Should You Use /24 or /28 for Your Home Network?

When setting up a home network, most people don’t give much thought to subnetting. The router hands out IPs, devices connect, and everything just works-until one day it doesn’t. Maybe you run out of IPs. Maybe you want to segment traffic. Or maybe you’re setting up a lab and realize it’s time to understand what /24 and /28 really mean.

So the question is: Which subnet is right for a home network? /24 or /28?

🤔 What Do /24 and /28 Even Mean?

These are CIDR notations (Classless Inter-Domain Routing), and they define how many IP addresses are available in a network.

• /24 means 256 total addresses (usually 254 usable).
• /28 means 16 total addresses (14 usable).

Every device connected to your network-phone, laptop, smart TV, printer, camera-needs an IP. So, the smaller the subnet, the fewer devices you can connect.

💡 When to Use /28 at Home

A /28 subnet gives you 14 usable IP addresses. That’s perfect for:

• A small home with just a few key devices.
• People who like strict control over IP allocation.
• Home labs simulating enterprise setups.
• Isolated VLANs or testing environments.

It forces you to keep your network lean, which can be a good thing if you’re security-conscious or just like having everything well-organized.

Example Devices:

• Router
• 2 smartphones
• 1 PC
• 1 printer
• 1 smart TV
• 1 tablet

That’s already 7 IPs used. Throw in a NAS, a few smart lights, or a guest phone and you’re bumping into the limit fast.

🧰 When /24 Makes More Sense

A /24 subnet gives you 254 usable IPs. That may sound like overkill, but in modern homes, it’s surprisingly easy to fill up space over time:

• Smart bulbs, thermostats, plugs, and security cameras
• Gaming consoles, smart speakers, tablets, laptops
• IoT devices, home servers, development boards like Raspberry Pi
• Guest network users

If you plan on expanding, or just don’t want to stress about running out of IPs, a /24 is the safer bet.

Use /24 if you:

• Have 15+ devices (or will soon).
• Want to set static IPs without worrying about clashes.
• Plan to run a homelab or host services (NAS, VPN, Docker).
• Use VLANs and may subnet different ranges in the future.

⚡ Does Subnet Size Affect Network Speed?

This is a common question, and the answer is:

No, subnet size doesn’t directly impact your internet or local network speed.

The size of your subnet-whether it’s /28, /24, or something else-only determines how many IP addresses are available. It doesn’t affect:

• Download or upload speeds
• Ping or latency
• File transfer speeds
• Internet responsiveness

Those are controlled by:

• Your ISP speed
• Router performance
• Network congestion
• Wired vs. wireless connections

🧠 But There Are Some Indirect Factors:

• Broadcast traffic: Larger subnets like /24 may have slightly more broadcast traffic (like ARP or DHCP), but for home use, it’s negligible.
• Segmentation and isolation: Smaller subnets can help isolate devices in advanced setups (VLANs, guest networks), which might lead to smoother performance.
• Security and simplicity: Smaller subnets limit accidental overuse and are easier to manage in tightly controlled environments.

But unless you’re running 100+ devices or complex routing rules, you likely won’t notice any difference in speed between /24 and /28.

📈 Real-World Use: Home Labs and Amateur Radio

If you’re into amateur radio or running a home lab, a /24 subnet gives you a comfortable space to play.

It also makes things easier when testing services like Pi-hole, WireGuard, or self-hosted apps, where fixed IPs are helpful.

🧠 Final Thoughts

While /28 might be enough for small or tightly controlled setups, most home users will benefit from the flexibility of /24. It keeps things simple, scalable, and headache-free.

🔑 TL;DR:

• Use /28 if you’re experimenting, want tight control, or only need <15 devices.
• Use /24 for everyday home networks, smart home setups, and homelabs.
• Subnet size doesn’t affect network speed – but smart planning does.

Still not sure which one’s right for you? Start with /24. You can always subnet it later if needed. And if you’re the type who’s reading this-chances are you’ll be adding more gear soon anyway.