Short answer
Cisco switch pricing depends on the family, port count, PoE budget, uplink type and licence term, so list prices vary widely. Catalyst 1000 access switches sit at the entry end, while Catalyst 9300 stackable switches with DNA licensing cost several times more. Always compare quotes including licence and support.
Updated 2026-09-21 · 4 min read
What actually drives the price
- Family — Catalyst 1000, 9200 and 9300 sit at very different levels
- Port count and speed — 8, 24 or 48 ports, gigabit or multigigabit
- PoE budget — full PoE+ across 48 ports adds significant cost
- Uplinks — SFP+ and QSFP modules are priced separately, and often forgotten
- Licensing — Network Essentials versus Advantage, and the term chosen
- Support — SmartNet or Solution Support, usually quoted per year
How to compare two quotes fairly
| Check | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Are optics included? | A cheap switch quote often excludes the SFPs it needs |
| Licence term | Three years versus one changes the headline figure |
| Support level | Next business day versus 4-hour replacement differ a lot |
| Stacking cables | Priced separately, and needed on day one |
| Power supplies | Redundant PSUs are usually an extra line |
Why we quote rather than publish prices
Cisco pricing depends on configuration, quantity and current programmes, so a published figure would be wrong by the time you read it. Send us the model or a description of the site and you get a written quote, usually within one working day, with alternatives if something else fits better or ships sooner.
Related questions
- Is a Meraki switch cheaper than a Catalyst?
- The hardware can be, but Meraki requires a licence for every switch to keep working, so compare over the full term.
- Should I buy refurbished?
- We supply new hardware with full warranty and support eligibility. Refurbished units are usually ineligible for Cisco support, which matters when something fails.
Hardware for this
The ranges below cover what this article describes, supplied in the UK with lead times confirmed before you commit.
