Does a wifi router emit radiation?

Yes, your wifi router emits radiation - but it's non-ionizing radiofrequency (RF) radiation, the same type emitted by FM radios, televisions, and baby monitors. According to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), wifi signals are very low power, typically 0.1 watt (100 milliwatts), and operate at frequencies broadly similar to FM radio, TV, and mobile phones. That distinction, non-ionizing versus ionizing, is what separates the type of radiation your router emits from the type used in medical scans. Source: GOV.UK

For context, that 0.1 watt figure represents the router's transmit power, not a continuous output; actual emission varies with how much data is being sent at any given moment.

Think of it like the difference between a warm light bulb and a welding torch. Both emit energy, but one can burn you, and the other just keeps the room lit. Your router is the light bulb.

What kind of radiation does a wifi router produce?

Wifi routers operate on the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency bands (and now 6 GHz, where permitted). This falls under radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF), which is a form of non-ionizing radiation. Non-ionizing means the energy isn't strong enough to knock electrons off atoms or break chemical bonds in your cells. Ionizing radiation - from sources like X-rays, CT scans, and nuclear material - can do that, which is why exposure to those is carefully limited.

Ireland's EPA measured typical indoor wifi exposure at roughly 2 V/m at 1 metre and 5 V/m at half a metre from the router, using standard RF measurement methodology. Source: Environmental Protection Agency

How does wifi radiation compare to other household devices?

Your wifi router emits considerably less RF energy than several devices you probably use daily without a second thought.

A mobile phone during an active voice call transmits at around 0.5-2 watts, and it sits directly against your head. Your router transmits at around 0.1 watts and sits across the room. Regulatory bodies like Ireland's ComReg require compliance with maximum transmit power of 100 mW at 2.4 GHz and 200 mW at 5 GHz for indoor devices. Source: Environmental Protection Agency

A microwave oven operates at roughly 1,000 watts of RF energy (though contained within its shielding). Your router, by comparison, operates at 100-200 milliwatts. That's roughly 5,000 to 10,000 times less power.

So yes, your wifi router emits radiation, non-ionizing RF radiation, in the 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and increasingly 6 GHz bands, at power levels around 0.1-0.2 watts. That's measurably lower than a phone mid-call and a fraction of what a microwave outputs.