Starlink is now available at more than a dozen U.S. retail chains — but prices just went up, the free dish rental is gone, and a new monthly Kit Fee was added. Here is exactly what everything costs now, where to get the best deal, and how to avoid the most common mistakes.
Go to starlink.com and enter your home address before purchasing any hardware anywhere. This single step confirms whether Starlink is available at your location, whether a congestion surcharge ($500–$1,500 one-time) applies in your area, which plans are offered at your address, and what current promotional pricing — if any — is available. Retail stores like Best Buy and Home Depot do not participate in Starlink’s own promotions. If you buy hardware at a store before confirming your address, you risk purchasing a dish you cannot use or paying retail price when a promotion was available directly through Starlink.
Starlink, made by SpaceX, delivers broadband internet via thousands of low-orbit satellites — getting fast speeds to rural areas, farms, vacation homes, RVs, and boats where cable and fiber don’t reach. Here is everything you need to know before purchasing.
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Can you buy Starlink at Walmart, Home Depot, or Best Buy? Yes — all three carry Starlink hardware · Best Buy: Standard Kit, Standard 4 X, accessories, Geek Squad setup help · Home Depot: Standard Kit, Starlink Mini, mounting hardware · Walmart: Standard Kit online and select stores · Always call ahead to confirm your specific kit is on the shelf before driving thereStarlink hardware is stocked at more than a dozen national chains as of mid-2026. Best Buy has the broadest in-store Starlink presence, carrying the Standard Kit, Standard 4 X Kit, and accessories at many locations with same-day pickup. Home Depot stocks the Standard Kit and the compact Starlink Mini in its smart home and electrical section, and often has mounting hardware too. Walmart sells the Standard Kit primarily online with free shipping, though a growing number of stores carry it on shelves. Beyond these three, you’ll find Starlink at Costco, Sam’s Club, Target (online), Tractor Supply, Bass Pro Shops, Cabela’s, West Marine, Nebraska Furniture Mart, and Boost Mobile. No matter which retailer shows the item as “in stock” online, call your local store before making the trip — shelf inventory varies dramatically from location to location.
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How much does Starlink cost per month right now? Residential 100 Mbps: $55/month · Residential 200 Mbps: $85/month · Residential MAX (400 Mbps): $130/month · Roam 100 GB: $55/month · Roam 300 GB: $80/month · Roam Unlimited: $175/month · All plans no-contract · Rental customers add $10/month Kit FeeStarlink raised its prices in June 2026 — the first broad price increase in some time — affecting every plan. The Residential 100 Mbps plan is now $55/month, the 200 Mbps tier sits at $85/month, and the Residential MAX plan for the fastest speeds and highest network priority is $130/month. For travelers and RV owners, Roam plans start at $55/month for 100 GB of priority data, with a newer 300 GB middle tier at $80/month and unlimited use at $175/month. If you rent the hardware instead of buying it outright, add a $10/month Kit Fee on top of any plan price — meaning the entry rental option now costs $65/month total. All plans are month-to-month with no contracts and can be paused or canceled at any time.
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What is the cheapest way to get Starlink right now? Check starlink.com for your address first — some areas still qualify for rental kits with just a $20 shipping fee · Standard Kit to own: $349 one-time · Starlink Mini for travel: $249 ($199 for new Roam customers) · Residential Lite plan in some areas: $49–$69/month with reduced speeds · All promotional pricing is only available direct through Starlink — not at retail storesThe lowest-cost path to Starlink depends entirely on your address and what promotions are currently active in your area. In some regions, Starlink still offers a rental arrangement where you pay only a $20 shipping fee to receive a Standard Kit — but the $10 monthly Kit Fee now applies on top of your plan cost. In other areas, a lower-speed Residential Lite plan is available from $49/month. Hardware discounts come and go; the Starlink Mini recently dropped from $499 at launch to $249 retail (and $199 for new Roam activations). None of these promotions flow through retail stores — if you walk into Home Depot or Best Buy, you pay full retail price with no access to Starlink’s current deals. Always check starlink.com first to see what your specific address qualifies for before going to a store.
