In general, the faster the speed of a USB cable, the shorter it should be due to the electrical characteristics inherent to high speed data transfer.

Here are the different passive cable speeds and corresponding suggested lengths (reference):

USB 1.1

• Up to 5 meters

USB 2.0

• Up to 5 meters.

USB 3.1 Gen 1

• Up to 3 meters.

USB 3.1 Gen 2

• Up to 0.8 meter.

USB4

• Up to 0.8 meter.

Thunderbolt Cables

Thunderbolt maximum cable lengths vary per the standard and whether passive or active. It is best to label the cable you get with a peripheral and always ensure that cable is used with its peripheral.

Thunderbolt 3 cables

• If the cable is over half a meter, it needs to be a special active cable, meaning there are a bit of electronics inside to help things out.
• If 0.8 m or under, can be passive. The only thing under the rubber sheathing is copper wire.
• For more details, check the product pages of the cables you are considering.

Thunderbolt 4 Cables

Copper versions of Thunderbolt 4 cables offer full 40 Gbit/s speed and backward compatibility with all versions of USB (up to USB4), DisplayPort Alternate Mode (DP 1.4 HBR3), and Thunderbolt 3. Released in early 2021, they are also all to be available in three specified lengths: 0.2 m (0.66 ft), 0.8 m (2.6 ft), and 2 m (6.6 ft) – with many companies initially offering 0.8 m (2.6 ft) lengths. Copper Thunderbolt 4 cables up to 1 m (3.3 ft) are passive cables, while longer cables must integrate active signal conditioning circuitry.

Thunderbolt 5 Cables

Passive cable is available in 3 different lengths: 1 foot, 1.6 feet and 3.3 feet, supporting up to 80 Gbps of bi-directional data transfer and up to 120 Gbps of video bandwidth. (Reference)

Extending USB Cable Length

While exceeding the maximum lengths for USB cables can lead to performance issues, there are scenarios where longer reach is necessary.

Active Extension Cables

Active extension cables are designed specifically to overcome the length limitations of standard USB cables. These cables contain built-in electronics that amplify the signal, enabling longer cable lengths without significant loss of data transfer speed or signal integrity. 

USB 2.0

• Up to 30 meters.

USB 3.0 and 3.1

• Up to 18 meters

USB 3.2 and USB4

• Up to 3 meters

USB Extenders

USB extenders offer another robust solution for extending USB cable length, particularly for very long distances. USB extenders typically convert the USB signal into another form, such as Ethernet, which can travel over much longer distances without degradation. The signal is then converted back to USB at the receiving end. There are two main types of USB extenders:

• USB over Ethernet Extenders:These devices use standard Ethernet cables (Cat5e, Cat6) to extend USB connections up to 100 meters (approximately 328 feet). They consist of a transmitter unit that connects to the source device and a receiver unit that connects to the destination device. This method is ideal for large office spaces or industrial environments.
• Wireless USB Extenders:These extenders use wireless technology to transmit USB signals over the air. While they typically offer shorter maximum distances than Ethernet-based extenders, they provide the advantage of eliminating physical cables, offering flexibility in device placement.

Practical Considerations

• Keep cable lengths as short as necessary
• Use high-quality cables
• Use properly marked cables if available
• Keep cables away from electromagnetic interference
• Replace damaged or frayed cables

See Wikipedia for more in-depth cable information and potential issues.