/32 Subnet

Single host address

A /32 identifies a single, specific IP address. Used in host routes, loopback interfaces, security group rules targeting one exact IP, and ACLs.

Total IPs
1
Usable Hosts
1
Subnet Mask
255.255.255.255
Wildcard Mask
0.0.0.0

Common Use Cases

  • Host route in routing table
  • Loopback interface address
  • Security group rule for a single IP
  • BGP next-hop or router-id

Example /32 Networks

CIDR Network First Usable Last Usable Broadcast Hosts
10.0.0.0/32 10.0.0.0 10.0.0.0 10.0.0.0 10.0.0.0 1
172.16.0.0/32 172.16.0.0 172.16.0.0 172.16.0.0 172.16.0.0 1
172.31.0.0/32 172.31.0.0 172.31.0.0 172.31.0.0 172.31.0.0 1
192.168.0.0/32 192.168.0.0 192.168.0.0 192.168.0.0 192.168.0.0 1
192.168.1.0/32 192.168.1.0 192.168.1.0 192.168.1.0 192.168.1.0 1
10.0.1.0/32 10.0.1.0 10.0.1.0 10.0.1.0 10.0.1.0 1

How /32 Compares

Prefix Total IPs Usable Hosts Subnet Mask Typical Use
/29 8 6 255.255.255.248 Tiny server cluster or infra segment
/30 4 2 255.255.255.252 WAN point-to-point link
/31 2 2 255.255.255.254 Modern P2P links (RFC 3021)
/32 ◀ 1 1 255.255.255.255 Single host — firewall rules, host routes

Frequently Asked Questions

How many IPs are in a /32?

A /32 subnet contains 1 total IP addresses and 1 usable host addresses. A /32 identifies a single specific IP address (host route).

What is the subnet mask for /32?

The subnet mask for a /32 is 255.255.255.255. In CIDR notation, the prefix length /32 means the first 32 bits of the address are the network portion. The wildcard (inverse) mask is 0.0.0.0.

How many /32 subnets fit in a /31?

Exactly 2 — a /31 can be split into two /32 subnets of equal size. Each /32 subnet has 1 usable hosts, compared to 2 in the parent /31.