The best TV antennas to buy in 2023

My pick for the best TV antenna is the RCA amplified indoor flat TV antenna. It features a 55 mile range as well as a reversible design (white or black) to help blend into current décor. The flat panel design allows for multidirectional signal detection, giving you a better chance of picking up broadcast signals. It also features an LTE signal filter to help reduce “noise” for a clearer picture. 

*MSRP at time of writing. Please note that actual price may vary depending on retail as well as available deals and promotions.

If you’re thinking about buying a TV antenna, the first thing you need to do is to figure out where you’re going to place it. Most antennas that are available are meant to be used indoors, either mounted in a window, on a wall, or placed on a table near your TV. There are also plenty of outdoor antenna options if you want to ensure clearer reception. 

You should also consider how many TVs you want to connect to the antenna, as most models will only support one screen. You can find antennas that allow you to connect two or three TVs at once. But if you have more than that, you may want to invest in more than one antenna to ensure that you can properly set up every TV in your house.

When researching TV antennas to include in this list, I looked at several criteria:

• Range: I did my best to include TV antennas with decent reception ranges to suit homes in both rural and urban areas.
• Indoor/outdoor placement: Placement is the most important factor in the effectiveness of a TV antenna, and for some homes, an indoor model won’t cut it. I made sure to include a few outdoor models for rural homes.
• Signal support: Broadcast TV has come a long, long way since its inception. When researching antenna models, I made sure that each selection supports both VHF and UHF signals as well as ATSC 3.0 for higher resolution and clearer images.
• Set-up and installation: The point of switching from cable or satellite to over-air broadcast TV is to save money. So I made sure that each antenna model that I included on this list had a simple setup process that doesn’t require hiring pricey installation professionals.

If you have an indoor-use antenna, you’ll want to place it as close to a window as possible. This helps reduce the number of obstacles a signal has to pass through before it can be processed by the antenna and sent to your TV. 

If you’re using an outdoor antenna, you’ll want to place it in a spot where it won’t be obstructed by rooflines or dense trees. You can do this by either mounting it on an exterior wall or your roof to make sure it won’t be blocked by trees or other homes.

To properly measure your TV antenna’s signal strength, you’ll need a special piece of equipment called a Pwr(dBm) measuring device. This little machine connects to your antenna’s coax cable and works in a similar way to internet speed tests. The device “reads” the signal coming from your antenna and measures it to see how much LTE and FM interference is mixed in with the TV signal — and how much power your antenna is using in order to pick up signals. 

You can buy a simple unit like the King SL1000 SureLock for about $26 if you just want to make sure your antenna is putting out a decent signal. Or you can pick up a more refined unit like the Augocom RY S110 for about $100 if you want more detailed information like FM/LTE interference levels, frequency ranges, and voltage.

It’s important to have a good idea of where TV towers near you are located when setting up your antenna, so it can be pointed in the right direction. You can find a map of TV towers in your area by using the FCC’s handy DTV tool. You can either use your zip code or precise location information to get an accurate map and signal strength information to find the best placement for your antenna.

As more people choose to cut the cord with their cable or satellite provider, TV antennas have become much easier to find at more affordable prices. Here’s a short list of alternative TV antennas that are great choices: