Network cabling installation cost for an office or villa depends mainly on the number of points and the length of each run, then on cable category (Cat6 or Cat6A), the rack and its accessories, and how the work is tested and documented. That is why no single price per network point fits every building, and quotations should be compared by what the point price includes, not by the figure alone. This article explains what pushes the cost up or down and what to ask for in writing.
Key takeaways
- Point count and average run length are the two biggest drivers of structured cabling cost.
- Cat6A is designed to run 10GBASE-T up to 100 m and costs more than Cat6 in cable, components and labour.
- Standards limit a copper channel to 100 m, so longer runs need an extra distribution point or fibre, which changes the cost.
- A point price may or may not include the rack and testing. Ask for an itemised breakdown before comparing.
In this article
- What does the price per network point include?
- What drives network cabling installation cost?
- Cat6 or Cat6A: how category affects the price
- Run length and the 100 m limit
- The rack and accessories: an item often left out
- Testing and documentation: why point prices differ between two quotations
- Network cabling cost in villas compared with offices
- How to compare network cabling quotations properly
- Frequently asked questions
- Conclusion
What does the price per network point include?
In structured cabling quotations a network point is more than the cable. A complete point usually includes:
- A horizontal cable from the rack to the user location, with a length that varies point by point.
- A jack and faceplate in the wall or floor.
- A port on the patch panel in the rack.
- The cable route: conduit, trunking or cable tray above the false ceiling.
- Labelling, testing and a results report.
- Patch cords at both ends, which are often forgotten.
When a contractor quotes a point price without detail, ask: does it include the route? Does it include the patch panel and patch cords? What kind of test? Much of the price gap between quotations comes from these items, not from workmanship.
What drives network cabling installation cost?
| Factor | Effect on cost | What to ask for in the quotation |
|---|---|---|
| Number of points | More cable, jacks, patch panel ports and labour | A point schedule per room: data, cameras, Wi-Fi access points, phones |
| Average run length | Every extra metre adds cable, route and labour | A drawing showing the rack location and cable routes |
| Cat6 or Cat6A | Cat6A costs more and is harder to install | Category stated for every component, not just the cable |
| Building condition | An occupied existing building is harder than a new shell | Existing conduits? Work outside office hours? |
| Route type | Concealed conduit, surface trunking and cable tray cost differently | Route type and quantities listed separately from the point price |
| Rack and accessories | A wall cabinet costs less than a floor rack; accessories add cost | Rack size, number of patch panels, cable managers and PDUs |
| Links between floors or buildings | Fibre and extra termination equipment | Fibre count and type, and termination method |
| Testing and documentation | Certification testing with a report per link takes longer | Test type, a copy of the report and as-built drawings |
Cat6 or Cat6A: how category affects the price
Category is usually the first question, and its effect is real, but it is not the only factor. According to Fluke Networks, Cat6A was developed to support 10GBASE-T over a link of up to 100 m, while installed Cat6 systems are limited in the length over which they meet 10 Gb requirements; this is checked by re-certifying against IEEE 802.3an and TIA-TSB-155.
In practice:
- Cat6 suits most offices and villas running 1 Gb to users and cameras, at a lower cost.
- Cat6A is chosen when you need 10 Gb over long runs, for newer Wi-Fi access points, or when the consultant specifies it. The cable is thicker, so it needs more room in routes and racks, and termination takes longer.
One condition matters: category applies to the whole system. Cat6A cable with Cat6 jacks or patch panels does not give Cat6A performance. State the category for every component in the quotation. For the technical comparison of categories and the reference standards, see our article on structured cabling and network systems.
Run length and the 100 m limit
Structured cabling standards limit a copper channel to 100 m, as Fluke Networks notes. The fixed part (the permanent link) is normally designed up to 90 m, leaving the rest for patch cords at both ends. In a two-storey villa or a mid-size office this is rarely a problem. In warehouses, factories and large compounds some runs can exceed it, and then you need:
- A secondary distribution point with a wall cabinet closer to users, such as the AZ Link 9U wall cabinet.
- A fibre link between the main and secondary cabinets.
