10 Best Jobsite Radios Increase Your Productivity At Work in 2022

There are plenty of good reasons why you’d want to find the best jobsite radio for your workplace.

We all know that music affects our mood, and research has confirmed that music can boost creativity and work productivity. It can dispel boredom and turn your workplace into a happy place.

What are the Best Jobsite Radios?

Music has been known to get people to work better and faster. This is because it affects our mood and hence how we work. To increase productivity at your workplace, you will probably need to play music, and what better device to do that than a radio. Below we summarize reviews of the top 10 radios to buy for your workplace.

Best Overall: DEWALT DCR018 20V MAX/18V/12V Jobsite Radio
It is a good companion for your worksite as it has a compact design and has a storage compartment to store your phone or MP37 player when playing music from them.

Best Compact: Bosch PB360C Bluetooth Jobsite Radio
It is tough and has an aluminum roll cage covered in rubber to survive many job sites.

Best Outdoor: Sangean LB-100 Ultra Rugged Worksite Radio
It is water and dust resistant combined with a compact design great for the outdoors.

Most Portable: Porter Cable PCCR701B 20V Jobsite Radio
It weighs 5 pounds and has an inbuilt rechargeable battery which makes it very portable.

Editor’s Choice: DEWALT DCR015 20V MAX/12V Jobsite Radio
This radio has a stunning look that produces a powerful sound, is compact for the job site environment, and offers many modern features.

Best Radio Reception: Bosch Compact Worksite AM/FM Radio
If you are looking for a radio to listen to AM/FM stations at the jobsite, this has great reception to give you uninterrupted radio listening.

Best Sounding: Milwaukee M12 Cordless Job-Site Radio
It has dual bass speakers, which are weather-resistant work to produce a powerful sound to listen to when working.

Best Fast Charging: DEWALT DC012 Construction site Radio
It can be used by a 12V or 18V rechargeable battery that fully charges in one hour.

Best Battery Life: Makita RM02 Lithium-ion Worksite Radio
Although you have to buy its battery pack separately, you will not regret doing so as it gives you up to 30 hours of continuous use.

Best Budget-Friendly: Ryobi P742 One+ 18V Worksite Radio
It weighs just 2 pounds and offers an LCD screen at an affordable price.

 

Best Jobsite Radio – Buying Guide

To make your final choice for the best job site radio, some features are more important than others. Here are some factors that should be your top priorities.

Durability

To make sure you don’t waste your money, the worksite radio should be well-made and designed to last for years. Some radios can be finicky though, and plenty of unknown brands offer low-cost job site radios that can just fail without any apparent reason. It’s for this reason that you should stick to known brands famed for their quality control.

Ideally, the best sounding jobsite radio should be able to withstand typical jobsite settings. A durable worksite radio is your best option, so that it should work even when people jostle or drop the radio to the ground. However, some jobsites can present more challenging settings. A construction site, for example, may be filled with dust and it may even rain. The radio should be able to handle such issues.

Ease of Use

The workplace is where people work, and workers don’t need another problem like a complicated radio. It should be simple enough that someone can just set it to the right FM station, set the right volume, and then they can get back to work. What workers don’t need is a radio that people need to figure out.

So when you get a premium jobsite radio with sophisticated features, make sure it still works simply. Bluetooth connectivity is well and good, but not if people waste an hour or so trying to sync their smartphone to the radio.

The controls should also be laid out logically, so people can change the music and adjust the music in a few seconds.

Audio Quality

The sound should be much better than what you get from your smartphone or a compact, 1-speaker transistor radio. At the very least, you need a nice bass to balance out the treble.

The speaker should also be able to play the music at a loud enough volume level. The speaker should be able to operate for hours at a volume that everyone can appreciate.

Music Sources

Where does your music come from? Most of these jobsite radios can give you AM and FM radio, and you should have an aux-in jack as well so you can connect your MP3 player (including your smartphone) to the radio. Bluetooth also works fine.

Portability

It’s true that these worksite radios don’t have to be small enough that you can hold on to it as you walk. It’s enough that you’re able to carry them from your car to their usual spot in the workplace. Once the work day is done, you can then carry it back to your car or to its storage space in the workplace.

