How to return a rented Starlink kit

Returning a rented kit comes down to a few steps. Stow the dish, unplug the cable, check that every part is there, and get the kit moving before your rental ends. Here's how to do each step, using Starlink's own instructions and the return terms rental companies publish.

We're a directory, not a rental company. We don't rent, ship, or set up kits, and we don't take bookings, so your return goes to the company you rented from. Their instructions come first.

What do you need before you start?

• The return instructions or label from the rental company.
• The packaging the kit arrived in: the box, case, or bag, plus any inserts.
• The parts list from your order, if the company sent one.
• Your phone, to take a few photos of the packed kit.

How do you pack up a rented Starlink, step by step?

1. Check your return date and time with the rental company.
2. Stow the dish if your kit needs it, or fold the kickstand under it.
3. Unplug the power supply from the wall or battery.
4. Unplug the cable from the dish, then from the router or power supply.
5. Coil the cable loosely and gather every part.
6. Check the parts against your order or the list below.
7. Pack everything the way it arrived.
8. Take photos, then drop off or ship the kit before the deadline.

Does the dish need to be stowed?

It depends on the model. For a Standard 4, Standard 4 X, or Mini, Starlink says to fold the kickstand under the dish to store it.

Older circular Standard dishes, the Standard Actuated, and the first-generation Performance dish tilt into a stow position before you pack them. To stow one from the Starlink app:

1. Open the Starlink app.
2. Go to Settings, then Starlink.
3. Drag the slider to Stow Starlink.

If the dish isn't connected to the app, stow it by hand:

1. Make sure the dish is plugged in.
2. Take it out of its base.
3. Place it face down on a flat surface, like a table. After about a minute, the mast tilts into the stow position on its own.
4. Unplug it so it stays stowed.

Starlink notes that a dish that won't stow may need a bigger box. With a rental, ask the company before you swap packaging.

How do you unplug the Starlink cable?

Lift the kickstand to reach the port on the back of the dish. On a Standard 4 X, Starlink says to pull the cable firmly outward, because there's no release tab. The other end plugs into port 1 on the router, the one marked with an antenna symbol. On a Mini, the cable runs from the dish straight to the power supply, because the router is built in.

If the company asks you to remove the kickstand for packing, squeeze the release tab at the back of the mount and pull the kickstand away from the dish. Starlink gives the same steps for Standard and Mini.

What parts go back in the box?

Everything that came out of it. Rental kits vary, so your order or the company's parts list is the one to check. As a starting point, here's what Starlink puts in its own kits:

• Standard 4 X kit. The Starlink dish, kickstand, Router 3, a 15-meter Starlink cable, an AC power cable, and the power supply.
• Mini kit. Starlink Mini with built-in WiFi, kickstand, pipe adapter and flat mount, a 15-meter DC power cable, the power supply, and the small Starlink Plug that sits in the Ethernet port.

Add anything the company included on top: a hard case, battery, car charger, router, or extra cable. Some companies list a carrying case or a Pelican case as part of the kit. Several of the rental terms we read charge for missing parts.

Do you need the original box?

Often, yes, so keep it for the whole trip. Satellite Rentals UK says its kits must go back in the original cardboard shipping box, and that returning without it may mean extra charges. Rent A Starlink asks you to pack everything back into the reusable bag the way it arrived. If you've lost or damaged the packaging, ask the company what to use before you ship.

How do you send it back?

Follow the method on your order. Rental companies in our directory handle returns in a few different ways:

• Prepaid label. Rent A Starlink sends a prepaid return label with the kit, and you drop the bag at any FedEx drop box. WiFit says its Mini rentals ship round-trip by FedEx, with return shipping included.
• Self-serve drop-off. LEOLinx says pickup and return at its Millcreek, Utah, location are 24/7 and self-serve.
• At your expense. Some agreements, like LEOLinx's, say returning the equipment is up to you and at your cost. Check whether a label is included before you book.

When does a return count as on time?

Each company sets its own rule, so read yours closely. Rent A Starlink counts the return when the carrier scans it, and charges a late fee for each extra day if that scan hasn't happened by the day the rental ends. It doesn't count Sundays or federal holidays, when carriers are closed. LEOLinx charges a daily late fee once a return is more than three hours past the scheduled time. CascadiaLink charges a daily penalty after the agreed return date.

If your trip runs long, extend before the deadline. CascadiaLink says extending costs less than paying the late penalty. LEOLinx asks you to text before your return time if plans change. For how extensions and minimum lengths work, see how long you can rent Starlink.

How do you get your deposit back?

The company inspects the kit first. Optinet releases the deposit after the equipment comes back in good condition, and may deduct for damage or missing items. Satellite Rentals UK returns the deposit once the kit is checked in. Rent A Starlink sends it back to your card after inspection. CascadiaLink notes that damage or loss charges can be more than the deposit.

To make the check go smoothly:

• Return it in the condition you got it. LEOLinx, for example, asks for equipment back in the same condition you received it.
• Photograph the parts laid out, then the packed box or case.
• Keep the tracking number or a drop-off receipt.
• Tell the company about any damage before you ship.

Things you should know

Terms change, and the companies named here are examples, not a full list. If anything on this page differs from your rental agreement, the agreement wins. Before you book, the booking checklist covers the return questions to ask up front.

Sources: Starlink's help articles How do I stow my Starlink? and How do I remove the kickstand mount?, and the Standard 4 X and Mini setup guides (PDFs). Return terms come from the public pages and rental terms of Rent A Starlink, Satellite Rentals UK, LEOLinx, CascadiaLink, Optinet, and WiFit. All read October 19, 2026. Rental kits and terms vary, so confirm the details with your rental company.

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