A home theater owner can never have too many HDMI cables. The all-in-one AV cable is an essential part of modern connectivity, and it’s the only way to enjoy the best of HDR, Dolby Atmos, and gaming optimizations. Now, shopping for home theater technology can get a little overwhelming; There are more TVs, projectors and AV components to choose from than ever before. That said, we’d like to give you some advice: Don’t buy a surplus of long HDMI cables just because.
At first glance, this may seem like a foolproof plan; you’ll have plenty of AV cables available when you need them. You also won’t need to confirm that a new streaming device or gaming console comes with HDMI, and length won’t be an issue either. The problem is that a 20-foot or longer HDMI cable adds a lot of extra wiring to your AV setup, especially if you don’t run wires in the wall. And if you’re using an open-back entertainment center, you’ll be more likely to see those leftover cord lengths.
By focusing on one device and one HDMI cable at a time, it will be much easier to choose the right cable length for each new product. You’ll be able to say things like, “This 4K Blu-ray player will do just fine with a three-foot HDMI, because it plugs into my AV receiver, which it sits right next to.” ยป This approach will help keep your home theater free of disorganized wires and will likely also reduce costs (longer HDMI cables are often more expensive than shorter ones).
Too many cables can quickly become an eyesore, but you also need to make sure your wires are long enough.
Shorter HDMI cables mean fewer problems with zip ties, Velcro straps and cable covers. However, be sure not to invest in cables that are Also short. Even though you know for a fact that the measured distance between the HDMI ports on your TV and a brand new AV device is 10 feet, you’ll be shooting yourself in the foot if you only buy a 10-foot HDMI cable. Unless you’ve discovered the world’s most flexible HDMI (we can keep a secret!), you need to allow at least two extra feet of HDMI cable length, or a foot on each end, for a single A to B connection.
This ensures that your cables have enough flexibility to plug the connector securely into each port; A wire that is too short can put too much pressure on the cable head, which could damage both the connector and the device input. This is particularly relevant when your display hardware, whether a TV or projector screen, is on one side of the room and all of your AV components are on the opposite end; the last thing you want to deal with is finding out that an HDMI cable is too short after snaking 90% of it through your basement and into a stud bay.
Stick to HDMI 2.1 or newer cables, and don’t forget to see if your new gaming console comes with an HDMI
Also make sure you invest in the right type of HDMI cables for the equipment you own or plan to purchase. A good rule of thumb for 2026 and beyond is to only purchase cables certified as HDMI 2.1 or newer (HDMI 2.2 is just starting to roll out). The 2.1 standard is supported by most TVs, projectors, AV receivers and game consoles, and all HDMI generations are backward compatible; This means you can a.) plug an HDMI 2.1 cable into an HDMI 2.0 port, or b.) plug an HDMI 2.0 cable into a 2.1 port.
Oh, and don’t forget: Many new AV devices come with an HDMI cable, including hardware like the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. You don’t have to use the included HDMI cable, but there’s nothing wrong with saving a few dollars if the included wire isn’t too long or too short. Finally, if push comes to shove, you can always invest in an HDMI coupler if you only need a few extra feet to complete your A to B connection; It wouldn’t be our first choice (couplers can be rather finicky), but it’s a cheap solution when your back is against the wall.
