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Band Reference

US Amateur Radio Band Chart

Interactive frequency allocation chart for all 16 US amateur radio bands. Filter by licence class, explore mode segments, find key operating frequencies, and download a free printable PDF.

Licence Class

Band Category

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Export

Extra only
General+
All classes
Key frequency

160 Meter Band

160m

1.800–2.000 MHz

HF
1.800–1.843 MHzGeneral+

CW · Data

Licence classes: Extra, General

1.843–2.000 MHzGeneral+

CW · Phone · Data · Image

Licence classes: Extra, General

Key frequencies

1.840 MHzFT8
1.838 MHzCW Calling
1.910 MHzSSB Calling

200W PEP max for Novice/Tech+. Night-time band, best in winter.

80 Meter Band

80m

3.500–4.000 MHz

HF
3.500–3.525 MHzExtra only

CW

Licence classes: Extra

3.525–3.600 MHzAll classes

CW · Data

Licence classes: Extra, General, Technician

Technician: CW only, 200W PEP max

3.600–3.700 MHzExtra only

CW · Phone · Data · Image

Licence classes: Extra

3.700–3.800 MHzGeneral+

CW · Phone · Data · Image

Licence classes: Extra, General

3.800–4.000 MHzGeneral+

CW · Phone · Data · Image

Licence classes: Extra, General

Key frequencies

3.573 MHzFT8
3.580 MHzFT4
3.845 MHzSSTV
3.860 MHzAM Calling

Popular evening/night band for regional contacts.

60 Meter Band

60m

5.330–5.404 MHz

HF
5.330–5.404 MHzGeneral+

CW · Phone · Data

Licence classes: Extra, General

100W PEP ERP max. USB only for phone. Channelized: 5 fixed channels.

Key frequencies

5.330 MHzCh 1
5.346 MHzCh 2
5.357 MHzCh 3 (Calling)
5.372 MHzCh 4
5.404 MHzCh 5

Channelized band, 100W PEP ERP max. USB phone only. Secondary allocation shared with government.

40 Meter Band

40m

7.000–7.300 MHz

HF
7.000–7.025 MHzExtra only

CW

Licence classes: Extra

7.025–7.125 MHzAll classes

CW · Data

Licence classes: Extra, General, Technician

Technician: CW only, 200W PEP max

7.125–7.175 MHzExtra only

CW · Phone · Data · Image

Licence classes: Extra

7.175–7.300 MHzGeneral+

CW · Phone · Data · Image

Licence classes: Extra, General

Key frequencies

7.030 MHzCW Calling
7.074 MHzFT8
7.047 MHzFT4
7.290 MHzAM Calling

Excellent day/night band. Most popular HF band worldwide.

30 Meter Band

30m

10.100–10.150 MHz

HF
10.100–10.150 MHzGeneral+

CW · Data

Licence classes: Extra, General

200W PEP max. No phone permitted.

Key frequencies

10.116 MHzCW Calling
10.136 MHzFT8

CW and data only, no phone. 200W PEP max. WARC band (no contests).

20 Meter Band

20m

14.000–14.350 MHz

HF
14.000–14.025 MHzExtra only

CW

Licence classes: Extra

14.025–14.150 MHzGeneral+

CW · Data

Licence classes: Extra, General

14.150–14.175 MHzExtra only

CW · Phone · Data · Image

Licence classes: Extra

14.175–14.225 MHzExtra only

CW · Phone · Data · Image

Licence classes: Extra

14.225–14.350 MHzGeneral+

CW · Phone · Data · Image

Licence classes: Extra, General

Key frequencies

14.060 MHzCW Calling
14.074 MHzFT8
14.080 MHzFT4
14.230 MHzSSTV
14.286 MHzAM Calling
14.300 MHzEmergency

The workhorse DX band. Best daytime propagation to worldwide contacts.