These additions raise the cost, but they cost less than a network that does not run reliably. The rack location on the drawing sets the average run length, so placing it as close to the centre of the building as possible reduces cable.
The rack and accessories: an item often left out
Some quotations give a point price and leave the rack as a separate item, or skip it entirely. The rack decides how many patch panels and switches the room can hold:
- Small office or villa: a 6U to 12U wall cabinet is usually enough.
- Large office or commercial building: you may need a floor cabinet such as the Legrand Linkeo 42U with cable managers and power distribution units.
Ask for: rack size and depth, number of patch panels, cable managers, earthing and power outlets. Switches and access points are usually a separate item; ask about them directly so you do not end up with cabling in place but no working network.
Testing and documentation: why point prices differ between two quotations
There is a big difference between a simple wiremap check (are the conductors connected in the right order?) and certification testing with a dedicated tester that measures each link against the category limits and produces a report. The second takes time and needs expensive equipment, and that shows in the price.
Ask for:
- The test type and a copy of the report for every point.
- Each point labelled with the same number at the wall outlet and on the patch panel.
- As-built drawings showing point locations and routes.
These documents save a lot of time on any later fault or expansion. AZEIDK’s network and communication systems scope covers network cable installation and management, data point installation, network cabinet and patch panel installation, and network point testing to confirm connection quality. If the consultant requires certification testing with a dedicated tester, write it into the specification as a separate item and ask every bidder whether their price includes it.
Network cabling cost in villas compared with offices
| Item | Villa | Office |
|---|---|---|
| Number of points | Usually fewer: TVs, home office, cameras, Wi-Fi points | More: one or more per employee, printers, cameras, access points |
| Routes | Usually conduit concealed in walls, best planned before plastering | Usually cable tray above the false ceiling, then drops to wall or floor |
| Rack | Small wall cabinet | Wall or floor cabinet depending on point count |
| What raises the cost | Cabling after finishing, which needs chasing or surface trunking | Working in an occupied office and outside working hours |
In new villas, the cheapest time to install the network is the shell stage before plastering, when conduits for data, cameras and Wi-Fi go in once. See also our CCTV installation guide for Saudi Arabia, since camera points are usually part of the same network.
How to compare network cabling quotations properly
- Prepare one point schedule and send it to every contractor.
- Ask for an itemised point price: cable, jack, route, patch panel port and testing.
- Make sure every quotation uses the same category, for every component.
- Price the rack, switches and access points as separate items.
- Ask about the test type, the report and as-built drawings.
- Ask for the brand of each component. For example, AZEIDK carries AZ Link Cat6 UTP cable in 305 m boxes and Cat6 patch cords.
For how to choose the installation company itself, see our guide to network installation companies in Saudi Arabia. If you have no drawing, AZEIDK’s technical site inspection and assessment sets point, rack and route locations before pricing. For cameras on the same network, see our PoE switch power budget article, and for other systems the low current systems page.
Frequently asked questions
What is the price of a network point in Saudi Arabia?
There is no fixed price. It depends on run length, cable category, building condition, test type and what the quotation includes. Ask for pricing against a point schedule and a drawing of your building.
Is Cat6 enough for an office, or do I need Cat6A?
Cat6 is enough for most offices running 1 Gb. Choose Cat6A if you need 10 Gb over long runs or the consultant specifies it.
What is the maximum length of a network cable?
Standards set the channel at 100 m, with a permanent link of up to 90 m and the rest for patch cords. Longer runs need an extra distribution point or fibre.
Why do two quotations for the same building differ so much?
Usually because one leaves out routes, the rack or certification testing, or uses a different category or brand. Compare the items, not the total.
Does the point price include switches and Wi-Fi?
Usually not. Switches and access points are active equipment priced separately, so ask about them directly.
When is the best time to install cabling in a villa?
Before plastering and finishing, when conduits can be run inside the walls without chasing or surface trunking.
Conclusion
Network cabling installation cost is built from point count, run lengths, category, the rack and testing. Prepare a point schedule and a drawing, ask for an itemised quotation, and compare what each price covers before the final figure.
Need a price for cabling your office or villa? Send the drawing or point count, and the AZEIDK team will prepare an itemised quotation. Talk to the AZEIDK team
