Router rescue: where should it go?
Five homes, five routers in need of a better spot. Tap where you would put each one and see what Ofcom's Wi-Fi advice says.
Ofcom's advice is to put the router centrally in the home and off the floor, on a shelf for example, away from radiators, fish tanks and other electrical equipment such as microwave ovens, baby monitors, fairy lights and cordless phones. Water, metal and glass also block the signal.
What you will learn
- 1Where Ofcom says your router should go
- 2The household items that weaken Wi-Fi
- 3When mesh helps a big or awkward home
Why it matters
Where your router sits can matter as much as the package you pay for. Wi-Fi spreads out from the router and weakens as it passes through walls, floors and furniture, so a router tucked behind the TV or in a cupboard is working against you before you start.
Ofcom's advice is short and free to follow: central, off the floor, in the open, away from radiators, fish tanks and other electrical kit. If the line comes into the house in an awkward corner, a mesh system or a cable to a better spot often helps.
Every answer, explained
Spoilers below. Each room, the best spot and why the others lose signal.
1. The living room: The line comes into the living room. Where should the router go?
Best spot: B, on an open shelf near the middle of the house
Central, raised and in the open: exactly what Ofcom suggests.
- A: On the floor behind the TV. Low down and boxed in by the TV. Ofcom says to keep the router off the floor.
- C: Inside the TV cabinet with the doors shut. Cupboards and cabinets wrap the signal in wood and clutter. Keep it in the open.
2. The kitchen diner: The router lives in the kitchen diner. Pick its new home.
Best spot: C, on the dresser shelf, away from appliances
Off the floor, in the open and away from other electrical equipment.
- A: On top of the microwave. Ofcom names microwave ovens as a source of interference. Move it away.
- B: On the windowsill above the radiator. Ofcom says to keep the router away from radiators, and glass can block the signal too.
3. The front room: This room has a big fish tank and a mirror. Where is best?
Best spot: B, on the bookshelf across the room
Away from the water, the glass and the metal backing of the mirror.
- A: Behind the fish tank. Water blocks Wi-Fi, so the tank sits right in the signal's path.
- C: Beside the large mirror. Ofcom says metal and glass block the signal, and a mirror is both.
4. The family room: Fairy lights, a baby monitor and a cordless phone. Where should the router go?
Best spot: C, on the open shelf, clear of other gadgets
Raised, in the open and away from other electrical equipment.
- A: Tucked among the fairy lights. Ofcom lists fairy lights as something that can interfere with the signal.
- B: Next to the baby monitor and cordless phone base. Both are on Ofcom's list of devices that can interfere. Give the router some space.
5. The two-storey house: Two floors and an office upstairs at the back. Where gives the whole house the best chance?
Best spot: B, half-way up, near the middle of the house
Ofcom suggests placing the router centrally. If the line arrives in a corner, a mesh system or cable can carry it there.
- A: Downstairs, in the front corner by the window. A corner sends half the signal out into the street. Central is better.
- C: In the garage. Brick walls and a metal door stand between the router and every room.
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Questions people ask
- Where is the best place for a Wi-Fi router?
- Ofcom suggests a central spot in the home, off the floor, for example on a shelf, and away from radiators, fish tanks and other electrical equipment.
- What blocks Wi-Fi?
- Ofcom says water, metal and glass block the signal, brick internal walls make it harder, and microwave ovens, baby monitors, fairy lights and cordless phones can interfere.
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How we checked this quiz
Every answer was checked on 9 November 2026 against the source listed with it, mostly Ofcom and the companies that publish the figures, and dated figures say when they apply. Questions that depend on a date, such as compensation amounts that rise each April, are hidden automatically once they pass their review date, so the quiz never shows an out-of-date answer. Your scores, badges and streaks are kept on this device only. Anonymous answer counts help us show how other players did, with no names or personal details.
References
- Ofcom. (2024, February 19). Improving your wifi experience. https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-and-broadband/coverage-and-speeds/improving-your-wifi-experience
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