How to Avoid a Comcast Xfinity Installation Fee

By Brenna Elieson

Sep 30, 2024

4 min read

Installation fees are one of those additional charges that make your first bill make you do a double take. Yup, there’s no worse feeling than thinking you’ve landed a great deal on TV or internet, then getting whammied with sneaky fees when your first bill arrives.

Luckily, there are a few routes you can take to get Xfinity installation discounts:

Get a self-installation kit
Look for Comcast Xfinity installation deals
Negotiate for reduced installation fees

Let’s find out how to land Xfinity installation discounts and keep that first bill neat and trim.

Looking to avoid Xfinity fees, like, forever? Compare providers in your area by entering your zip code below.

Guide to avoiding Xfinity fees:

Does Xfinity charge for installation?
How to avoid Xfinity installation fees

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Does Xfinity charge for installation?

Really quick: it’s good to be aware that Xfinity professional installation usually costs$100.00. Yup, no one likes surprises, especially surprises that cost a whole Benjamin Franklin.

Xfinity professional installation cost

Installation type	Cost
Xfinity pro installation	$89.99 one-time fee

Data effective 09/30/2024. Offers and availability vary by location and are subject to change.

But the good news is that, like we mentioned, there are a few ways to get this installation charge cut out of your bill. So let’s drop this installation fee like it’s hot and get to the discounts.

Students and military win big with Xfinity discounts

If you’re a student, military personnel, or a veteran, you can grab a discount on your Xfinity service. We’ve covered how to apply for these Xfinity discounts in our guide.

If you don’t fall into one of those categories, no worries. Xfinity also regularly offers limited-time offers that everyone is eligible for, and we cover how to get those in our guide too.

How to avoid the Comcast Xfinity installation fee

There are several ways you can dodge that pesky Xfinity installation fee: grab a self-install kit, score an installation deal, or negotiate for an installation discount when you sign up for service.

Xfinity TV + Internet bundle deal

Get 300Mbps internet and live TV for $75/month for 24 months, including a free Voice Remote and DVR with over 125 channels.

Here’s how to tackle each of these fee-dodging tactics.

1. Comcast Xfinity self-installation kit

The easiest way to avoid paying a Comcast Xfinity installation fee is to choose self-installation when you pick out your TV or internet package. You can do this online, in-person, or over the phone—just let your Xfinity rep know you want to self-install or look for the option to self-install when you go through the online checkout.

Xfinity_Self-Install-Check-Out-Screenshot

Source: Xfinity.com

Free self-installation may still cost you shipping and handling

If you grab an Xfinity self-install kit, you may still need to pay the shipping and handling fee to get it sent to your door. But chances are good this is still less than what professional installation would cost you, so you’re still saving money.

Is Comcast Xfinity self-installation easy?

Installing your Xfinity service on your own takes about 30 minutes or less. All you’ll need to do is connect a coaxial cable from the outlet in your wall to your cable TV box or Xfinity modem. After that, you’ll connect your cable box to your TV and your modem to your router. (P.S. We’ve also got a step-by-step guide for setting up your internet and Wi-Fi if you need tips.)

After everything’s connected, you’ll need to activate your Xfinity service online to power it up fully and hop online or channel surf.

What do you need for Xfinity self-installation?

You won’t need any extra tools to install your Xfinity TV or internet service—all you need comes in your self-installation kit.

Each kit comes with the following:

Instructions in both English and Spanish
Any necessary devices, like your modem or cable box
Coaxial cable and any other wiring you’ll need
An Xfinity equipment return card—keep this handy!

If your self-installation instructions are missing, you misplace them, or you need a setup guide in another language, you can check Xfinity’s online setup guides.

Self-install shortcut

According to the r/Frugal subreddit, if you tell the Comcast associate that you already have your own Xfinity-compatible modem with an up-to-date setup, the company won’t schedule an installation or charge you the fee—no formal self-installation kit required.

2. Comcast Xfinity free installation promotions

If you don’t qualify for self-installation or would rather have a professional set everything up, you should keep an eye out for free Xfinity installation promotions. Xfinity tends to change up its special promotions month-by-month, so if you don’t see a free installation deal right now, check back later or negotiate with an Xfinity rep.

What does Comcast professional installation include?

Comcast Xfinity professional installation includes connecting a coaxial cable to your cable box or modem, but it may also include another step or two to prepare your home for Xfinity service.

This could include installing a cable line to your house if you’ve never had Xfinity service there before. And if you have had Xfinity service at your home before, but not within the last 12 months, the technician will check on the existing cable line to make sure it’s still delivering a signal.

Getting cable TV? Then get all your outlets activated.

If you think you’ll want to watch Xfinity cable TV in a room, go ahead and get the outlet activated by your tech. We’ve been told it’s another tech appointment if we decide to activate more outlets in the house, which doesn’t sound like fun for anyone.

Also, word on the street is that your outlet’s activation expires after a certain time if it goes unused. So be aware that you may try to hook up your TV a year later, only to find out that you can’t get a cable TV signal in your downstairs rec room.

Why can’t some homes use self-install Xfinity kits?

Some homes aren’t eligible for an Xfinity self-install kit, but this isn’t Xfinity playing keep-away with a great deal.

Likely, you can’t get an Xfinity self-install kit because of these reasons:

There’s never been Xfinity service at your house before, so a professional technician needs to install a cable line to your home.
Your house hasn’t had active Xfinity service for 12 months or longer. This means a tech needs to check that the cable line is still delivering a signal.
Installation at your home is considered complex or requires installation of four or more pieces of equipment.

3. Negotiate for reduced installation fees

Don’t see a deal for free installation or can’t get an Xfinity self-install kit sent to your home? Then it’s time to negotiate for an installation discount—like a boss.

Most likely, your Xfinity rep is willing to negotiate with you, whether over the phone or in person. Especially if you’re signing a contract for a year or two of TV or internet service. This goes for both new Comcast customers and current customers who are adding new services to their account.

Now, we can’t promise you’ll win the negotiation lottery, but here are a few tips to help you prepare to negotiate for Xfinity installation discounts:

Take a deep breath and a moment to fire up your confidence.
Remain pleasant—even if the representative isn’t particularly helpful or courteous.
Let the Xfinity rep know that you’re aware of free installation deals in your area, even if those deals are from other providers.
If your representative isn’t helpful, politely ask to speak to their supervisor.

Written by

Brenna Elieson

Brenna has been writing for Reviews.org since 2021. Always a lover of poetry and the arts, she discovered her knack for academic writing while earning her degree in English and literature from Utah Valley University. She loves horror movies, being creative in any capacity, and watching all the reality TV she can get her hands on.