The Cost to Replace a TV Aerial
Last updated 9th April, 2020
All you need to know about replacing a TV Aerial including costs of materials, labour and time frames.
What the job entails
Having a poor television signal can be extremely frustrating, an inside aerial in the loft can sometimes help, but often this doesn’t work too well as the signal can be obstructed by the roof materials, nearby trees and even surrounding buildings. For best reception, having a roof aerial installed is the preferred option. Fitting a roof aerial can be a straightforward DIY project if simply replacing an aerial like for like on an existing mounting using the same cable, but sometimes it can be more challenging and will involve a new mounting as well as cabling. If you have had ongoing poor TV reception, it’s often worthwhile hiring a professional to sort out the problem once and for all. Hopefully, this article will serve as a rough guide to aerial installation and the prices given will help you make an informed decision and avoid paying too much for this relatively simple job.
If you are paying for someone to go up on your roof and scaffolding is required for access - then it makes sense to take care of all roofing jobs at the same time. Though if scaffolding is not required, your aerial fitter will probably not be able to fix the chimney stack while he is up there! But do ask him to look around and let you know about any missing tiles or crumbling mortar, so you can take care of these minor jobs before they become major jobs!
The TV aerial industry does not have a sterling reputation and is well-known for miss-selling as there is very little money to made from simply connecting a new aerial onto an existing pole. So beware of additional add-ons and up-sells. A good way to avoid paying for extras which are not required, is to check with neighbours, if they don't need higher poles and larger aerials to get a good signal, chances are you don't either! Question any installer that tries to sell you a digital aerial, as there is no such thing and your existing aerial is likely fully compatible!
If you are told you need a new /larger mounting pole, new/larger aerial and new cabling too - always question this further and make sure you get three quotes to compare. You can do this by clicking the "Get Quotes" button. The cost you will pay for a newly installed aerial will depend on several factors which could increase the cost substantially, for example your location. Just being based in London or the Home Counties could mean paying almost twice as much than those living in the North of England for the same job!
The Replacement Cost of a TV Aerial
In order to provide these cost estimates we collated typical price information from various resources, but are only a rough guide and are not designed to take the place of a written quotation. Always try and get at least three written quotes before hiring a contractor to fit a TV aerial.
The average material cost to replace a TV aerial will simply depend on the aerial itself, and any new cabling that's required from the aerial to the TV. The material cost will usually be included in the overall price.
The average specialist will usually charge around £150 to £200 for a full day's labour. Fitting an aerial shouldn't take much longer than a few hours but you should expect to pay at least a half day's work, usually around £75.
Below are some estimated costs of hiring an aerial specialist to replace or re-align a TV aerial:
| Job Description | Avg. Cost | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| New aerial using existing pole, cable and TV socket | £100-£125 | 2-3 hours |
| Cost to repair/re-align TV aerial for better reception - Labour only | £40-£50 | 1 hour |
Cost Breakdown
Individual costs to replace a TV Aerial using existing pole, cable and TV socket - Total Cost: £100
