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24-Port vs 48-Port PoE Switch — When to Upsize
The 48-port model costs more — but when device counts are high, it saves money versus two 24-port switches. Here's when the switch to 48-port makes sense.
Stay with 24-Port if…
- →Under 20 PoE devices on this switch
- →Small office floor (10–30 users, 2–4 APs, few cameras)
- →Hotel floor with under 15 rooms
Upsize to 48-Port if…
- →Hotel floor with 20+ rooms (each room = 1 AP port + possible phone)
- →Large office with 30+ desks + APs + cameras
- →School wing with APs in every classroom
- →You want one switch per floor instead of two 24-port switches
24-Port vs 48-Port — Comparison
| Feature | 24-Port PoE | 48-Port PoE |
|---|---|---|
| PoE Ports | 24 ports | 48 ports |
| Typical PoE Budget | 185–370W | 370–740W |
| Max APs (at 25W) | 7–14 APs | 14–29 APs |
| Rack Units | 1U | 1U |
| 10GE Uplinks | 4× 10GE SFP+ | 4× 10GE SFP+ |
| Best For | Small-medium offices, small hotel floors | Large hotel floors, big offices, schools |
| Cost Efficiency | Good for smaller deployments | Better per-port when device count is high |
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I use a 48-port PoE switch instead of a 24-port?
Use a 48-port PoE switch when you have 25 or more PoE devices to connect — for example, a hotel floor with 20 in-room APs plus 10 corridor cameras, a large office floor with 30+ desks plus APs, or a school wing with APs in every classroom. A single 48-port switch is also more cost-effective and rack-efficient than two 24-port switches.
What is the PoE budget of a 48-port Huawei eKit switch?
The Huawei eKit S310-48P4X managed PoE switch has a high PoE budget suitable for powering 48 PoE+ devices. The exact power budget depends on the specific model — the S310 48-port models typically offer up to 740W total PoE. This is enough to power approximately 30 WiFi 6 APs (at 25W each) simultaneously.
Is a 48-port switch used per floor in a hotel?
Yes — for hotels with 20+ rooms per floor, a 48-port PoE switch per floor is standard practice. Each in-room AP uses one port, corridor APs use additional ports, IP cameras use more ports, and in-room IP phones (where fitted) use further ports. A 40-room floor with in-room APs, corridor APs, and cameras easily needs 50+ PoE ports — requiring a 48-port switch plus an 8-port for overflow.
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