T-Mobile has the third-best coverage in the country, falling just 5% behind AT&T and 8% behind Verizon. T-Mobile’s 4G LTE network covers 63% of the U.S., with most of its dead spots in the West. However, T-Mobile is quickly expanding, so its network is likely to get even bigger and faster in the near future.

Many MVNOs, such as Metro by T-Mobile, Ultra Mobile, and Simple Mobile, operate on T-Mobile’s powerful network, providing you with the same great coverage. Nearly 3,900 cities have full access to T-Mobile’s 5G network, which covers just over 37% of the country.

In this T-Mobile coverage guide:

T-Mobile coverage map

Before you sign up for a T-Mobile plan, you’ll want to take a look at T-Mobile’s 4G LTE coverage map to see if you get solid coverage in your area. You can zoom in and zoom out and drag your mouse to investigate different spots on the map. You may also notice that the map reveals T-Mobile’s 5G, 4G, and 3G coverage. If you want to know more about a certain network, say the 5G network, all you have to do is uncheck the 4G and 3G boxes. Feel free to play around with it so you’ll know what type of service to expect at your home.

Do I have T-Mobile coverage in my area?

In order to confirm whether T-Mobile covers where you live, you can enter your street address into our coverage checker tool. Then select “T-Mobile” from the network dropdown menu and click “Search.” You’ll be taken to a search results page that will tell you which networks and carriers cover your location.

T-Mobile’s 5G network coverage

T-Mobile’s 5G network has the most coverage of the major carriers right now, covering nearly 37% of the U.S. T-Mobile’s 5G speeds are slower than AT&T and Verizon’s 5G speeds but are still faster than 4G LTE. In order to access T-Mobile’s growing 5G network, you’ll need to buy a 5G-compatible phone, such as the Samsung Galaxy S20 5G, Samsung Galaxy Note20 5G, or OnePlus 8 5G. You also need to sign up for or switch to a T-Mobile unlimited plan in order to get 5G service.

Where does T-Mobile have the most 5G coverage?

The states with the most T-Mobile 5G coverage include:

  • Minnesota: 97.88%
  • New Jersey: 72.77%
  • South Carolina: 69.34%
  • Iowa: 66.48%
  • Arizona: 65.71%

Many highly-populated cities have near-perfect 5G coverage, such as:

  • Minneapnapolis, MN: 99.1%
  • Saint Louis, MO: 99%
  • Houston, TX: 98.8%
  • Dallas, TX: 98.8%
  • Columbus, OH: 97.8%
  • Memphis, TN: 97.4%
  • Cincinatti, OH: 97.3%
  • Portland, OR: 97.2%
  • Denver, CO: 96.4%
  • Phoenix, AZ: 96.1%

Pros & cons of T-Mobile coverage

There are many pros and cons to going with a T-Mobile phone plan, but the advantages, such as great coverage, travel features, entertainment perks, and all-in pricing, tend to outweigh the disadvantages.

Pros:

  • T-Mobile’s 4G LTE network covers 63% of the country.
  • T-Mobile’s 5G network has the most coverage, covering 37% of the U.S.
  • T-Mobile has the best quality calls over voice call apps, such as Skype, Facebook Messenger, and WhatsApp.
  • T-Mobile has the fastest upload speeds, averaging 10.5Mbps.
  • T-Mobile has the best-ranked gaming experience, meaning fewer delays and better control.
  • T-Mobile plans, which include taxes and fees in the pricing, tend to be a bit more affordable than Verizon and AT&T’s.

Cons:

  • T-Mobile’s 3G network only covers 21% of the U.S. (although 3G is soon to be obsolete).
  • T-Mobile’s 4G coverage is spotty in parts of the West and Midwest.
  • T-Mobile’s 5G speeds are rather slow compared to other 5G networks.

Where does T-Mobile have the best coverage?

T-Mobile has the best 4G LTE coverage in the following states:

  • Connecticut
  • New Jersey
  • Indiana
  • Delaware
  • Ohio

Of course, those are just the top five states, all of which have 96% coverage or more. But plenty more states have excellent coverage as well.

Where does T-Mobile have the worst coverage?

As robust as T-Mobile’s coverage is, there are some places with spotty coverage, including:

  • Alaska (0%)
  • Oregon
  • West Virginia
  • Maine
  • Nebraska

That said, T-Mobile has roaming agreements with other major carriers that allow you to stay connected in areas where T-Mobile’s coverage may be lacking.

T-Mobile coverage vs. Verizon

Verizon’s network bests T-Mobile’s by about 8%, with Verizon covering 71.4% of the country while T-Mobile covers about 63%. It’s a different game when it comes to 5G coverage though—T-Mobile’s 5G network covers an impressive 30% of the nation while Verizon’s covers just .0014%.

 

T-Mobile coverage vs. AT&T

AT&T’s 4G LTE network has about 5% more coverage than T-Mobile’s 4G network. However, T-Mobile’s 5G network takes the cake once again with 30% coverage vs. AT&T’s 6% 5G coverage.

T-Mobile coverage vs. Sprint

Before the T-Mobile and Sprint merger, T-Mobile’s 4G LTE coverage blew Sprint’s out of the water, with Sprint’s network only covering 30% of the country. Due to the merger, Sprint is now operating under the T-Mobile brand. For now, Sprint customers will still receive coverage on Sprint’s network but when they are outside of Sprint’s coverage area, they’ll be able to roam on T-Mobile’s network, which is awesome news for them. Since T-Mobile and Sprint’s 5G networks have combined as well, both Sprint and T-Mobile customers will benefit from the 30% 5G coverage.

T-Mobile phone plans

T-Mobile offers a nice selection of plans, from unlimited and limited data to prepaid and family plans, as well as discounts for military personnel, first responders, and seniors. T-Mobile’s unlimited plans include all-in pricing, which means taxes and fees are included in the plan price and there are no hidden fees. Plus, these plans include awesome perks, such as international texting and roaming, Mexico and Canada roaming, mobile hotspot, 5G access, and Netflix.

Compare T-Mobile plans

Compare T-Mobile MVNO plans

If you want the advantages of T-Mobile’s excellent coverage while saving yourself some money, you may want to consider the prepaid plans offered by T-Mobile MVNOs, such as Mint Mobile and Ultra Mobile. These small carriers don’t usually include as many perks and features as T-Mobile but they tend to cost less.

Frequently asked questions about T-Mobile coverage

How good is T-Mobile’s coverage?

T-Mobile’s 4G LTE network is the third-best in the U.S. with 63% nationwide coverage, and its 5G network is currently the largest, covering 30% of the country.

Does T-Mobile have coverage in Hawaii?

Yes, T-Mobile has coverage in Hawaii, although there are some dead spots in parts of Kauai and on the main island. Check out T-Mobile’s coverage map to get more information about Hawaii’s coverage.

What towers does T-Mobile use?

T-Mobile uses a GSM network, along with AT&T and most of the rest of the world. Verizon and Sprint use CDMA. Even though T-Mobile and Sprint have merged, they will still be using two distinct networks for now. Eventually, the plan is to combine T-Mobile’s GSM network and Sprint’s CDMA network into one.

Is T-Mobile better than Verizon?

Verizon has about 8% more 4G LTE coverage than T-Mobile but T-Mobile’s 5G network has 30% more coverage than Verizon’s. When it comes to plans, Verizon has the most expensive plans on the market but with these plans come plenty of awesome perks like Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+, and Apple Music. Meanwhile, T-Mobile's prices are a bit more reasonable but don't include as many entertainment perks. The carrier that's right for you will depend on what your wireless priorities are.

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