Here is the part most people miss: you usually do not own your cable box. It is rented from your provider, so the main thing to do with an old one is return it. If you keep it or throw it away, you can be charged an unreturned-equipment fee that runs from about 50 to a few hundred dollars.
So before you stash it in a closet or toss it in the bin, find out whether it is rented or owned. That one answer decides everything.
Is Your Cable Box Rented or Owned?
Almost all cable and satellite boxes from companies like Xfinity, Spectrum, Optimum, Cox, and DIRECTV are rented. You were paying a monthly fee for it, even if you never noticed. A small number of people buy their box outright, but that is rare. If you are not sure, check your latest bill for an equipment or rental charge, or call and ask.
How to Return a Rented Cable Box
Returning it is simple and protects you from fees. Do this once you cancel or upgrade:
- Bring it to a provider store. Take the box, remote, and power cord to your provider’s local store and get a receipt.
- Use a prepaid shipping option. Many providers let you drop it at a UPS or FedEx store, which boxes and ships it free and gives you a receipt.
- Keep the receipt. This is the most important step. Hold on to proof of return until you confirm the charge is off your account.
Most providers give you a window, often a couple of weeks, to return gear after you cancel. The sooner the better.
What If You Own the Box?
If you truly bought it, or it is an old box your provider no longer wants back, treat it as electronic waste. Do not put it in the trash.
- Drop it at a Best Buy electronics recycling kiosk
- Take it to a city e-waste collection event
- Ask your provider if they have a recycling program, since some take old gear back even when you owned it
This is the same approach as other dead electronics, like old electronics cables and a broken laptop.
Do Not Throw a Rented Box in the Trash
It is tempting to just bin an old box, but a rented one is not yours to throw away. Tossing it almost always leads to an unreturned-equipment charge on your final bill. Return it and keep the receipt instead. For a wider cleanout, our declutter and recycle guide walks through the rest of the old tech.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to return my cable box?
If it is rented, yes. Return it to your provider’s store or ship it back with their prepaid label, and keep the receipt so you are not charged.
What happens if I do not return my cable box?
Your provider can bill you an unreturned-equipment fee, often from 50 to a few hundred dollars depending on the box and company.
Can I throw away an old cable box?
Only if you actually own it, and even then recycle it as e-waste rather than trashing it. A rented box must go back to the provider.
Where do I return a cable box?
Take it to your provider’s local store, or drop it at a partnered UPS or FedEx location for free return shipping. Always get a receipt.
How do I know if I own or rent my cable box?
Check your bill for a monthly equipment or rental fee, or call your provider. Most home cable boxes are rented, not owned.