The 10 Best CB Radios
Updated by · How we research
Ten CB radios compared on price, AM/FM, sideband, handheld vs. mobile use and antenna setup. The Cobra 29 LTD Classic leads for most trucks and cars. When users buy our independently chosen editorial selections, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
Every legal CB radio is capped at the same four watts on AM, so no set out-talks another on power alone; the antenna and how well it's tuned decide most of the range. CB still works where phones don't, which keeps it alive with truckers, off-roaders, farm crews and road-trip convoys. No license is needed, and kids can use one too.
Editor's Notes
October 23, 2026, by Ezvid Wiki Admin:
The Cobra 29 LTD Classic takes the top spot. It's the dash radio truckers have known for decades, and it now talks on FM as well as AM, which the FCC has allowed on CB since 2021.
Several old picks were gone. The Galaxy DX-959B and President McKinley are no longer available, the Midland 5001Z isn't made anymore, and the Uniden Bearcat 880 is out of stock at Uniden, so the Uniden Bearcat 980 now carries the sideband role. The Cobra 29 LX Max listing changed to a different radio, and the Uniden PRO501HH had the weakest owner feedback among handhelds.
Four picks stay: the Uniden PRO520XL, the Midland 75-822, the Uniden BearTracker 885 and Cobra's handheld, now sold as the Cobra HHRT50 Road Trip with a roof antenna. New ones cover compact, hidden and docked setups.
Our evidence was the FCC's CB rules in Part 95, the 2021 order that opened CB to FM, each maker's spec pages and a recall check on every brand. One snag: the seller lists FM for the Midland, but Midland's own page doesn't, so we treat it as AM.
December 03, 2020:
A few of the models from our previous list have seen nice upgrades, one of the most exciting of which has got to be the Uniden Beartracker 885 Hybrid, which takes all of the functionality and reliability of the Uniden Bearcat 880 and combines it with an outstanding emergency scanner. It also fixes a minor problem with the 880 that saw some of its screens fading a bit over time, and becoming difficult to read in bright daylight.
The Cobra 29 LX Max is another upgrade that allows its users to pair the radio with their smartphones, making this a particularly smart choice for anyone that wants to set up their radio in a car or truck, as you can take calls with the microphone and not have to fumble with your phone while driving.
We also increased the number of handheld options on this iteration of our list, adding the Cobra HH50WXST Hand Held and the Uniden Pro-Series 501HH. That Cobra model is our favorite of the bunch, mainly because it has one of the cleanest sounding speakers in the business, and because its screen is bright and full of useful information.
November 26, 2019:
In revisiting this list, we wanted to be a little more strict with our definition of a CB, which should technically operate on an 11-meter band, as compared to a ham or amateur radio. The AnyTone AT-5555N on our previous list, for example, only offered a 10-meter band, with a relatively simple procedure for modification that could extend it to 11 meters. This effort we felt was unnecessary given the quality of the other models on the market and the likelihood that such an alteration would void the device's warranty.
We also said goodbye to the Cobra 29LX Camo, which had been upgraded by the company to the 29LX Max, but that has not been well-received due to a litany of issues, from the performance of its receiver to its overall build quality. To make up for these losses, we added the Midland 5001Z to our list, which is a slightly less advanced model than the Cobra 29 LTDCHR, but that offers a nice, old-school design.
Special Honors
Firestik Antenna Company Most radios on this list ship without an antenna, and the antenna decides more of your range than the radio does. Firestik is a veteran-owned antenna maker in Tempe, Arizona, that has sold CB antennas, mounts and flags for decades, and its site has a tech-help section for setup questions. firestik.com
Mobile, Handheld Or Hidden
Most people should start with a mobile radio: a box that mounts under the dash, runs on the vehicle's 12-volt power and feeds a roof antenna.
Most people should start with a mobile radio: a box that mounts under the dash, runs on the vehicle's 12-volt power and feeds a roof antenna. The Cobra 29 LTD and the Uniden PRO520XL are this kind, and neither comes with an antenna, so budget for one plus its mount and cable.
A handheld puts the radio, battery and antenna in one piece. That's handy at a hunting stand, on a job site or for a quick swap between vehicles, but the short rubber antenna is the weak link: a handheld on its own antenna covers far less ground than a radio feeding a roof antenna. That's why the Cobra HH RT 50 ships with a magnet-mount roof antenna, and why Uniden sells a magnet mount for its handhelds.
