Where should I place my WiFi router at home for better coverage?
Disclaimer: Information is accurate as of 12 October 2026 and may be subject to change. Please visit the GOMO broadband website for the latest details.
Looking for the best WiFi router placement at home? This guide explains where to place your router, which locations to avoid and how to improve weak WiFi coverage in HDB flats and other homes in Singapore.
Getting high-speed broadband but still finding that your WiFi slows down or drops off in certain rooms?
Where you place your WiFi router can make a big difference to coverage. For most homes, an open and reasonably central location is a good starting point, with fewer walls, large obstacles and enclosed spaces between the router and the areas where you use WiFi most.
The most convenient place for your router is not always the best place for WiFi. If you’re setting up GOMO Broadband at home, thinking about router placement from the start can help you make better use of your connection across your home.
In this guide, you’ll learn how to:
Where should you place your WiFi router?
Here is a quick starting point.
Router location | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Open and relatively central area | Usually a good starting point for improving WiFi coverage across the home |
| Living room | Often suitable if most rooms branch off from the living area |
| Inside a distribution board (DB) box or enclosed cabinet | May be convenient for cabling, but an enclosed space, especially one containing metal, can weaken WiFi signals. |
A simple rule: place your router in an open, reasonably central position, raised off the floor and with space for ventilation. See GOMO’s router placement and setup guide for more tips.
Why does router placement affect WiFi coverage?
Your broadband connection reaches your home through fibre, while your router distributes the connection wirelessly to devices such as phones, laptops, TVs and other connected devices.
WiFi signals generally become weaker as distance increases and as they pass through walls and other obstacles.
That means a device sitting a few metres from your router with a relatively clear path may get a very different WiFi experience from a device in a bedroom separated by several walls.
In many HDB homes, this becomes especially noticeable when the router is near the entrance while bedrooms are further inside the flat.
A high-speed broadband connection therefore does not automatically mean equally strong WiFi in every room.
Your router matters too.
With the GOMO Broadband 10Gbps Value Saver Plan, you get a D-Link WiFi 7 router with professional installation included. Its 4×4 wireless design supports multiple data streams, while actual WiFi performance depends on your devices, router placement and home layout. If some rooms still have weak coverage, a compatible additional GOMO router can form a mesh network.
Fun fact: A 4×4 WiFi design uses four transmit and four receive paths to support multiple wireless data streams. This can help compatible devices make better use of the network, but does not guarantee strong WiFi in every room.
However, even a capable WiFi 7 router needs a good location. Placing it in an open, reasonably central position can help the signal reach more areas of your home.
Is the living room a good place for your WiFi router?
For many homes, yes. This is especially if the living room is relatively central and open.
The living room often works well because:
However, the exact best location depends on your home layout.
For example, if the living room sits at one extreme end of a long flat, moving the router there may still leave bedrooms at the opposite end with weaker WiFi.
The aim is not simply to place the router in the living room, but to find a reasonably central, open position relative to the areas where you use WiFi most often.
What should you keep your WiFi router away from?
Even a well-positioned router can perform less effectively if it is surrounded by obstacles.
Where possible, avoid placing your router:
Cabinet doors and surrounding materials add more obstacles between the router and your devices.
A router hidden behind a television console, shelving unit or other large object may have a less direct path into the rest of the home.
Placing the router slightly higher can help reduce some of the obstacles immediately around it.
If the router starts at one end of the home, the WiFi signal has a longer distance and potentially more walls to cross before reaching the opposite end.
The easiest place to hide broadband equipment is not always the best place to broadcast WiFi.
When choosing between neatness and connectivity, try to find a balance that gives the router some open space while keeping the setup practical.
What can you do if moving your router does not fix weak WiFi?
Router placement is a good first step, but it cannot overcome every home layout.
A larger home, long corridor, multiple rooms or several walls between the router and your devices may still create harder-to-reach areas.
Start with these checks:
If... | Try... |
|---|---|
| WiFi is weak only in rooms far from the router | Repositioning the router closer to the centre of the home where practical |
| The router is inside a cabinet or DB box | Move it to a more open area if your setup allows |
| WiFi is strong near the router but weak elsewhere | Consider a compatible mesh WiFi system to extend coverage |
The important distinction is between broadband speed and WiFi coverage.
