Two conductors, two jobs, never swapped — solid for permanent links, stranded for patch cords, and why connectors are conductor-specific.
Ethernet cable comes in solid-conductor and stranded-conductor versions, and they are not interchangeable. Solid is for permanent in-wall runs; stranded is for patch cords that get flexed. Use the wrong one and you get failed terminations, broken conductors, or a channel that will not certify. The rule is simple and absolute.
Know which conductor you need before you shop. Cat6 guide →
One solid copper wire per conductor. Better electrical performance (lower attenuation), punch-down friendly — IDC terminals are designed to slice into solid copper. The standard for in-wall horizontal runs, risers, and anything terminated on jacks or patch panels. Stiff; does not tolerate repeated flexing.
Each conductor is a bundle of thin copper strands. Flexible — survives thousands of bends. The standard for patch cords (rack to switch, wall to device). Worse attenuation, and IDC punch-down blocks do not grip it reliably.
Solid for permanent links, stranded for patch cords. Punching stranded into a 110 block gives intermittent connections. Running solid as a patch cord gives fractured conductors within months. The jacket print says which it is (“SOLID” or “STRANDED”) — read it.
RJ45 plugs come in solid-rated and stranded-rated versions — the contact teeth differ (stranded plugs pierce between strands; solid plugs straddle the conductor). Using the wrong plug is a leading cause of “the cable tests bad” service calls. For field termination, universal plugs exist but cost more; pros match the plug to the conductor. And patch panels / keystone jacks: punch-down, therefore solid cable only.
Solid-conductor cable dominates the secondary market (it is what gets pulled out of buildings), and it is what buyers want for re-installation. Stranded appears as patch-cord stock and short lengths. When listing: state the conductor type from the jacket — “Cat6 solid” vs “Cat6 stranded” are different products. Bulk solid boxes are the volume trade; factory patch cords sell as accessories, not cable.
The standards divide the 100-meter channel deliberately: 90 meters of solid (the permanent link — in-wall, punch-down terminated) plus 10 meters of stranded (patch cords at both ends). Each conductor type where it performs best, joined at the jack. This is why the rule is absolute rather than advisory — the entire certification system assumes solid in the walls and stranded on the desk. Violate it and you are outside the tested configuration: it might work, but nothing certifies it. For sellers: bulk boxes are solid (the volume trade); stranded shows up as patch-cord stock and short lengths. Price and list them as the different products they are.
Solid for permanent in-wall runs (punch-down, better performance). Stranded for patch cords (flexible). Never swap them.
Not reliably — IDC terminals are designed for solid conductors. Stranded in a punch-down block gives intermittent connections.
Yes, with solid-rated plugs (or universal). Stranded-rated plugs on solid conductors are a leading cause of failed terminations.
Solid — lower resistance means less voltage drop and less heat. Long PoE runs should always be solid conductor.
The jacket print says SOLID or STRANDED. Solid feels stiff; stranded is visibly flexible. When in doubt, read the jacket.
Jacket markings (category, footage, plenum/riser), box labels, and quantity. The jacket print is the entire specification.
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