How long is too long for an HDMI cable?

There’s no official maximum length, but higher-bandwidth signals can make long HDMI runs much less forgiving.

By Husain Parvez Oct. 24, 2026 8:30 am EST Puhimec/Getty Images Add Engadget on Google: Google Discover

HDMI is wonderfully boring, which is refreshing in a tech world where so much is complicated. A 6-foot cable that connects a streaming box to a TV will likely fulfill its purpose for the duration of its life. Run one across a room, through a wall or up to a ceiling-mounted projector, however, and it gets a little less predictable.