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Is it better to buy Starlink at a store or directly from Starlink? Buy direct from starlink.com if any promotion or rental deal applies to your address · Buy at Home Depot or Costco if you need the kit same-day AND want the longest return window (90 days — three times Starlink’s own 30-day policy) · Best Buy is best if you want in-store setup help from Geek Squad · Walmart is best if it’s the only store near you and you want to walk out todayThe decision comes down to promotions versus convenience versus return policy. Starlink.com is the only place to access rental kits and promotional pricing — if any deal applies to your address, it is almost always the better value. However, Starlink’s own return window is 30 days, and that clock starts the day your kit ships. Home Depot and Costco both offer 90-day return windows on Starlink hardware, giving you three times as long to test whether the service actually performs well at your location before committing. If you are at all uncertain whether Starlink will work reliably where you live — due to trees, terrain, or nearby structures blocking sky view — the 90-day window at Home Depot or Costco is meaningfully more consumer-friendly. Best Buy’s standard return window is 15 days (30 days for Elite Plus members), so it is the weakest on that front but the best for same-day expert in-store assistance.
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What is the Starlink Mini and who needs it? Starlink Mini is a laptop-sized portable dish weighing 2.5 lbs · Designed for RVs, camping, boats, vehicles, and travel · $249 retail ($199 for new Roam activations) · Roam plans: $55–$175/month · Draws only 20–40 watts — runs on a car outlet or power bank · Not designed for permanent home installation · Available at Best Buy, Home Depot, and starlink.comThe Starlink Mini is aimed at anyone who needs internet on the go rather than at a fixed address. It is roughly the footprint of a laptop screen, weighs a little over two pounds, and can be slipped into a backpack or packed in an RV storage compartment. It delivers typical speeds of 60–170 Mbps — well above any mobile hotspot — and runs on very little power, so it works fine off a 12-volt car outlet, a USB-C power bank, or a portable power station. Roam plans are required to activate the Mini, and you can pause service between trips using the new Standby Mode for $10/month. The Mini requires you to manually point it at a clear patch of sky — it does not auto-level like the larger Standard dish. For permanent home use, the Standard Kit is the right choice; the Mini is for people who travel.
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Where in the US is Starlink available? Available in all 50 states including Alaska and Hawaii — FCC data shows Starlink coverage reaches 99% of the U.S. · Service is strongest and most affordable in rural and low-density areas · High-density urban areas may face a one-time congestion surcharge of $500–$1,500 · Always verify your specific address at starlink.com before purchasing — coverage is confirmed per address, not per regionStarlink has expanded from limited rural areas to near-nationwide coverage. The FCC’s National Broadband Map shows Starlink available in 99% of the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii where it often serves as the primary broadband option. Rural areas — farms, ranches, vacation cabins, and off-grid properties — generally get the best pricing and availability with no surcharges. In densely populated areas where existing network cells are at capacity, Starlink adds a one-time congestion surcharge that ranges from $500 to $1,500 before you can start service. This fee shows up during the order process at starlink.com for your specific address — it will not appear if your area has no congestion issue. Never assume congestion fees apply without actually checking, and never assume they don’t.
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Does Starlink work well for people who aren’t tech-savvy? Yes — setup typically takes 30 minutes or less with the free Starlink app guiding every step · The dish self-levels automatically — you just need to give it a clear sky view · No technician visit required for standard installations · Geek Squad at Best Buy offers in-home setup help if you want it · The app includes a sky-view scanner that shows obstructions before you mount anythingStarlink is genuinely one of the easier internet setups available — intentionally designed for people without technical background. The box includes everything you need (dish, router, cables, power adapter, kickstand base), and the free Starlink app walks through each step with simple visual instructions. Before you place the dish anywhere permanently, the app’s sky-view tool uses your phone’s camera to show you exactly how much of the sky is clear at any given spot — flagging trees, rooflines, or nearby buildings that could interfere with signal. The dish has a built-in motor that angles itself automatically; you just need to set it where the sky is open. For anyone who would prefer professional help, Best Buy’s Geek Squad offers in-home setup and mounting assistance, and independent certified Starlink installers are findable through local search in most markets.