That means it should be reasonably lightweight, so a single person can carry it a short distance. It shouldn’t be bulky as well, since it might get in the way of people going to and fro in the workplace. You may also want to minimize the cable use, since people can trip on these cables.

Power Sources

In the office, you can use a jobsite radio with an electrical cord since you should have plenty of electrical sockets around. However, some jobsites don’t have these sockets, so you may want to get a site radio that can work with batteries.

You can go with regular replaceable batteries, as these batteries are easy enough to find. You just need to check how long the batteries will last before you need to replace them. You may want to have spare batteries, just in case you run out of juice during the day.

Some people prefer radios with a rechargeable battery. This option keeps you from having to buy batteries each day. The main problem is if with a full charge the radio doesn’t last the whole day. That means you end up with no music for a significant amount of time, since it takes a while to recharge these batteries.

Power Charger Function

You’ve probably heard about how some radios can come with enough power to recharge mobile devices such as smartphones. Some of these jobsite radios can do something similar. They may be able to recharge your smartphones as well. In some cases, they may even feature power outlets where you can also plug in your other worksite tools.

Best Jobsite Radio – Reviews

You can’t just use any radio, though. Some radios work better than others when used in a workplace setting. The problem is that you might be overwhelmed with the sheer number of options in the market today. The quick solution to this problem, though, is our list of the top 10 options for the best worksite radio right now. That should make it much easier for you to settle on your final choice.

1. DEWALT DCR018 20V MAX/18V/12V Compact Jobsite Radio

Yes, DeWalt makes radios. It’s true that this brand is famed for its worksite tools. But then again, a jobsite radio can be considered a tool as well.

This looks tough as well, and it comes with a roll cage to protect it from harm. This even comes with a device storage compartment so that you have a safe place for any connected smartphone or MP3 player. You connect your music player via the aux-in port, and you’re good to go.

This runs on AC and DC power. You can plug it into an electrical socket and you won’t have problems. You won’t have any problem should you lack any nearby sockets either. This can run on a variety of MAX battery packs, ranging from 12V to 20V MAX battery packs. It also comes with a USB power port, which lets you recharge any mobile devices.

This is compact as well, with its longest side at less than 11 inches. It also weighs a measly 6 pounds, which lets anyone carry it from place to place. It comes with a nice handle on top as well.

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2. Bosch PB360C Bluetooth Power Box Jobsite Radio

We also have a Bosch, which is another famous brand for work tools. As with Dewalt, they also offer a jobsite radio that’s designed to handle even construction site conditions.

This worksite radio looks like it will fit in a construction site setting just fine. It looks very formidable, and if truth be told it looks like it can survive any sort of disaster. It comes with an aluminum roll cage covered in rubber, which means it can survive getting dropped or bumped around. It’s also weather and dust-resistant, which makes it a definite candidate for best construction site radio.

You can plug this into any standard 120V AC socket, and in turn you can also plug in any of your tools in the 4 120V power outlets it features. You can also get Bosch 18V Lithium-ion batteries for this, so you don’t need to plug it in to work. If you do plug it in, you’re also recharging the batteries. It also comes with a USB port so you can recharge your smartphone.

The sound is great for a large room or for the outdoors. Its speakers are facing all around, so music spreads out 360 degrees. The speakers also come with a subwoofer to really enhance the audio quality. This comes with an equalizer, with controls for the bass and treble levels.

This comes with Bluetooth, and it’s able to connect with your smartphone up to 150 feet away. So you don’t have to worry about people tripping over cables. If you want, it can get you AM and FM radio as well.

Finally, this is easy enough to move from one spot to another. Its cubic design measures about 13.5 inches on each side, so it’s not bulky at all. It doesn’t weigh all that much at 24 pounds, either.

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3. Sangean LB-100 Ultra Rugged Compact Worksite Radio

The Sangean brand has been around since 1974, but it certainly has established a reputation in recent years for offering affordable yet high quality jobsite radios. This LB-100 is a great example.

