What is a /22 subnet? 1,024 IPs and when it fits
A /22 is a useful starting point for a medium network, not a universal ceiling for a single broadcast domain. Bigger subnets (/21, /20) may increase broadcast and failure-domain costs, but the right boundary depends on traffic, segmentation, switch behavior, and operational goals. For a growing office or cloud subnet that needs headroom, choose the size that fits those constraints and the provider's rules.
A /22 subnet, written as 255.255.252.0, provides 1,024 total addresses with 1,022 usable for hosts. It's a common planning choice for medium business networks, accommodating not just computers and phones but also IoT devices, cameras, sensors, and guest Wi-Fi. It isn't a universal default because network teams size subnets around provider rules, segmentation, and broadcast traffic.
By TechCompare · Updated
How this is calculated
With roughly 1,000 usable addresses, a /22 can handle a mid-size office of 200-300 employees, each with a laptop, phone, and perhaps lab or test devices. The broadcast domain at this size may be manageable on a well-designed switched network. Cloud providers and network architectures vary, so /22 should be treated as a planning choice rather than a universal cloud standard.
Verdict
The /22 mask 255.255.252.0 reserves 22 bits for the network and leaves 10 bits for hosts, which is 1,024 total addresses and 1,022 usable. That can cover a mid-size office of 200-300 employees each carrying a laptop, phone, IoT device, and guest device, but the usable capacity and broadcast behavior depend on the design. Pushing past roughly 1,000 hosts can weigh on broadcast traffic on some networks, which is why many teams split larger allocations into multiple VLANs. It is a planning heuristic, not a de facto L2 ceiling.
More Subnet scenarios
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Is a /22 subnet too big for a small office?
What's the right subnet size for a medium office network?
Can a /22 cause broadcast storms or performance issues?
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