by Priya Nakamura Updated Apr 12, 2026
A subnet mask determines which part of an IP address identifies the network and which part identifies individual devices. The most common home subnet mask is 255.255.255.0.
A subnet mask like 255.255.255.0 tells devices that the first three numbers of the IP address identify the network (e.g., 192.168.1.x), and the last number identifies the specific device. This means up to 254 devices can exist on the network.
Home networks almost always use 255.255.255.0 (also written as /24). This allows 254 devices, which is more than enough for any home. Larger networks use different masks like 255.255.0.0 (/16).
For more information, see RFC 791 — Internet Protocol.
Pro Tip: Every device on the internet has an IP address, but thanks to NAT, hundreds of devices can share a single public IP.
Key Takeaways
A subnet mask tells devices which part of an IP address is the network address and which part identifies individual devices.
For home networks, always use 255.255.255.0. This is the default and supports up to 254 devices.
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About Priya Nakamura
Priya is a telecommunications engineer and networking educator at RouterHax. With a background in ISP infrastructure and a Master's in Computer Networks, she explains complex networking concepts in plain English. Priya covers WiFi standards, protocols, IP addressing, and network architecture.
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