Starlink is designed to be installed by the customer, and most people manage it in under an hour. But “most people” isn’t everyone. If the dish has to go on a steep metal roof, on a 30-foot mast to clear treeline, or into a farm building three hundred feet from the house, hiring someone is the right call. Here’s how to decide, what it should cost, and what to ask before you book.
Try it yourself first. Hire only if height, roof or distance is the problem.
The kit is plug-and-play. What justifies a professional isn’t the technology, it’s working at height safely and getting above the trees.
When DIY is fine
Do it yourself if all of these are true:
- You have a spot with clear sky view at ground level, on a deck, or on a low roof you can reach safely.
- The cable run to the house is straightforward.
- You’re comfortable drilling one hole and sealing it, or you can use an existing pass-through.
The Starlink app’s obstruction check tells you within five minutes whether your intended spot works. Start there, before buying any mounting hardware. See the full installation guide →
When to hire someone
| Situation | Why a pro helps |
|---|---|
| Steep or metal roof | Fall risk, and metal roofs need the right fastening and sealing to avoid leaks. |
| Tall mast needed to clear trees | Anything above roof height needs proper guying and grounding. Not a weekend job. |
| Long cable run | Farm buildings, detached shops, boathouses. Requires planning and often an Ethernet backhaul rather than the dish cable. |
| Winter install | Icy roofs are genuinely dangerous. Postpone or hire. |
| Whole-property Wi-Fi | Mesh design and cabling is its own skill set. |
There is no official Starlink installation service for residential customers in Canada. Anyone offering to install it is an independent contractor, not a Starlink employee. That’s fine, but it means the vetting is on you, and any warranty on the work comes from them, not from Starlink.
Who to call
The trades that already do this work well:
- Satellite and antenna installers — the natural fit. They’ve been mounting dishes on roofs for decades.
- Low-voltage and network cabling companies — best choice if the job is really about getting a signal across a property.
- Roofers — for mounting on a difficult roof, sometimes the safest and cheapest option, since they’re already equipped and insured for it.
- Rural WISP technicians — many local wireless internet providers also do private installs and know exactly how to raise a mast.
In Quebec specifically, we maintain a directory of installers who work with Starlink. See our Quebec page →
What to ask before booking
- “Are you insured, and can I see proof?” Non-negotiable for anyone going on your roof.
- “Is the quote all-in?” Mast, mount, cable, sealing, labour. Ask what’s excluded.
- “What do you warranty?” Especially the roof penetration. A leak two winters later is the risk you’re paying to avoid.
- “Have you done Starlink specifically?” The cable is proprietary and the connector is bulky. Someone who’s done a dozen will do a neater job.
- “What happens if the spot doesn’t work?” Obstructions can only be fully confirmed once the dish is up. Agree in advance on who eats the cost of relocating it.
What it typically costs
Rates vary widely by region and by how much height is involved. As a rough frame:
- Simple roof or wall mount: a couple of hours of labour plus materials.
- Mast install above roofline: significantly more, because of the guying, grounding and the safety setup.
- Cable run to an outbuilding: priced by distance and by whether trenching is needed.
Always get two quotes. The spread between installers on the same job is often large, and the cheapest quote sometimes skips the sealing details that matter most in a Canadian winter.
Frequently asked questions
Does hiring an installer affect my Starlink warranty?
The hardware warranty is unaffected by who mounts it. Damage caused during installation, however, is between you and the installer.
Can an installer order the Starlink for me?
Some will, but the account should be in your name. It’s your service address, your billing, and your equipment.
Do I need a permit?
Usually not for a standard roof mount, but a tall mast may fall under local bylaws. Ask the installer, they’ll know the local rules.
What about grounding?
The dish itself doesn’t require grounding in a typical residential install, but a tall metal mast is a different conversation. Have the installer address it.
Not on Starlink yet?
Check availability at your address in thirty seconds and get your first month free through our link.
Installation guide · Renters and condos · Dealing with obstructions
Installers listed or described here are independent businesses with no affiliation to Starlink or to this site. Verify insurance and credentials yourself. Last updated: September 1, 2026.
*1 mois d'abonnement Starlink gratuit (équivalent à votre forfait) crédité automatiquement 30 jours après l'activation de votre service, en commandant via notre lien de référral officiel RC-DF-7650727-61403-46. Programme officiel SpaceX. Aucun coût supplémentaire pour vous : prix identique à starlink.com. FastSat.ca reçoit une compensation (140 $ en argent ou en crédit) pour chaque référral, ce qui finance le site.