PlainBuyGuides

Best Jobsite Radios

The best jobsite radio is usually the one that runs on batteries you already own. On Milwaukee M18, get the 2950-20, which also charges M18 packs. On DeWalt, the DCR025. With no platform yet, the Bosch GPB18V-5CN runs on its cord and has four outlets.

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AI-generated portrait based on Isaac Daniels’s supplied photo

Written by: Isaac Daniels, owner and editor

Picked by battery platform, from maker pages, manuals and CPSC recalls. Updated .

Illustration of a green and gray jobsite radio with a roll cage on a plywood table on sawhorses inside a house being framed, with a tool battery on its side, work gloves, and an orange extension cord coiled on the table.
Disclaimer: Illustration for visual purposes

The short answer

Buy the radio that takes the batteries you already own; two of these four also charge them. None is sold as waterproof, and Milwaukee’s and DeWalt’s manuals warn against rain.

Milwaukee M18
Milwaukee 2950-20. Charges M18 packs when plugged in, Bluetooth, PACKOUT compatible.
DeWalt 20V MAX or FLEXVOLT
DEWALT DCR025. Charges packs on AC power and adds two outlets.
Bosch 18V, AMPShare, or no battery yet
Bosch GPB18V-5CN. Four AC outlets and 40 W, runs on its cord. No battery charging listed.
DeWalt, no charging needed
DEWALT DCR028B. The lightest pick here, 9.6 lb in DeWalt’s spec list, and it runs on 12V MAX packs too.
Not sure? Answer one or two questions

Find your fit

One question, sometimes two. The label on a tool battery you own tells you the platform.

This finder points you to a pick from published specs. It can’t check reception at your site.

Which tool batteries do you already own?
Should the radio charge your DeWalt batteries?
What matters most?

Start with question 1.

Picks by battery platform

One radio each for Milwaukee M18, DeWalt 20V MAX and Bosch 18V, plus a lighter DeWalt that doesn’t charge. Every spec on this page comes from the maker’s own page or manual.

  1. Milwaukee 2950-20, product photo from Amazon

    Product photo: Amazon

    For Milwaukee M18 owners

    Milwaukee 2950-20

    2950-20 · M18 radio and charger · PACKOUT

    Buy it if
    You run M18 tools and want the radio to top up a pack while it plays. Milwaukee says it charges all M18 batteries, and its manual says the bay charges when the radio is plugged into a wall outlet. It lists Bluetooth to 100+ ft, AM/FM with 18 presets, aux and a 2.1 A USB port. Milwaukee1 Milwaukee manual2
    Skip it if
    It has to travel far or sit in the rain. It weighs 23.0 lb and measures 22.0 × 16.2 × 6.77 in. Milwaukee calls it water and debris resistant, but the manual says not to expose it to rain or moisture. Milwaukee1 Milwaukee manual2
    See today’s price on Amazon
    See today’s price on Amazon for the Milwaukee 2950-20 (opens in a new tab)

    New, sold by ToolMasters Associates. In stock when checked October 31, 2026. Stock and seller can change.

    Full specs and the tradeoff
  2. DEWALT DCR025, product photo from Amazon

    Product photo: Amazon

    For DeWalt 20V MAX and FLEXVOLT owners

    DEWALT DCR025

    DCR025 · 20V MAX / FLEXVOLT radio and charger

    Buy it if
    You want a radio that charges DeWalt packs and runs a couple of chargers or corded tools. DeWalt lists 3 A charging of 20V MAX and 60V MAX packs when it’s plugged into AC power, two AC outlets (10 A maximum, per the manual), aux, a 2.1 A USB port, and Bluetooth with an optimum range of about 30 ft. Distances up to 100 ft are possible. DeWalt3 DCR025 manual4
    Skip it if
    Your only DeWalt packs are 12V MAX. The manual lists 20V MAX and FLEXVOLT packs or the AC cord as its power. DeWalt’s product page also says it charges 12V MAX packs, but it can’t run on them. DeWalt3 DCR025 manual4
    $236.84 at AmazonPrice as of Nov 3, 2026, 5:38 AM EST
    See today’s price on Amazon for the DEWALT DCR025 (opens in a new tab)

    New, sold by Amsterdam Depot. In stock when checked October 31, 2026. Stock and seller can change.

