A cross-connect is a physical cable between your cabinet and another network in the same building. It's billed twice: an install fee once, and a monthly charge for as long as it's in place. Over a 36-month term the monthlies add up to more than most buyers expect.
What they cost
Typical pricing is $100 to $500 to install and $150 to $300 a month per connection.
| Cross-connects | Monthly | 36 months, with installs and a 3% escalator |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $150 to $300 | $5,664 to $11,627 |
| 2 | $300 to $600 | $11,327 to $23,254 |
| 4 | $600 to $1,200 | $22,654 to $46,509 |
| 8 | $1,200 to $2,400 | $45,309 to $93,018 |
Inflect, Colocation Pricing: What to Expect for Racks, Cabinets, and Cages in 2026, 2026-04-01.
How many you need
Count one per carrier, cloud on-ramp and exchange port, then double them if you want diverse paths. Two carriers, one cloud and one exchange, each redundant, is eight cross-connects: a line item that can rival the space.
How to cut the bill
- Choose a well-connected building. The more networks on site, the more of your connections stay in-building.
- Negotiate the monthly, not just the install. Over 36 months the monthly is most of the cost.
- Ask for a price lock so existing cross-connects aren't repriced at renewal.
- Use an exchange port to reach many peers over one cross-connect.
The best-connected buildings
| Facility | Metro | Networks on site |
|---|---|---|
| Equinix DC1-DC15,DC21-DC22 - Ashburn | Ashburn | 523 |
| Equinix MI1 - Miami, NOTA | Miami | 336 |
| CoreSite - Los Angeles (LA1) One Wilshire | Los Angeles | 335 |
| Equinix CH1/CH2/CH4 - Chicago | Chicago | 335 |
| Hurricane Electric Fremont 2 | Silicon Valley | 303 |
| Equinix SV1/SV5/SV10 - Silicon Valley, San Jose | Silicon Valley | 283 |
| Digital Realty Seattle SEA10 | Seattle | 233 |
| CoreSite - Los Angeles (LA2) | Los Angeles | 201 |
Networks, exchanges and carriers on site as listed in PeeringDB, captured 2026-10-23. Counts are self-reported by the networks and operators.
Questions
A dedicated cable inside the facility between your equipment and another customer's, usually a carrier, cloud on-ramp or internet exchange.
Facilities price them as an ongoing service for the physical path and its upkeep. Negotiate the monthly and a price lock, not just the install fee.