The best HDMI cables
by Simon Hill and Les Shu- HDMI cables transmit high-definition video and audio between a source and a display, like a video game console to a TV, or a laptop to a monitor.
- We tested several HDMI cables and interviewed Brad Bramy, the VP of marketing for HDMI Licensing Administrator, the organization that sets HDMI standards, offers certification, and tests the cables for quality.
- Based on our testing and research, the best HDMI cable for most people is the Monoprice Certified Premium High Speed HDMI Cable because it covers most of the features and standards you're likely to need right now.
When you hook up a video game console, cable box, media-streaming device, or Blu-ray player to the TV in your living room, chances are that you'll be using an HDMI cable. You'll also need an HDMI cable to connect your computer or laptop to the monitor in your home office. HDMI stands for high-definition multimedia interface, and, in simple terms, HDMI cables carry sound and picture signals from a source to a display.
Although they may look the same, all HDMI cables are not created equal. There are a few different types of HDMI connectors, but this guide sticks to HDMI cables with Type A connectors. There are also several different standards of cable that offer bandwidths from below 5 gigabits per second (Gbps) all the way up to 48 Gbps. To complicate matters further, HDMI cables can support a range of different features and standards.
I can feel your eyes glazing over already, but don't worry, I'll keep things as simple as possible and tell you exactly what you need to look for. I have tested out several HDMI cables with a range of TVs, monitors, video game consoles, laptops, and computers, and I've spoken with experts at HDMI Licensing, the organization that sets the standards, offers certification labels, and tests HDMI cables in the wild.
How to choose an HDMI cable
The first HDMI standard was released in 2002 and there have been several updates over the last couple of decades. To ensure the best picture and audio quality, and to take full advantage of the features your devices offer, you need to get the right HDMI cable.
"The primary things people should ask themselves, are what HDMI features they want to support and which cables can support delivering those features, and then perhaps if they want to be future-proofed against possible upgrades in equipment and features in the future," Brad Bramy, VP marketing, HDMI Licensing Administrator explained to Business Insider. "And also make sure the cables are from licensed HDMI Adopters and their products are tested and certified and using the HDMI trademarks correctly and are not unlicensed or counterfeit products."
What standard of HDMI cable do I need?
While HDMI versions are numbered, the HDMI Licensing Administrator has created its own, slightly confusing, nomenclature, which is explained on the HDMI Licensing website. All you really need to know is that certified cables come in these varieties:
- Standard: tested to reliably transmit 1080i or 720p video
- High Speed: designed and tested to handle video resolutions of 1080p and beyond, including advanced display technologies such as 4K@30Hz, 3D, and Deep Color
- Premium High Speed: designed and certified for ultra-reliable performance for 4K/UltraHD including advanced features such as 4K@60Hz, HDR, and expanded color spaces
- Ultra High Speed: support for all HDMI 2.1 features including uncompressed 8k@60Hz and 4K@120Hz
Although Standard and High Speed cables will serve you fine for some applications, because the difference in price is negligible, we would recommend always opting for Premium High Speed cables. It's also important to note that, while you can get some HDMI cables that appear to support the Ultra High Speed standard, the testing specification has not yet been released, so no Ultra High Speed cables have been certified at the time of writing.
How much should I spend?
While different HDMI cables will support different bandwidths and features, the signal is digital, so a cable will either work or it won't. If you compare two certified Premium High Speed cables, they should perform exactly the same, even if one is $5 and the other is $100. Sometimes more expensive cables are more durable, which may be worth thinking about if you intend to plug and unplug frequently. You'll also pay more for a longer cable, but for the most part, there's no reason to spend a lot of money.
How do I choose the right HDMI cable length?
You should aim to buy a cable that's as short as possible for your needs. The shorter the cable is, the less chance there is of signal degradation. Shorter cables will also look neater, and you won't have an unsightly loop of extra cable to try and hide under your TV unit. However, make sure you measure and give yourself enough extra length to comfortably plug in without putting any strain on the port. Guessing at the length you need is risky, so use a tape measure and add a little. Cable thickness is measured in AWG (American wire gauge) and lower numbers denote thicker cables.