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What about the new $10 Monthly Kit Fee — do I have to pay it? The $10/month Kit Fee only applies if you rent the dish — not if you own it · Buy the Standard Kit outright ($349) and you never pay the Kit Fee · Customers who already own their hardware are not affected · Rental customers added after the fee change date pay $10/month in addition to their plan cost · The Kit Fee is separate from the monthly plan rateThis is a new change that trips people up. Starlink introduced a $10/month Kit Fee for any customer who rents the dish rather than purchasing it outright. If you buy the Standard Kit for $349 as a one-time purchase, you own it — no Kit Fee, ever. If you take the rental option where you pay only the shipping fee upfront, you now pay an additional $10 every month on top of your plan rate. Over 12 months, that $10/month Kit Fee adds $120 to your annual cost — which means buying the $349 dish outright typically pays for itself within about three years compared to renting. For most people who plan to stay on Starlink long-term, buying the dish is the better value. If you’re not sure the service will work at your location, the rental gives you a lower upfront commitment, but the true monthly cost is now noticeably higher than the plan price alone suggests.
All prices current as of the latest Starlink update. Verify at starlink.com — promotions, regional discounts, and congestion fees vary by address.
Promotions, rental kits, and any current discount deals are only available by ordering at starlink.com. Retail stores sell hardware at standard pricing with no access to Starlink’s promotional programs. And if you buy at a store, you must return through that retailer — you cannot return store-purchased hardware to Starlink directly. Check your address at starlink.com first. Then decide where to buy.
Why go here: Best Buy has the most Starlink locations of any electronics retailer. You can see the hardware in person, ask questions in the networking aisle, and take it home the same day. Geek Squad can schedule an in-home setup visit if you don’t want to handle installation yourself — useful for anyone who needs the dish mounted on a roof or chimney.
Return window: 15 days standard / 30 days for My Best Buy Elite Plus members. This is the shortest return window of the major Starlink retailers, so it matters less for testing the service and more for getting the hardware fast.
Why go here: Home Depot’s 90-day return policy on Starlink hardware is the most generous of any major U.S. retailer. You get three full months to test whether Starlink performs reliably at your specific location — through different weather, different times of day, and different streaming loads — before committing. Satellite internet performance is location-dependent, and 90 days is genuinely useful for evaluation.
Where to find it in store: Smart home / internet / electrical section.
Pro tip: Check homedepot.com for local store stock before making the trip — inventory varies significantly by store.
Why go here: Walmart has more than 4,700 U.S. locations — far more than any other retailer on this list. If you live in a rural area where the nearest Best Buy is 90 minutes away, there may be a Walmart much closer. Online ordering from Walmart.com ships the Standard Kit for free and is reliable for delivery. In-store stock is inconsistent — call ahead.
Return window: 30 days for electronics.
Best for: Rural households near a Walmart but not near an electronics chain; anyone who prefers free online shipping from a trusted retailer.
Why go here: If you’re already a Costco member, it matches Home Depot’s 90-day return window and occasionally offers bundle deals on Starlink that are not available elsewhere. Costco’s return process is also exceptionally smooth — no restocking fees, minimal questions. Member pricing ($65–$130/year membership) is required to shop in-store, though non-members can order online with a 5% surcharge.
Return window: 90 days on electronics.
Best for: Existing Costco members who want the long return window combined with Costco’s customer service track record.
Why these carry Starlink: These retailers serve the exact customers Starlink is built for — farmers, ranchers, hunters, boaters, and people in areas where a Best Buy is simply not nearby. Finding Starlink at the Tractor Supply down the road from a farm is considerably more useful than driving an hour to the nearest electronics chain. West Marine specifically caters to boat owners, who are increasingly using Starlink Maritime or the Flat High-Performance dish ($599) for reliable ocean connectivity.
Best for: Rural households; boat owners; outdoor enthusiasts; anyone who shops regularly at these stores and wants the convenience of local pickup.
The Standard Kit ships with everything needed to get online without buying anything extra: the Standard 4 dish, Wi-Fi Router Gen 3, 75-foot antenna cable, power adapter, and a kickstand base for ground or deck placement. You can have internet working in 30 minutes by setting it on a flat surface outdoors with a clear sky view. If you want to mount it higher — on a roof, chimney, wall, or pole — mounting hardware is sold separately at starlink.com, Best Buy, and Home Depot. The router can be replaced with your own if you purchase Starlink’s $25 Ethernet Adapter.
