IPRangeExplorer

/12 vs /14 — Subnet Comparison

A /12 subnet is 4× larger than a /14. Every additional bit in the prefix halves the address space — the 2-bit difference between these two means /12 has 22 = 4 times as many addresses.

/12

1 million IPs — the 172.16/12 range

Full reference →
Total IPs 1,048,576
Usable Hosts 1,048,574
Subnet Mask 255.240.0.0
Wildcard Mask 0.15.255.255

Typical Uses

  • →RFC 1918 Class B private range (172.16.0.0/12)
  • →Large enterprise segments
/14
Full reference →
Total IPs 262,144
Usable Hosts 262,142
Subnet Mask 255.252.0.0
Wildcard Mask 0.3.255.255

Key Differences

4×
more IPs in /12 than /14
4
/14 subnets fit inside one /12
2
bits of difference in prefix length

How 4 /14 Subnets Divide a /12

Example using 10.0.0.0/12 as the parent block.

# CIDR Network First Usable Last Usable Broadcast Hosts
1 10.0.0.0/14 10.0.0.0 10.0.0.1 10.3.255.254 10.3.255.255 262,142
2 10.4.0.0/14 10.4.0.0 10.4.0.1 10.7.255.254 10.7.255.255 262,142
3 10.8.0.0/14 10.8.0.0 10.8.0.1 10.11.255.254 10.11.255.255 262,142
4 10.12.0.0/14 10.12.0.0 10.12.0.1 10.15.255.254 10.15.255.255 262,142

FAQ

What is the difference between /12 and /14?

A /12 has 1,048,574 usable hosts and a /14 has 262,142. The subnet masks differ: /12 uses 255.240.0.0 while /14 uses 255.252.0.0. Every additional bit in the prefix halves the number of addresses — so the 2-bit gap means /12 is exactly 4× larger.

How many /14 subnets fit in a /12?

Exactly 4 /14 subnets fit perfectly inside one /12 with no wasted space. To split a /12 into /14s, just increment the last 2 bits of the network address for each new subnet.

Which should I choose?

Choose based on how many hosts you need. Use the hosts → prefix calculator on the homepage to find the right size for your requirements.