    Full specs and the tradeoff
  3. Bosch GPB18V-5CN, product photo from Amazon

    Product photo: Amazon

    Most outlets; for Bosch 18V or no battery yet

    Bosch GPB18V-5CN

    GPB18V-5CN · Bosch 18V / AMPShare · four AC outlets

    Buy it if
    You want outlets and sound on a site with power. Bosch lists four 120V outlets, 40 W of 360-degree sound from four-way speakers and a subwoofer, Bluetooth 5.0 to 100 ft, a 2.1 A USB port and a media bay. It runs on Bosch 18V packs or its included cord, and Bosch says AMPShare 18V batteries work across AMPShare brands. Bosch5
    Skip it if
    You want it to charge your batteries. Bosch’s page lists no battery charging. It weighs 19.4 lb. Bosch5
    $207.00 at AmazonLow stock · price as of Nov 3, 2026, 5:38 AM EST
    See today’s price on Amazon for the Bosch GPB18V-5CN (opens in a new tab)

    New, sold by Stimbo Enterprises. Low stock when checked October 31, 2026. Stock and seller can change.

    Full specs and the tradeoff
  4. DEWALT DCR028B, product photo from Amazon

    Product photo: Amazon

    Lightest pick; takes 12V MAX packs too

    DEWALT DCR028B

    DCR028B · 12V MAX / 20V MAX / FLEXVOLT · tool only

    Buy it if
    You already have DeWalt packs and chargers and want a lighter radio. DeWalt’s spec list gives 9.6 lb, the least of these four. The manual says it runs on DeWalt 12V MAX, 20V MAX and FLEXVOLT packs or a detachable AC cord. DeWalt lists two 3.5-in woofers with 1-in tweeters, Bluetooth to 100 ft, AM/FM with six presets per band, USB and aux. DeWalt6 DCR028 manual7
    Skip it if
    You want it to charge packs. Its manual says to charge packs only in designated DeWalt chargers. DCR028 manual7
    $163.57 at AmazonPrice as of Nov 3, 2026, 5:38 AM EST
    See today’s price on Amazon for the DEWALT DCR028B (opens in a new tab)

    New, sold by TYH Sales. In stock when checked October 31, 2026. Stock and seller can change.

    Full specs and the tradeoff

Building out your kit? See the drill guide, hammer drill or impact driver, or the table saw and oscillating tool guides.

The differences that change the choice

Which batteries it takes, whether it charges them, what you can plug in, what the maker says about weather, and what it weighs. Prices change daily, so they stay on the product cards.

How the four jobsite radios differ in power, charging, outlets, weather and weight
PickRuns onCharges batteriesOutlets and USBWeather and buildWeight
Milwaukee 2950-20M18 packs or ACYes, all M18, when plugged into a wall outletUSB 2.1 A and aux; no AC outlets listed“Water and debris resistant,” sealed storage; manual warns against rain23.0 lb
DEWALT DCR02520V MAX, FLEXVOLT or ACYes, 3 A, on AC power2 AC outlets (10 A max), USB 2.1 A, auxManual warns against rain or moisture17.53 lb
Bosch GPB18V-5CNBosch 18V (AMPShare) or included cordNot listed4 AC outlets, USB 2.1 A, aux, media bayAluminum and rubber roll cage19.4 lb
DEWALT DCR028B12V MAX, 20V MAX, FLEXVOLT or AC cordNoUSB and 3.5 mm auxRoll cage; manual warns against rain or moisture9.6 lb in DeWalt’s spec list (an image on the page says 8.25 lb)

Where the table comes from: Milwaukee1, Milwaukee manual2, DeWalt3, DCR025 manual4, Bosch5, DeWalt6, DCR028 manual7.

About battery charging: Milwaukee and DeWalt both say their radios charge packs only while plugged in. On battery power alone, these are radios, not chargers. Milwaukee manual2 DeWalt3

Not in the table: Bluetooth range and the tuner. Three list Bluetooth to about 100 ft. The DCR025 manual says the optimum range is about 30 ft, and that up to 100 ft is possible. All four have an AM/FM tuner. Milwaukee1 DeWalt3 DCR025 manual4 Bosch5 DeWalt6

Each pick, up close

The catch with each one, and the maker’s own numbers.

For Milwaukee M18 owners

Milwaukee 2950-20

The tradeoff. At 23.0 lb, it’s the heaviest of the four, and it charges only from the wall. Milwaukee’s limited warranty is one year, for the original purchaser, and only from an authorized Milwaukee distributor. That is shorter than the 3 years DeWalt lists on both of its radios. Milwaukee1 DeWalt3 DeWalt6

From: Milwaukee1, Milwaukee manual2. Read October 31, 2026.

See today’s price on Amazon
Check price on Amazon for the Milwaukee 2950-20 (opens in a new tab)

New, sold by ToolMasters Associates. In stock when checked October 31, 2026. Stock and seller can change.

