/26 Subnet Mask ReferenceIPv4
Four equal pieces per /24: mask <code>255.255.255.192</code>, sixty-four addresses, sixty-two usable. The /26 is the branch-office staple, big enough for staff, printers, and phones yet cheap enough to hand out freely.
/26 facts at a glance
- Subnet mask
- 255.255.255.192
- Wildcard mask
- 0.0.0.63
- Binary mask
- 11111111.11111111.11111111.11000000
- Total addresses
- 64
- Usable hosts
- 62 (excludes network & broadcast)
- Block size
- 64 addresses (26)
- Typical role
- Subnets, VLANs and WAN links
Example /26 networks
Three consecutive /26 blocks, starting at the /26 boundary that contains 198.51.100.0:
| Network | Usable range | Usable hosts |
|---|---|---|
| 198.51.100.0/26 | 198.51.100.1 – 198.51.100.62 | 62 |
| 198.51.100.64/26 | 198.51.100.65 – 198.51.100.126 | 62 |
| 198.51.100.128/26 | 198.51.100.129 – 198.51.100.190 | 62 |
How to calculate a /26 mask
A /26 mask sets the first 26 bits of a 32-bit number to 1 and leaves the remaining 6 bits as 0. In binary that reads 11111111.11111111.11111111.11000000, which converts to dotted decimal 255.255.255.192. Each block covers a contiguous run of 26 = 64 addresses, and every block starts at a multiple of that size. The wildcard simply flips every bit, giving 0.0.0.63.
Where /26 is used
- Branch sites carved from a headquarters /16 or /24 pool.
- Separate voice and data VLANs on the same floor switch stack.
- Small server pods where sixty-two addresses are plenty.
Boundaries land at .0, .64, .128, and .192; their host ranges run .1-.62, .65-.126, .129-.190, and .193-.254 respectively.
Wildcard mask <code>0.0.0.63</code> is what you type into Cisco-style ACLs to match a whole /26.
Frequently asked questions
How many usable hosts are in a /26?
62 of 64 total addresses.
What is the subnet mask for a /26?
<code>255.255.255.192</code>, wildcard <code>0.0.0.63</code>: two borrowed bits from the fourth octet create four subnets.
How many /26s fit in a /24?
Four, starting at .0, .64, .128, and .192.
What range does 192.168.1.64/26 cover?
Addresses 192.168.1.64 through 192.168.1.127, with .65-.126 available for hosts, .64 as the network, and .127 as broadcast.
Open this block in a calculator
Open the /26 block in the subnet calculator