/24 Subnet: Mask 255.255.255.0, 254 Usable Hosts

A /24 subnet has a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0 and contains 256 total IP addresses, of which 254 are usable host addresses (the network and broadcast addresses are reserved). A /24 is the classic "Class C" sized network.

Usable hosts in a /24 by platform

Cloud providers reserve more than the usual two addresses per subnet, so the same /24 gives you fewer usable IPs in the cloud than on a standard LAN.

Good to know

A /24 is the workhorse of networking: 256 addresses, 254 usable. It is what most home routers hand out (192.168.1.0/24) and the default mental model for "one subnet."

How a /24 is calculated

• The /24 means the first 24 bits are the network portion, leaving 8 host bits.
• Total addresses = 2^(32 - 24) = 2^8 = 256.
• Usable hosts (standard) = 256 - 2 (network + broadcast) = 254.
• Subnet mask = 255.255.255.0; wildcard mask = 0.0.0.255.