# IPv6 /60 Prefix – 16 /64 Subnets Explained

> An IPv6 /60 prefix spans 16 /64 subnets (295,147,905,179,352,825,856 addresses). Examples, roles and FAQs for planning IPv6 networks.

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# 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.

An IPv6 /60 prefix contains 295,147,905,179,352,825,856 addresses, which splits into 16 standard /64 subnets.

## /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](https://itinsighthub.com/ipv6-subnet-calculator/?q=2001%3Adb8%3A%3A%2F60)

### Related IPv6 prefixes

[/29](https://itinsighthub.com/ipv6/29/)[/32](https://itinsighthub.com/ipv6/32/)[/34](https://itinsighthub.com/ipv6/34/)[/36](https://itinsighthub.com/ipv6/36/)[/40](https://itinsighthub.com/ipv6/40/)[/42](https://itinsighthub.com/ipv6/42/)[/44](https://itinsighthub.com/ipv6/44/)[/47](https://itinsighthub.com/ipv6/47/)[/48](https://itinsighthub.com/ipv6/48/)[/52](https://itinsighthub.com/ipv6/52/)[/56](https://itinsighthub.com/ipv6/56/)[/64](https://itinsighthub.com/ipv6/64/)[/127](https://itinsighthub.com/ipv6/127/)[/128](https://itinsighthub.com/ipv6/128/)

← IPv6 /56 prefix
IPv6 /64 prefix →

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