Free tool · No sign-up · Based on IEEE 802.11 & 802.15.4
Zigbee Wi-Fi channel planner
Zigbee and 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi share the same airspace, and where they overlap your Zigbee devices drop off and batteries drain faster. Tick the Wi-Fi channels your access points use and this shows the Zigbee channels that sit in the gaps — with a map of the whole band so you can see why.
Channel planner
Recommendation
Tick the Wi-Fi channels above
The 2.4 GHz band, end to end
Changing the Zigbee channel re-pairs your network. Most coordinators move the network for you, but battery and older end devices often have to be re-paired by hand. Plan for it, and don't switch channels on a whim.
Why Zigbee and Wi-Fi fight over the same channels
Both run in the 2.4 GHz band. A Wi-Fi channel is about 22 MHz wide and the usable non-overlapping ones are 1, 6 and 11. A Zigbee channel is only about 2 MHz wide, and the sixteen of them (11 to 26) are spaced 5 MHz apart. Because a single Wi-Fi channel is so much wider, it sits on top of roughly four Zigbee channels at once.
The trick is to place Zigbee in the gaps between the Wi-Fi channels rather than under them. With Wi-Fi on the usual 1, 6 and 11, those gaps land Zigbee on 15, 20 and 25, with 26 sitting above Wi-Fi 11 entirely.
| Zigbee channel | Centre | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| 15 | 2425 MHz | In the gap between Wi-Fi 1 and Wi-Fi 6. |
| 20 | 2450 MHz | In the gap between Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 11. |
| 25 | 2475 MHz | Just above Wi-Fi 11; can catch its upper edge if 11 is busy. |
| 26 | 2480 MHz | Highest and cleanest — but not supported by every coordinator or device. |
These frequencies are fixed by the standards, so the map above is exact — what it can't see is how busy each Wi-Fi channel actually is. A quiet Wi-Fi 11 barely touches Zigbee 25; a saturated one will. If in doubt, run an energy scan in your Zigbee coordinator and let the numbers decide.
Common questions
Which Zigbee channel is best overall?
If your Wi-Fi is on the usual 1, 6 and 11, the safe choices are 15, 20 and 25. Channel 26 is technically the most isolated because it sits above all the Wi-Fi channels, but a lot of Zigbee coordinators and devices don't support it, so treat it as a bonus rather than a default.
Does changing the Zigbee channel re-pair my devices?
Usually, yes. Mains-powered router devices tend to follow the coordinator to the new channel, but battery-powered end devices and older hardware frequently have to be re-paired one by one. Because of that, it is worth getting the channel right once rather than experimenting repeatedly.
Should I change my Wi-Fi or my Zigbee?
Change whichever is easier to control. If you own the router and it is set to Auto, pin it to 1, 6 or 11 so it stops wandering, then place Zigbee in a gap. If the interference is from neighbours' Wi-Fi you can't control, moving Zigbee is your only lever.
My devices still drop after changing channel. Now what?
Channel choice is only part of it. Distance, walls, and a lack of mains-powered Zigbee routers to extend the mesh matter just as much. Add a couple of always-powered Zigbee devices as repeaters, and keep the coordinator away from the Wi-Fi router, USB 3 ports and unshielded USB hubs, which are strong 2.4 GHz noise sources.