The Max. Length of USB Cables
A USB 2.0 cable can be as long as 5 meters right out of the box (about 16 feet). Of course, this length is rarely supplied, so you might occasionally need to utilize a connector or extension cable. This is perfectly acceptable but bears in mind that the 5-meter restriction is still in place. In other words, nothing will go wrong if you connect a 6-feet wire to a 10 feet cable. The cable is 16 feet long in total. However, connecting a 10 feet wire to another 10 feet cable won’t function. 20 feet will make up the total length, which is too much for USB 2.0.
It’s a little strange that USB 3.0 and USB 3.1 connection types have the same rating. Theoretically, there isn’t a “limit” at all. However, your signal will begin to deteriorate if you travel farther than 3 meters (approximately 10 feet). The speed and power it provides will decrease as the cable is extended further. If all you’re doing is transmitting a signal, this offers you some leeway.
A 20 feet run, for instance, is generally feasible if you need to relay a security camera feed, assuming there is little interference. On the other side, you can experience problems if the stream is from a 4K camera with two-way audio. And you’ll run into problems if the camera needs to be powered by the USB cable.