Mesh Wi-Fi is great for extending your wireless signal, but sending data back to your modem through the backhaul via Ethernet will always be quicker than using Wi-Fi bands. We've rounded up the best mesh Wi-Fi routers with Ethernet backhaul support to best fit your network at a range of prices.
Best overall
With two Gigabit LAN ports per Deco unit, you still have options to connect wired devices in whichever room you situate your mesh satellites. TP-Link has a fantastic range of mesh systems, and the dual-band Wi-Fi 6 X60 is just the right price for an Ethernet backhaul setup using its spare port.
Best for budgets
The Linksys Velop doesn't officially support Ethernet backhaul, but it works just fine. The catch is that you need to set up the Velop system wirelessly first, then connect your Ethernet cables, and the system will switch to using it for backhaul traffic. For a budget choice, it's not overly complex.
Choosing the best mesh Wi-Fi router for Ethernet backhaul
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Achieving the fastest speeds means going for a wired connection with Ethernet cables and using them to send data back to the modem via the backhaul. Even some of the best mesh Wi-Fi systems only offer one Ethernet port for each wired node, which doesn't leave many options for connectivity outside of an Ethernet backhaul, so our picks all include at least two LAN ports.
Most routers include Gigabit ports supporting internet speeds up to 1Gbps. Naturally, the faster the port, the better your Ethernet backhaul can perform, so any units supporting 2.5G multi-gig ports like the Deco X90 from TP-Link will perform even better, especially when it comes to transferring data to devices on your local network.
Mesh systems on the higher end tend to dedicate one wireless band to backhaul traffic, but even some of the cheaper setups can perform admirably by using Ethernet instead. The Velop 3-pack from Linksys may use older dual-band Wi-Fi 5 tech for wireless, but it supports Ethernet backhaul, so you'll still enjoy fantastic transfer speeds.