What else do I need to consider?
There are many different standards and features that you might want support for. Say, for example, you want to enjoy HDR with a PlayStation 4 Pro or DTS-HD Master Audio through your connected soundbar, you'll need the right cable. Always read the description of the cable you're considering and make sure the standards and features you want are supported before you buy.
Here are the best HDMI cables:
- Best HDMI cable overall: Monoprice Certified Premium High Speed cable
- Best long HDMI cable: Monoprice Cabernet Ultra Series Active HDMI cable
- Best angled and flat HDMI cable: UGreen 4K Right Angle HDMI cable
- Best slim HDMI cable: Monoprice Ultra Slim Certified Premium High Speed HDMI cable
- Best HDMI cable for 8K: Monoprice DynamicView Ultra 8K High Speed HDMI cable
- Best strong HDMI cable: Austere III Series HDMI cable
Prices and links are current as of 05/27/2020. We added new cables based on testing and research. We also talked to an expert to explain what to look for in an HDMI cable.
The best HDMI cable overall
The Monoprice Certified Premium High Speed HDMI Cable offers lots of bandwidth and the features you need at a low price.
This sturdy, reliable cable delivers everything most people need in an HDMI cable at a very reasonable price. It tops our list because it's the cheapest cable with proper Premium High Speed HDMI certification, which means it has been independently tested and meets all the required features of the specification. There's an official HDMI certification badge with a QR code on the packaging.
It's quite a thick cable at 28AWG. AWG stands for American wire gauge and the lower the number, the thicker the cable is. It comes in black or white at lengths of 3 feet all the way up to 30 feet. As it's quite thick, it's not very flexible, so keep that in mind when you're choosing the length you want. The plug ends are thick, plain, molded plastic and tight angles will be an issue.
This cable can deliver up to 18Gbps bandwidth and it supports all HDMI resolutions up to 4K (3,840 x 2,160p @60Hz), including 3D and Multi View video. There's also support for 21:9 cinema aspect ratio, up to 32 audio channels, most high-definition audio standards, YCbCr 4:4:4 chroma sampling for color, and a host of other specifications.
Whether you're looking to hook up your 4K TV to a game console or a streaming device, or your computer to a 4K monitor, this cable should meet your needs. We tested the 3-foot cable with an LG OLED TV and a PS4 Pro and had no issues getting 4K with HDR.
At this price for the 6-foot cable, proper certification, and decent build quality, this HDMI cable is the right choice for most people. There's a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can always test one out and return it for a full refund if it doesn't meet your needs. Monoprice also offers a lifetime warranty, so you can get one free replacement if anything goes wrong.
Pros: Fully certified, 4K@60Hz, HDR, 18Gbps, very affordable
Cons: Thick, not very flexible
The best long HDMI cable
Offering durability and reliable performance in longer lengths, the Monoprice Cabernet Ultra Active Series HDMI cable may be your best bet for a long HDMI cable.
It can be difficult to find good, reliable, long HDMI cables. Over a certain distance, the signal quality inevitably starts to degrade. It's also tough to find properly certified HDMI cables when you go beyond 25 or 30 feet. The Monoprice Cabernet Ultra Active Series cable is available in lengths of 25 feet all the way up to 100 feet.
This is another thick cable at 28AWG for the shorter lengths and 26AWG or 24AWG for the longer lengths. The cable is black, with two-tone plastic connectors in matte black and shiny red cabernet. The source end connector is shorter, while the TV end is longer, so you'll need some space to plug it in. The cable is not very flexible either, so it will not work with tight angles. It feels like a durable, well-made product.
Just like our top pick, this cable can deliver up to 18Gbps bandwidth, supports all HDMI resolutions up to 4K (3,840 x 2,160p @60Hz), 21:9 cinema aspect ratio, up to 32 audio channels, most high-definition audio standards, YCbCr 4:4:4 color, and many other specifications. However, it's important to note that there are some limitations on the longer length cables. Over 50 feet, you're not going to get 4K@60Hz.
At 50 feet and below, this cable should serve you well, offering 4K and HDR for TV to game console or other device connections. It's still going to be useful for a lot of things over that length, just be aware that the longer cables aren't going to hit the top performance standards.