This is a compact worksite radio, measuring less than a foot on its longest side. It also weighs less than 7 pounds. With the handle on top, you can bring this along to any are in your worksite.

The handle is connected to its rubber-covered roll-cage, which makes it highly resistant to impacts. It’s also resistant to rain and dust too, so it can be used extensively in the outdoors. The main body is covered with tough ABS plastic, and even the speaker is water-resistant. This is so durable that the antenna is both compact and flexible.

In front, you have a large 5.25-inch speaker that gives you dynamic loudness for great audio. This can play AM and FM radio, with 6 presets for each for a total of 12. There are 5 “easy touch” buttons as well for your favorite stations. The Digital PLL Radio Tuner also offers excellent radio reception.

This features a backlit LCD screen that displays the radio frequency. With the screen measuring 2.25 inches by 1 inch and with the backlighting, you should be able to see which station you’re listening to even if you’re across the room.

This comes with an electrical cord that measures about 9 feet, so you don’t have to put it too near to an electrical socket. You can also wind this cord at the back, while you then power it with 4 C batteries.

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4. Porter Cable PCCR701B 20V MAX Corded/Cordless Jobsite Radio

This can be powered by an electrical cord, but you can also use the Porter Cable 20V MAX batteries for areas where there’s no electrical socket. When you do plug this in, you’re also recharging your batteries.

The battery makes it portable, and so does its size and weight. It’s a very compact jobsite radio that measures a foot at most at its longest side. It only weighs 5 pounds, and you can carry it easily with its handle.

The handle is part of its roll cage protection, which goes all around. This rubber-covered roll cage can absorb the impact of a drop, as well as any bumps. With people going every which way in a jobsite, this jobsite radio has the armor it needs.

With this you get the AM/FM radio you need for music all day long. It has an LCD screen that gives you the radio frequency of the station you’re listening too. You also have a conveniently located aux-in port in front, so you can easily connect your smartphone or MP3 player to the radio. That way, your sure to get only the music you enjoy listening to.

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5. DEWALT DCR015 20V MAX/12V Jobsite Radio

Just as DeWalt offers many types of jobsite tools, the brand also offers several models of jobsite radios. This is certainly an impressive worksite radio, and not just because of its looks.

Granted, it looks great. It’s like a compact boombox except it has a roll cage all around it. The protection even covers the speakers. It’s a bit big at 16 inches in length, and somewhat heavy at 13.5 pounds. Still, it shouldn’t be hard to carry from one spot to another, especially with the handle on top.

This comes with an electrical cord, but you can also power it with a 12V or 20V MAX DeWalt battery pack. You can charge the battery when it’s plugged in, and you can get a full charge in just 1½ hours. When you’re plugged in, you can also plug in your other tools to the radio’s 2 AC outlets. There’s a USB port as well to recharge your smartphone.

This can pick up AM and FM radio stations, though you may want to fiddle with the antenna a bit. You can also just connect an MP3 player or your smartphone to the aux-in port so you can listen to your favorite tunes.

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6. Bosch 18-Volt or 120V Compact Worksite AM/FM Radio

Bosch also offers another jobsite radio that might tickle your fancy. This is a compact unit that’s only 12 inches long, and it only weighs 4 pounds. Carry it with the handle wherever you go in the worksite. It actually has 2 handles on the sides, and they act as the roll cage protection as well. The roll-cage is so tough that this budget jobsite radio can handle being dropped at a height of 2 meters.

To power this, you have the Bosch AC adapter that’s part of the purchase. You can also just buy a Bosch 18V lithium-ion battery for outdoor use.

You’ll need that power since this comes with 2 large 5W speakers on the sides. In the middle of the front, you have an LCD screen showing you the time, whether you’re on AM or FM radio, the radio frequency, and the remaining battery power. On top you have the controls for music, with buttons for everything.

The antenna here rotates to all directions, so you can get the best jobsite radio reception. You have 10 presets to save your favorite stations. There’s also an aux-in port for your MP3 player.

