FRS Channels and Frequencies

All 22 FRS walkie-talkie channels with frequencies and power limits, what changed in the 2017 FCC rules, and when you need GMRS instead. No license required.

FRS is the license-free walkie-talkie service sold in blister packs everywhere. Anyone can use it, which makes it the easiest way to give every family member a radio, but the 2-watt limit and fixed antennas keep realistic range to about half a mile to two miles in town.

Since the FCC’s 2017 rule changes, FRS radios may use all 22 channels, and new radios are certified either as FRS or as GMRS, not both.

FRS channel chart (FCC 47 CFR 95.563 and 95.567)

Channel	Frequency (MHz)	Max power (ERP)	Also used by
1	462.5625	2 W	GMRS
2	462.5875	2 W	GMRS
3	462.6125	2 W	GMRS
4	462.6375	2 W	GMRS
5	462.6625	2 W	GMRS
6	462.6875	2 W	GMRS
7	462.7125	2 W	GMRS
8	467.5625	0.5 W	GMRS
9	467.5875	0.5 W	GMRS
10	467.6125	0.5 W	GMRS
11	467.6375	0.5 W	GMRS
12	467.6625	0.5 W	GMRS
13	467.6875	0.5 W	GMRS
14	467.7125	0.5 W	GMRS
15	462.5500	2 W	GMRS (up to 50 W)
16	462.5750	2 W	GMRS (up to 50 W)
17	462.6000	2 W	GMRS (up to 50 W)
18	462.6250	2 W	GMRS (up to 50 W)
19	462.6500	2 W	GMRS (up to 50 W)
20	462.6750	2 W	GMRS (up to 50 W)
21	462.7000	2 W	GMRS (up to 50 W)
22	462.7250	2 W	GMRS (up to 50 W)

Licensing and rules

No license is required to use FRS radios in the US.
FRS radios must have a permanently attached antenna and cannot use repeaters.
Expect to share channels with GMRS users, who may transmit with much more power on channels 1–7 and 15–22.

Practical tips

Agree on a channel and privacy code ahead of time and write it on a label on each radio.
For kids and short-range use, FRS is ideal. If you need neighborhood-wide range, look at GMRS.
Keep spare batteries or a radio that accepts AA cells, not just a built-in pack.

Frequently asked questions

Do FRS radios need a license?

No. FRS is license-free in the US. The trade-off is a 2-watt power limit (0.5 watts on channels 8–14) and no detachable antennas or repeaters.

How far can FRS radios reach?

Realistically about 0.5–2 miles in towns and wooded areas, more over open water or from high ground. Box claims of 30+ miles assume perfect line of sight.

Can FRS radios talk to GMRS radios?

Yes. They share all 22 frequencies, so FRS and GMRS radios on the same channel and privacy code can talk to each other.