Cost of Category 5 cabling

Q: What is considered to be the industry-standard estimated cost for a Category 5 cable run per location? I have heard numbers ranging from $100 to $250. What is included in this cost? Are patch cords and wall outlets included in the cable run?

Jaime Corral

Voice Connections

Westminster, CA

A: The number you`re seeing is usually for a horizontal link--terminating hardware to outlet/connector and the cable in between. The work area and patch cables are generally not included. Cabling components are priced comparably throughout the country. The labor cost is where you`ll see the big variations. I suggest you make a few calls to contractors in your area and formulate your own best guess.