Asus reinforces the wired connectivity with four additional ethernet ports, an improvement from its predecessor, making it suitable for a household of gaming aficionados. Including WTFast gamer VPN to its excellent coverage, turned out to be a masterstroke from Asus.
Speeds & Coverage
An aggregate speed of 3.2Gbps comes in handy for gaming weekends. Individual speeds of 1000 Mbps on 2.4GHz and 2167 Mbps on the 5GHz bands get enhanced by advanced features like MU-MIMO, making it more efficient to handle up to 25 devices and cover a large area of 5000 sq ft.
Hardware & Design
The black chiseled body with red accents measures 11.8 x 7.4 x 2.3 inches in dimensions. The heavy-weight router weighs a little over 2 pounds with over 4 huge antennas towering from it. With 8 Ethernet ports and link aggregation, you will never run out of wired connections for multiple gaming devices, while enjoying high-speed internet.
Asus RT-AC88U gets the strength of a dual-core processing unit clocking at 1.4GHz, a 512MB RAM, and flash storage of 128MB to cope up with the demands of simultaneous gaming and data-laden media streaming. The 2 USB ports are a welcome addition to share printing and storage within your home network.
App & Security Features
The Asus router app and web interface offer one of the most user-intuitive interfaces with added customizability. AiProtection Pro comes with inbuilt support to multiple VPN protocols, offers protection against intrusions, and security threats. The customizable parental controls are a welcome addition for parents.
Other Features
The gaming acceleration boost of RT-AC88U adds more value to the routing device. Dual QoS lets you prioritize your bandwidth. The Asus ecosystem brings a comprehensive traffic monitoring system that allows you more control over internet usage. Do you want future scalability? The standalone router is easily compatible with Aimesh systems.
Who should consider this router and why?
The Asus RT-AC88U is an efficient standalone router that suits large homes. It brings the best value in terms of speed, bandwidth, coverage, and performance. The gaming features are icing on the cake, keeping it closer to the top of the list just below the Linksys Velop mesh system.
- WTFast engine
- 8 Gig LAN ports
- AiMesh compatibility
- AiProtection Pro security
- Link aggregation support
- Extensive coverage
- USB Port placement
3. Best Wi-Fi 6 Mesh System: TP-Link Deco X20
In Deco X20, TP-Link improves the memory unit taking cues from its previous models and making it capable of handling more devices. TP-Link Deco X20 brings the advantage of the latest wireless standards (Wi-Fi 6), backed by a solid hardware unit.
Speeds & Coverage
The mesh system brings the efficiency of optimized signal delivery to your household via OFDMA. It has individual top speeds of 574 Mbps on 2.4GHz and 1201 Mbps on 5GHz to handle up to 100 devices in an automated home spread across 4000 sq ft.
Hardware & Design
The cylindrical tower in plain white can fit any household seamlessly. The short units weigh approximately 2 pounds each. They measure 4.3 x 4.3 x 4.9 inches in dimensions. The units house 4 internal antennas equipped with beamforming while accommodating two auto-sensing LAN/WAN ports, enabling wired backhaul.
TP-Link puts together quad-core processing units clocking at 1GHz, with a 512MB operating memory and storage memory of 128MB. The hardware unit is capable of easing through data-intense activities simultaneously.
App & Security Features
Deco applications are well designed to keep your initial setups and management uncomplicated and quick. Looking for lifetime online security? TP-Link’s Homecare offers a robust security package at no additional cost. The latest WPA 3 encryption standards offer protection from any unauthorized usage.
For more details, check TP-Link Deco X20’s full review.
Other Features
Bothered about the placement of the units? The auto-placement test makes things easier for you. With Inbuilt QoS, you can prioritize the bandwidth allocation for specific activities, ranging from streaming, gaming, surfing, and chatting. Parental controls and access controls filters give you more control over your network.
Who should consider this router and why?
Are you looking to future-proof your multi-story home with the latest wireless standards? Deco X20 brings a plethora of the latest features and improved security, which makes it closer to the top of the list.
Fun fact: it’s also featured in my list of the top-rated routers under $200.
- Wi-Fi 6 standard
- OFDMA & MU-MIMO
- Homecare Internet security
- Supports up to 100 devices
- Robust parental controls
- Reasonable pricing
- Lacks USB connectivity
4. Best for 4K Streaming: Linksys Velop
Improving on their first Velop Intelligent mesh system, Linksys packs a three-pack Velop mesh system with a reduced memory unit. It comes with an extended range at a much lower price point. It brings features like Backhaul, spot finder in an improved compact design capable of covering large houses.
Speeds & Coverage
Each unit of the Velop system can achieve individual speeds of 300 Mbps on 2.4GHz and 876 Mbps on its 5GHz bands. The three-pack unit packs the advanced feature of MU-MIMO in delivering high-speed internet to multiple devices simultaneously. It can easily handle over 30 devices and cover up to 4500 sq ft.
