5G NR Link Budget & RSRP Calculator
Calculate total received power, SS-RSRP per subcarrier, thermal noise floor, and SNR for 5G NR gNodeB downlinks.
6
Inputs
Live
Math
3
Related
Enter parameters and click Calculate to view results
Formula & Theory
P_r = EIRP - PL - L_misc + G_r, RSRP = P_r - 10 log₁₀(N_subcarriers), Noise = -174 + 10 log₁₀(BW_Hz) + NFThis formula is used to calculate antenna parameters for 5g nr link budget & rsrp calculator.
Overview
Use this 5G NR link budget calculator to estimate gNodeB coverage, total received power, SS-RSRP (Reference Signal Received Power), thermal noise floor, and Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) for Sub-6 GHz (FR1) and mmWave (FR2) deployments.
Input Guide
Enter gNodeB EIRP, Path Loss (PL), UE Antenna Gain (G_r), Penetration & Body Losses, 5G Channel Bandwidth, UE Noise Figure (NF) exactly in the units shown by this 5g nr link budget & rsrp. Check the operating band, unit prefix, and decimal position before calculating; these are the inputs used by the formula.
- gNodeB EIRP — use dBm.
- Path Loss (PL) — use dB.
- UE Antenna Gain (G_r) — use dBi.
- Penetration & Body Losses — use dB.
- 5G Channel Bandwidth — use MHz.
- UE Noise Figure (NF) — use dB.
Output Guide
The results describe the calculated 5g nr link budget & rsrp values for the inputs you entered. Check each value against the available space, selected components, feed system, and operating conditions before making a final design decision.
How This Calculator Works
The 5G NR Link Budget & RSRP uses P_r = EIRP - PL - L_misc + G_r, RSRP = P_r - 10 log₁₀(N_subcarriers), Noise = -174 + 10 log₁₀(BW_Hz) + NF. Supply gNodeB EIRP (dBm), Path Loss (PL) (dB), UE Antenna Gain (G_r) (dBi), Penetration & Body Losses (dB), 5G Channel Bandwidth (MHz), UE Noise Figure (NF) (dB) in the displayed units, then use the calculated values as the first engineering target for this 5g nr design or analysis.
Design Notes
In 5G NR cellular networks, cell edge coverage and handover decisions are determined by RSRP (power per resource element/subcarrier) rather than total channel power. RSRP is typically 25 to 35 dB lower than total wideband received power depending on channel bandwidth.
Build and Tuning Notes
When planning C-Band (n77/n78) or mmWave (n257/n260) outdoor-to-indoor coverage, include 10–25 dB for building penetration loss (O2I) and 3–5 dB for UE human body loss.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a good RSRP value in 5G NR?
RSRP > -85 dBm indicates excellent signal quality, -85 to -95 dBm is good, -95 to -105 dBm is fair, and RSRP < -115 dBm indicates weak coverage near the cell edge.
How is 5G RSRP calculated from total received power?
RSRP equals total received carrier power minus 10×log₁₀ of the total number of active subcarriers (N_subcarriers = PRBs × 12). For example, a 100 MHz channel with 273 PRBs has 3,276 subcarriers (~35.15 dB offset).
What is thermal noise density in 5G link budgets?
Thermal noise density at room temperature (290 K) is k*T ≈ -174 dBm/Hz. Total thermal noise equals -174 + 10×log₁₀(Bandwidth in Hz) + UE Noise Figure (typically 7–9 dB).
Alex Warren
B.Sc. in Electrical & Electronic Engineering (EEE)
Alex specialises in antenna design and wave propagation. His expertise helps ensure these calculators present practical RF concepts, useful design estimates, and clear engineering guidance for students, HAM operators, and wireless professionals.