Power
M18 battery or 120 V AC (1.8 A)
Charges
All M18 packs, on AC only
Bluetooth
4.2, 100+ ft
Tuner
AM/FM, 18 presets
Speakers
10, 360°
Size
22.0 × 16.2 × 6.77 in
Weight
23.0 lb
Warranty
1 year limited, original purchaser, authorized distributor

For DeWalt 20V MAX and FLEXVOLT owners

DEWALT DCR025

The tradeoff. Charging needs AC power, and at 17.53 lb in DeWalt’s spec list it’s no light carry. Its two outlets are rated 10 A maximum, per the manual. DeWalt3 DCR025 manual4

From: DeWalt3, DCR025 manual4. Read October 31, 2026.

$236.84 at AmazonPrice as of Nov 3, 2026, 5:38 AM EST
Check price on Amazon for the DEWALT DCR025 (opens in a new tab)

New, sold by Amsterdam Depot. In stock when checked October 31, 2026. Stock and seller can change.

Power
20V MAX, FLEXVOLT or 120V AC
Charges
20V MAX and 60V MAX, 3 A, on AC; DeWalt’s page also lists 12V MAX
AC outlets
2, 10 A maximum
Audio
20 W per channel
Bluetooth
Optimum about 30 ft; up to 100 ft possible. Play and skip (AVRCP)
Ports
USB 2.1 A, aux
Tuner
AM/FM, 10 FM and 5 AM presets, seek
Clock backup
Coin cell battery
Size
18.67 × 11.55 × 13.57 in (L × W × H)
Weight
17.53 lb
Warranty
3-year limited, 1 year free service, 90-day satisfaction

Most outlets; for Bosch 18V or no battery yet

Bosch GPB18V-5CN

The tradeoff. No battery charging is listed, so a battery means a separate charger too. We read Bosch’s product page but not its manual, so this guide doesn’t cover Bosch’s weather or clock instructions. Bosch5

From: Bosch5. Read October 31, 2026.

$207.00 at AmazonLow stock · price as of Nov 3, 2026, 5:38 AM EST
Check price on Amazon for the Bosch GPB18V-5CN (opens in a new tab)

New, sold by Stimbo Enterprises. Low stock when checked October 31, 2026. Stock and seller can change.

Power
Bosch 18V or 120V AC cord (included)
AC outlets
4 × 120V
Audio
40 W, four-way speakers and subwoofer
Bluetooth
5.0, 100 ft
Tuner
4 FM and 4 AM presets
Sound controls
Bass, treble, 5 EQ presets
Size
13.4 × 13.8 × 14.5 in
Weight
19.4 lb

Lightest pick; takes 12V MAX packs too

DEWALT DCR028B

The tradeoff. It doesn’t charge packs, and its manual describes no clock. It’s sold as tool only, so it comes without a battery. DeWalt6 DCR028 manual7

From: DeWalt6, DCR028 manual7. Read October 31, 2026.

$163.57 at AmazonPrice as of Nov 3, 2026, 5:38 AM EST
Check price on Amazon for the DEWALT DCR028B (opens in a new tab)

New, sold by TYH Sales. In stock when checked October 31, 2026. Stock and seller can change.

Power
12V MAX, 20V MAX, FLEXVOLT or AC cord
Charges
No
Speakers
Two 3.5-in woofers, 1-in tweeters
Bluetooth
100 ft
Tuner
AM/FM, 6 FM and 6 AM presets
Ports
USB, 3.5 mm aux
Size
15.6 × 7.9 × 10.6 in (L × W × H)
Weight
9.6 lb in DeWalt’s spec list; a product image on the same page says 8.25 lb
Warranty
3-year limited

Fit check (buyer’s view)

Four things to check on any jobsite radio before you order, using these makers’ own specs.

Illustration of the back of a jobsite radio: a tool battery half seated in its bay, an open port door with USB and aux jacks, the power cord wrapped on hooks, and the roll cage around the speaker.
1: battery bay. 2: USB and aux door. 3: power cord. 4: roll cage.Disclaimer: Illustration for visual purposes

On the back of the radio

  1. Match the battery bay to your packs

    Each manual we read names only its maker’s own packs. Bosch’s AMPShare is the exception, which Bosch says works across AMPShare brands. If you want charging, check that the maker says so: Milwaukee and DeWalt’s DCR025 do, and both charge only while plugged in. Milwaukee manual2 DeWalt3 Bosch5