Hardware & Design
Linksys replicates the predecessor’s design, albeit with a more compact white tower. The nodes measure 3.1 x 3.1 x 5.5-inches in dimensions and weigh close to 1.3 pounds each. Linksys Velop units have two LAN/WAN ports at their rear end for high-speed wired connectivity or enabling wired backhauls.
Retaining the Qualcomm chipset of its previous models, the velop unit houses a quad-core processor clocking at 716MHz. The reduced memory duo of 256MB RAM and 256MB flash storage is capable of supporting data-intense activities like high-quality media Streaming and online gaming. Each unit comes with 3 internal antennas.
App & Security Features
The three-pack mesh system comes with the comfort of app-based quick installations and remote monitoring. Linksys has the protection of the WPA2 encryption standards to keep your network safe from any unauthorized usage. The parental controls feature lets you monitor and control your kid’s internet consumption.
Other Features
Are you bothered by finding the right placement for your satellite nodes? The Mesh system features a spot finder algorithm to optimize your single delivery by finding the right placement. With device prioritization, you don’t have to worry about the bandwidth allocation for the important gadgets at your home.
Who should consider this router and why?
If you are living in a multi-story setup, with devices spread across multiple floors, the Linksys 3-pack system is an ideal match. With the freedom of placement, extended coverage, the router works in a household with annexes and garages. The router gets the price advantage keeping it above the Google Wi-Fi system.
- MU-MIMO
- Excellent Wi-Fi speeds
- Backhaul
- Parental Controls
- Auto healing
- Spot finder
- No USB connectivity
- No Wi-Fi 6
5. Best for Multiple Devices: Google Wi-Fi
Google Wi-Fi, Google’s first attempt into a mesh system is chosen ahead of its latest version Nest, for its price advantage that misses out on few features. Google Wi-Fi brings you the sophistication of great hardware and uncomplicated network management.
Speeds & Coverage
The Google Wi-Fi system operates on simultaneous dual bands to deliver adequate speeds of 300 Mbps and 867 Mbps on 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands respectively. The presence of features like MU-MIMO brings efficiency to the three-pack system in communication to over 100 devices spread across 4500 sq ft.
Hardware & Design
The cylindrical tower brings elegance through its minimalistic design. Weighing close to 0.750 pounds, an LED light runs across its circumference, improving its design. It measures 4.17 x 4.17 x 2.7 inches. Each unit has one LAN and WAN port and internal antennas equipped with transit beamforming.
Google has a solid hardware unit comprising a Quad-core processor, storage of 4GB, and an operating memory of 512MB that can ensure smooth operations in automated homes while supporting data-intensive streaming and online gaming.
App & Security Features
Looking for an uncomplicated easy network management solution? Google Wi-Fi can be your perfect solution. The router comes with the latest WPA3 encryption standards and secure TPM hardware to keep the devices safe in your home. The automatic security updates keep your devices safe in real-time.
Other Features
By enabling SafeSearch, you can protect your kids from inappropriate internet exposure. The self-healing network, proactive band steering, and seamless Wi-Fi get you the best out of your network.
Who should consider this router and why?
The advantage of the simplicity in setup and management makes this an ideal choice for automated homes, making it one of the best Wi-Fi systems at this price point. Google Nest is a pricier alternative, throwing some latest features into the mix.
- MU-MIMO
- Beamforming
- WPA3 encryption
- Band steering
- TPM Hardware
- No USB port
- Limited customization
6. Best for Home Use: Netgear Orbi RBK13
Built on a design based on its predecessors, Netgear puts together Orbi RBK13 with a reduced storage unit while sticking to a similar processing unit. Despite its lower speed limits, 3 pack system brings the efficiency of mesh technology with an extended range at an affordable price.
Speeds & Coverage
Equipped with MU-MIMO, the mesh system allows you to get the best out of individual speeds of 400 Mbps on 2.4GHz and 866 Mbps on the 5GHz band. The three-pack units can deliver quality signals across 4500 sq ft while supporting over 20 devices with ease.
Hardware & Design
The short, white rectangular units fit easily into the aesthetics of any household. Each unit measures 4.1 x 4.1 x 2.7 inches while weighing 0.58 pounds. The nodes come with 2 internal antennas geared with beamforming and 2 Ethernet ports for wired connectivity.
Netgear puts a robust processing unit with a quad-core processor clocking at 710MHz, accompanied by 512MB RAM and 128 storage memory offering the requisite capacity to handle data-laden 4K streaming and online gaming.