17 Meter Band

17m

18.068–18.168 MHz

HF
18.068–18.110 MHzGeneral+

CW · Data

Licence classes: Extra, General

18.110–18.168 MHzGeneral+

CW · Phone · Data · Image

Licence classes: Extra, General

Key frequencies

18.100 MHzFT8
18.104 MHzFT4

WARC band (no contests). Good daytime DX band.

15 Meter Band

15m

21.000–21.450 MHz

HF
21.000–21.025 MHzExtra only

CW

Licence classes: Extra

21.025–21.200 MHzAll classes

CW · Data

Licence classes: Extra, General, Technician

Technician: CW only, 200W PEP max

21.200–21.275 MHzExtra only

CW · Phone · Data · Image

Licence classes: Extra

21.275–21.450 MHzGeneral+

CW · Phone · Data · Image

Licence classes: Extra, General

Key frequencies

21.060 MHzCW Calling
21.074 MHzFT8
21.140 MHzFT4

Excellent DX band during solar cycle peaks.

12 Meter Band

12m

24.890–24.990 MHz

HF
24.890–24.930 MHzGeneral+

CW · Data

Licence classes: Extra, General

24.930–24.990 MHzGeneral+

CW · Phone · Data · Image

Licence classes: Extra, General

Key frequencies

24.915 MHzFT8
24.919 MHzFT4

WARC band (no contests). Good DX during solar maximums.

10 Meter Band

10m

28.000–29.700 MHz

HF
28.000–28.300 MHzAll classes

CW · Data

Licence classes: Extra, General, Technician

28.300–28.500 MHzAll classes

CW · Phone · Data

Licence classes: Extra, General, Technician

28.500–29.000 MHzGeneral+

CW · Phone · Data · Image

Licence classes: Extra, General

29.000–29.700 MHzGeneral+

CW · Phone · Data · Image

Licence classes: Extra, General

Key frequencies

28.060 MHzCW Calling
28.074 MHzFT8
28.400 MHzSSB Calling
29.600 MHzFM Calling

Widest HF band. Technicians get CW/Data on 28.0-28.3 and SSB on 28.3-28.5. Excellent DX during solar cycle peaks.

6 Meter Band

6m

50.000–54.000 MHz

VHF
50.000–50.100 MHzAll classes

CW

Licence classes: Extra, General, Technician

50.100–50.300 MHzAll classes

CW · Data

Licence classes: Extra, General, Technician

50.300–51.000 MHzAll classes

CW · Phone · Data · Image

Licence classes: Extra, General, Technician

51.000–54.000 MHzAll classes

CW · Phone · Data · Image

Licence classes: Extra, General, Technician

Key frequencies

50.060 MHzCW Calling
50.125 MHzSSB Calling
50.313 MHzFT8
50.318 MHzFT4
52.525 MHzFM Calling

The 'Magic Band' with sporadic-E propagation openings. All licence classes have full access.

2 Meter Band

2m

144.000–148.000 MHz

VHF
144.000–144.100 MHzAll classes

CW

Licence classes: Extra, General, Technician

144.100–144.275 MHzAll classes

CW · Data

Licence classes: Extra, General, Technician

144.275–144.500 MHzAll classes

CW · Phone · Data · Image

Licence classes: Extra, General, Technician

144.500–145.500 MHzAll classes

CW · Phone · Data · Image

Licence classes: Extra, General, Technician

Mixed mode, includes some repeater inputs

145.500–148.000 MHzAll classes

CW · Phone · Data · Image

Licence classes: Extra, General, Technician

Includes repeater outputs and simplex channels

Key frequencies

144.174 MHzFT8
144.200 MHzSSB Calling
144.390 MHzAPRS
145.000 MHzSatellite Uplink
146.520 MHzFM Calling
146.580 MHzSimplex

Most popular VHF band. Wide repeater infrastructure. All classes have full access. Standard repeater offset: +/- 600 kHz.

