What Is a Good dBm for WiFi? WiFi Strength dBm Explained

A good dBm helps the WiFi signal measurement be more accurate. What is a good dBm for WiFi? How can it be applied to wireless signals? How to accurately assess signal strength using your phone's settings or a simple app. Let’s find the answers in this article.

What is dBm in WiFi?

Table of contents

What is a WiFi signal?

What Is dBm WiFi?

What Is a Good dBm for WiFi?

How to Measure WiFi Signal Strength?

What is a WiFi signal?

WiFi signals are a kind of electromagnetic (EM) wavelengths transmitted in the air called radio waves.

For this reason, radio frequency (RF) transmissions are another name for WiFi signals.

They are the electromagnetic spectrum's lowest frequency waves, which are invisible, the size of skyscrapers, and they move at almost the speed of light.

Nevertheless, because radio waves are non-directional, their motions resemble pond ripples rather than the laser beams in a Star Wars film.

WiFi signal

WiFi signal

What Is dBm WiFi?

dBm WiFi signal strength (decibels per milliwatt) refers to a specific measurement of power.

It is used to define the signal strength of radio frequencies in a wireless network.

dBm is a unit of measurement used to quantify very low values. Its formula is 10 x log dBm (signal strength per milliwatts).

Signal intensity is measured in decibels (dBm), the most precise measurement available.

Related: What is WiFi?

The meaning of WiFi signal strength dBm

The meaning of WiFi signal strength dBm

What Is a Good dBm for WiFi?

Wonder “what is good WiFi signal strength in dBm?”

Depending on your proximity to the access point, the optimal WiFi dBm signal strength ranges from -55 dBm to -70 dBm.

See this table for further information!

Signal strength	Quality to expect
-30 dBm	Maximum signal strength, it is likely that you are standing directly in front of the router or access point.
-50 dBm	Below this threshold, any signal strength is considered exceptional.
-60 dBm	The signal strength is strong and consistent.
-67 dBm	This is the minimal value for all services that need consistent and dependable data transmission.
-70 dBm	While not extremely powerful, the signal is largely enough.
-80 dBm	The very minimum needed to establish a connection. You cannot rely on a stable connection or strong enough signal to utilize services at this level.
-90 dBm	With this signal strength, it is highly unlikely that you will be able to connect or utilize any services.

How to Measure WiFi Signal Strength?

A WiFi signal may be measured in a number of ways.

Milliwatts (mW) is the most exact measurement, but due to the number of decimal places (0.0001 mW), it is also the most difficult to read.

Another alternative is the Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI), however, WiFi businesses handle it differently and on different scales.

These issues are avoided when measuring in decibels relative to milliwatts (dBm), and many manufacturers still convert RSSI to dBm.

How to check your WiFi signal strength?

How to check your WiFi signal strength?

Negative values will be displayed for dBm readings, as the table above illustrates.

You have a "perfect connection," for instance, you are probably standing close to the WiFi router if you notice -30.

You may use the Airport Utility App for iPhone and iPad or WiFi Analyzer for Android to measure the strength of the WiFi signal on your phone or tablet.

Both are user-friendly and provide information regarding nearby wireless networks.