App & Security Features
Orbi systems get the sophistication of a dedicated mobile app, making the installations and remote management easy. With an additional subscription, you can get the complete internet protection of Netgear Armor. The circle smart parental controls come in handy to help you keep a tab on your kid’s internet exposure.
Other Features
With dedicated guest Wi-Fi, stay away from external devices. The compatibility to Alexa and Google Assistant makes it easier to handle devices in an automated home.
Who should consider this router and why?
If you want a robust internet security package and a hardware unit capable of handling the intensity of high-quality gaming, Orbi will fit into your requirements while costing a tad more than MW6 from Tenda Nova.
- MU-MIMO & Beamforming
- Quad-Core Processing unit
- Netgear Armor protection
- WPA2 security
- No USB ports
7. Cheapest Option: Tenda Nova MW6
MW6 is one of the earliest ventures of Tenda Nova into mesh networking solutions. The Tenda Nova MW6 2 pack mesh systems bring the advantage of seamless Wi-Fi at a sub $100 price while supporting advanced technologies like Beamforming, and MU-MIMO.
Range & Speeds
The MW6 operates in a simultaneous dual-band delivering a total speed of 1.2Gbps. It translates to individual band speeds of 300 Mbps on 2.4GHz and 867 Mbps on 5GHz. With MU-MIMO, the whole mesh system can transmit to multiple devices simultaneously with an upper limit of 90 devices. You can get the best of the router with up to 20 devices across 4000 sq ft house.
Design & Hardware
The white cube-shaped nodes stand testament to the elegance of minimalist design. With 2 internal antennas equipped with beamforming, the devices can deliver stable signals without loss in communication. The units measure 3.94 x 3.94 x 3.94 inches in dimension, weighing close to 0.90 pounds.
Built on a Realtek Chipset, the mesh system has a single-core 1GHz processing unit, complemented by 16MB flash storage and 128MB RAM. With two LAN Ports per unit, you can get high-speed wired internet, while getting the best out of the hardware capacity with limited gaming, high-quality media streaming.
App & Security Features
Setup the whole mesh system at the comfort of your mobile device and a well-designed application, albeit with limited customizability. The mesh system offers WPA2 encryption standards, support to multiple VPN protocols, inbuilt firewalls, Parental Controls, and Guest Access to keep your network safe.
Other Features
If you want to prioritize any particular activity, the application has a smart QoS engine to let you set priority for gaming, media, and file download activities. Seamless roaming and band steering ensure you can be connected to the strongest signal and least congested frequency.
Who should consider this router and why?
Looking for the cheapest mesh system for your multi-floor home, Tenda Nova MW6 takes care of most requirements without making a dent in your wallet. Its limited hardware capacity keeps it below the Netgear Orbi.
- MU-MIMO
- Beamforming
- WPA2 encryption
- Parental Controls
- Band Steering
- No USB port
- Limited hardware capacity
Frequently Asked Questions
Linksys brings some of the best mesh systems. In WHW0302, it finds the right balance with an intelligent mesh technology that brings seamless roaming, adequate speeds, congestion-free tri-band operation, and brings you the feature to monitor and control your internet even when you are away from home.
Mesh systems are probably the best choice for large surface areas measuring up to 4000 sq ft. While they are a perfect fit for multi-story houses with plenty of devices, the price and features might be overkill for a few single-floor large 4000 sq ft homes.
Features like MU-MIMO, OFDMA, Beamforming are paramount to delivering signals and communicating to multiple devices efficiently. Powerful, adjustable antennas play a crucial role in getting the best out of your signal strength.
Routers backed by a multi-core processor, adequate memory in tandem with bandwidth is imperative for a household with plenty of devices.
The type of house is a major contributing factor to your choice between a standalone or mesh system. The stand-alone routers are ideal for most kinds of large homes in a single-floor setting and L-Shaped ranch homes. Mesh routers are a better choice for automated homes in a multi-story setting or large homes with extended workshops, annexes & garages.
Verdict
The clarity of the requirements takes you closer to finding the right product in the market. The same applies to choosing a mesh system over a stand-alone router or vice annexes, versa. Here are my suggestions for a few scenarios.
- Linksys Velop WHW0302 finds the sweet spot of balance in range, speeds, bandwidth, and price offering the best overall utility value.
- TP-Link Deco X20 is your choice if you are planning to future proof your multi story home with Wi-Fi 6 standards.
- ASUS RT-AC88U is a gamer choice and it is amongst the best stand-alone alternative with extended coverage.
- Tenda Nova MW6 can be your go-to mesh system if you are working with budget constraints.
For Morton, reviewing a router is just like spending another day at the office. As BCCA’s senior copywriter, Morton believes is explaining every concept concerning routers, networking technologies, and additional routing specs. Also, Morton is our go-to man if we are looking to get the ISP-dependent internet plans tested across devices.