We tested the 30-foot cable with an LG OLED TV and a PS4 Pro and had no issues getting 4K with HDR. There's no official certification label on this one and, as far we're aware, longer cables, over 30 feet, with proper certification are hard to come by.
The prices vary based on cable length and Monoprice offers a 30-day money-back guarantee and a lifetime warranty.
Pros: Variety of long lengths, 4K@60Hz, HDR, 18Gbps, durable build
Cons: Thick, not very flexible, longer lengths don't meet top specifications
The best angled and flat HDMI cable
If you have a wall-mounted TV, or you want a cable to fit an awkwardly tight spot, then try the UGreen 4K Right Angle HDMI cable.
Anyone wall mounting a TV or trying to plug cables in with limited space will appreciate this angled HDMI cable. It has a right-angled connector to plug into the back of your TV and the cable itself is flat, so it's perfect for running down the wall. You can buy this cable with a 90-degree elbow or a 270-degree elbow, which determines which way up the HDMI connector faces. Make sure you check the port on your TV before you choose.
You can buy this cable in 6-foot or 10-foot varieties. The cable is black and flat, so it won't tangle. The plugs are matte black plastic and zinc alloy. It's worth noting that UGreen also does a normal Right Angle cable with the same specs, except that the cable itself isn't flat. It comes in 3, 6, 10, and 15-foot varieties, and it's a fairly slim 30 AWG cable.
The manufacturer promises 4K at 60Hz and up to 18Gbps bandwidth. There's also HDR support, ARC, HDCP, and support for a variety of audio formats. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to be officially certified.
We've been unable to test this cable ourselves, so we're not sure it will meet the top stated specifications. It has positive user reviews on Amazon and seems to work well between TVs and Roku or Apple TV devices.
It comes with an 18-month warranty, which can be extended by another 12 months if you register. This is one of the best-rated angled cables around, but if you have concerns about the lack of certification or possible performance issues, it might be better to opt for an adapter pack like this Cable Matters Combo Pack, which includes a 270-degree and a 90-degree adapter that can be used with any HDMI cable, including our top pick cable.
Pros: Right angle connector, flat cable, 4K@60Hz, HDR, 18Gbps, durable build
Cons: No certification, possible limitations with some devices
The best slim HDMI cable
The Monoprice Ultra Slim Certified Premium High Speed HDMI cable offers top-level performance in a slimmer format.
If you're trying to hide your HDMI cable away, or you want a bit more flexibility than thicker cables will allow, then the Ultra Slim Series from Monoprice could be ideal for you. This cable has proper Premium High Speed HDMI certification and comes with the badge and QR code on the packaging.
The cable is very slim at 36AWG, which is 0.005 inches. AWG stands for American wire gauge and the lower the number, the thicker the cable is. For example, our top pick cable listed above is 28AWG, which translates to 0.0126 inches. This slim cable is black, with short, matte black, plastic connectors at each end. It's flexible and easy to fit into tight spaces. It comes in sizes from 1 foot up to 8-feet long.
With the same certification as our top pick, this slim HDMI cable can also deliver up to 18Gbps bandwidth, supports all HDMI resolutions up to 4K (3,840 x 2,160p @60Hz), including 3D and Multi View video. It can also handle 21:9 cinema aspect ratio, up to 32 audio channels, most high-definition audio standards, YCbCr 4:4:4 color, and more.
This should serve you well as an HDMI cable for a computer to monitor or TV to game console. We tested the 1-foot cable between a PS4 Pro and an LG OLED TV and had no trouble getting 4K with HDR. It's so thin that we're not sure how well this cable will stand up to repeated unplugging and plugging, so it will likely work best if you're planning to plug it in somewhere and leave it there permanently.
It comes with Monoprice's lifetime warranty and prices increase based on cable length.
Pros: Slim at 36AWG, 4K@60Hz, HDR, 18Gbps, fully certified
Cons: Not very durable
The best strong HDMI cable
Made with woven Kevlar, the Austere III Series HDMI cable is strong, it supports the latest specs, and is backed by a lifetime warranty.
