Brand, type of shielding, and the material of the conductors are the most deciding aspects regarding the cost of Ethernet cables. There lower performing cables such as Cat5e are priced significantly lower than higher performing cables like Cat6a and Cat8. While Ethernet cables from reputed brands tend to be pricier, they do provide a quality assurance which is a welcome guarantee. Purchasers looking to buy Ethernet cables must take their budget into consideration along with network requirements, value needed, and performance.