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7. Milwaukee M12 Cordless Job-Site Radio 2590-20

This is a cordless jobsite radio, though you can use an AC adaptor that’s part of the purchase to power it. However, you can also use 2 AAA batteries especially if you’re just listening to an AM or FM station. You have the option to use anM12 Red Lithium battery pack, though that’s a separate purchase.

Your money does give you a small jobsite radio that’s only 10.5 inches long. It also weighs a paltry 3.5 pounds, making it easy to carry. It comes with a roll cage that doubles as your handles.

This comes with an aux-in jack, along with the cable you need to connect your smartphone or MP3 player to the radio. You don’t have to worry about leaving your MP3 player out in the open, because it comes with a watertight compartment for your digital device. If it ever does rain, you’re still good.

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8. DEWALT DC012 7.2V-18V Construction site Radio

Okay, it’s another DeWalt job site radio. We have to include this, even though it’s a bit bulky at 20.5 inches at its longest side. At least it’s not all that heavy at 14.25 pounds.

You can plug this into an electrical socket, or use a 12V or 18V rechargeable battery pack for outdoor use. At least you won’t have to use too much time recharging these batteries, as this radio is also a charger. It can give your battery a full charge in just an hour.

This has a digital tuner for AM and FM radio, and the LCD screen gives you the radio frequency as well as the time. The antenna rotates for clear reception. You have 15 presets ready for your favorite stations.

You can always just plug in your smartphone in the aux-in jack. The music sounds great with the speakers and its dual bass ports. The bass sounds really nice. The speakers are weather-resistant as well, while the radio is also protected by its roll cage.

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9. Makita RM02 12V max CXT Lithium-Ion Cordless Compact Worksite Radio

This one is decidedly small, with measurements of 11.4 by 5.9 by 3.4 inches. It weighs a measly pound or so, too. It even has a hook so you can hang it anywhere. But it’s big where it counts, as it gives you what you need.

Everything you need is here, starting with the stereo sound from the 2 speakers. You can get AM and FM radio, with 10 presets. There’s an aux-in port for your smartphone or MP3 player. There’s an earphone jack as well.

You need a 12V max CXT Lithium-Ion 4.0Ah battery, which you have to buy separately. But this battery pack can give you 30 hours of continuous music.

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10. Ryobi P742 One+ 18V Lithium Ion Cordless Compact Worksite Radio

This is a tiny jobsite radio with measurements of 8 by 6 by 4 inches, and it weighs only 2 pounds. You can bring this anywhere, and you’ll enjoy it not just because it’s so affordable. Despite the low cost, it’s advanced.

Sure, there’s no electrical cord because it’s meant for outdoor use. But you only need to get a Ryobi One+ Lithium Ion Battery and you’re good to go.

You can get AM/FM radio with its durable rubber antenna. It even comes with Bluetooth to easily connect your smartphone. There’s a USB port as well to power your smartphone if you need it. The LCD display shows you the time as well.

What else do you need? If you’re looking for the best jobsite Bluetooth radio with a limited budget, this is it.

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Advantages of Worksite Radio

So why play radio music at work? Research has discovered through the years that playing ambient music in the workplace can help employees and the business itself.

Shared Music

A jobsite radio can, of course, come with a headphone jack. But if a single person is just going to use this, then that person may just as well use their own smartphone or iPod. The point of a jobsite radio is for people to share the music together. It fosters a sense of teamwork and camaraderie.

Greater Efficiency

Even way back in 1972, scientists have already discovered that playing music at work boosted worker efficiency. This is especially true if the workers are engaged in routine, repetitive tasks. Such tasks can lead to boredom and tedium, and these are attitudes that can lead to lower work quality.

Music enhances our interest, and it makes everything seem a lot more interesting. When the music perks up our interest, we’re more engaged and we do a better job.

Fewer Mistakes

A study published in 1994 revealed that surgeons committed fewer mistakes and worked faster when performing operations with music in the background. This was found to be true whether the surgeons picked their own music or the researchers picked the music for them. The results were better with music either way, compared to the results when there was no music at all.

Enhanced Creativity

Music is a product of creativity, and it’s infectious. When you listen to music, somehow you also become just a bit more creative. That means workers may be able to figure out new and more effective ways of dealing with any worksite issues when they have music playing in the background.

