Satellite Dish Installation Cost

How Much is a Satellite Dish?

Although predicting the exact cost to install a satellite dish can be difficult, there are a few variables that all contractors will use to determine localised pricing.

This section will go over the various costs associated with installing a satellite dish and the factors that influence them. The overall cost of installing a satellite dish in your location will be determined by several factors, including:

Installation

Your installer will determine the best location for reception on your roof and then securely mount the dish. Then they'll run the cable between both the tuner and the dish, waterproofing the connection in which it exits your house.

They will test the connection, make sure everything is working properly, and clean up after the installation.

How Many Screens Do You Have in Your Home?

What kind of A/V system do you have in your house? Placing a dish to serve a single television will be less expensive than installing a dish to serve multiple televisions in a single home.

The Situation on Your Roof

Hiring a reputable professional means you won't have to risk your neck trying to climb onto your roof for a satellite dish setup, but even experts will charge more for a steep or high roof.

If moving around up there requires special equipment, such as harnessing, expect an additional charge from your installer.

Bundled Packaging

If they install it for free, you'll save a lot of money, so ask around.

Freeview Signal

Your fitter will ensure that you receive good reception as part of its overall TV aerial installation. Some areas, however, have a stronger signal than others.

If the signal is strong enough, the transmitter can be fitted at gutter level or within the loft, saving money. In areas with poor signal, the antenna must be raised, and an amplifier could well be required, raising the cost.

So how much does a satellite dish cost?

The average cost of a TV aerial installation is between £200 and £300. This is based on a two-story property that requires less than 20m of wiring and has the cables running on the building's exterior.

Internal wiring is likely to cost significantly more because of the greater difficulty level involved and the increased installation time.

It is common practice to add new TV points all through your home when installing a new antenna. This, however, will raise the total cost of the project.

If you are a skilled do-it-yourself, you may want to do the installation yourself to save money.

Because many installations take place at a height, it is critical to use safety precautions to avoid accidents and injuries. Normally, a standard dish setup with two feeds to your box, allowing you to record one channel while watching another, costs £150 - £250.

The cost of installing a satellite dish with a single tv broadcast for basic Freesat boxes that do not record is typical £150 - £200.

If you have a dish and just want to run cables to some other room, this normally costs £75 - £100. Prices may vary depending on the layout of your property and the location of your TV because third parties provide installations.

If you're looking to install a new TV aerial or satellite dish, you've probably heard of Freesat and Freeview. But what exactly are satellite dishes, and which one is best for you?

They both are free television services, as their names imply. The most common service is Freeview, which requires a TV aerial to receive a signal. Homeowners will need a small satellite dish to receive the Freesat signal.

While the television services are free, you will need to use a satellite dish or a roof antenna to receive the signal.

Satellite dishes are usually less expensive to install than TV aerials, but they do require additional components to access the signal, including a set-top box, which raises the overall cost of a dish.

A Freeview TV aerial installation will cost around £250, and a Freesat satellite installation will cost around £140.

Satellite Dish Installation Prices

The table below will give a breakdown of the cost to install a satellite dish:

What are the Supply Costs for a Satellite Dish?

If you have Dish, AT&T, or cable and want to get satellite service for your home, you shouldn't need to hire a professional installer.

You can install a satellite dish even if you may not have much construction experience. Once you've determined the best location for your dish, secure it in place.

By pointing the dish up to the sky, you can receive a satellite signal. You can then transmit the signal to a recipient and your TV using proper wiring.

Here, we will go over the various supplies that you will need for the job, as well as their costs, so that if you decide to DIY the project, you will know what to buy.

Hold the dish's mount up to your house and mark the screw positions; the mount should cost between £12 and £40. The dish is held up by an L-shaped rod with a base plate that attaches to your house.

If you're mounting the satellite on the side of your house, make sure the holes line up with a wall stud or another strong structure. It will not hold if you try to anchor it to the siding.

To break through stone and other rigid surfaces without damaging your drill, use a masonry drill bit, which will cost between £20 and £40.

Screws will cost between £6 and £7. Install the plugs into the wall using a hammer (£9 - £30) and a chisel (£7 - £13).

Apply the tip of a chisel to one of the bolts. Push the bolt into the wall with a couple of good whacks on the chisel's handle. Hammer the bolt until it is flush with the wall.

Attach the antenna bracket, which will cost between £15 and £40, to the low noise block (LNB) arm, which will cost between £5 and £30.

The table below will break down the supply costs for a satellite dish:

What are the Additional Costs of Installing a Satellite Dish?

When installing a satellite dish in your home it may result in additional costs for extra work you decide to have done. This can influence the overall cost. Lets take a look in more detail.

Roof Repair

Roof repair costs will vary according to the type of repair and replacement required. The larger the roof, the higher the cost of maintenance or replacement.

Taller houses, houses with multiple levels or features like chimney stacks as well as dormer windows, may also need scaffolding to assist roofers while they work, raising your access costs.

If you have a leak due to a lost or broken roof tile, a roofer can substitute cement, clay, or slates for around £350, which can be done within a few hours.