Yes — but your return must go through whoever you bought it from. Hardware purchased at a retail store cannot be returned directly to Starlink. You return it through that store’s return policy. This is exactly why the 90-day windows at Home Depot and Costco matter — Starlink’s own direct return is 30 days, but the signal quality at your specific address may take time to properly evaluate. Tree coverage, terrain, and nearby structures all affect performance in ways that aren’t obvious immediately. A 90-day window gives you enough time to test through actual weather and peak usage hours before deciding.
No contract of any kind — you can start, pause, change, or cancel service any month through the Starlink app with no early termination fee. No credit check is required to order hardware or activate a plan. For people who use a vacation home or RV seasonally, Standby Mode lets you keep your account active for $10/month without paying the full plan rate — and you can reactivate full service instantly when needed, without being hit with any demand surcharge or waitlist.
Starlink is designed for outdoor year-round use. The dish operates in temperatures from -22°F to 122°F, handles high winds, and has a built-in snow-melt function that activates automatically to prevent signal loss from accumulation. Heavy rain causes brief signal dips lasting seconds to minutes — this is normal for any satellite system and far less disruptive than older satellite internet. The bigger performance factor is physical obstruction: trees, rooflines, and buildings blocking the line of sight to the sky cause far more consistent problems than weather does. Use the Starlink app’s sky-view obstruction scanner to identify and avoid placement issues before you mount anything permanently.
Yes — the Roam plans and Starlink Mini are built specifically for this. Roam plans start at $55/month for 100 GB and go up to $175/month for unlimited data anywhere in the continental US. The Starlink Mini ($249) is the most practical RV and camping option — compact, light, low power draw, and easily stored. Roam plans cap in-motion use at 100 mph, so they work for road travel but not aircraft. For boats, West Marine and Bass Pro both carry Starlink equipment; serious ocean users who need always-on connectivity underway should look at the Flat High-Performance dish ($599) which handles motion and maritime conditions better than the Standard kit.
Starlink’s official accessories — extended cables (150 ft), pipe adapter mount, flush mount, pivot mount, and chimney strap — are at shop.starlink.com. Best Buy and Home Depot both stock select mounting hardware. For third-party compatible mounts (often less expensive), Amazon has an extensive selection — confirm the mount matches your specific dish generation (Standard 4 uses a different connector than older models). The standard kit cable is 75 feet; if your dish needs to be farther from the router, the 150-foot extended cable is available only at Starlink’s own shop.
Tap a button to find the nearest store carrying Starlink. Always call ahead to confirm your specific kit is physically in stock.
- Step 1 — Enter your address at starlink.com before buying anything. This is non-negotiable. It tells you whether service is available, whether any congestion surcharge applies, and what current promotions are active at your address. If any promotional or rental deal appears, ordering direct is almost always the better value than buying at a store.
- Step 2 — Decide rent or own, and factor in the Kit Fee. Renting the dish lowers the upfront cost but now adds $10/month on top of your plan. Buying the Standard Kit for $349 eliminates that fee permanently. If you plan to stay on Starlink for two or more years, buying the hardware almost always costs less in total.
- Step 3 — Choose the right kit for how you’ll actually use it. Standard Kit ($349) for a fixed home, cabin, or farm. Starlink Mini ($249) for an RV, camping, or travel. Flat High-Performance dish ($599) for boats or vehicles that need in-motion connectivity. When in doubt, the Standard Kit covers most residential and rural use cases.
- Step 4 — Use the Starlink app’s sky-view tool before placing anything permanently. Download the free Starlink app and use the obstruction checker before drilling any holes or buying mounting hardware. Walk your property with your phone and find the spot where the sky is clearest. Moving the dish two feet can make the difference between good and poor signal.
- Step 5 — Test thoroughly during the return window. Run the service for at least two full weeks — checking speeds during morning, evening, and weekend peak hours, and in different weather — before the return window closes. If speeds are consistently below 25 Mbps, try repositioning the dish before concluding the service doesn’t work. Contact Starlink support for location-specific advice before returning.
This guide is for informational purposes only. Starlink hardware prices, monthly plan rates, Kit Fees, promotional offers, congestion surcharges, retailer availability, and return policies change frequently and without advance notice. All prices and details should be verified directly at starlink.com and at your chosen retailer before purchasing. Retail stores do not participate in Starlink’s direct promotional or rental programs. Promotional pricing, rental kit availability, and congestion surcharges all depend on your specific service address. Always confirm coverage and current pricing at starlink.com before buying any hardware.