Will that tree block Starlink?
Tree & sky angle calculator
How high does the treetop sit in the sky from your dish, and how high would the dish need to be to see over it? Three numbers, one answer.
If the treetop sits lower than about 35° above the horizon from the dish, it’s usually out of the way.
That’s about 4 fists at arm’s length. Higher than that, the tree is inside the part of the sky the dish uses. Starlink’s business install guides go further and ask for clear sky from about 20° up, so between 20° and 35° counts as borderline. Raising the dish lowers the angle; so does a spot farther from the tree.
Calculator
Ground mount: about 2 ft. One-story roof edge: about 10–12 ft; peak: 15–20 ft. Two-story peak: 25–30 ft.
Thresholds: 20° is the clear-sky line in Starlink’s business and maritime install guides; 35° is our reading of the published 110° field of view. Plain geometry; it ignores branches spreading sideways, so leave a margin.
No measuring tape? Use your fist
You don’t need the tree’s height at all if you measure the angle directly from where the dish would go. A closed fist held at arm’s length covers about 10° of sky, the rule of thumb amateur astronomers use.
Step 1: Stand where the dish would go
At roof height if the dish goes on the roof (a window upstairs is close enough), or on the ground for a yard install.Step 2: Face the tallest tree or building
Then turn slowly all the way around. Starlink’s business install guides ask for clear sky all the way around, not just on one side.Step 3: Stack fists from the horizon to the top
Arm straight, fist closed, bottom of the fist on the horizon. Each fist is about 10°. Count fists up to the treetop.Step 4: Compare with the thresholds
Under about 20° (2 fists) matches the clear-sky line in Starlink’s business install guides. Between that and about 35° (3½ fists) is borderline. Above 35°, the treetop is inside the dish’s view.Step 5: Plan a fix with the calculator
Enter the tree height and distance to see how high the dish needs to go, then confirm with the Starlink app.
Even easier: a phone angle app
A free inclinometer or clinometer app (many phone “measure” or “level” apps include one) shows the angle when you sight along the phone’s edge to the treetop. Hold it at the dish height.
Three typical yards
| Situation | Angle | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| 60 ft pine, 80 ft away, dish on a one-story roof (12 ft) | 31° | Borderline: test with the app |
| 70 ft oak, 40 ft away, dish on a two-story peak (25 ft) | 48° | Inside the view: raise the dish to about 42 ft, or pick a spot farther away |
| 45 ft maple, 30 ft away, dish on the ground (2 ft) | 55° | Inside the view: raise the dish to about 24 ft, or pick a spot farther away |
Don’t order yet if…
- the treetops sit well inside the dish’s view on several sides and there’s no higher spot or pole option
- you’re checking in winter with bare branches and haven’t allowed for summer leaves
- you haven’t yet run a sky scan in the Starlink app from the planned height
Questions this page answers
How tall does a tree have to be to block Starlink?
It depends on distance, not just height. What matters is how high the treetop appears in the sky from the dish. As our reading of Starlink’s 110° field of view, anything rising more than about 35° above the horizon sits inside the dish’s view if the dish points straight up; because the dish is tilted when you aim it, the view reaches lower on one side, which is why Starlink’s business guides ask for clear sky from about 20°. A 70 ft tree 40 ft from a dish at 20 ft rises to about 51°.
How high should I mount my Starlink to clear trees?
High enough that the treetops drop below about 35° from the dish. In the example above, about 42 ft. Enter your own numbers in the calculator.
How do I measure a tree’s height without tools?
Measure the angle instead: hold your fist at arm’s length and stack fists from the horizon to the treetop. Each fist is about 10°. Or use a free angle or clinometer app on your phone and aim at the top.
Is a pole better than cutting trees down?
Often, yes. A pole or mast that lifts the dish 10–20 ft can clear trees that would be expensive or impossible to remove, and trees keep growing. Check local rules for pole height and your HOA or landlord first.
Does this replace a sky scan in the Starlink app?
No. The calculator helps you plan a spot and a mount height. The sky scan in the Starlink app at the real spot is the final test. How to use it.
What we checked this page against
- Standard 4 X spec sheet, PDF · seen Nov 3, 2026
- Business install: choosing a location (support article) · seen Nov 3, 2026
- Aligning the dish (support article) · seen Nov 3, 2026
- Measuring the sky with your hand (EarthSky) · seen Nov 3, 2026
- Checking a spot before you install (support article) · seen Nov 3, 2026
- Standard 4 X setup guide, PDF · seen Nov 3, 2026
Each number on this page traces back to one of these entries; our fact rules explain how. If a reading has drifted, the corrections log shows how it gets fixed.