Rooftop Antenna Lease Calculator

Carriers pay building owners to install cellular antennas on rooftops.

Carriers

Monthly / carrier

Annual escalator %

Term years

Setup fee / carrier

Annual revenue year 1

$108,000

Lifetime revenue

$2,947,000

Total setup fees

$45,000

How the math works

Annual = carriers × monthly × 12. Lifetime = setup + sum of escalated years.

3 × $3,000 × 12 = $108k yr 1. 20-year escalated + $45k setup = $3.09M lifetime.

How to Use

Enter carriers on roof.
Enter monthly rent per carrier.
Enter lease escalator %.
Enter lease term years.
Enter setup fee per carrier.
Read annual + lifetime value.

Frequently Asked Questions

Rooftop antenna economics?

Urban buildings 8+ stories: carriers (Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, DISH) pay $1,500-8,000/month per carrier. Suburban 4-7 story: $800-3,500/month. Rural: $400-1,500/month. Coverage-gap locations (high-value areas): $5-15k/month premium. Typical lease: 1-4 carriers on a building. 5-year initial + options to 25 years. Annual escalators: 2-4%.

Technical details?

Antenna + support structure: 3-12 ft tall, 100-500 lbs typical. Located on rooftop or rooftop mechanical penthouse. Power source: building electrical (landlord billing or carrier-metered). Backup power generator often on-site ($10-30k). Access: carrier maintenance 4-12 times/year. Lease includes: equipment room, cable runs, antenna mount, power feed.

Small cell nodes?

5G deployment: small cells (mini-antennas on street lights, building exteriors, utility poles). Revenue: $50-500/month per small cell. Less prominent than macro-cell. Licensed building exteriors: emerging market. Contract through utility, city, or directly with carrier. Cumulative revenue for building with multiple small cells: $3-25k/year.

Contract considerations?

Exclusive (one carrier) vs non-exclusive (multiple). Landlord preference: non-exclusive for max revenue. Carrier preference: exclusive. Lease-up: first carrier easier to secure; second + third more difficult. Structural assessment: weight + wind load analysis required. Insurance + indemnification: carrier typically provides. Property value: slight impact (some buyers concerned about EM fields, aesthetics).