How Much to Install a TV Aerial?
What factors can affect the total costs?
Some factors can affect the overall cost of the job including your location, the signal in your home, the length of time the installation takes and any additional materials that you may need for the job.
So, what can you expect to pay?
The average cost to have a brand new TV aerial system installed at your home is around £150-£250.
This average price is based on the installation of an average-sized aerial, a new cable, a pole for the aerial, and a replacement TV socket.
What if you just need to replace an aerial?
If you currently have an aerial, you will be able to get a replacement aerial with the same pole, cables, and socket for around £80-£100.
Remember than it is more expensive to install a new TV aerial than it is to replace an existing one.
Okay so let's take a look at these prices in more detail...
TV Aerial Installation Prices
Below is a list of the estimated costs for fitting or replacing a TV aerial:
| Type of Job | Average Cost | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| New outdoor TV aerial system installation | £150-£200 | 4-6 hours |
| New loft TV aerial system installation | £30-£50 | 1-2 hours |
| Like-for-like outdoor TV aerial replacement | £80-£120 | 2-3 hours |
| Like-for-like loft TV aerial replacement | £18-£25 | 1-2 hours |
| Extra TV aerial socket installation | £80-£120 | 2-3 hours |
| TV aerial with dish replacement | £230-£280 | 2-3 hours |
Supply Cost of TV Aerial Installation
The supply costs for installing an aerial at your home will vary depending on the type of aerial choose. Below is a list of the different types of aerial that you can choose for your home and their prices:
| Type of Aerial | Where To Install | Average Aerial Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Yagi aerial | Outdoor or Loft | £35-£50 |
| Grouped aerial | Outdoor | £25-£35 |
| Log periodic aerial | Outdoor | £28-£42 |
| Indoor aerial | Indoor | £15-£35 |
| High gain aerial | Outdoor | £20-£45 |
| Loft aerial | Loft | £22-£42 |
Additional TV Aerial Installation Costs
Several additional costs involve installing a outdoor or loft TV aerial, including the aerial mast, brackets, cables, clips, and signal booster.
With this in mind, you should budget tor extra costs with this type of work. The table below highlights the additional costs that may come up with this type of job:
| Product Type | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Steel aerial mast | £4-£10 |
| Alloy aerial mast | £7-£12 |
| Aluminium aerial mast | £8-£15 |
| Pole bracket | £4-£6 |
| TV Aerial cable | £20-£40 |
| Cable clips | £2-£3 per pack |
| Signal splitters | £4-£10 |
| Distribution amplifier | £20-£40 |
Scaffolding Hire
A further cost you may need to budget for is scaffolding hire.
When installing a TV aerial on higher roofs, chimneys, buildings with complex roof structures or obstructions like conservatories or extensions, scaffolding may be necessary to provide a safe and stable platform for the installer to gain access.
The cost of hiring scaffolding varies depending on the type of scaffolding, the complexity of the setup and your property’s location.
For small projects like aerial installation, the average costs range from £250 to £400 per week.
Painter & Decorator
In some instances you may require a painter and decorator to help fix damaged walls caused by running cables from a tv aerial socket.
You may use this as a reason to get the room fully redecorated. To hire a painter & decorator to redecorate a small room, expect to pay between £200 - £300. Prices can increase up to £650 for large rooms and will depend on the exact work you want carried out.
Labour Cost to Install a TV Aerial
When calculating the overall aerial installation prices for your home, you will need to consider the labour costs. The cost of labour will depend on the time it takes to complete the installation and the difficulty of the job.
A standard aerial installation including the aerial, pole and a standard bracket would cost around £100-£200. For a replacement aerial installation, it would cost around £60-£100.
Those based in London can expect to pay a little more for the labour cost than those based in the North or other parts of the UK.
How Long Does It Take to Install an Aerial?
You may also be curious about how long the installation may take. This can vary depending on the ease of access, the difficulty of the job, and the type of aerial installation.
A standard aerial installation including the aerial, pole and a standard bracket would take around 3-5 hours to complete. For a replacement aerial installation, it would take around 2-3 hours to complete on average.
Types of Aerial
There are several different types of aerial that you can get for your home. Below is a list of the different types of aerial with their uses and costs:
Yagi TV Aerial Cost
Yagi aerials are the most common type of outdoor TV aerials used in the UK. These are fitted to a property with a mounted pole on the chimney or gable end. It features a large rod with a reflector close to the pole and has smaller rods that capture the signal.
