How to Boost Cell Phone Signal in a Building

We’ve all been there: you’re at home or in the office, and your cell phone signal is frustratingly weak. You might even have to go outside to make a call. Losing cell phone signal can disrupt both your personal and professional life.  But don’t worry. In this article, we’ll reveal how to boost cell phone signal in a building.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

• Some really effective (and easy) ways to boost cell signal in a building
• Why the design of your building and the materials it’s made from might be messing with your cell reception
• The best cell signal boosters to get that perfect signal strength

So, let’s jump right in and figure out how you can boost cell phone signal in a building, wherever you are in your home or office.

Why cell signal matters in homes and businesses

Seamless communication is the backbone of our daily activities, personal and professional. That means that in both home and business settings, a reliable cell phone signal is essential.

In homes, a strong signal supports everything from sports streaming to remote work. For businesses, the stakes are even higher. A dependable signal is key to smooth operations, whether it’s handling customer checkouts or maintaining complex machinery with IoT devices. Without a reliable cell signal, businesses risk missed opportunities, mounting frustration, and costly delays.

Identifying the causes of poor signal in buildings

Ever wondered why your cell phone signal drops the moment you step into your office or home? The answer often lies in the walls and roof that shelter you. Various factors within buildings can significantly weaken cell signals. Culprits include:

Building materials

Dense materials like concrete and metal are notorious for blocking cellular signals. These materials can create ‘dead zones‘ in your home or office, where the signal strength is significantly reduced.

Location

Your proximity to the nearest cell tower plays a critical role in your signal strength. If you’re in a rural area or otherwise far from a tower, the signal may have a tough time reaching you. And if the tower is on the other side of trees, mountains, hills, or other terrain, those obstructions can make the signal weak.

External interference

Factors in your environment, such as nearby buildings or even certain weather conditions, can affect the strength of the signal you receive. If your building has other electrical equipment nearby with their own radio frequencies, there is potential for interference that interrupts your cell signal.

DIY hacks to boost cell phone signal in a building

If you’re constantly battling poor cell signals in your home or office, there are several things you can try that might help boost cell phone signal in a building.

1. Identify dead zones

Start by doing a walkthrough of your space. Use your phone to identify areas where the signal is noticeably weaker. These ‘dead zones’ often occur in basements, certain rooms, or spots far from windows. Knowing where those spots are can help you plan your activities around them.

The drawback to this is that in 2024, you shouldn’t have to plan around dead zones.

2. Reposition your phone

Sometimes, the position of your phone can make a difference in your signal strength. Try moving to a higher location, away from electrical equipment, or closer to a window. This can help reduce interference from walls and other objects, too.

While this can sometimes help, it might not be good for your image to stand on a table to do a Zoom call.

3. Reduce network traffic

A crowded network can slow down your signal. Try disconnecting devices that aren’t in use. This can free up bandwidth, potentially improving signal strength for the devices that need it.

If network traffic is an issue, you might want to take a look at your wireless plan to make sure you’re on the right one. And while disconnecting other devices may help in the short-term, it’s not a long-term solution. After all, there isn’t much you can do about the bandwidth your neighbor might be using on the same network.

4. Go outside

If you need an immediate solution, stepping outside can bypass many of the obstacles that weaken your signal indoors. This is especially useful in buildings with thick walls or dense materials. 

The problem with this is pretty obvious, though. If it’s rainy, snowy, windy, cold, hot, or otherwise unpleasant out there, it’s probably not helpful.

5. Find the nearest cell tower

Knowing the location of your nearest cell tower can be a game-changer. Check out the free weBoost App to help you find nearby cell towers and more. Aligning yourself closer to cell towers can help you get the best possible signal.

The bad news is that the nearest tower may still be too far away to give you a reliable signal.

6. Try WiFi calling

If your cell signal is weak, switching to WiFi calling can be helpful. It uses your broadband connection to make calls, which can be more reliable inside buildings with good WiFi coverage.

Again, this probably isn’t a long-term solution, especially if your WiFi network is lacking or your device doesn’t support WiFi calling. There may also be restrictions on international calls, and unexpected charges if you lose your WiFi connection and a call defaults to your wireless plan.

Invest in a cell phone signal booster

These tips can enhance your cell signal in the short term. However, for a real improvement you can trust, a cell phone signal booster is the best solution to boost cell phone signal in a building.

Cell phone signal boosters include an external antenna, an amplifier (booster), and an internal antenna. The external antenna captures the weak signal outside, the amplifier strengthens it, and the internal antenna rebroadcasts the improved signal inside your building. They’re ideal for spaces where the signal is present but weak.

The best cell signal boosters to boost cell phone signal in a building

In the quest for the best cell phone signal solutions, certain industry-leading devices stand out. These cell signal amplifiers are designed to ensure a robust, reliable connection, strengthening 4G LTE and 5G signals. Catering to a range of needs, they are a permanent solution for weak cell signal homes, businesses, and vehicles. Let’s explore some top options:

Home cell signal boosters

weBoost’s cell phone signal boosters for homes are renowned for enhancing indoor signals in spaces from up to 7,500 square feet, depending on your model. They support multiple devices and users simultaneously, across all U.S. carrier networks. Here’s a glimpse of our current lineup for home use:

• Home Studio: This compact booster is ideal for a large room or studio. It’s the most straightforward DIY installation option for smaller areas.
• Home Room: Suitable for a single room, small home, or apartment, this model features an easily mountable outside antenna and a tool-free installation option.
• Home MultiRoom: As the second most powerful home signal booster, it covers up to three rooms and also offers a tool-free installation.
• Home Complete: The most powerful option for residential use. Ideal even for large homes. For included professional installation, order the installed version.

Small business cell signal boosters

weBoost for Business is tailored for small business environments to boost cell phone signal in a building or fleet of vehicles. Options include self-installed or professionally installed versions:

• Office 200 Pro Installed: Covering up to 15,000 square feet.* Designed for offices and comes with professional installation by certified pros. Includes a second inside antenna for enhanced coverage.
• Office 200: Suitable for up to 10,000 square feet.* Designed for DIY installation in offices or other buildings.
• Office 100: Covering up to 8,000 square feet.* Also designed for DIY installation in various building types.

* Coverage claims are based on estimates and can vary depending on factors such as outside signal strength, building construction, and building layout. Wilson Electronics’ Office products are the best performing cell signal boosters for smaller buildings. For larger buildings exceeding 15,000 square feet, we recommend considering the WilsonPro product lineup for optimal in-building cell signal performance

Keep your cell phone signal in your home or small business

If you’re looking for a reliable, high-quality solution that caters to your specific needs, whether at home, in the office, or on the go, shop for weBoost cell signal boosters. As a one-time investment, they’re a real solution to your cell signal issues without any extra fees or subscriptions. Plus, you can trust weBoost as the leader of this industry, with every product backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee and 2-year warranty. Shop now and experience the difference a strong cell signal can make in your daily life!