CB Radio Channels and Frequencies

All 40 CB radio channels from 26.965 to 27.405 MHz, channel 9 for emergencies, channel 19 for highways, SSB channels and power limits. No license needed.

CB radio is license-free, cheap and still heavily used on highways, which makes it useful during evacuations for real-time road and traffic reports. Its 11-meter frequencies can reach farther than FRS in open country, especially with a good vehicle antenna.

Range varies a lot: a few miles is typical for a mobile, and atmospheric conditions occasionally carry signals hundreds of miles.

CB channel chart (FCC 47 CFR 95.963)

Channel	Frequency (MHz)	Common use
1	26.965	General
2	26.975	General
3	26.985	General
4	27.005	General
5	27.015	General
6	27.025	General
7	27.035	General
8	27.055	General
9	27.065	Emergency and traveler assistance only (FCC rule)
10	27.075	General
11	27.085	General
12	27.105	General
13	27.115	General
14	27.125	General
15	27.135	General
16	27.155	General
17	27.165	General
18	27.175	General
19	27.185	Highway / trucker channel (convention)
20	27.205	General
21	27.215	General
22	27.225	General
23	27.255	General
24	27.235	General
25	27.245	General
26	27.265	General
27	27.275	General
28	27.285	General
29	27.295	General
30	27.305	General
31	27.315	General
32	27.325	General
33	27.335	General
34	27.345	General
35	27.355	General
36	27.365	SSB (convention)
37	27.375	SSB (convention)
38	27.385	SSB calling, usually LSB (convention)
39	27.395	SSB (convention)
40	27.405	SSB (convention)

Licensing and rules

No license is required to operate a CB radio in the US.
Power limits: 4 watts carrier on AM and FM, 12 watts peak envelope power on single sideband (SSB). Amplifiers (linears) are illegal on CB.
Channel 9 may only be used for emergency communications or traveler assistance.

Practical tips

Monitor channel 19 during an evacuation for traffic and road-closure reports, and channel 9 for emergencies.
A properly tuned (low SWR) antenna improves range more than anything else you can legally change.
SSB-capable radios get noticeably better range than AM-only radios.

Frequently asked questions

What is the CB emergency channel?

Channel 9 (27.065 MHz). FCC rules reserve it for emergency communications and traveler assistance.

Do I need a license for CB radio?

No. CB has been license-free in the US since 1983, but power limits (4 W AM/FM, 12 W PEP SSB) and equipment rules still apply.