Multimode Fiber Diameter Comparison Table

Multimode fiber typically has core diameters of 50 µm or 62.5 µm with a standardized cladding diameter of 125 µm.Core and Cladding SizesMultimode fiber (MMF) is designed with a larger core diameter than single-mode fiber to allow multiple light modes to propagate simultaneously. The most common core diameters are:OM1: 62.5 µm core, 125 µm cladding, typically with an orange jacket, used with LED light sources for short-distance applications (up to 33 meters at 10 Gbps) .OM2: 50 µm core, 125 µm cladding, also with an orange jacket, supports up to 82 meters at 10 Gbps, commonly used for 1 Gbps Ethernet .OM3: 50 µm core, 125 µm cladding, aqua jacket, laser-optimized for 850 nm VCSELs, supports 10 Gbps up to 300 meters .OM4: 50 µm core, 125 µm cladding, aqua jacket, enhanced modal bandwidth for longer distances, supports 10 Gbps up to 550 meters .OM5: 50 µm core, 125 µm cladding, lime green jacket, designed for shortwave wavelength division multiplexing (SWDM) using multiple wavelengths (850–953 nm), supports high-speed data rates like 40G and 100G over short distances . The cladding diameter is standardized at 125 µm across all multimode fiber types to ensure compatibility with connectors and splicing .Comparison with Single-Mode FiberSingle-mode fiber has a much smaller core diameter of 8–10 µm with the same 125 µm cladding, allowing only one mode of light to propagate. This enables longer-distance transmission with lower attenuation but requires more expensive laser sources .SummaryCore diameters: 50 µm (OM2–OM5) or 62.5 µm (OM1)Cladding diameter: 125 µm (standard for all MMF)Jacket colors: Orange (OM1/OM2), Aqua (OM3/OM4), Lime Green (OM5)Applications: Short-distance, high-speed data transmission in buildings, data centers, and campus networks . These standardized diameters ensure interoperability, cost-effectiveness, and reliable performance for multimode fiber networks.