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01 · Ask
Single item or whole house?
One sofa, a garage clear, end-of-tenancy strip-out? Describe and the AI tells you which clearance type and price band.
Remove a satellite dish.
Sky, Freesat or commercial dish removed — and wall holes patched and weatherproofed.
✓ Updated Apr 2026✓ Free quotes✓ Vetted pros
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Top tips
Hiring a rubbish clearance, without the regret.
Four moves that separate a smooth job from a nightmare.
Check the waste carrier's licence.
All UK waste carriers need an Environment Agency licence. Fly-tipping under your name is the alternative — and you get fined.
Specify what's included.
Some 'clearance' firms charge per load; others charge per volume. Get the price model in writing before they start.
Hazardous needs separate handling.
Asbestos, paint, batteries, electronics — separate disposal routes. A reputable clearance firm handles or refers; cowboys dump.
Recyclables itemised.
Reputable firms recycle 60–80% of clearance. Ask what's recycled and what's landfill — and what affects price.
Costs & timeline
Know what it costs. Know when it ends.
Indicative UK ranges and what affects price.
Cost range
By job type
Inc. VAT · 2026
Source: NMT quotes
Source: NMT quotes
Single item collection
£30–£100
Van load (small)
£100–£250
Van load (medium)
£200–£400
Full house clearance
£500–£2.5k
Garden clearance (small)
£100–£350
Skip alternative (per tonne)
£60–£150
!
Quote spread is typically ± 18% — always get 3 quotes.
At a glance
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Rubbish Clearance explained
Satellite dish removal in the UK typically costs £60–£200 for a single dish at standard residential height. Higher mountings (gable ends, 2nd floor and above) add £40-£100. The work is straightforward — typically 30-90 minutes — but requires safe access, often a ladder or scaffolding for higher positions.
Common reasons: switching from satellite TV to streaming, removing ugly disused dishes, pre-house-sale visual tidy-up, or fixing leaks where dish bracket has compromised the wall.
Typical UK costs
| Service | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Single dish at first-floor height | £60–£140 |
| Single dish at second-floor / gable end | £100–£200 |
| Tall building / scaffold required | £200–£500 |
| Multiple dishes same property | +£40–£90 per additional |
| Make-good (fill bracket holes, paint match) | £60–£200 |
| Cable removal (interior + exterior) | £40–£140 |
| Disposal of dish + cabling | Usually included |
What's typically included
- Removal of the dish and bracket from the wall.
- Cutting and removing exterior cable runs.
- Cutting back interior cables to a tidy point.
- Sealing the bracket holes with weatherproof filler.
- Disposal of the dish, bracket, and cable.
- Basic site cleanup.
Things people often miss
- Bracket holes need weatherproofing — leaving open bolt holes lets water into the wall. Reputable removers fill with weatherproof sealant; some include matching paint touch-up.
- Working at height — dishes at gable height need ladder or tower scaffold. Cheap operators sometimes work unsafely from extending ladders; £40-£60 more for a tower-equipped fitter is worth the safety margin.
- Listed buildings — removal of dishes from listed buildings is straightforward, but holes in old masonry need careful, sympathetic filling. Specialist may be needed.
- Cable runs interior — old satellite cables often run through cupboards, behind skirting, into the loft. Track the full route and remove cleanly; leftover coax cable in walls causes mess for future redecoration.
- Disposal — old aluminium dishes can be sold for scrap (£3-£8 each); some fitters factor this into their pricing.
- Multiple dishes — many older properties have legacy Sky and additional cable / freesat dishes. Multi-dish removal at one visit is much cheaper than separate callouts.
Frequently asked questions
How much does dish removal cost?
£60-£140 for ground or first-floor accessible dishes. £100-£200 for gable-end or second-floor positions. £200+ for very high installations needing scaffold.
Will they patch the holes?
Reputable removers seal bracket holes with weatherproof filler. Matching paint touch-up sometimes included, sometimes £30-£100 add-on. For listed buildings, specialist matching may be needed.
How long does it take?
Single dish: 30-90 minutes. Multiple dishes or high access: 1.5-3 hours. Includes removal, hole filling, and tidy-up.
Can I do it myself?
Ground-floor or first-floor dish accessible from a ladder: achievable for confident DIY with proper safety equipment. Higher mountings or pitched roof access are not safe DIY jobs; £60-£200 for a fitter is well-spent.
Will Sky / cable contracts continue if dish is removed?
Cancel your TV subscription separately — removing the dish doesn't end the contract. Sky requires a written cancellation following their notice period. Schedule dish removal after the cancellation date is confirmed.
What about the cabling inside the house?
External cables removed. Internal cables typically cut back at a tidy point (behind skirting, in a junction box) rather than fully extracted, since full extraction often requires lifting flooring. Discuss the level of removal you want.
Want a local pro to handle this? An aerial installer, satellite specialist, or general handyman with appropriate tools and safe access equipment handles dish removal cleanly. £60-£200 is good value for the safety and tidy result.
This guide was written with AI assistance and is intended for general information only. Prices are estimates based on UK averages and may vary by region. Always get at least three quotes and consult a qualified professional before starting any work.
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