# How long is too long for an HDMI cable?

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/how-long-is-too-long-for-an-hdmi-cable/
- Published: 2026-10-24T12:30:00+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-24T13:08:45+00:00
- Original publisher: Engadget
- Original article: https://www.engadget.com/2290438/how-long-should-hdmi-cable-be-maximum-length/
- Topics: Gadgets

## Key points

- HDMI has no official maximum cable length.
- Higher bandwidth and longer runs make connections less reliable.
- Test the full setup before routing a cable through walls.

## Summary

There is no fixed maximum length for an HDMI cable: whether a connection works depends on the cable, signal bandwidth and devices at each end. Long runs matter because higher resolutions and refresh rates need more bandwidth, making signal loss more likely and potentially disrupting a home theatre or projector setup.

Passive copper cables become less reliable as distance and bandwidth rise, though there is no single point where they stop working. Certified Premium High Speed cables support up to 18Gbps, Ultra High Speed up to 48Gbps, and Ultra96 up to 96Gbps; active optical cables can reach well over 100 feet in some applications. Faults may show up as flickering, audio glitches or a black screen, so test the cable at the intended resolution and refresh rate before installing it, and check the direction of active or optical cables.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.