RJ45 Connector Types Explained: A Visual Guide

Quick Answer

Walk into any networking supply aisle and you'll see dozens of RJ45 connector options. They all look roughly the same -- an 8P8C modular plug with a retention clip -- but the internal geometry, contact design, shielding, and termination method vary significantly between types. Choosing the wrong connector for your cable means poor crimps, intermittent connections, and wasted time re-terminating.

This guide covers every major RJ45 connector type, explains what makes each one different, and gives you a clear path to picking the right one for your project.

Standard (Non-Pass-Through) RJ45 Connectors

The standard RJ45 connector is the original design that has been used since Ethernet's early days. It is sometimes called a "traditional" or "non-pass-through" plug to distinguish it from newer designs.

How it works

You strip the cable jacket, arrange the eight conductors in the correct T568A or T568B wiring order, trim them to a precise and uniform length (typically 12-13mm), then carefully slide them into the connector body. The wires must reach the front wall of the connector but cannot extend beyond it. Once inserted, you crimp with a standard modular plug crimp tool, which presses the gold-plated contacts down through the conductor insulation to make electrical contact.

Pros and cons

• Lower cost per connector -- standard plugs like the Standard Cat5e HP Plug ($9.99) are the most affordable option.
• Wider tool compatibility -- works with any standard RJ45 crimp tool, including the Tele-Titan.
• Requires precise wire trimming -- if wires are too short, they won't make contact; too long and they'll buckle inside the connector.
• No visual verification -- you cannot see the wire order once the conductors are inside the connector body, so wiring mistakes are only caught after crimping (and testing).

Best for

Experienced installers who already own standard crimp tools and can consistently cut conductors to the correct length. Also appropriate for patch panel punchdowns where the plug connector is only used on one end of the cable.

Pass-Through (EZ-RJ45) Connectors

The pass-through connector revolutionized RJ45 termination by solving the biggest problem with the standard design: blind wire insertion. In a pass-through connector, the conductor channels extend all the way through the front face of the plug, allowing wires to exit the other side.

How it works

You strip the jacket, arrange the conductors in order, and push them through the connector until each wire visibly extends out the front. You can see every wire color and confirm the sequence is correct before committing to the crimp. A compatible pass-through crimp tool then simultaneously drives the contacts into the conductors and trims the excess wire flush with the connector face.

EZ-RJ45 variants

• EZ-RJ45 Cat5/5e ($12.99): Internal wire channels sized for 24 AWG solid or stranded conductors. The go-to connector for Cat5 and Cat5e cable.
• EZ-RJ45 Cat6 ($14.99): Enlarged geometry for 23 AWG conductors and Cat6 cross-separator splines. Purpose-built for standard Cat6 cable.
• EZ-RJ45 Cat5/5e 50-Pack ($24.99): Bulk packaging for larger installations.

Why installers prefer them

The visual verification step eliminates the most common termination error: wires in the wrong order. This is especially valuable for beginners, but professional installers also report faster overall termination times because they spend less time re-crimping failed connections. For a deeper look at how pass-through compares to standard, see the pass-through vs standard RJ45 comparison.

ezEX44 and ezEX48: Next-Generation Pass-Through

The ezEX connector family is the evolution of pass-through technology, engineered from the ground up for the thicker, higher-performance cables that dominate modern installations. Where the original EZ-RJ45 was designed when Cat5e was the standard, ezEX connectors are built for the Cat6 and Cat6A cables that 10-Gigabit networks demand.

ezEX44 -- designed for Cat6

The ezEX44 ($16.99) targets Cat6 cable, particularly larger outer-diameter Cat6 cables that can be a tight fit in a standard EZ-RJ45 Cat6 connector. It features an external ground tab that eliminates the need for a separate drain wire on shielded installs, and Hi-Lo staggered contacts that reduce crosstalk at the termination point.

ezEX48 -- designed for Cat6A

The ezEX48 ($18.99) is built for Cat6A cable with its larger 22-23 AWG conductors, thicker jackets, and internal pair separators. This is the only pass-through connector option purpose-built for Cat6A terminations supporting 10-Gigabit Ethernet. For more on the differences between Cat6 and Cat6A and why the connector matters, see the Cat6 vs Cat6A guide.

ezEX-RJ45 -- the universal option

The ezEX-RJ45 ($39.99) spans Cat5e through Cat6A with a single connector, accommodating 22-24 AWG conductors. It costs more per unit but eliminates the need to stock multiple connector types on mixed-cable jobs. For a detailed comparison between the EZ-RJ45 and ezEX families, see the EZ-RJ45 vs ezEX breakdown.

Key innovations over EZ-RJ45

• Extended throughput geometry: Wider internal wire channels accommodate larger cable diameters without forcing conductors.
• Hi-Lo staggered contacts: Alternating contact heights reduce near-end crosstalk (NEXT), critical for Cat6A's 500 MHz bandwidth.
• External ground tab: Integrated grounding eliminates the extra step of connecting a separate drain wire in shielded installations.

