TV channels & antenna towers in Kirkland, Washington
Kirkland has 23 TV transmitters within 70 miles, carrying ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, CW and ION. About 19 stations should come in at fair strength or better with a suitable antenna. The closest tower is KZJO, 6.5 miles to the SW.
Network channels in Kirkland
| Station | Channel | Distance | Point antenna | Est. signal | Licensed to |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MeTVKFFVMeTV | 44.1 | 6.5 mi | 226° SW | Strong | Seattle, WA |
| NBCKING-TVNBC | 5 | 7.5 mi | 243° WSW | Strong | Seattle, WA |
| CWKUNS-TVCW | 51 | 7.6 mi | 243° WSW | Strong | Bellevue, WA |
| ABCKOMO-TVABC | 4 | 7.6 mi | 243° WSW | Strong | Seattle, WA |
| CBSKIRO-TVCBS | 7 | 7.7 mi | 244° WSW | Strong | Seattle, WA |
| IONKWPX-TVION | 33 | 17 mi | 138° SE | Strong | Bellevue, WA |
| TBNKTBW-TVTrinity | 20 | 29 mi | 251° WSW | Good | Tacoma, WA |
| FOXKCPQFox | 13 | 29 mi | 252° WSW | Fair | Tacoma, WA |
Over-the-air TV in Kirkland
Kirkland is a city of about 87,300 people in Washington. There are 23 licensed TV transmitters within 70 miles: 14 full-power, 7 low-power and 2 translators. Based on each transmitter's power, antenna height and distance, 19 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 15 at good or strong strength.
18 of them are within 25 miles of Kirkland, 4 sit 25 to 45 miles away and 1 is more than 45 miles out. Four of the 8 network stations in range are licensed to Seattle, so most of the network channels you will find here come from Seattle's stations.
The best-placed network stations are ABC on channel 4 (KOMO-TV), CBS on channel 7 (KIRO-TV), NBC on channel 5 (KING-TV), Fox on channel 13 (KCPQ), CW on channel 51 (KUNS-TV), ION on channel 33 (KWPX-TV), MeTV on channel 44.1 (KFFV) and Trinity on channel 20 (KTBW-TV). 6 full-power stations in range have no network listed in our data; these are typically public television, religious, shopping or independent stations.
Which way to point your antenna in Kirkland
Point your antenna WSW, at about 245°. The main network towers for Kirkland sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.
Four network stations, KING-TV, KUNS-TV, KOMO-TV and KIRO-TV, transmit from the same tower site about 7.5 miles southwest of Kirkland (243° WSW). Point at that site and a single antenna setting picks them all up.
Of the 8 full-power and Class A network signals that reach Kirkland at fair strength or better, 63% arrive from the southwest; the rest are spread across two other directions.
All of the main network towers are within their radio horizon as seen from Kirkland, so signals arrive fairly directly and a well-placed antenna should hold them steadily.
Antenna and amplifier advice for Kirkland
The farthest main network tower for Kirkland is KCPQ (Fox), 29 miles away with a fair estimated signal. That is why we suggest an amplified indoor or attic antenna here. If you only watch the closer stations, a smaller antenna may do.
KZJO is only 6.5 miles away with a strong signal. Signals that strong can overload an amplifier, so start without one and add it only if distant channels are missing. Read when an amplifier helps.
Other stations near Kirkland
Full-power independents, low-power stations and translators that relay a bigger station's signal.
| Station | Distance | Point antenna | Est. signal | Licensed to |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KZJOFull power | 6.5 mi | 226° SW | Strong | Seattle, WA |
| KCTS-TVFull power | 6.5 mi | 226° SW | Good | Seattle, WA |
| KSTWFull power | 6.5 mi | 226° SW | Strong | Tacoma, WA |
| KONGFull power | 7.5 mi | 243° WSW | Strong | Everett, WA |
| KRUM-LDLow power | 7.5 mi | 243° WSW | Good | Seattle, WA |
| K20NF-DLow power | 7.5 mi | 243° WSW | Fair | Seattle, WA |
| KQAH-LDLow power | 7.7 mi | 244° WSW | Good | Maltby, WA |
| KYMU-LDLow power | 7.7 mi | 244° WSW | Fair | Seattle, WA |
| KWDKFull power | 17 mi | 138° SE | Good | Tacoma, WA |
| KUSE-LDLow power | 17 mi | 138° SE | Fair | Seattle, WA |
| K18NI-DTranslator | 21 mi | 212° SSW | Weak | Point Pulley, Etc., WA |
| K29ED-DLow power | 21 mi | 11° N | Weak | Everett, WA |
| KBTC-TVFull power | 31 mi | 207° SSW | Good | Tacoma, WA |
| K18NH-DTranslator | 35 mi | 184° S | Poor | Puyallup, WA |
| K15MW-DLow power | 61 mi | 351° N | Poor | Bellingham, WA |
How Kirkland compares with the rest of Washington
With 19 stations at fair strength or better, Kirkland ranks 132nd of 398 places in Washington: more than the typical Washington town (17). Its nearest major network tower is 6.5 miles away, against a state median of 19 miles.