Modular radios split the difference: a hidden radio box and a handset that carries the controls. The Cobra 75 All Road links its handset to the box wirelessly, which suits side-by-sides and Jeeps with no spare dash space. Whatever the body, CB is mostly a line-of-sight radio (Wikipedia), so antenna height matters as much as the radio.
AM, FM And Sideband: Who Will Hear You
Every CB talks AM, and it's still what truckers use on channel 19. Since a 2021 FCC order, certified radios may also transmit FM on all 40 channels at the same 4-watt limit, and a radio with FM must still offer AM (47 CFR 95.971). FM sounds cleaner, with less engine and ignition noise, but only when the radio at the other end has FM too, so it pays off most in a group that buys matching sets.
Single sideband, or SSB, transmits only one half of the signal, upper or lower, and is allowed 12 watts peak envelope power (47 CFR 95.967). It carries farther, especially when atmospheric skip opens up, but it can only talk to other sideband radios, and those users gather on channels 36 through 40. The Uniden Bearcat 980 is the sideband pick here.
Be wary of "export" or 10-meter radios sold with CB-like channels. Only FCC-certified CB radios may be used on the band, and modified amateur or other non-CB transmitters aren't allowed (47 CFR 95.935).
The Rules: No License, No Amplifiers, Channel 9
CB needs no license and sets no age limit: anyone may operate a certified radio under the FCC's license-by-rule (47 CFR 95.305). That makes CB a fair choice for kids at a campground or on a farm, with an adult nearby to teach the etiquette.
A few rules matter in daily use. Channel 9 is only for emergencies and traveler assistance (95.931). A conversation should last no more than five minutes, then leave the channel quiet for a minute (95.957). An antenna can stand no more than 60 feet above the ground, or 20 feet above the building or tree it's mounted on (95.941). External power amplifiers are banned outright (95.939), so there's no legal "most powerful" CB: every set is capped at 4 watts on AM and FM.
Before you talk, tune the antenna. A high SWR reading means power is bouncing back into the radio instead of going out, which cuts range and can harm the radio over time. Sets with a built-in SWR meter, such as the Cobra 29 LTD Classic and Uniden Bearcat 980, let you check it yourself; for the others, an inline meter does the job. Never key the mic with no antenna connected.
How we researched this
We compared 20 CB radios from Cobra, Uniden, Midland, President, Galaxy and Radioddity, read the makers' spec pages and product details for the 10 finalists, worked through the FCC's CB rules in 47 CFR Part 95 and the 2021 order that allowed FM, screened owner feedback for consistent defects, and checked every brand against the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's recall database. We found no independent lab tests of current CB radios.
Sources (15)
- eCFR: 47 CFR Part 95 Subpart D, Citizens Band Radio Service
- Federal Register: FM on CB, 86 FR 53565 (2021)
- Wikipedia: Citizens band radio
- Cobra: 29 LTD Classic
- Cobra: 75 All Road
- Cobra: HH RT 50 Road Trip
- Cobra: 19 MINI AM/FM
- Uniden: PRO520XL
- Uniden: Bearcat 980SSB
- Uniden: PRO401HH
- Uniden: BearTracker 885
- Uniden: magnet-mount antenna for handheld CBs
- Midland: 75-822 CB radio
- President Electronics
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission: recalls
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a license to use a CB radio?
No. CB runs under the FCC's license-by-rule, so anyone may use a certified CB radio without applying for anything, and there's no age limit (47 CFR 95.305).
How far can a CB radio talk?
It depends mostly on the antenna, its height and the terrain. Vehicles with roof antennas typically reach a few miles to about 20 in open country, while a handheld on its own short antenna covers much less. Sideband and atmospheric skip can occasionally carry signals far beyond that.
What is the most powerful CB radio?
On the legal side, they're all the same: 4 watts on AM and FM, and 12 watts peak on sideband. External amplifiers are banned. A better antenna, mounted high and tuned for low SWR, is the legal way to add range.
Are handheld CB radios any good?
Yes, for short range and portability. On a rubber antenna, range is limited, so for vehicle use pick a handheld that can connect to a roof antenna, such as a kit with a magnet mount or a two-in-one with a mobile adapter.
What's the easiest CB radio for a beginner or a kid?
A simple set with few controls, such as the Uniden PRO520XL or Cobra 19 MINI AM/FM in a vehicle, or a basic handheld like the Uniden PRO401HH. Teach kids to stay off channel 9 and away from channel 19, where truckers talk.
Should I get a CB with FM?
Get FM if your group will all have FM radios: it sounds clearer. Keep AM for talking with truckers and most other CB users, since every radio has AM.