  2. Look behind the port door

    To charge a phone, look for USB. Milwaukee, the DCR025 and Bosch list a 2.1 A USB port, and DeWalt lists USB on the DCR028B. All four have aux in for a wired player. Milwaukee says its storage compartment is weather-sealed. Milwaukee1 DeWalt3 Bosch5 DeWalt6

  3. Check the cord and outlets

    Each pick here can run on AC power. Only two pass power through to other cords. The DCR025 has two AC outlets, 10 A maximum, and the Bosch has four. Milwaukee and the DCR028B list none. Milwaukee1 Milwaukee manual2 DCR025 manual4 Bosch5 DCR028 manual7

  4. Read the weather rating, not the cage

    A roll cage isn’t a weather rating, and none of the pages or manuals we read for these four gives an IP rating. Milwaukee’s and DeWalt’s manuals say not to expose their radios to rain or moisture. Milwaukee manual2 DCR025 manual4 DCR028 manual7

Before you order, check that the listing’s model number matches the one here: 2950-20, DCR025, GPB18V-5CN or DCR028B. DeWalt sells the DCR028B as tool only, so it comes without a battery.

Cost to get started

Pick a radio and say what you already own. The radio price fills in from the Amazon price above, when one is showing. Type in any battery or charger prices; it adds those only if you need them.

Cost to get started = radio

Your radio
Prices you see

Type the radio price to see the total. Blank boxes count as $0.

How it counts: The 2950-20 charges M18 packs when plugged in, so a battery needs no extra charger. Amounts must be 0 to 100,000. It’s a starting budget, not a quote: tax and shipping aren’t counted. Milwaukee1 DeWalt3 Bosch5 DCR028 manual7

How to choose

Your batteries first, then the features you’ll use every day.

  1. Start with your battery platform

    A radio that shares your tool packs saves you buying batteries for it. Check the brand and voltage on a pack you own. If you have none yet, any of these runs on AC power. Milwaukee manual2 DCR025 manual4 Bosch5 DCR028 manual7

  2. Decide whether it should charge

    Two picks charge packs, the 2950-20 and the DCR025. Milwaukee and DeWalt say theirs charge only while plugged in, so charging helps most on a site with power. Milwaukee manual2 DeWalt3

  3. Count the outlets and ports you need

    The DCR025 has two AC outlets and the Bosch has four. All four list USB and aux. All four have AM/FM tuners; preset counts differ. Milwaukee1 DeWalt3 DCR025 manual4 Bosch5 DeWalt6

  4. Treat rain warnings as rules

    None of the pages or manuals we read gives an IP rating. Milwaukee’s and DeWalt’s manuals say not to expose their radios to rain or moisture. Milwaukee manual2 DCR025 manual4

  5. Read Bluetooth range as a maker number

    The DCR025 manual says the optimum Bluetooth range is about 30 ft, and that up to 100 ft is possible. The other three list about 100 ft. We didn’t test range. Milwaukee1 DeWalt3 DCR025 manual4 Bosch5 DeWalt6

Questions buyers ask

What is the best jobsite radio?

The one that runs on batteries you already own. For Milwaukee M18, the 2950-20. For DeWalt 20V MAX or FLEXVOLT, the DCR025, which also charges packs and adds two outlets. With no platform yet, the Bosch GPB18V-5CN runs on its cord and has four outlets. Milwaukee1 DeWalt3 Bosch5

Does the Milwaukee jobsite radio charge batteries?

Yes. Milwaukee says the 2950-20 charges all M18 batteries, and its manual says the bay charges when the radio is plugged into a wall outlet. The DCR025 charges DeWalt 20V MAX and FLEXVOLT packs too. The Bosch GPB18V-5CN lists no charging, and the DCR028B doesn’t charge. Milwaukee1 Milwaukee manual2 DeWalt3 Bosch5 DCR028 manual7

Does the Milwaukee jobsite radio have Bluetooth, and can headphones connect?

Yes, it has Bluetooth. Milwaukee lists Bluetooth 4.2 with a range of 100+ ft on the 2950-20, plus AM/FM, aux and USB. Milwaukee1 Headphones aren’t covered: each manual we read describes pairing a phone or other device to the radio so the radio plays it, not sending the radio’s sound out to headphones. Milwaukee manual2 DCR025 manual4 DCR028 manual7

Is the Milwaukee jobsite radio waterproof?

No. Milwaukee calls the 2950-20 water and debris resistant, with a weather-sealed storage compartment, but its manual says not to expose it to rain or moisture. None of the pages or manuals we read for these picks gives an IP rating. Milwaukee1 Milwaukee manual2

What is the loudest jobsite radio?

