best jobsite radio

Best Jobsite Radio 2022 – Detailed Buyers Guide

When you’re on the jobsite you need power lots of power and I’m not talking about for tools but to literally BLAST your music.

Having a radio without plenty of power is useless when people are creating a lot of noise with drills or hammers or whatever else. So you need power. The power that all the radios below offer, the power that lets you enjoy the radio no matter what and keep it safe with roll cages and the like!

When it comes to finding the a radio that is suitable for the worksite there are a few things you want to take into consideration. Being loud is important but you most also have – a good sound quality, things like portability and toughness are also important especially on a jobsite.

There are also some additional features like being able to connect to a mobile phone to choose your own soundtrack or having the ability to charge NiCad or lithium-ion batteries. And of course we want a radio that is loud and puts out a solid and clear sound.

I have used over 20 different radios and below is my round up of the top 5 radios counting down to the best jobsite radio available.
NameRating (1-5)Max Volume(1-5)
DEWALT DCR018
3.53.5 Check Price
Sangean U34.13.7 Check Price
Sangean FB-1004.34.5 Check Price
DEWALT DC0124.34.8 Check Price
Bosch PB360S4.74.9 Check Price

Best Job Site Radio – The Top 5

#5 DEWALT DCR018 18V/12V/20V MAX Compact Worksite Radio

If you are on the market for a more affordable radio or a radio that has more portability because of its smaller size this could be a great choice for you. Don’t be fooled by its smaller size though it can put out a lot of sound and that’s why it’s made my top five, for the size its good but if you are mainly looking for maximum volume check out the next radios in this list.

One of the great things with this jobsite radio is it’s able to run of a power pack so you don’t have to be connected to the mains, which is an important feature for some people to have. Also because of how small and portable it is – that allows you to place it wherever you would like to which is a nice flexibility to have. You can connect your phone to the radio using the auxiliary port using a 3.5 mm male to male cable. So, you can use your own playlist if you want to or use an app like Spotify or Pandora for your tunes. You also don’t have to worry about your phone running low on battery as you can use the USB port that’s built in to top up the charge while you play music from it which is very good for those longer work days. You are also able to store your phone or any valuables inside the included storage compartment.

In terms of build quality this Dewalt radio is very good. It has a built-in cage which will protect it if it gets knocked over or dropped. One final thing to mention is it has a digital turner and has 5 AM/FM presets. If you are looking for portability and a very affordable price point this is a great option.

Advantages
  • Very affordable
  • Don’t need mains power to run
  • Nice build quality
  • Good value for money
Disadvantages
  • Not the loudest max volume

#4 Sangean U3 AM/FM Ultra Rugged Digital Tuning Radio Receiver

The first thing that stood out to me when using this radio is not only how loud it can be but its crystal-clear sound quality. On some other radios that struggle to find some stations the quality of them can be diminished but this radio never has any problems finding and putting out a high-quality sound that I am highly impressed with.

This radio has a built-in roll cage which keeps it protected and secure no matter where or what you are doing and the integrated handle makes it one of the most portable options. It is also water resistant and the overall build quality is very impressive – it feels built to last and the design has been well thought through.

Advantages
  • Great sound quality
  • Built in roll cage
  • Great Reception
Disadvantages
  • Batteries can use up quickly

#3 Sangean FB-100 Fatbox Rugged Industrial AM/FM Radio

If putting out some immense LOUD sound is what you want. It can be cranked up and even has loudness button which makes it even louder again. In terms of reception this was one of the best radios that I used, it could tune to those stations that I sometimes had trouble with on other radios and not only that but it produced clear and high quality sound that of which I was impressed with very much. The speakers on this radio are 6.5 inches each for the 2 of them. The sound can be changed with different presets depending on the music you tend to listen to whether its pop or rock you have 6 different settings for this but I found the default one to be great anyways.

The radio has an integrated roll cage which as you can see from the pictures looks extremely durable and it does live up to that. Sangeon say it can withstand falls from 6 feet and can withstand 250 pounds of weight pressure. And after using it I can see why.

While the radio is plugged in it can recharge D size Ni-MH batteries which is a handy feature to have. These same batteries can be used to power the radio and in my usage where able to last a whole working day (8 hours) on a high-power volume. The batteries also charge quickly – in about 2 hours’ time. It also has an auxiliary port so you can plug in your phone for example to listen to your own tunes. If you want a jobsite radio that not only is resounding but one that is built like a tank and could easily be used in most environments, then this is an excellent choice.

Advantages
  • High max volume
  • Rechargable batteries
  • Great sound quality
  • Sturdy and durable
Disadvantages
  • Built in charging only works for the 8D batteries

#2 DEWALT DC012 7.2-Volt-18-Volt Heavy-Duty Worksite Radio Chargera

While there is a newer model out this Dewalt radio this is actually the better option than its newer brother. If you are a person who has Dewalt tools that need charging for example this is going to be the perfect option for you. It can be used to charge all the batteries that are made by Dewalt that means all Ni-Cads, all Li-ION no matter what the voltage is. These tools can also be powered by the radio using 3 of the included plug ins. It can also be powered using batteries which is an extremely useful feature if you don’t have access to a power outlet. It can charge the battery when it is under normal operation as well.

Is this the loudest radio? Well it’s close, this thing really gets very loud and it has some solid bass which I particularly enjoy. I could easily hear it even when lots of drilling and hammering going on, so its going to be loud enough!

 The functionality on this radio is very easy to use, everything such as setting the programmable stations and setting the clock is very easy and the volume dial is a satisfying dial to operate. The whole radio itself is fully waterproof and dustproof which is also a great advantage to have.

It has an auxiliary port which like the other options allows you to connect a mp3 player or mobile phone to provide the sound instead of the radio if you would like. This radio is a great all-rounder and I can understand why it’s one of the best-selling job site radios on the market and I myself can thoroughly recommend it to you.

Advantages
  • Premium build
  • Can be used to power other Dewalt tools
  • Nice roll cage
  • One of the loudest radios
Disadvantages
  • No Bluetooth functionality

The Best Jobsite Radio 2017

#1 Bosch PB360S 18-Volt Lithium-Ion Power Box Jobsite Radio and Charger

The first thing that stood out to me about this jobsite radio is how the speakers are set up. Unlike most other speakers are pointing in one direction and therefore most of the sound radiates in that direction but with this setup you have speakers on every side and the sound covers 360 degrees. It has 4 speakers and a subwoofer. When it comes to the sound it is without a doubt the loudest jobsite radio and the quality remains high even at max volume – you can easily hear it over any construction or machinery.

You can run this radio of the ac power or from batteries. I was running it using a 18v lithium-ion pack and I would get have about 8 hours of run time, so if you are running for a longer workday 2 batteries may be needed, so keep that in mind.

In terms of functionality and ports this model has an auxiliary so you can play your own music from your phone. It also has a USB which can be used to charge your devices like your phone or you can use a USB to stream your music from. It also has an SD card slot so you can put your music onto it and play it from there which is an extremely handy feature to have – you can simply have it placed into the SD card slot and there is no need to attach anything extra.

In terms of durability and build this is the truly top notch. It has a roll cage that is extremely durable – they even have some videos of it rolling down steps multiple times all with but a few scratches on it after – so basically this radio is immensely durable. It is also waterproof and dust proof and could easily be used in more wet and grimy conditions.

This radio is booming and offers premium quality and so many features it is definitely a great purchase and a product that is going to last you for many years to come.

Advantages
  • Speakers point in all directions which allows everyone to hear well
  • Top durability
  • Super loud at max volume
  • Can be used to charge devices via USB
  • Great value
Disadvantages
  • None