How Much Does It Cost to Remove a Satellite Dish?
Normal range: $100 - $1,500
Removing a satellite dish costs an average of $150, but it can cost between $80 and $500, depending on the size of the dish and removal challenges.
Even if you made the switch to streaming your TV and movies long ago, you may still be stuck with that old satellite dish. While costs to remove a satellite dish typically range from $100 to $1,500, most people pay around $150. However, lots of factors can add to your cost, including repairs and removing additional parts.
- Average
- $150
- Low end
- $80
- high end
- $500
Average Cost to Remove a Satellite Dish
The typical cost range to remove a satellite dish is between $80 and $500, and this job typically only includes costs for labor and tools, since your pro will simply be removing what’s already in place. You should be sure to check that the price you're quoted includes the cost of hauling away and disposing of the old dish. While many pros include this in their pricing, some charge extra, considering it an add-on service.
Another potential up-charge is the removal of the existing satellite plate or footing. In many cases, the price of removing the dish doesn't include removing the plate. Check with your contractor when they come to quote you for the job. If you're simply replacing the old dish with a new one, you may not need to remove the plate at all if the new dish is in the same weight and size class as the old one.
Even if you get a new dish installed as part of a TV package, it likely won't include removing the old one, so you'll still need to hire a local satellite TV installer to get rid of the old dish for you.
Cost to Replace a Satellite Dish
If you’re staying loyal to satellite TV and just need to replace your dish, you may be able to get your new dish installed at no extra cost by the satellite provider. But, if you don't fancy removing the existing dish yourself, you'll still need to pay to have a pro help get rid of it for you.
If you're an enthusiastic DIYer who is comfortable working on the roof, you can remove the dish yourself and install the new one for as little as $100, including the cost of the dish, with a widely available installation kit. With basic dish kits starting at $100, this works out to be a fairly inexpensive DIY project.
However, if you want a higher-quality dish that works with more TV providers, allows nationwide coverage, gives solid coverage in hard-to-reach locations, or is appropriate for RV installation, you could pay as much as $1,500 for the dish and installation kit.
If you're doing a substantial upgrade to allow your household to connect multiple TVs, an additional receiver, or a DVR, you'll also need to include the cost of a splitter, which adds around $20 to your total. Boosting the signal to allow multiple connections requires a signal booster, which typically costs around $40, or a combo splitter and booster that will set you back around $80.
Satellite Dish Removal Cost Factors
While it's a fairly simple project, several factors influence how much you'll pay for a satellite dish removal.
Location
Where you live impacts how much you'll spend on satellite dish removal. While you can expect to pay on the lower end of this cost range in rural areas, you can pay up to 75% more in city centers for satellite dish removal. This is also due, in part, to cities tending to build vertically, so apartments and houses above three stories are common. The higher the pro has to go, the more they may charge to compensate for their increased risk.
Type of Dish Mount
Whether your dish is mounted on your roof or on a pole in your yard significantly impacts the cost to remove it. If you've got a roof-mounted satellite dish, you'll pay from $80 for simple, low-difficulty removal or up to $500 for a high-risk, difficult job.
Removing a satellite dish from a pole is a mid-priced option, at around $150. Removing the pole itself would cost extra and may require the services of a local handyperson. Most people have pole installations if their property's roof is excessively high, steep, or would otherwise make satellite installation too expensive or difficult, as this helps to reduce cost.
Type and Height of Roof
Removing a satellite dish from a single-story home with a gently pitching roof costs closer to $80. However, a steeply pitched roof on a 3-story property or higher will set you back closer to $500.
The steeper the pitch and the higher the dish, the greater the risk and difficulty, and the more time the job takes, so the more you pay in labor costs. Aside from the increased time, you may also pay an upcharge of around $30 per story.
Dish Size
While most dishes are of a similar size, extra-large dishes may cost up to $50 extra to remove. You may also find there's a $10 to $25 upcharge for disposing of bigger dishes. Out-sized satellite dishes are more common in remote areas where the signal is weak or spotty.
Extra Services
While many pros give you one all-inclusive price, others don't, so be super clear with what you want and what's included in your quote before you sign the contract. Disposing of the old dish can incur an additional fee of up to $50, depending on the size of the dish and how far the contractor has to haul it. Removing the satellite plate foot is another common add-on service that can set you back an additional $30 to $60.
Repair Work
While they're up on your roof, your satellite contractor may spot roof damage, from missing shingles to cracked vent boosting, damaged flashing, or problematic gutters. If that happens, you'll want to get it taken care of as soon as possible, as roof repair costs can quickly spiral if the issue is left for too long.
Plus, if the roof starts to leak, you'll have even higher costs. So you'll need to hire a local roofing contractor ASAP. Typically, roof repair costs between $360 and $1,550.
DIY vs. Hiring a Satellite Installer
Theoretically, removing a satellite dish is a fairly simple job that you may be able to tackle yourself. You'll save 100% of the labor costs involved in this project, making the DIY route an attractive option. However, remember, you'll likely be working at height, balancing on a ladder and you'll need to safely lower and haul away the dish itself. Remember to follow safety tips for working on your roof, including working with a partner and only going up in good weather. You’ll also need specific tools like drills, wrenches, and screwdrivers, which can add to the cost if you don’t have these on hand.
If you don't have great balance or past experience working on your roof, though, it's probably a smart move to hire a pro. Similarly, if you need to remove a dish on a property higher than a single story, let a satellite specialist do the work, as they have all the right safety gear and solid experience of working at height.
How to Remove a Satellite Dish
If you're confident in your ability to remove a dish yourself, these are the basic steps you'll need to take.
Anchor a ladder against your roof.
Turn off power to the dish, grab your tools, and head up to the roof.
Unhook the cable connecting the dish to your home's power and network.
Attach a strap to the dish and attach the other end to an anchor point on the roof to let you lower the dish in a safe, controlled manner when it's loose.
Unscrew the bolts holding the dish to the roof.
Carefully lower the dish to the ground, then remember to unhook the strap on the roof.
Remove the plate if you want to at this point.
Fill in any holes left behind with silicone or tar.
How to Dispose of a Satellite Dish
One of the easiest and least expensive ways to dispose of your old satellite dish is to take it to a recycling center. You may also be able to arrange curbside pickup for a small cost, or you can hire a junk removal service to deal with it for you. Alternatively, you can get creative and upcycle your old satellite dish, turning it into a birdbath, or a fun family project, turning the dish into a piece of garden art.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can remove a satellite dish yourself. Just be sure that you feel confident in the job as it requires you to climb a ladder and work on the roof. As working on the roof can be quite dangerous even for experienced DIYers, it’s recommended that you call in a local satellite dish installer.
If the system is no longer in use, it may be safe to cut your satellite dish cable. However, you must be very careful and ensure that there is no voltage. Check for live voltage with a multimeter and only proceed if safe. You may want to hire a professional to do the job, just in case.
This depends on your provider, but generally, no you do not have to return your dish satellite once you’ve canceled your service. Your best bet is to take the dish to an appropriate recycling center, arrange for a junk removal service to come pick it up, or even rent a dumpster.