Masking Distracting Noises

Without music, you may be distracted by various noises in your environment. Perhaps you can hear cars passing by outside. Your site may use noisy heavy machinery. Even workplace chatter can be distracting. These noises can make you lose your though or divert your attention from your job. You then waste time trying to get back your focus, and you’re more likely to make mistakes.

Happier Workers

Music makes people happy, and happy workers tend to do their job better. There’s no question that music can affect people’s emotions, and you can use music to dispel negative vibes. Research has shown that music can fight off depression, make people smile, and calm their fears.

Music for Marketing

Maybe your worksite is a shop or perhaps a place where you meet customers and clients. If that’s the case, you can use your jobsite radio to define your business and differentiate it from the rest of your industry.

You can play music that caters to the demographics of your typical customers, to make them feel relaxed and at home. When people pass by your shop and hear music they like, they may be enticed to enter your shop and become customers. Dental offices and other worksites where people may feel nervous or intimidated may also relax more if you play music.

Care and Maintenance

Just keep the worksite radio out of everyone’s way. Keep it out of the sun and rain if you’re outdoors. As for maintenance, just wipe it down every day to get rid of any dust. Read the manual for any special maintenance instructions.

Keep in mind, though, that even “water-resistant” radios aren’t meant for submersion in water. That means don’t use them in the people, and don’t even let it play in the rain.

FAQs

How loud should I set the volume of the music?

This will depend on the circumstances. Often you want it loud enough that most people in the jobsite area can hear the music you’re playing. You may want to set it to a volume that can cover any distracting noises that may keep people from concentrating on their work.

In general, though, you also want it soft enough that people can converse normally without having to shout over the music. After all, music that’s too loud can be a distraction. It keeps people from focusing on their own thoughts.

Just keep it mellow, and set the music to an ambient level. You want it to set just at the edge of their consciousness. But if you’re playing this to keep people awake during boring hours or during a night shift, then you can also take the volume up a notch.

With lyrics or instrumental?

Research have discovered that in the workplace instrumental music works best for work productivity. Words tend to be distracting as people’s mind focus on the meanings. In contrast, the musical notes let people feel instead of think about the music.

Some might find classical music boring, but you do have modern classical options that many people like. The most classic examples are the soundtracks to some movies and even TV shows. These can include the soundtrack to Star Wars and Game of Thrones. You may also want to try the soundtrack to Lord of the Rings.

Who picks the music?

Again, there’s no set answer to this question. You can pick the music yourself if you’re the manager or boss. But you can boost morale and teamwork if you talk to the workers and see if they have any particular favorites. Check out the music they hate as well—some people can be very distracted when you play them music they hate.

Jobsite radio or flash drive music for worksite?

In some cases, you may want to consider a portable jobsite radio with a USB drive. You can then put in a flash drive with your prepared playlist of MP3s. It’s even possible that one employee can put in their own flash drive for the day. This way, you know that you’re playing music that someone likes. If you’re putting in your own flash drive, you can even do research on which music to play.

However, there’s an argument to be made to just settling on a particular FM radio station. In many cases, a station will stick to a particular genre of music or it may play music of a certain period. Sometimes you can just put it on a station that plays the most popular tunes right now.

With FM radio, no one can blame another person in the office for the choice of music. They can always just blame the DJ. In addition, the music plays on all day. It’s not like with CDs when the music stops and you have to change the CD to another one. That’s just distracting.

Going with AM radio isn’t really a good idea. Most of the time, that means you will hear people talking on news reports, talk shows, and sports broadcasts. These can keep people from focusing on their work. Besides, AM radio signal reception isn’t as strong as FM radio, and the hisses and other signal interference will just annoy the people at work.

Wrapping Up

Work doesn’t have to be boring or tedious. You’d be surprised at how you and your coworkers van enjoy your time in the workplace with the best jobsite radio. Pick one on our list, and you can have a better time at work while everyone also works a lot more efficiently as well.

Also read:

1. Shortwave Radios Buying Guide by a Real Expert

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