in Ireland, standard (non-armoured) CAT6A U/UTP cable typically runs in the low-to-mid single digits per metre on a drum, armoured external CAT6A costs noticeably more per metre due to the steel wire armour and extra jacketing, and shielded (F/UTP or U/FTP) variants sit above unshielded. Exact pricing depends on run length, shielding type, and whether you need armour — which is exactly what the rest of this guide breaks down.
What Actually Drives CAT6A Cable Price
Four things move the number, in order of impact:
1. Shielding type. Unshielded (U/UTP) is cheapest. Foiled (F/UTP) adds a cost step up. Fully screened (U/FTP, individually shielded pairs) costs more again — this is what most commercial and external installs specify, because it kills alien crosstalk in dense containment.
2. Armour. Armoured external cable (SWA — steel wire armour) costs more per metre than non-armoured external cable, because it’s built to go straight into the ground or an exposed run without extra ducting. If your run is already in conduit, you may not need armour at all — which changes the price conversation entirely.
3. Supply format. Buying per metre against a minimum order quantity (common for armoured SKUs — often 100m) prices differently than buying a full drum (typically 305m or 500m). For a 150m run, per-metre pricing at MOQ might actually cost more than stepping up to a full drum. Always ask your supplier to price both ways before committing.
4. Conductor gauge and certification. 23AWG vs 24AWG, and whether the cable carries full Category 6A component or channel certification (not just “Cat6a compatible”), both affect cost. Certified component-compliant cable costs more, but it’s what you need if the installation has to pass third-party Cat6A certification testing.
Per-Metre vs Full Drum: Where the Break-Even Sits
This is the calculation almost nobody walks you through.
A per-metre SKU with a 100m MOQ exists because cutting and re-spooling armoured cable below that volume isn’t economical for the distributor — so the per-metre rate reflects that. If your actual requirement is, say, 120m, you’re close enough to a standard drum size that it’s worth asking for a drum price comparison. If your requirement is genuinely 100–150m and under, per-metre against the MOQ is usually still your best option, since a full 500m drum means paying for cable you won’t use.
Rule of thumb: under ~150m of total requirement, compare per-metre MOQ pricing against the smallest available drum. Over that, a full drum almost always wins on cost-per-metre.
Armoured vs Non-Armoured: Does Your Run Actually Need It?
This is the question that saves (or costs) the most money on an external run.
- You need armoured (SWA) cable if: the cable will be direct-buried, run through ground with rodent exposure, or laid in an exposed trench without separate mechanical protection.
- You don’t need armoured cable if: the run is already going through rigid duct or conduit — the duct is your mechanical protection, and a non-armoured external-rated (PE jacket, UV-stable) cable will do the job for less.
Specifying armour on a fully ducted run is the single most common over-spend we see on external CAT6A jobs. It’s not wrong, it’s just unnecessary cost.
What “CPR Fca” Means for Your Price (and Your Sign-Off)
Every reel of CAT6A sold for use inside an EU building needs a Construction Products Regulation (CPR) fire rating. Fca is the baseline external/unenclosed rating — appropriate for cable that’s outside the building envelope (buried, in external ducting, between buildings). It is not the same as the Cca or B2ca ratings required for cable run inside risers or ceiling voids in most commercial buildings. If your run crosses from external into an internal riser, you need a cable (or a cable-change point) rated for the internal environment — check this before you order, because getting it wrong means a failed building control sign-off, not just a re-order.
A Realistic Budgeting Checklist
Before you ask a supplier for a price, have these answers ready — it’ll get you an accurate quote on the first email instead of three back-and-forths:
- Total run length in metres
- Internal, external, or crossing both (riser/duct transition point)
- Direct burial / exposed, or fully ducted
- Shielding requirement (check your design spec or ask your certifier)
- Component or full channel certification required
- PoE power budget on the run (affects conductor gauge recommendation)
CAT6A Cable Price: Quick Answers
Is CAT6A more expensive than Cat6? Yes, typically. CAT6A’s thicker conductors, tighter twist rates, and (often) shielding push the per-metre cost above standard Cat6. The trade-off is 10 Gigabit support over the full 100m channel, which Cat6 can’t guarantee past about 55m.
Why is armoured external cable so much more than standard external cable? The steel wire armour layer adds material, weight, and manufacturing steps — and it’s what lets you skip a second layer of mechanical ducting. On a direct-burial run, the saved ducting cost often offsets the higher cable price.
Can I buy CAT6A cable in small quantities in Ireland? Patch leads (pre-terminated, 0.5–10m) are sold individually by most Irish distributors. Bulk cable on the reel almost always carries a minimum order — ask your supplier what their smallest available break quantity is before assuming you need a full drum.
Does the price include termination? No — cable pricing is for the cable only. Termination (keystones, patch panels, testing/certification) is priced separately and should be budgeted as a separate line, typically alongside your installer’s labour quote.
Related reading: CAT6A vs CAT6: which one you actually need → · Armoured CAT6A external cable, per metre →
Need an exact price for your run? Send your run length, environment (internal/external/buried), and shielding requirement to sales@woodcomm.ie and we’ll quote it same day.
