Things to know
Diagnosing why a picture is breaking up or a signal is weak is a real, billable step before any fitting happens. A damaged cable, a misaligned dish, or genuine local signal issues all look identical to a customer as "the TV doesn't work," but they require completely different fixes. Naming the diagnosis as its own line explains why an invoice sometimes shows work beyond what the customer originally called about.
Loft-mounted and external roof-mounted aerials are different jobs with different access requirements. A loft aerial needs no external access equipment. A roof-mounted install typically needs a ladder or tower and carries its own time and safety cost. State which was used and why, particularly if a loft aerial wasn't viable due to signal strength or roof material.
Multi-room distribution, splitting a signal to more than one TV, is a genuine additional job, not a free extra of a single installation. It needs its own cabling and sometimes an amplifier to avoid signal loss across multiple outlets. Pricing it as its own line makes clear why a two-room job costs more than a single-TV install.
Any work at height, such as a chimney-mounted aerial or a satellite dish on an upper wall, carries real safety and equipment costs, similar to any other roofline trade. Note the access method used, ladder or tower, as its own line where it applies, since this is where a seemingly simple job can quietly become a more specialist one.
Typical tv aerial & satellite installer line items and UK prices
Indicative ranges, excluding VAT. Rates vary by region (London and the South East run higher) and by job size.
| Item | Unit | Typical range |
|---|---|---|
| Call-out + signal diagnosis | per visit | £45–£90 |
| New external aerial, supplied + installed | per install | £150–£300 |
| Loft aerial | per install | £100–£200 |
| Aerial realignment / re-secure | per job | £70–£150 |
| Satellite dish install | per install | £120–£250 |
| Extra TV point (cable + plate) | per point | £60–£120 |
| Signal amplifier / distribution | per job | £70–£150 |
Common tv aerial & satellite installer jobs and how to price them
- Picture break-up and no-signal faults
- Call-out with diagnosis, then the fix priced on the spot.
- New aerials
- Fixed price including bracket, cable and alignment.
- Satellite and wall-mounting
- Per install, with bracket type and cable runs stated.
- Multi-room distribution
- Per point plus amplifier.
Regulations and certificates to reference
- Work at Height Regulations 2005 — roof and chimney work needs suitable access and a risk assessment. List the access method used.
- Planning rules for satellite dishes — most dishes on a house don't need planning permission if they're within the permitted development limits on size, number and siting (no more than two, and none sticking up above the roof). The rules are stricter in conservation areas, and a listed building usually needs listed building consent — check with the local council before quoting.
- Trade body membership — Confederation of Aerial Industries (CAI) registration is the recognised quality mark. Name it if you hold it.
Payment terms tv aerial & satellite installers commonly use
- Payment on completion by card or transfer.
- Landlords and agents: 14 days with property address.
Read more: Invoice payment terms explained · Payment methods to offer clients
VAT and CIS for tv aerial & satellite installers
VAT
Aerial and satellite work is standard-rated at 20% once you are VAT-registered.
Construction Industry Scheme (CIS)
Installing aerials and satellite dishes is within CIS only when it completes a new or altered building — for example, communal TV distribution in a new block of flats for a developer.
Fitting or repairing an aerial on an existing home is outside CIS.
General guidance, not tax advice — check your position with HMRC or an accountant.
Read more: Do I need to charge VAT on my invoices? · What must an invoice include? (UK legal requirements)
What this template includes
- Signal diagnosis priced as its own step
- Loft vs external mounting noted, with access cost
- Multi-room distribution priced as an extra
- Working-at-height equipment itemised where used
- PDF download or shareable tracked link
Full guide
How to Start a TV Aerial Installation Business as a Sole Trader
Frequently asked questions
A poor picture can be caused by the aerial, cabling, connections, the TV, or a transmitter issue. Diagnosis finds which, before money is spent on the wrong fix.
A loft aerial avoids roof access and weathering but needs a strong local signal. In weak signal areas, a roof or chimney mount is usually needed. Record the signal readings that justified the choice.
Splitting the signal reduces strength. Extra rooms need their own cable and often an amplifier, so each point is priced separately.
Yes. Before-and-after readings show the fix worked and help if the customer calls back after a transmitter change or storm.
A weak or breaking-up signal can have several different causes — a damaged cable, misalignment, or a local signal issue — and diagnosis identifies which one applies before deciding the right fix.
External roof-mounted work typically needs a ladder or tower and carries its own time and safety cost, unlike a loft-mounted aerial with no external access required.
Yes — multi-room distribution needs its own cabling and often an amplifier to avoid signal loss, so it is priced as a distinct addition to a single-TV installation.
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