/26 vs /27 — Subnet Comparison
A /26 subnet is 2× larger than a /27. Every additional bit in the prefix halves the address space — the 1-bit difference between these two means /26 has 21 = 2 times as many addresses.
62 usable hosts — quarter of a /24
Typical Uses
- →Cloud subnet per tier (web, app, db)
- →Small department or team VLAN
- →Security zone isolation
30 usable hosts — small workgroup
Typical Uses
- →Small workgroup LAN
- →Network device management subnet
- →Cloud NAT gateway subnet
Key Differences
How 2 /27 Subnets Divide a /26
Example using 10.0.0.0/26 as the parent block.
| # | CIDR | Network | First Usable | Last Usable | Broadcast | Hosts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10.0.0.0/27 | 10.0.0.0 | 10.0.0.1 | 10.0.0.30 | 10.0.0.31 | 30 |
| 2 | 10.0.0.32/27 | 10.0.0.32 | 10.0.0.33 | 10.0.0.62 | 10.0.0.63 | 30 |
FAQ
What is the difference between /26 and /27?
A /26 has 62 usable hosts
and a /27 has 30.
The subnet masks differ: /26 uses 255.255.255.192
while /27 uses 255.255.255.224.
Every additional bit in the prefix halves the number of addresses — so the 1-bit gap means
/26 is exactly 2× larger.
How many /27 subnets fit in a /26?
Exactly 2 /27 subnets fit perfectly inside one /26 with no wasted space. To split a /26 into /27s, just increment the last 1 bit of the network address for each new subnet.
Which should I choose?
/26 is typically used for: Cloud per-tier subnet, small VLAN. /27 is better for: Small workgroup / management subnet. Choose the smallest prefix that comfortably fits your host count — over-allocating wastes address space, but under-allocating means painful renumbering later.