If your broadband connection is working well close to the router but WiFi gets weaker only in certain rooms, simply choosing a faster broadband plan may not solve the underlying coverage issue.
From the GOMO Team 💡
Before spending more on your home network, check where the WiFi problem starts.
Stand near your router and test the connection using the device you normally use. Then repeat the test in the room where WiFi feels weaker.
If performance drops mainly as you move further from the router, check your router placement and WiFi coverage first.
If some rooms still have weak WiFi, consider adding a compatible GOMO router to create a mesh WiFi system. Mesh WiFi uses linked units to extend coverage around the home. Check compatibility and the current add-on price before purchasing, and follow GOMO’s mesh setup guide. Position each wireless mesh unit where it can still receive a good signal from the main router.
What else can you do to improve your home WiFi setup?
Your broadband connection and your home WiFi work together, so getting the setup right matters.
If most of your household spends time in bedrooms, a router positioned only for good coverage near the front entrance may not give you the best overall experience.
Think about the whole home rather than simply the nearest power socket.
GOMO Broadband 10Gbps Value Saver Plan includes a WiFi 7 router and professional installation, while GOMO Broadband 10Gbps Core Saver Plan lets you use your own compatible router, with a router and professional installation available as add-ons.
Whichever option you choose, router placement still matters after installation.
Planning a home or renovation?
If you are renovating, router and fibre placement are decisions worth making before cabinetry and furniture are fixed.
Before renovation is completed, consider:
Making these decisions earlier can give you more options than trying to improve WiFi after everything has already been built around the network equipment.
Frequently asked questions about WiFi router placement and coverage
Where is the best place to put a WiFi router?
For most homes, place your WiFi router in an open, reasonably central position, raised off the floor. Minimise walls and large obstacles between the router and the rooms where you use WiFi most. A clear path can help, but direct line of sight is not required for WiFi to work.
Can I be advised on router placement during my GOMO Broadband installation?
Ask your installer about a practical router location during your GOMO Broadband installation. Placement options depend on your Fibre Termination Point (FTP), power sockets and available cabling. If the FTP is not centrally located, suitable Ethernet cabling from the Optical Network Terminal (ONT) may give you more flexibility to position the router.
Should I put my WiFi router in the living room?
It can be a good location if the living room is open and reasonably central.
The best position depends on your home layout and where you use connected devices most often.
Is it okay to put my router inside a cabinet?
An enclosed cabinet can reduce WiFi coverage, depending on its materials and position. Where practical, place the router in an open, well-ventilated area and avoid surrounding it with large obstacles.
Why is my WiFi weak in my bedroom?
Distance and obstacles between your router and bedroom are common causes of weaker WiFi.
Walls, furniture and your home's layout can all affect coverage.
Will faster broadband improve WiFi coverage?
Not necessarily. Faster broadband can increase internet capacity, but WiFi coverage also depends on your router, devices, home layout and router position.
Should I move my router before buying more WiFi equipment?
It is worth checking router placement first.
If WiFi remains weak in certain areas after you improve the router's position, you can then consider whether additional WiFi coverage is needed.
Should my WiFi router be high or low?
Where practical, place your router in an open position rather than directly on the floor for better signal propagation. The best height and location will depend on your home's layout and where your devices are used.
How far should my router be from walls and furniture?
Keep the router as open as practical and avoid placing it directly behind large furniture or inside enclosed spaces. The exact distance needed depends on the surrounding layout and materials.
Why is my WiFi good in the living room but weak in the bedroom?
Distance, walls, furniture and the layout of your home can weaken WiFi signals between rooms. Repositioning the router closer to the centre of the home may help, where practical. If weak coverage persists, consider a compatible mesh WiFi system.
Start with the right router position
Good WiFi coverage starts with where your router sits.
For most homes, place your WiFi router in an open, reasonably central area and avoid enclosing it inside cabinets or hiding it behind large obstacles where practical.
If WiFi works well near the router but becomes weaker in other rooms, that usually points to a coverage issue rather than broadband speed alone.
Still deciding on your home broadband setup? Explore GOMO Broadband plans and choose an option that fits the way you want to get connected.