Lead flashing protects the edge of your roof where tiles meet the masonry. If this is the cause of the leak, a repair costs between £250 and £1,000 per metre of flashing.

Guttering

The total cost of guttering is affected by the material used or the size of the region to be covered.

Semi-detached home with 15 to 20 metres of guttering costs between £600 and £900 in steel, £675 and £900 in aluminium, £675 and £1,000 in uPVC, £1,200 and £1,500 in cast iron, and £540 and £1,100 in copper.

Labour costs for installing guttering typically costs between £200 and £300 and will take approximately one day.

Roof Cleaning

Roof cleaning typically costs between £8 and £12 per m². This includes labour as well as any necessary equipment, materials and safety equipment required to access the roof safely.

Roof cleaning costs are also determined by the size and type of roof, the number of people performing the work, how easy or hard access to the roof is and your location within the UK.

The overall square meterage of a roof will influence the cost of having your roof cleaned. The greater the area to be covered, the longer the work takes, and the more materials will be required.

Scaffolding

The price of erecting a scaffold tower to fit an aerial ranges between £200 and £300. Scaffolding on three sides of a semi-detached house costs £1,000, while scaffolding on three sides of a detached cottage costs £600 to £700.

The cost of hiring scaffolding is determined by the type and size of scaffolding, the number of tradespeople involved, the ease of access, and the location of your property.

The duration of the rental determines most of the scaffolding rental fees with the addition of labour costs to put it up and down.

Preparation

It is critical to think about any preparation and construction work that may be required for the completion of your TV aerial installation. Will, for example, the old aerial has to be removed?

Signal for Freeview

Your fitter will ensure that you get good reception as part of a good TV aerial installation. Some areas, however, have a stronger signal than others.

If the signal is strong enough, the antenna can be fitted at gutter level or within the loft, which saves money. In areas with poor signal, the antenna must be raised, and an amplifier might well be required, raising the cost.

Aerial/Satellite

As you might expect, not all TV aerials or satellite dishes are the same. There is a large variety to choose from, from basic aerials starting at £15 and greater aerials costing hundreds of pounds.

In most cases, the price of buying an aerial will be between £15 - £50.

Factors Influencing Installation

The price is affected by the height of the installation, the wiring configuration, and the number of TV ports required.

Higher-end installations and those requiring the wiring to be installed internally (rather than on the building's exterior) will be more expensive. Every additional TV port will raise the price.

Number of Tradespeople

The cost of installing a satellite will vary according to the number of professionals hired. If only one tradesperson is needed to install, the labour cost will be much lower than if two, three, or more labourers are needed.

Duration

The longer it takes to install the satellite, the higher the labour cost. On the other hand, the longer the hiring period, the more you'll pay, with certain homeowners hiring an expert for a few days and others for weeks or even months.

Tradesmen Costs for a Satellite Dish Installation

Hiring an accredited engineer will give you a professional and high-quality finish and can often work quicker, being able to install up to 12 dishes per day.

They will look at your own unique setup and provide you with the best options, as well as let you know what the varying costs are and let you decide what's right for you.

Hiring a professional to install your satellite dish ensures precise alignment, secure mounting and optimal signal strength—saving you time, hassle, and potential signal issues.

There are numerous ways to install satellite dishes. Neater installations will always take longer. As a result, they are slightly more expensive, but potentially worth the extra effort especially if you want your dish to be concealed.

A standard installation for one dish would cost between £150 and £250 and include an aerial, pole, and standard bracket and take about 2 hours to complete. A replacement aerial installation however, would cost around £75.

The table below breaks down the labour costs when installing a satellite dish.

How Long Does It Take to Install a Satellite Dish?

A standard installation usually takes less than an hour, and a replacement usually takes 30 – 45 minutes.

The duration to install a newly installed aerial is determined by the following factors:

• Your current location
• Pole length required
• If you need new cables
• Whether or not a splitter or amplifier is required
• If you have a very high roof or difficult access to the roof
• If your installer is a highly qualified professional or someone charging a pittance for subpar work!
• If you already have an aerial and an internal cable with a TV point, this job will be much easier

The table below will show the duration of installing a satellite dish:

What Happens on the Day of Installation?

On the day of your installation, your engineer will show up at your home at the time specified.

They will discuss with you the best spot for your satellite dish as well as the best path for the cables leading from the dish to your Sky box.

Because the dish will be installed outside your home, a few cables will need to be attached to the outside. Holes will then be drilled to allow the cables to pass through the wall and into your home. Internal cables are commonly nailed to the skirting board.

Following the installation of your equipment, the engineer will give you a brief demonstration of how to use your box and view programmes. You’ll be able to watch Sky TV on the same day as your Sky satellite dish installation.

Types of Satellite Dishes

If you are considering having a satellite dish installed lets go through the different types of satellite dishes and the differences between them. Looking at their advantages and drawbacks.

Steel Satellite Dish

Steel is the most used material for satellite dishes. This is almost always painted. Steel dishes have the advantage of being both strong and inexpensive to purchase.