These can also be installed in lofts if the signal is strong enough and roof materials do not interfere with the signal.
These aerials can pick up most digital TV stations in areas that have moderate to good signal coverage. However, these aerials fail to work in areas where the signal is poor. A Yagi aerial usually costs around £35-£50.
Pros:
- Most common type of outdoor aerial
- Can pick up most digital TV stations
Cons:
- This aerial wont work in poor signal areas
High Gain TV Aerial Cost
This type of outdoor TV aerial is purposely made for areas that have low signal coverage. They are similar to Yagi aerials in their build, but they have two large reflectors used to capture the signal and boost it to give the best picture possible.
This is the best choice of aerial for those who live in rural areas and are usually mounted on long masts to elevate them above any obstructions such as trees and buildings. The average cost for a high gain aerial is around £20-£45.
Pros:
- Purpose made aerial for low signal areas
- Best outdoor aerial choice for rural areas
Cons:
- None
Indoor TV Aerial Cost
An indoor TV aerial is not designed to pick up digital transmissions, so with this in mind, indoor aerials are much less common now than they used to be.
This type of aerial is also often prone to interference from other electrical devices. The average cost for an indoor aerial is around £15-£35.
Pros:
- You can install this yourself easily
- Cheaper option
Cons:
- Not designed to pick up digital channels
- Prone to interference
Loft-Mounted TV Aerial Cost
A loft-mounted TV aerial is designed for high coverage areas where it is not suitable to place an aerial outside. This is best for areas that experience strong winds or weather patterns that could damage an outdoor aerial.
A high signal is needed as the roof tiles, plumbing, and cabling in your loft can affect the transmission quality. A signal booster is usually recommended with loft aerials. A loft aerial is usually around £22-£42.
Pros:
- Designed for high coverage places
Cons:
- High signal is required
Satellite Dish Cost
Installing a satellite dish is a popular choice if you want an outdoor aerial that can access services like Freesat or Sky, that standard aerials can't. The average cost for a standard satellite dish installation ranges between £150–£250, which typically includes the dish, cabling, and setup for one or two feeds.
For a basic Freesat setup with a single TV broadcast (non-recording), costs are usually around £150–£200. If you already have a dish and need to run cables to another room, expect to pay approximately £75–£100.
Pros:
- Access to a wide range of free-to-air channels via Freesat
- Suitable for areas with poor terrestrial signal
- Potential for DIY installation if experienced
Cons:
- Installation on high or steep roofs can increase costs due to additional equipment and safety measures
- Additional components like set-top boxes may be required, raising overall expenses
How Much Does TV Aerial Removal Cost?
If you have an old TV aerial at your home that you're no longer using, then you may want to consider having it removed.
Removing an old TV aerial can improve the look of your home, but it can also stop any chances of it coming loose and potentially falling off in bad weather.
If you are looking to remove an aerial, you can expect to pay somewhere between £50-£100 on average.
FAQs
Q: What TV aerial do I need?
A: The most common type of TV aerial in the UK is a Yagi aerial. This is best suited for areas with moderate to good signal coverage.
If your area's coverage isn't great, you would be better off with a high gain TV aerial. If your area is prone to bad weather and strong winds, you should opt for a loft aerial. However, these will only work in areas with good signal coverage.
Q: Can you watch TV without an aerial?
A: You can watch TV with a satellite dish and a satellite receiver instead of a TV aerial. Alternatively, you can get some online TV services via Wi-Fi such as Netflix where you can watch several TV shows and movies. However, these services don't tend to provide live TV.
Q: Can I add an extra TV aerial socket?
A: You can do this. The best way would be to use a splitter on the main aerial. However, this may cause some signal loss so you may need to install a booster.
A new coaxial cable will need to be installed from the splitter to the new outlet. This is then connected to a surface-mounted aerial output.
Q: How long will a TV aerial last?
A: New TV aerials tend to be quite durable and will last around 10-20 years depending on the model.
Q: Does a smart TV need an aerial?
A: If you want to watch live TV, you will need an aerial. If you only watch catch up TV or subscription services such as Netflix, you won't need an aerial as this will run through Wi-Fi.
