Short Ethernet Cables
Short network patch leads from 15cm to 1m, for tidy comms cabinets, patch panel to switch connections, and keeping desks and TV units free of spare cable. Choose from 685 short leads in 15cm, 20cm, 25cm, 30cm, 50cm and 1m lengths, in CAT5e, CAT6 and CAT6A, including slim leads and 12 colours for colour coding. 630 are in stock now for next working day delivery.
Shop by length
Popular short Ethernet cables
Short leads by category and length
The number of leads we list in each size. Click a number to see them.
| Category | 15cm | 20cm | 25cm | 30cm | 50cm | 1m |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAT5e | 7 | – | 36 | 12 | 82 | 87 |
| CAT6 | 6 | 6 | 27 | 43 | 100 | 107 |
| CAT6A | 7 | – | 20 | 28 | 41 | 47 |
| CAT8 | – | – | – | – | 1 | 4 |
Why use short Ethernet cables?
Using a lead that is just long enough keeps a cabinet or desk tidy. Spare cable gets coiled, tangled and stuffed behind equipment, which blocks airflow, makes it hard to trace which port goes where, and makes the next change slower. A short lead goes straight from one port to the next.
Choosing the length
In a rack, measure the route the cable will take, not the straight line between the two ports, and allow for the bend at each end. As a rough guide:
- 15cm to 30cm: a patch panel directly above or below the switch, or devices stacked next to each other.
- 50cm: a patch panel and switch a few units apart, or ports on the far side of a wide switch.
- 1m: running to another part of the cabinet, or from a wall socket to a router or computer on a desk.
If you are not sure, order a sample in two lengths first. Short leads cost very little, and getting the length right across a whole cabinet makes a big difference.
Slim patch leads
Slim leads use thinner 28, 30 or 32 AWG conductors, so the cable is much thinner and more flexible than a standard lead. They fit busy switches and patch panels much better and leave more room for air to flow. Thinner conductors lose more signal over distance, which does not matter over the short runs inside a cabinet, but for long runs and high power PoE a standard 24 or 26 AWG lead is the better choice. We list 108 slim short leads, including 30 AWG slim LSZH and 32 AWG ultra slim CAT6 leads.
Colour coding
Short leads come in 12 colours, so you can mark what each connection is for at a glance: for example one colour for uplinks between switches, another for phones, cameras or wireless access points, and another for servers or guest networks. Keep a note of your colour scheme inside the cabinet door so everyone uses it.
Which category?
Use patch leads of the same category as the rest of the network, or better. A CAT6A installation needs CAT6A patch leads at each end to keep its 10 gigabit rating, while CAT5e and CAT6 leads are fine for gigabit networks. If the cabling and patch panels are shielded, use shielded leads too: we list 192 shielded short leads.
Snagless plugs
We list 308 short leads with snagless boots, which cover the plug's locking tab so it does not catch and snap off when you pull a lead out from among others. In a crowded patch panel that saves a lot of broken clips.