Stackable UniFi switches – benefits and setup instructions

When people search for stackable UniFi switches, what they often want is the simplicity and efficiency of managing multiple switches as one. True stacking, where multiple switches act as a single unit under one IP, is great on paper.

UniFi gear doesn’t support that yet. But you can chain switches in a smart, efficient way, and still gain flexibility, scale, and performance. In this guide, we’ll walk through what "stackable" means, why UniFi handles it differently, and how to build a clean, scalable setup your network will love.

Let's dive in !!

what is true stacking?

In enterprise networking, true stacking lets you plug switches together using dedicated stacking ports or cables. The result:

• A single IP for management
• One master switch handles the config for all
• Redundant fabric, if one switch fails, data reroutes through others
• Simplified admin: one config view, one firmware, one SNMP agent ([en.wikipedia.org][1], [community.ui.com][2])

That’s powerful, especially with 24 or 48‑port units in a rack.

why UniFi doesn’t stack yet

UniFi switches don’t support true stackable behavior. They’re treated as separate devices in the UniFi controller, each with its own IP and management. From the community: \n> [!info]

“No UniFi switch can be stacked…you can connect multiple UniFi switches …but they will be managed one by one.” ([en.wikipedia.org][1], [dl.ubnt.com][3], [community.ui.com][4])

And in Reddit:

“Your diagram is not a ‘stacking’ methodology but a daisy‑chain methodology … YES there will be no issue with UI gear handling daisy chaining” ([reddit.com][5])

That means you won’t see a unified stack in your dashboard, but you can build a robust network by carefully chaining devices.

benefits of daisy‑chained UniFi switches

So what are the perks of using multiple switches even without stack support?

1. scalability

Start small, maybe a 8‑ or 16‑port switch, and add more APs, cameras, or PoE devices later. UniFi handles adopting new switches seamlessly.

2. flexible placement

Spread switches across floors or rooms to minimize long cable runs. Daisy‑chain them back to a central switch for uplinks and bandwidth consolidation.

3. dedicated uplinks and redundancy

While not “stacks,” well‑planned topologies offer redundancy. Daisy‑chain only when needed; otherwise, use a star topology (leaf‑spine). That helps avoid bottlenecks ([reddit.com][5]).

4. link‑aggregation (LAG)

UniFi supports LAG across switches. You can trunk uplinks using 2–4 ports for better bandwidth and redundancy.

5. cost‑effective growth

Buy smaller UniFi switches as budget allows. Add them wherever you need ports or PoE.

the case against daisy‑chaining

Before you chain five switches in a line, consider:

• spanning‑tree depth: More than ~7 hops can lead to instability ([community.ui.com][6], [reddit.com][5]).
• latency & bandwidth bottlenecks: Each hop adds delay; uplinks may saturate if lots of downstream traffic.
• individual firmware: You manage updates and configs per device, not as a stack.

how to do it right, best practices

Here’s how to chain switches without chaos:

1. pick a core distribution switch

Use a high‑port or uplink‑heavy UniFi switch (e.g., USW‑24‑POE or USW‑48) as the central hub.

2. connect leaf switches directly

Let each peripheral switch connect to the core via a dedicated uplink. Use LAG (2+ ports) for speed and redundancy.

3. minimize daisy‑chain depth

If you must daisy‑chain, keep depth to 2 hops max.

4. use LAG uplinks

Aggregate two ports for each uplink. This increases resilience and balances traffic.

5. set VLAN/trunk consistently

On the core port, tag all VLANs (LAN, guest, IoT), so leaf switches and APs carry correct traffic.

6. label everything

Give switches clear names, IPs, software versions. UniFi shows them separately—so stay organized.

step‑by‑step setup

Let’s set up a small network:

• Core switch: USW‑24‑POE
• Two leaf switches: USW‑8‑POE and USW‑16‑POE
• VLANs: LAN (1), Guest (20), IoT (30)

step 1: prepare core/middle switch

1. Adopt the USW‑24‑POE in UniFi controller.
2. On the switch, select ports 23–24 (uplinks) → enable LAG → add ports 23 & 24 as a single link.
3. On that LAG profile: tag VLANs 1,20,30.

step 2: adopt leaf switches

1. Plug each leaf switch uplink to the core switch LAG ports.
2. In the controller, adopt each USW‑8 and USW‑16.

step 3: configure leaf uplinks

1. On each leaf, go to Port Profiles → create “uplink‑to‑core” profile with VLANs 1,20,30 tagged.
2. Apply to port 1 of each leaf switch.

step 4: connect devices and assign profiles

• Ports 2–8 on leaf for APs, cameras, assign VLAN profiles per need.
• Eg: AP port carries WLAN VLANs; camera port untagged IoT VLAN.

step 5: test connectivity

• Ping across switches.
• Verify VLAN isolation on APs.
• Stress test uplink with large file transfers.

sample network diagram

            [USW‑24‑POE core]
            |   | (LAG: port 23+24)
      ------+---+-------------
      |                         |
 [USW‑8‑POE leaf]         [USW‑16‑POE leaf]
     /   |   \               /    |     \
 AP1 Cam1 AP2           Cam2 AC   AP3

• Leaf uplinks go directly to core.
• Star topology keeps performance solid.

real‑world feedback

From Reddit:

“Yes there will be no issue with UI gear handling daisy chaining provided you’re not hitting device config limitations.” ([dl.ubnt.com][7], [reddit.com][5], [community.ui.com][8], [community.ui.com][4])

“I would suggest … a spine and leaf. Choose one switch as the center/core … latency is lower … your network will be broken just twice when you upgrade firmwares instead of the end hosts 4 times.” ([reddit.com][5])

That sums it up: build around a core switch, minimize depth, and use link aggregation.

when to consider a different platform

If your needs include:

• 24+ port stacks with single IP management
• Dedicated stacking ports or cables
• True switch‑level redundancy (hot‑swap master)
• Mix‑and‑match stacking across series

… then consider platforms like Cisco Catalyst, Juniper EX, or Dell S‑series. Those support real stacking. But for most homes, offices, or small shops, UniFi’s daisy‑chained core‑leaf works great.

tips and tricks

• Firmware consistency: Update all switches in one go to avoid mismatch.
• Label ports physically: Especially uplinks.
• Use VLAN trunking: Tag all necessary VLANs on uplinks.
• Watch spanning‑tree: Don’t create loops.
• Test uplink speed: Run iperf between ports to verify LAG.
• Keep firmware current: UniFi controller improves port‑profile and VLAN handling regularly.

conclusion

True stacking isn’t available in UniFi, but a well‑designed chain or star topology gives you almost all the same benefits: scale, redundancy, performance, and PoE wherever you need it. With a strong core, uplink LAG, VLAN trunking, and smart port profiles, your network stays structured and reliable.

If you ever need controller hosting, multi‑site oversight, or help scaling across locations, we offer managed UniFi controllers that handle updates, backups, remote access, all so you focus on design, not servers.