A method for generating a physical layer PHY data unit for transmission via a communication channel, the method comprising: receiving a plurality of information bits to be included in a data portion of the PHY data unit; adding one or more first padding bits to the information bits such that the information bits, after being encoded, fill one or more OFDM symbols up to a first portion of a last OFDM symbol, wherein the first portion of the last OFDM symbol is an initial portion of the last OFDM symbol up to a boundary within the last OFDM symbol, and wherein the method includes determining a number of excess information bits, of the plurality of information bits, to be included in the last OFDM symbol, and selecting a boundary value of the boundary within the last OFDM symbol based on the determined number of excess information bits; encoding the information bits and the first padding bits to generate coded bits; performing one of (i) adding one or more second padding bits to the coded bits corresponding to the last OFDM symbol or (ii) adding one or more padding constellation points to a set of constellation points generated based on the coded bits corresponding to the last OFDM symbol such that the padded coded bits or the padded constellation points occupy a second portion of the last OFDM symbol, wherein the second portion is a remaining portion of the last OFDM symbol after the boundary; and generating the one or more OFDM symbols, including generating the last OFDM symbol to include (i) the coded information bits corresponding to the last OFDM symbol, (ii) the coded first padding bits in the first portion of the last OFDM symbol to allow a receiving device to stop decoding the one or more OFDM symbols after decoding the first portion of the last OFDM symbol, and (iii) the one or more second padding bits or the one or more padding constellation points in the second portion of the last OFDM symbol; and generating the PHY data unit to include at least the one or more OFDM symbols. receiving a plurality of information bits to be included in a data portion of the PHY data unit; adding one or more first padding bits to the information bits such that the information bits, after being encoded, fill one or more OFDM symbols up to a first portion of a last OFDM symbol, wherein the first portion of the last OFDM symbol is an initial portion of the last OFDM symbol up to a boundary within the last OFDM symbol, and wherein the method includes determining a number of excess information bits, of the plurality of information bits, to be included in the last OFDM symbol, and selecting a boundary value of the boundary within the last OFDM symbol based on the determined number of excess information bits; encoding the information bits and the first padding bits to generate coded bits; performing one of (i) adding one or more second padding bits to the coded bits corresponding to the last OFDM symbol or (ii) adding one or more padding constellation points to a set of constellation points generated based on the coded bits corresponding to the last OFDM symbol such that the padded coded bits or the padded constellation points occupy a second portion of the last OFDM symbol, wherein the second portion is a remaining portion of the last OFDM symbol after the boundary; and generating the one or more OFDM symbols, including generating the last OFDM symbol to include (i) the coded information bits corresponding to the last OFDM symbol, (ii) the coded first padding bits in the first portion of the last OFDM symbol to allow a receiving device to stop decoding the one or more OFDM symbols after decoding the first portion of the last OFDM symbol, and (iii) the one or more second padding bits or the one or more padding constellation points in the second portion of the last OFDM symbol; and generating the PHY data unit to include at least the one or more OFDM symbols.