1.25 Meter Band

1.25m

222.000–225.000 MHz

VHF
222.000–222.150 MHzAll classes

CW · Data

Licence classes: Extra, General, Technician

222.150–225.000 MHzAll classes

CW · Phone · Data · Image

Licence classes: Extra, General, Technician

Key frequencies

223.500 MHzFM Calling

Less crowded than 2m/70cm. Limited radio support. Starts at 222 MHz (not 219 MHz, 219-222 is allocated to other services).

70 Centimeter Band

70cm

420.000–450.000 MHz

UHF
420.000–432.000 MHzAll classes

CW · Phone · Data · Image

Licence classes: Extra, General, Technician

Includes ATV and digital modes

432.000–432.100 MHzAll classes

CW

Licence classes: Extra, General, Technician

432.100–438.000 MHzAll classes

CW · Phone · Data · Image

Licence classes: Extra, General, Technician

Includes repeater and simplex

438.000–450.000 MHzAll classes

CW · Phone · Data · Image

Licence classes: Extra, General, Technician

Includes repeater pairs

Key frequencies

432.100 MHzCW/SSB Calling
432.174 MHzFT8
446.000 MHzFM Calling
446.500 MHzSimplex

Second most popular band. Wide repeater infrastructure. All classes have full access. Standard repeater offset: +/- 5 MHz. Secondary allocation, shared with government radiolocation.

33 Centimeter Band

33cm

902.000–928.000 MHz

UHF
902.000–902.800 MHzAll classes

CW · Data

Licence classes: Extra, General, Technician

902.800–928.000 MHzAll classes

CW · Phone · Data · Image

Licence classes: Extra, General, Technician

Key frequencies

903.100 MHzCW/SSB Calling
906.500 MHzFM Calling
927.500 MHzFM Simplex

Limited radio availability. Secondary allocation. Shared with ISM devices (900 MHz).

23 Centimeter Band

23cm

1240.000–1300.000 MHz

UHF
1240.000–1300.000 MHzAll classes

CW · Phone · Data · Image

Licence classes: Extra, General, Technician

Key frequencies

1294.500 MHzFM Calling
1296.100 MHzCW/SSB Calling

Microwave entry point. ATV popular here. Secondary allocation, shared with GPS/Galileo (potential interference concerns).

All key frequencies reference
BandFrequency (MHz)Usage
160m1.840FT8
160m1.838CW Calling
160m1.910SSB Calling
80m3.573FT8
80m3.580FT4
80m3.845SSTV
80m3.860AM Calling
60m5.330Ch 1
60m5.346Ch 2
60m5.357Ch 3 (Calling)
60m5.372Ch 4
60m5.404Ch 5
40m7.030CW Calling
40m7.074FT8
40m7.047FT4
40m7.290AM Calling
30m10.116CW Calling
30m10.136FT8
20m14.060CW Calling
20m14.074FT8
20m14.080FT4
20m14.230SSTV
20m14.286AM Calling
20m14.300Emergency
17m18.100FT8
17m18.104FT4
15m21.060CW Calling
15m21.074FT8
15m21.140FT4
12m24.915FT8
12m24.919FT4
10m28.060CW Calling
10m28.074FT8
10m28.400SSB Calling
10m29.600FM Calling
6m50.060CW Calling
6m50.125SSB Calling
6m50.313FT8
6m50.318FT4
6m52.525FM Calling
2m144.174FT8
2m144.200SSB Calling
2m144.390APRS
2m145.000Satellite Uplink
2m146.520FM Calling
2m146.580Simplex
1.25m223.500FM Calling
70cm432.100CW/SSB Calling
70cm432.174FT8
70cm446.000FM Calling
70cm446.500Simplex
33cm903.100CW/SSB Calling
33cm906.500FM Calling
33cm927.500FM Simplex
23cm1294.500FM Calling
23cm1296.100CW/SSB Calling

Understanding the US Band Plan

The FCC allocates 16 frequency bands to the Amateur Radio Service under 47 CFR Part 97. Each band is divided into segments where specific modes are permitted: CW (Morse code), phone (voice via SSB, FM, or AM), digital data (FT8, RTTY, PSK31), and image modes (SSTV, ATV). These allocations ensure different activities can coexist without interference.

