How to Set Up and Place Your eero WiFi System for the Best Performance

Setting up your eero network should be quick and easy; and with a few smart placement choices, you can make sure your whole home enjoys fast, reliable WiFi from day one. When you’re setting up your eero network for the first time, keep your eeros close to one another — within about 50 feet is a good rule of thumb. Once everything is up and running smoothly, you can start to spread them out around your home to eliminate dead zones and boost coverage.

Optimize Your Gateway eero Placement

Your gateway eero, the one connected directly to your modem, plays a key role in your network’s performance. You may not have much flexibility with where it goes, since it needs to connect to your modem (which connects to the cable line into your home), but moving it out of your basement and into a more central, accessible area can make a dramatic difference.

Even a small adjustment, like relocating it to a main floor or a central hallway, can boost the speed and stability of your entire network.

Smart Placement Tips for Your eeros

When experimenting with eero placement, keep these best practices in mind:

1. Place eeros so they can talk to each other

Think of your eeros like a WiFi relay team — each one passes a strong signal along to the next. Instead of putting an eero in a dead zone, try placing it halfway between your gateway eero and that weak spot. This helps your system extend strong coverage throughout your home.

2. Choose a solid, flat surface

Set your eeros on a hard, stable surface like a table, shelf, or countertop. Avoid placing them on soft or unstable surfaces like cushions or chairs.

3. Aim for the middle

Eeros radiate their signal more upward and outward, so avoid placing them directly on the floor. The ideal height is midway between your floor and ceiling at about table height.

4. Keep them out in the open

WiFi travels best when it isn’t blocked. Try to keep your eeros visible and unobstructed — don’t hide them inside cabinets, media consoles, or behind electronics.

5. Minimize barriers

The fewer walls and the thinner the materials between eeros, the better your connection will be. Older homes with plaster or metal lath can block WiFi more easily, so consider placing eeros near doorways for a clearer path. Whenever possible, aim for line of sight between your units.

Common Placement Mistakes to Avoid

Even small placement missteps can slow your network down. Here are a few things to avoid:

1. Stay away from heavy metal

Large metal objects — like refrigerators or metal shelving — can block WiFi signals. If you’re placing an eero in your kitchen, keep it as far away from major appliances as possible.

2. Avoid sources of interference

Keep your eeros 20–30 feet away from devices and materials that can cause interference, such as:

• Microwaves
• Other WiFi networks
• Older coaxial cables from satellite setups
• Fluorescent lights or bad electrical connections
• Radio sources

3. Don’t smother your eeros

Avoid stacking objects on top of your eeros or tucking them away in small spaces. They need airflow and open surroundings to perform their best.

4. Skip soft surfaces

Keep eeros off pillows, cushions, or fabric surfaces — these can block heat and weaken the signal.

Final Thoughts

A little strategy goes a long way when setting up your eero system. By starting close, keeping your devices elevated and open, and avoiding interference from walls and metal objects, you’ll build a strong, seamless network that keeps every corner of your home connected.