The main disadvantage of coloured steel dish antennas is that they rust easily, resulting in a shorter lifespan and the possibility of rust stains on your wall.

They are also inappropriate for seaside or marine environments, where they will not last long. You might even want to keep in mind painting the dish to keep the rust at bay and extend its life.

Pros

• Strong
• Affordable

Cons

• Can rust
• If not maintained, they are not durable

Aluminium Satellite Dish

Aluminium dishes are typically more expensive than steel dishes, so your satellite dish installation will be more expensive.

Many people believe that aluminium does not rust, which is technically correct because rust is a form of corrosion unique to iron/steel, but aluminium does oxidise.

This is not a problem because it will eventually protect the underpinning metal. Aluminium is also very light in weight, which may make a difficult installation high up a ladder or on a roof easier.

Pros

• Light in weight
• Do not rust as much as steel

Cons

• Expensive

Choosing the right satellite dish depends on your signal strength, location, and service needs. Getting it right will give you clear, reliable reception every time.

Fibreglass Satellite Dish

Fibreglass satellite dishes' main advantage is that you don't have to worry about rust or other types of weathering like you do with metal dishes. Thus, making them the ideal choice for beachside installations and installations in marine environments.

The most significant disadvantage of fibreglass dishes is their high cost when compared to other types.

Another disadvantage of fibreglass is that it is typically not as strong as steel; however, this is not an issue with satellite antennas because once installed, they are rarely touched again, except by high winds.

Pros

• Does not rust
• Good for bad weather

Cons

• Expensive
• Not as strong as steel

Offset Satellite Dish

Offset satellite dishes are by far the most common here in the UK and are used alongside Sky and FreeSat services.

An offset satellite dishes has an LNB feed arm that is positioned to one side of the parabolic reflector. This means more of the dish can receive the signal offering better coverage.

Due to their design offset satellite dishes are generally smaller and lighter so can be easily installed on a wall. Due to them having an upwards tilt, it also helps reduce rain and snow build-up so it has a consistent performance even in bad weather.

Pros

• Can use a smaller dish size

Cons

• None

Solid Dishes

When comparing satellite dishes, the term "solid" refers to the parabolic reflector. It means that there are no holes in it, as opposed to commonly seen mesh/perforated satellite dishes.

Solid satellite dishes are the most common and, in general, much better for seaside and marine environments because rainwater and moisture have fewer places to enter and rust/corrode the metal.

Solid dishes are often more popular and better suited to the higher frequencies in use by satellite television and satellite broadband services.

Pros

• Popular in the UK
• Good for bad weather

Cons

• No holes in it

How Much Does It Cost to Remove a Satellite Dish?

You can expect to pay between £50 and £100 to remove a TV aerial. However, the exact cost of removing a TV aerial will be determined by several factors, including:

• What kind of aerial do you have
• It doesn't matter if it's indoors or outside
• How simple it is to gain access to your roof
• Your current location

Poorly fitted or damaged satellite dishes can run the risk of damaging your own or a neighbour’s property as well as injuring someone as it falls to the ground, making removal a necessary task.

As more people use cable TV or switch to new Sky plans that no longer need a satellite the need to remove old aerials, satellite dishes and unsightly wires outdoors is increasing.

If you still need a TV aerial, it could make more sense to replace it with a like-for-like model rather than getting rid of it entirely. The cost varies depending on whether your aerial is on your roof or in your loft.

Getting a replacement satellite may end up being less expensive than removing your old one entirely.

FAQs

Q: How do you connect a satellite dish to a TV?

A: Connect one end of the coax cable to the "LNB" connector on the rear end of your satellite dish. Connect one end of the coax cable to your satellite receiver's "Sat in" port. Connect one end of the HDMI port to the 'output' port on the satellite's back.

Q: Can I install a satellite dish myself?

A: If you have Dish, AT&T, or cable and want to get satellite service for your home, you shouldn't need to hire a professional installer. You can install a satellite dish even if you don't have much construction experience. Once you've determined the best location for your dish, secure it in place.

Q: What way should a satellite dish face?

A: The location of the satellite transmitting the signal is referred to as the horizontal alignment. As a result, your dish must face either east or west, depending on which direction you want to receive the signal.

Q: What does LNB stand for?

A: The satellite dish is made of metal. The only electronic components are found in the front of the metal arm. It's commonly known as an LNB or LNBF, which stands for Low-Noise block downconverter.

Q: Who is responsible for removing the satellite dish?

A: The tenant is responsible for removing the satellite dish; however, you must get it in writing. Unless your rental agreement states that the tenant is directly responsible for removal, the responsibility falls to the property owner or manager.

Q: What is a portable satellite dish?

A: A portable satellite dish is one that can be moved with you from place to place. This is very beneficial for people who own touring caravans and motorhomes as they are small and compact and give you the opportunity to get TV while on the go.

Author: Emma M

I am a Liverpool-based freelance writer with a degree in Media and Communications. I specialise in product reviews, home improvement and DIY content. I am also experienced in social media management and content marketing.