/4 vs /5 — Subnet Comparison

A /4 subnet is larger than a /5. Every additional bit in the prefix halves the address space — the 1-bit difference between these two means /4 has 21 = 2 times as many addresses.

Total IPs 268,435,456
Usable Hosts 268,435,454
Subnet Mask 240.0.0.0
Wildcard Mask 15.255.255.255
Total IPs 134,217,728
Usable Hosts 134,217,726
Subnet Mask 248.0.0.0
Wildcard Mask 7.255.255.255

Key Differences

more IPs in /4 than /5
2
/5 subnets fit inside one /4
1
bit of difference in prefix length

How 2 /5 Subnets Divide a /4

Example using 10.0.0.0/4 as the parent block.

# CIDR Network First Usable Last Usable Broadcast Hosts
1 0.0.0.0/5 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.1 7.255.255.254 7.255.255.255 134,217,726
2 8.0.0.0/5 8.0.0.0 8.0.0.1 15.255.255.254 15.255.255.255 134,217,726

FAQ

What is the difference between /4 and /5?

A /4 has 268,435,454 usable hosts and a /5 has 134,217,726. The subnet masks differ: /4 uses 240.0.0.0 while /5 uses 248.0.0.0. Every additional bit in the prefix halves the number of addresses — so the 1-bit gap means /4 is exactly 2× larger.

How many /5 subnets fit in a /4?

Exactly 2 /5 subnets fit perfectly inside one /4 with no wasted space. To split a /4 into /5s, just increment the last 1 bit 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.