Checklist
Before you click Order
Most surprise bills come from one of five mistakes. This page catches them before you pay.
Short answer
Before ordering: check what else works at your address, note any surcharge at checkout, don't rent if you need Standby, add sales tax, compare a store kit with starlink.com, and know the 30-day return rules.
The checklist
Common reasons the bill goes wrong
A surprise demand surcharge at checkout
- What you see
- The cart total is far above the plan + kit you expected.
- Why
- Your address is in a high-demand area. The surcharge is one-time and tied to the address.
- What to do
- Type it into the calculator and look at the 3-year number. If it's too much, don't order; ask whether 5G or cable works. If you already paid, a return within 30 days refunds it.
The rental kit can't use Standby
- What you see
- You try to pause a seasonal place and can't.
- Why
- Select rental kits are excluded from Standby.
- What to do
- Before ordering a seasonal place, buy the kit instead. Already renting: you pay the full plan, or cancel and return the kit (and may face a new surcharge when you restart).
Forgetting tax
- What you see
- Every bill is a few dollars above the plan price.
- Why
- State and local taxes and fees on service, plus tax on the kit.
- What to do
- Add your local % in the calculator. It's rarely a deal-breaker, but it adds up over 36 months.
A store kit loses the referral free month
- What you see
- You bought at a store and the free month never appears.
- Why
- The free month is only for orders on starlink.com through a referral link.
- What to do
- Compare first: type the shelf price into store vs starlink.com. Sometimes the store still wins; sometimes the free month decides it.
A promo price that only exists in some areas
- What you see
- An article or ad shows a lower price than your checkout.
- Why
- Promotions run in select areas, for a limited period, often with a 12-month commitment.
- What to do
- Trust your checkout, not the article. If you take a commitment offer, note the change fee for leaving early.
What happens after you order
- First bill
The kit or activation, the first month of service, any surcharge, shipping and tax.
- Setup
Self-install with the included base, or the pro install included with Residential Max.
- Day 1–30
Test it. Keep the box. This is the full-refund window.
- Bill 2 onward
The plan price plus tax each month. A referral credit, if you had one, lands on bill 2.
When it's the wrong buy
The honest exit. If one of these is you, the cheapest Starlink plan is still the expensive choice.
- You can get fiber, or reliable cable at a lower all-in price. Take it.
- 5G home internet works well at your address and costs less. Try it first; most carriers let you return it.
- Your checkout shows a large demand surcharge. Run the 3-year math in the calculator before you pay it.
- You need to pause a rental kit. Rental kits can't use Standby, so a seasonal place pays every month.
- Money is tight. Compare Lifeline-eligible and lower-cost options first at fcc.gov/lifeline.
Your next step
Run your own numbers first, then check your address. Only starlink.com can show your real kit options, promos and any surcharge.
Questions people ask
What should I check before ordering Starlink?
Six things: what else works at your address, the surcharge your checkout shows, whether you need Standby (then don't rent), your sales tax, whether you'll order on starlink.com or at a store, and the 30-day return rules.
Can I return Starlink if it doesn't work?
Within 30 days: full hardware refund if returned undamaged, and on rentals the activation, first month and any surcharge too. Keep the box.