Amateur band chart

The bands at a glance

An amateur "band" is a slice of spectrum set aside for the service. Names come from approximate wavelength (the 20 m band is near 14 MHz, where one wavelength is about 21 m), and the bands are spread from the longest wavelengths to microwaves so that you can choose the propagation you want: worldwide skip on HF, local and regional on VHF and UHF.

HF and below

Band	Frequencies (MHz)	What it's known for
2200 m	0.1357 to 0.1378	Very low power limit (1 W EIRP)
630 m	0.472 to 0.479	Very low power limit (5 W EIRP; some Alaska exceptions)
160 m	1.8 to 2.0	The "Top Band": night-time, noisy, rewarding
80 m	3.5 to 4.0	Regional contacts, nets; strongest at night
60 m	a few channels near 5.3 to 5.4	Channelized with special rules; not a continuous band
40 m	7.0 to 7.3	Day regional and night DX; busy at all hours
30 m	10.1 to 10.15	Narrow; CW and digital only, no phone
20 m	14.0 to 14.35	The classic DX band by day
17 m	18.068 to 18.168	Less crowded; DX when conditions allow
15 m	21.0 to 21.45	Open worldwide when the Sun is active
12 m	24.89 to 24.99	Quiet, small; sun-dependent
10 m	28.0 to 29.7	Sun-dependent; FM repeaters in the upper part

Higher bands depend on the solar cycle. See The solar cycle and propagation indices.

VHF, UHF and up

Band	Frequencies (MHz)	What it's known for
6 m	50 to 54	The "magic band": sporadic E openings, DX windows
2 m	144 to 148	The busiest VHF band: repeaters, FM simplex, weak signal
1.25 m	222 to 225	Repeaters and weak signal; quieter
70 cm	420 to 450	Repeaters, handhelds, digital voice, satellites
33 cm	902 to 928	Shared with other users
23 cm	1240 to 1300	Repeaters, ATV, satellites, EME
Microwaves	2.3 GHz and up	Several bands up through the GHz range; see the official chart

Here and above, power and mode limits differ by segment, and some areas have coordination or protection requirements for other services.

How to read the chart

• A band is not a license. Your class decides which parts you can use; License classes and privileges explains the pattern.
• Mode limits sit inside bands. For example, 30 m has no phone, and the first part of 6 m and 2 m is CW only. How operators divide the rest by habit is Band plans.
• Other countries differ. These are US limits. In Europe and Africa, for example, 40 m ends at 7.2 MHz and 80 m at 3.8 MHz, and not every country has 60 m, 6 m, or 630 m.
• Edges are hard edges. Your signal has width, and your dial has error. Stay a little inside.

Related

• The radio spectrumLF to microwaves: where the bands sit and what each is good for.
• License classes and privilegesTechnician, General and Extra: what each adds and how upgrading works.
• Band plansHow the bands are divided by mode.
• Frequency and wavelengthTwo ways to describe the same wave, tied together by the speed of light.
• Part 97 in plain wordsThe FCC rules every amateur operates under, organised by what you want to do.
• Skywave, hops and the skip zoneHow HF signals return to Earth hundreds or thousands of miles away.