Many of the HDMI cables on this list are fine for most users, but sometimes you might want something a little stronger, like the Kevlar-reinforced III Series from Austere.
Now, to be clear, a rugged HDMI cable won't perform any better than the others recommended here. We also want to remind you that you don't have to spend a lot of money on a great HDMI cable because Austere cables are very expensive.
I have not encountered any problems when using an affordable HDMI cable, like the one from AmazonBasics, with my PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Verizon Fios cable box from Motorola, and GoPro cameras (with an adapter); when using the Austere cable, I didn't find it to work any better or worse.
With that said, if I was connecting ultra-expensive home entertainment equipment — say, a Marantz receiver — I would probably recommend spending a bit more on high-end cables (this is actually Austere's affordable offering, as the V Series costs even more). The Austere III Series, available in approximately 5-, 8-, and 16-feet lengths — are very well made and they look luxurious, due to the tough exterior and gold-plated connectors. The gold shielding is designed to create a high-quality connection, but many AV experts will tell you that it doesn't matter with digital signals (it can make a difference with analog cables).
Unless you are connecting premium equipment or you have money to spend, I wouldn't recommend this as your first or second pick. But I do appreciate Austere's craftsmanship, support for the latest specs (including 4K HDR), and the lifetime warranty.
If you want something less expensive but still strong, consider our previous pick, the SecurOMax HDMI cables, available in 3 and 6 feet. These are braided for extra protection and work just as well. — Les Shu
Pros: Lifetime warranty, Kevlar reinforced, supports latest 4K specs
Cons: Very expensive
Correction: We previously stated that the Austere III Series does not support Ethernet. That's incorrect — it does. We have updated the copy to reflect the correction.
The best HDMI cable for 8K
For early 8K adopters, or people looking to future-proof, we recommend the Monoprice DynamicView Ultra 8K High Speed HDMI cable.
Early 8K adopters will need an HDMI cable that's up to the task. Sadly, no Ultra High Speed cables have been officially certified yet, but there are a few options out there. Our pick is the Monoprice DynamicView Ultra 8K High Speed HDMI cable.
Surprisingly, this isn't a particularly thick cable at 30AWG. It's black and has matte black, molded plastic connectors of the same size at either end. It comes in four sizes from 1.5 feet up to 8 feet in length.
Monoprice says this cable is capable of up to 48Gbps bandwidth, 8K at 60Hz, Dynamic HDR, eARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel), 21:9 cinema aspect ratio, up to 32 audio channels, most high-definition audio standards, YCbCr 4:4:4 color, and a host of other specifications. It also supports AMD FreeSync on PlayStation 4 Pro and Xbox One X.
We don't have an 8K TV to fully test this cable, but it handles 4K and HDR perfectly. It can handle 4K at 120Hz and should serve you well if you want top performance for gaming, or if you've been having issues with full 4K and HDR with other cables. User reviews are mostly positive, but there are some complaints that it can't deliver 8K. The full capabilities may be limited to the shorter lengths for the moment.
This is certainly one of the cheapest 8K HDMI cables available right now. The caveat is the lack of certification and uncertain 8K performance. Monoprice offers a 30-day money-back guarantee and a lifetime warranty.
Pros: Up to 48 Gbps, 8K, Dynamic HDR, eARC
Cons: No certification, may not deliver top specification
What else we considered
There are many other HDMI cables out there that are worth considering for different purposes. All these alternatives came close to making our list.
- AmazonBasics High Speed HDMI cable: Cheap and mostly reliable, with plenty of positive user reviews, the AmazonBasics High Speed HDMI cable can deliver 4K at 30Hz. It will tick all the necessary boxes for most people, but it lacks HDMI certification. Comparing the 6-foot cable, our top pick is also 40 cents cheaper.
- Belkin HDMI 2.1 Ultra High Speed: This popular cable promises up to 48Gbps and can supposedly handle 8K at 60Hz. However, it's not certified and it's very expensive. In practice, it may not deliver on 8K, but it is highly rated for glitch-free 4K with Apple TV.
- Cable Matters Premium Certified HDMI cable: Another properly certified option with good build quality from a trustworthy company, the only reason this didn't make the list is price.