Instead of stocking ten random lengths, pick a small ladder that matches your rack spacing. The benefit is operational: technicians stop improvising, and racks stay consistent across sites. Crimping patch cables, even if you have your technique down pat, I have never seen take quicker than approximately 90 seconds. Combine that by 100 and you can pop down to your local wholesaler and pick up 100 patch leads with time to spare. If you're still deciding panel type and rack workflow, start with How to. Patch cables come in a variety of standard lengths to accommodate different networking needs. The most common standard lengths include: Applications: Ideal for connecting devices that are very close together, such as. The cable length, that is neat for this kind of connection, should be 6" or 9", not longer than 12" (1 foot).