HF bands (160m through 10m) provide long-distance communication via ionospheric propagation. VHF bands (6m and 2m) support both local repeater networks and occasional long-distance openings via sporadic-E propagation. UHF bands (70cm and above) are primarily used for local communication, repeaters, satellite contacts, and amateur television.

Licence Class Privileges

Technician licence holders have full access to all VHF and UHF bands, making them ideal for local repeater work, simplex communication, and getting started with ham radio. On HF, Technicians get CW privileges on portions of 80m, 40m, 15m, and 10m (with SSB voice on 10m at 28.3-28.5 MHz), all at 200W PEP max.

General class operators gain access to most of every HF band, opening up worldwide DX communication. The General exam adds 35 questions on radio theory, regulations, and operating practices beyond the Technician material.

Amateur Extra is the highest US licence class. Extra operators get exclusive access to small segments at the bottom of several HF bands. These segments are less crowded and often where the most experienced operators make contacts. The Extra exam covers advanced radio theory and electronics.

New to ham radio? See our top picks for beginner radios, or check out our guide on the differences between VHF and UHF.

Key Operating Frequencies

While you can operate on any frequency within your licence privileges, the ham community has established standard calling frequencies where operators gather to make initial contact.

FrequencyBandPurpose
146.520 MHz2mNational FM simplex calling frequency
446.000 MHz70cmNational FM simplex calling frequency
144.200 MHz2mSSB calling frequency
144.390 MHz2mAPRS (Automatic Packet Reporting System)
14.074 MHz20mFT8 (most active HF digital frequency)
14.300 MHz20mEmergency / Maritime Mobile Net

Need a dual-band radio for 2m and 70cm? See our top dual-band picks. Want to calculate your antenna length for a specific frequency? Try the dipole antenna calculator.

Frequently Asked Questions

What frequencies can a Technician licence holder use?

Technicians have full access to all VHF and UHF bands (6m, 2m, 1.25m, 70cm, 33cm, 23cm) with all modes. On HF, Technicians get CW privileges on portions of 80m (3.525-3.600 MHz), 40m (7.025-7.125 MHz), 15m (21.025-21.200 MHz), and 10m (28.0-28.3 MHz CW/data, 28.3-28.5 MHz SSB voice), all at 200W max. Use the licence class filter above to see exactly which segments are available.

What is the difference between General and Extra class privileges?

General class operators can access most of every HF band, but Extra class operators get exclusive access to small segments at the low end of several HF bands (80m, 40m, 20m, 15m). These Extra-only segments are often the least crowded and best for DX (long-distance) contacts. On VHF and UHF, General and Extra have identical access.

What are the most popular ham radio bands?

The 2 meter band (144-148 MHz) is the most popular for local communication, with extensive repeater coverage nationwide. The 70 centimeter band (420-450 MHz) is the second most popular for local work. For long-distance (DX) contacts, 20 meters (14.0-14.35 MHz) is the workhorse HF band with reliable daytime propagation worldwide. 40 meters (7.0-7.3 MHz) is excellent for evening regional and DX contacts.

Where do I find FT8 frequencies?

FT8 uses specific dial frequencies on each band: 1.840 MHz (160m), 3.573 MHz (80m), 7.074 MHz (40m), 10.136 MHz (30m), 14.074 MHz (20m), 18.100 MHz (17m), 21.074 MHz (15m), 24.915 MHz (12m), 28.074 MHz (10m), 50.313 MHz (6m), and 144.174 MHz (2m). These are shown as key frequency markers on the chart above.

Can I transmit on all ham bands with any radio?

No. Most handheld radios (HTs) only cover the 2m and 70cm bands. Mobile and base station VHF/UHF radios may add 6m or 1.25m. HF transceivers cover the HF bands (160m through 10m) and sometimes 6m. You need a radio that supports the specific bands you want to operate on, plus the appropriate licence class privileges for those frequencies.