Shielded (STP) vs Unshielded (UTP) Connectors

This distinction applies across all connector types -- standard, pass-through, and ezEX connectors are all available in both shielded and unshielded versions. The choice is determined entirely by your cable type. For a comprehensive comparison, see the shielded vs unshielded connector guide.

Solid-Rated vs Stranded-Rated Connectors

Ethernet cable conductors come in two forms: solid (one thick copper wire per conductor) and stranded (multiple thin wires twisted together per conductor). The contacts inside an RJ45 connector are designed differently for each type. For a full walkthrough of when to use each conductor type, see solid vs stranded cable connectors.

• Solid-rated contacts use a two-prong fork that pierces and grips the single solid wire. These are designed for in-wall structured cabling runs that won't be moved after installation.
• Stranded-rated contacts use a three-prong fork that spreads and grips the bundle of thin wires without cutting through them. These are designed for patch cables and jumper cords that get handled frequently.
• Universal-rated contacts work with both solid and stranded conductors. Most EZ-RJ45 and ezEX connectors are rated for both solid and stranded wire, which is a significant convenience for installers who work with both cable types.

Using the wrong contact type is a common source of intermittent connection failures. A solid-rated contact on stranded wire may cut through the thin strands, causing the connection to degrade over time. A stranded-rated contact on solid wire may not grip firmly enough for a reliable long-term connection.

2-Piece (Load Bar) Connectors

A 2-piece RJ45 connector splits the termination into two components: a separate load bar (also called a wire guide or insert) and the connector housing. This design is most common for Cat6 and Cat6A terminations where the thicker conductors and internal cable separators make direct wire insertion into a one-piece plug difficult.

How it works

You strip the cable, arrange the conductors in the correct order, and insert them into the load bar, which pre-aligns and locks each wire in its designated channel. Then you slide the loaded bar into the connector body until it clicks into place, and crimp normally. The load bar acts as a precision wire guide that eliminates the fiddly part of getting eight wires perfectly aligned inside a small connector.

Pros and cons

• Excellent wire alignment -- the load bar pre-positions each conductor precisely, resulting in consistent contact engagement.
• Handles thick cables well -- the external wire alignment step makes it easier to work with large-diameter Cat6 and Cat6A cables.
• More steps -- the two-stage process is slower than a single-piece pass-through connector.
• Higher cost -- the two-component design generally costs more than single-piece connectors.

2-piece connectors are a solid choice for Cat6A field termination when pass-through connectors are not available, but for most installers the ezEX48 pass-through design achieves the same reliability with fewer steps.

Keystone Jacks: The Alternative Termination

Keystone jacks are not RJ45 plug connectors -- they are the female receptacle that mounts into a wall plate, patch panel, or surface-mount box. They deserve mention here because in many installations they replace the need for an RJ45 plug on one or both ends of a cable run.

When to use keystones instead of plugs

• Structured cabling: In a typical office or home network, in-wall cables are terminated with keystone jacks at the wall plate and at the patch panel. RJ45 plugs are only used on the short patch cables between the jack and the device.
• Tool-less versions: Many keystone jacks use a tool-less 110-style punchdown that requires no special crimp tool -- just push the wires into the designated slots and snap the cap closed.
• Durability: A keystone jack mounted in a wall plate is far more durable than a plug hanging off the end of a cable. For permanent installations, keystones at both ends (with manufactured patch cables for device connections) provide the most reliable long-term setup.

If you are wiring a new building or running cable through walls, plan for keystone jacks at the endpoints and save plug connectors for your patch cables and any direct device connections.

RJ45 Connector Type Comparison

This table summarizes every major RJ45 connector type with cable compatibility, required tooling, skill level, and ideal use case.

Prices are per pack. Check individual product pages for current quantity and pricing options.

Connector-to-Cable Compatibility Matrix

This matrix shows which connectors work with which cable types. Green cells indicate a recommended match. Avoid combinations not shown -- they will result in poor terminations or physical incompatibility.

Shielded connector-to-cable compatibility

How to Identify What You Need

Follow this decision path based on your cable type, shielding, and use case to find the right connector.

Related Guides

• Pass-Through vs Standard RJ45 Connectors -- detailed comparison of termination methods
• EZ-RJ45 vs ezEX Connectors -- in-depth look at the two pass-through connector families
• Shielded vs Unshielded Connectors -- when to use STP vs UTP connectors
• Solid vs Stranded Cable Connectors -- contact types for different conductor constructions
• How to Crimp an RJ45 Connector -- step-by-step termination guide
• RJ45 Crimp Tool Buyer's Guide -- find the right tool for your connectors
• Cat5e vs Cat6 vs Cat6A -- cable category differences explained
• RJ45 Pinout Guide -- T568A and T568B wiring diagrams