Starlink in an RV or travel trailer
By Roaming Dish Editors. Updated October 23, 2026. How we work these numbers out
In an RV the choice of dish matters more than the battery. A Mini sips 25 to 40 W from the 12 V system. A Standard averages 75 to 100 W. Its included supply uses AC; an optional 12–48 V DC supply can avoid the inverter, while the Mini still uses less energy.
2,560 Wh × 90% usable × 92% for 12 V DC ÷ 28 W = about 76 hours of browsing and music. The dish's draw is from its spec sheet. The two percentages are our estimates.
How long it runs
| Setup | Hours per full charge |
|---|---|
| Mini, 200 Ah lithium, 12 V feed Mini at 28 W (browsing and music), 12 V DC | 76 h |
| Standard, 200 Ah lithium, through the inverter Standard at 88 W (browsing and music), AC outlet | 20 h |
| Mini, 100 Ah lithium, 12 V feed Mini at 28 W (browsing and music), 12 V DC | 38 h |
| Standard, 100 Ah lithium, through the inverter Standard at 88 W (browsing and music), AC outlet | 10 h |
Usable capacity taken as 90% of the rating. Connection losses are our estimates. Try your own battery.
Mini or Standard
The Standard kit averages 75 to 100 W and includes a 100–240 V AC supply. Its optional DC-DC supply accepts 12–48 V DC; this does not make its consumption equal to Mini’s 25–40 W. The runtime table uses Standard AC, not a tested Standard DC model. Standard optional DC supply
On shore power the difference hardly matters. Off-grid it decides whether the battery lasts a weekend or an evening. If you boondock, the Mini is the easier dish to live with.
DC first
Run the Mini from the 12 V system with a fused DC cable rather than from an outlet on the inverter. The table puts numbers on the gap. Mini spec sheet
Many RV inverters also draw power just by being switched on. That idle draw is not in our figures, so if the inverter stays on only for the dish, real runtime will be shorter than shown.
Mounting
For a Standard dish on a roof rack, Starlink's roof rack mount fits bars 15 to 44.5 mm thick and up to 95 mm wide. The Mini's version fits 12 to 48 mm and up to 88 mm, and neither fits round bars. Standard accessories guide
Starlink also makes mobility mounts for both dishes, set at 8 degrees for the Standard and 9 degrees for the Mini. The Mini's is listed for wood, fiberglass, metal and plastic surfaces. Mini accessories guide
Plans for full-timers
Roam 300GB at $80 a month suits most RV travel inside the US and Canada. Roam Unlimited at $175 generally adds up to 30 days abroad, with eligible grouped-region exceptions. Prices checked October 18, 2026. Starlink Help Center, Roam plans
Billing is in one-month steps and Standby Mode pauses the plan, so a seasonal RVer can reduce off-season costs. Standby normally has a small fee and country-specific exceptions; see our Standby guide.