We can’t say from specs, because makers rate power differently and we found no decibel figures on the pages we read. Bosch lists 40 W for the GPB18V-5CN, and DeWalt lists 20 W per channel for the DCR025. We didn’t test volume. DeWalt3 Bosch5

Can I use a different brand’s battery in a jobsite radio?

Plan on no. Each manual we read names only its maker’s own packs, and DeWalt’s says to charge packs only in DeWalt chargers. The exception is Bosch’s AMPShare system, where Bosch says 18V batteries work across AMPShare brands. Milwaukee manual2 DCR025 manual4 Bosch5 DCR028 manual7

How do you set the clock on the Milwaukee jobsite radio?

Per the 2950-20 manual: hold CLOCK until the hour flashes, set it with the arrow buttons, press CLOCK, set the minutes, then press CLOCK again to save. On the DCR025, the manual says removing and reinstalling the coin cell resets the clock and presets. Milwaukee manual2 DCR025 manual4

Does a Milwaukee jobsite radio have a fuse?

The 2950-20 manual doesn’t describe one, and neither do the DCR025 or DCR028 manuals. Milwaukee’s manual does say its USB port has a self-resetting overload that cuts output above 2.1 A. If a radio won’t power on, contact the maker’s service before opening it. Milwaukee manual2 DCR025 manual4 DCR028 manual7

Limits

What this page can’t tell you, and where to look.

  • How they sound. We didn’t test these. Watts and Bluetooth range are the makers’ numbers.
  • Reception at your site. AM/FM depends on your stations and the building around you.
  • Battery runtime at your volume. None of the pages or manuals we read for these four lists runtimes.
  • Every platform. There’s no Makita or Ryobi pick yet. Amazon showed no price for Makita’s XRM10, and the Ryobi listings we found were third-party sellers we couldn’t tie to Ryobi. Ryobi’s ONE+ unit is also a Bluetooth speaker with FM, not an AM/FM radio.
  • Exact prices. Amazon prices change. Check the listing before you buy.

How we chose

Isaac Daniels
Owner and editor, Plain Buy Guides

This is research, not a hands-on test. The top results for this search cover Milwaukee, DeWalt, Bosch, Makita and Ryobi radios, so we looked for one radio on each platform. For each pick we read the maker’s product page and, for three of the four, the owner’s manual, and kept only claims tied to the exact model.

We left out the Ryobi PCL601B. Ryobi’s page lists it on ONE+ batteries as a Bluetooth speaker with FM only (no AM), and every Amazon listing we found was a third-party “fits for Ryobi” listing, not one we could confirm as Ryobi’s. Ryobi8

Makita owners: we left out the XRM10 because Amazon showed no price for it on October 31, 2026.

Maker pages and manuals were read October 31, 2026. A search of the CPSC recall database that day for these four model numbers found no recalls. The Milwaukee, DeWalt and Bosch recalls on file are for older batteries, chargers or other products, not these radios. Check again before you buy. CPSC9

Sources

Each one is also linked next to the claim it supports.

  1. M18 Jobsite Radio + Charger w/ PACKOUT, 2950-20, Milwaukee. Battery charging, Bluetooth, tuner, ports, speakers, water and debris resistance, size, weight, warranty.
  2. 2950-20 operator’s manual, Milwaukee. 120 V AC input, charging when plugged in, USB overload, clock setting, rain and moisture warning.
  3. Jobsite Radio Charger with Bluetooth, DCR025, DEWALT. Power, 3 A charging on AC, outlets, Bluetooth, USB, audio power, size and weight (specifications list), warranty.
  4. DCR025 instruction manual, DEWALT. Power sources, AM/FM tuner and presets, 10 A outlet limit, clock and coin cell reset, rain and moisture warning.
  5. 18V Jobsite Radio, GPB18V-5CN, Bosch. Power, outlets, audio, Bluetooth, presets, roll cage, AMPShare, size, weight.
  6. 12V/20V MAX Bluetooth Cordless Jobsite Radio, DCR028B, DEWALT. Speakers, roll cage, Bluetooth, presets, ports, AC cord, size and weight (specifications list and product image), warranty.
  7. DCR028 instruction manual, DEWALT. Battery types, charging only in DeWalt chargers, pairing, rain and moisture warning.
  8. 18V ONE+ VERSE LINK Speaker, PCL601B, Ryobi. Read to explain why it isn’t a pick.
  9. CPSC recalls, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Searched October 31, 2026, through the CPSC recall database, by model number (2950-20, DCR025, DCR028 and GPB18V-5CN) and by brand.