In a method for generating a physical layer (PHY) data unit for transmission via a communication channel, a first set of modulation coding schemes (MCSs) and a second set of MCSs that correspond to a number of spatial streams and a number of encoders are provided. The first set of MCSs correspond to a first channel bandwidth and the second set of MCSs correspond to a second channel bandwidth, and the first set of MCSs is different than the second set of MCSs. An MCS is selected from the first set of MCSs when the PHY data unit is to be transmitted using a channel having the first channel bandwidth, and the MCS is selected from the second set of MCSs when the PHY data unit is to be transmitted using a channel having the second channel bandwidth. Information bits are encoded using the number of encoders and according to the selected MCS, and the encoded information bits are parsed into the number of spatial streams. The encoded information bits are modulated according to the MCS, and a plurality of OFDM symbols are formed based on the modulated encoded information bits.