How much service loop or slack should I add to a cable run?

10% is a common default for most commercial drops — enough slack at each end to re-terminate once or twice without running a new cable. Longer runs, ceiling access that's hard to reach later, or drops that might move (like conference room AV) often justify 15-20% instead.

What's the difference between Cat6 and Cat6A for a data drop?

Cat6 supports Gigabit Ethernet reliably and 10-Gigabit over shorter distances (around 55 meters). Cat6A supports full 10-Gigabit at the full 100-meter run length and has better shielding against interference, at a higher per-foot material cost. Cat6A is the safer default for new commercial installs; Cat6 is still fine for standard desktop/office drops where 10-Gig isn't a near-term need.

Why would a single drop location need more than one cable?

Common reasons: a data drop plus a separate voice/phone drop at the same faceplate, redundant runs for critical equipment, or a location that needs both copper and fiber. This tool supports up to 6 cables per drop location so you can model that without creating duplicate overlapping nodes.

Is this tool free to use?

Yes — the tool itself is free for up to 20 total node locations per plan (data drops, MDF/IDF closets, and notes combined), with unlimited cable runs between them. You'll enter your name and email once to get an access code (no password to remember, no payment). For larger jobs, unlimited locations, and the rest of the LVDeploy Manager toolset (BOM, cable schedule, install time, rack elevation, and more) on the same floor plan, see LVDeploy Manager pricing.

LVDeploy Data Cabling Layout Tool — Plan Cable Drops & Runs on Your Floor Plan

You've hit the free limit

The free layout tool caps out at 20 total node locations (drops, MDF/IDF, and notes combined) per plan — cable runs themselves are unlimited. For unlimited locations, plus BOM, cable schedule, install time, and rack elevation on the same plan, LVDeploy Manager has no limit.

See LVDeploy Manager pricing

Data drop

MDF / IDF

Note

Cat6

Cat6A

Fiber

100%

How to use the LVDeploy Data Cabling Layout Tool

Everything below is also just a hover-tooltip away — point at any toolbar button for a quick reminder.

1. Start with your floor plan (optional)

Click Upload Floor Plan to bring in an image or PDF. Multi-page PDFs get page-navigation arrows so you can pick the right sheet. No plan handy yet? Click Load Sample Floor Plan instead — it's a simple placeholder room with a wall already labeled 20 feet, useful for practicing step 2 below before you work with a real plan. You can also skip both and just place nodes on the blank grid.

2. Set the scale

Click Set Scale, then click two points on the plan a known distance apart, and enter that real-world distance in feet when prompted. This makes every cable length calculation accurate. Skip it and the tool falls back to a rough default (10px = 1ft) — the scale label up top warns you when that's the case.

Worked example using the sample floor plan: after loading it, click Set Scale, then click the two blue arrow tips on the top wall (the one labeled "20'-0""), and type 20 when asked for the real-world distance. The scale label at the top of the toolbar will update to confirm it's set — from there, distances anywhere else on that plan will be calculated correctly.

3. Place nodes

Add Data Drop — click the plan to drop a data outlet. Click an existing drop (in Select mode) or right-click it (from any mode) to set how many cables run to that faceplate.
Add MDF / IDF — click to place a wiring closet / rack location.
Add Note — click to drop a pin with a text note attached.

4. Draw cable runs

Click Draw Cable Run, then click one node and a second node to connect them. Pick the cable type (Cat6 / Cat6A / Fiber) from the sidebar first — it applies to the next run you draw. Click any existing cable line to delete it.

5. Review costs and export

The sidebar totals footage, service loop/slack, and material cost as you go — adjust the per-foot pricing to match your supplier. When you're done, use Export Cable List (CSV) for a spreadsheet, or Print / Save as PDF for a clean printable summary.

Other things worth knowing

Your layout autosaves to this browser automatically — reopening the page offers to restore it.
Free plans are capped at 20 total node locations (drops + MDF/IDF + notes) — cable runs themselves are unlimited. You'll see a prompt if you hit the node limit.
Press Esc at any time to back out of whatever you're doing and return to Select mode.
Use the + / − zoom controls in the bottom-right of the canvas for large or detailed plans.

New Cable Defaults

Cable type for next run

Cables per drop (for new drops)

Service loop / slack (%)

Material Costs ($/ft)