IPv6 /60 Prefix ReferenceIPv6
The frugal household delegation: a /60 supplies sixteen /64 subnets — one LAN per VLAN with a few spares — inside one sixteenth of a standard /56. Plenty of ISPs reach for it when the full homework set seems excessive.
/60 facts at a glance
- Total addresses
- 295,147,905,179,352,825,856 (268)
- /64 subnets inside
- 16
- Host/interface bits
- 68
- Example network
- 2001:db8::/60
- First address
- 2001:db8::
- Last address
- 2001:db8:0:f:ffff:ffff:ffff:ffff
- Typical role
- Small home delegation (16 /64 subnets)
A /60 in documentation space
Using 2001:db8::/32 (RFC 3849 documentation space) aligned to its own boundary, a /60 occupies:
| Block | First address | Last address |
|---|---|---|
| 2001:db8::/60 | 2001:db8:: | 2001:db8:0:f:ffff:ffff:ffff:ffff |
How an IPv6 /60 prefix works
A /60 prefix pins the first 60 bits of a 128-bit address, leaving 68 bits free. That free portion holds 268 = 295,147,905,179,352,825,856 distinct addresses, and every such block begins at a multiple of that size. Because each subnet should be a /64, the 4 middle bits between the prefix and the /64 boundary give 16 subnets to hand out.
Where /60 is used
- Residential DHCPv6 prefix delegation where the provider right-sizes to /60.
- Small offices running a handful of wired, wireless, guest, and IoT segments.
- Nested lab setups practicing multi-level delegation from a /56 or /48.
Sixteen /64s covers most homes honestly: wired, wireless, guest, IoT, and a lab net, with half the block still unassigned.
Hitting the ceiling is not a crisis — ask the ISP about a /56, which multiplies your runway by sixteen, or re-plan which segments truly need their own /64.
Frequently asked questions
How many /64 subnets are in a /60?
Sixteen. Four delegation bits sit between /60 and /64, so your router can carve out sixteen standard LANs.
Is a /60 enough for a home network?
Usually, yes: sixteen /64s comfortably covers wired, wireless, guest, and IoT segments with room left over. Enthusiast setups wanting dozens of VLANs should ask for a /56.
Why did my ISP give me a /60 instead of a /56?
Providers right-size delegations to keep their pools tidy, and /60 is a common residential choice. Most will upgrade you to a /56 — 256 /64s — on request.
How many /60s fit in a /56?
Sixteen. A /56 is the /60's sixteen-times-larger sibling, which is exactly the upgrade path to remember.
Open this prefix in the calculator
Open 2001:db8::/60 in the IPv6 calculator