60% of Washington's cities and towns get the same recommendation: an amplified indoor or attic antenna. The nearest larger city is Seattle, 7.7 miles away.
Setting up an antenna in Kirkland: step by step
- Mount the antenna in the attic or high on the wall facing the towers, keeping the cable to the TV as short as you can.
- Point it toward 252° WSW, the direction of KCPQ (Fox), 29 miles away. Closer stations usually come in even off-axis.
- Run a full channel scan on your TV (usually Settings → Channels → Auto program; the name varies by brand).
- Expect around 19 stations, each with a few subchannels. If one you want is missing, turn the antenna 5–10° toward it and scan again.
- Rescan every few months, or whenever a channel disappears; stations occasionally change frequency.
Frequently asked questions
What channel is ABC in Kirkland, WA?
ABC is on channel 4 from KOMO-TV, broadcasting from 7.6 miles WSW of Kirkland. Estimated signal: strong.
What channel is CBS in Kirkland, WA?
CBS is on channel 7 from KIRO-TV, broadcasting from 7.7 miles WSW of Kirkland. Estimated signal: strong.
What channel is NBC in Kirkland, WA?
NBC is on channel 5 from KING-TV, broadcasting from 7.5 miles WSW of Kirkland. Estimated signal: strong.
What channel is Fox in Kirkland, WA?
Fox is on channel 13 from KCPQ, broadcasting from 29 miles WSW of Kirkland. Estimated signal: fair.
What channel is CW in Kirkland, WA?
CW is on channel 51 from KUNS-TV, broadcasting from 7.6 miles WSW of Kirkland. Estimated signal: strong.
How many channels can I get with an antenna in Kirkland?
23 transmitters within 70 miles of Kirkland; around 19 of them are likely to be receivable with amplified indoor or attic antenna. Each station usually carries several subchannels, so the total channel count after a scan is higher.
Which direction should I point my TV antenna in Kirkland?
Point your antenna WSW, at about 245°. The main network towers for Kirkland sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.
What kind of antenna do I need in Kirkland?
Amplified indoor or attic antenna (25–45 miles). Towers are at medium range. An amplified indoor antenna can work; an attic-mounted antenna is the safer choice.
Do I need an antenna amplifier in Kirkland?
KZJO is only 6.5 miles away with a strong signal. Signals that strong can overload an amplifier, so start without one and add it only if distant channels are missing. Read when an amplifier helps.
Is there an app to find TV towers in Kirkland?
Yes. The free RCA Signal Finder app for iPhone and Android uses your phone's GPS and compass to show which way each tower is from where you stand.
TV channels in nearby Washington cities
- Inglewood-Finn Hill2.9 mi
- Kingsgate3.4 mi
- Redmond4.1 mi
- Bellevue4.9 mi
- Woodinville5.5 mi
- Kenmore5.5 mi
- Bothell5.6 mi
- Lake Forest Park6.2 mi
- Sammamish6.6 mi
- Cottage Lake7.5 mi
- Mercer Island7.7 mi
- Brier7.7 mi
- Seattle7.7 mi
- Shoreline8.0 mi
- Union Hill-Novelty Hill8.4 mi
- Bothell West8.7 mi
- Bothell East8.7 mi
- Mountlake Terrace8.7 mi
- West Lake Sammamish8.8 mi
- City of Sammamish9.6 mi
- Maltby9.6 mi
- North Creek9.7 mi
- Newcastle10 mi
- Alderwood Manor10 mi
More: all TV stations in Washington · West region · antenna buying guide · how to aim an antenna. Distances are straight-line from the center of Kirkland; signal estimates ignore terrain.