There is no private IPv4 range that is automatically safe from VPN conflicts. Private networks reuse the same addresses, so choose a specific LAN subnet only after checking the corporate VPN routes, its client-address pool, and any partner or remote networks your users must reach. If those details are unknown, ask the VPN administrator before settling on a range.
Why private LANs conflict with VPNs
The three IPv4 blocks reserved for private internets are 10.0.0.0–10.255.255.255 (10.0.0.0/8), 172.16.0.0–172.31.255.255 (172.16.0.0/12), and 192.168.0.0–192.168.255.255 (192.168.0.0/16). They are not globally unique: separate homes and organizations can use the same addresses.
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A conflict occurs when the local LAN and a network reached through the VPN use overlapping prefixes or host addresses. A device may then send traffic for a destination down the wrong path. The result can be loss of access to a corporate host, a local device, or both. The issue is overlap, not that one of the three private blocks is inherently unsuitable.
RFC 1918 warns that separately managed networks can later find their address uniqueness violated when they try to connect. That risk matters when a home or office may later connect to another site, partner, or organization.
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How to choose a subnet
- List the networks that must be reachable at the same time. Include the corporate subnets advertised by the work VPN, the VPN’s virtual client-address pool if applicable, site-to-site VPN peers, partner networks, and other local networks users need. RFC 5684 describes conflicts involving a remote LAN that overlaps corporate private address space.
- Estimate host capacity and growth. Decide how many devices the LAN must support now and later, then account for the subnetting options your router and other equipment support. Choose a subnet prefix that meets those needs; do not treat an entire private block as a recommended single-LAN subnet.
- Compare candidate subnets against the list. Reject any candidate that overlaps a network users need to reach. Compare the actual prefixes, not just labels such as “10 range” or “192.168 range.” A different subnet within a private block can still overlap a VPN route.
- Ask the VPN administrator for missing details. If you cannot see the VPN routes or client pool, request them before finalizing the LAN plan. There is no universally best private subnet independent of the remote networks involved.
- Test with the VPN active. Confirm that users can reach the intended corporate hosts and local devices while connected. RFC 5684 also explains that VPN routing must account for the remote router and DHCP server: accidentally tunneling traffic meant for either can disrupt local connectivity and the VPN itself. The RFC explains the risk; it does not prescribe product-specific test steps.
- Document the allocation and revisit it when connectivity changes. Record the chosen subnet and any reserved space for future LANs. Recheck the plan when adding a site, partner connection, or merger that could introduce overlapping addresses.
How the private blocks compare
| Private block | Full range | Planning consideration |
|---|---|---|
| 10.0.0.0/8 | 10.0.0.0–10.255.255.255 | RFC 1918 favors the 10/8 block where equipment supports a suitable subnetting scheme and growth plan. This is block-level planning guidance, not a recommendation to assign all of 10/8 to one LAN. |
| 172.16.0.0/12 | 172.16.0.0–172.31.255.255 | An alternative when subnetting constraints make it more suitable. Its suitability still depends on overlap with the networks that must be reached. |
| 192.168.0.0/16 | 192.168.0.0–192.168.255.255 | An alternative when subnetting constraints make it more suitable. Check the specific subnet against VPN and partner routes rather than assuming the block is conflict-free. |
These ranges are finite. RFC 6319 discusses proposals for additional private IPv4 space and issues facing large networks; it does not establish a new general-purpose private block. Choosing addresses outside the RFC 1918 ranges is therefore not a generally safe substitute for resolving overlap.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What if a conflict cannot be avoided?
Ask the VPN administrator whether the deployment can detect conflicts or provide distinct client-address pools. Those capabilities depend on the VPN implementation; do not assume the client will automatically resolve every overlap. If two separate provider-managed VPN contexts reuse addresses, RFC 4364 describes how the addresses can remain unambiguous within their separate VPNs when there is no need for communication between the overlapping systems. That arrangement does not make overlap harmless when a remote-access user needs both the local LAN and corporate VPN reachable at once.
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