The 10 Best CB Antennas of 2022 – Comparison & Reviews

1 – WILSON 305-38 300-Watt Little Wil CB Antenna – Best Overall

This model from Wilson is easily one of the most popular CB antennas. While it may not be as small as others, it offers superior performance, exceptional range, and decent clarity.

At only 36 inches, this Wilson antenna should leave enough space above your vehicle so that you can navigate through tunnels and enter buildings without damaging it. The inclusion of a 10 oz magnet mount also ensures that this antenna is sturdier than competing products, even if you’re driving at high speed.

Overall, it’s one of the best mini CB antennas available in the market.

While magnetic mount antennas typically damage the paint that they’re mounted on, this one from Wilson doesn’t cause too many scratches – provided you clean the surface and remove it carefully. Plus, the base’s high-impact plastic construction keeps it in one piece and ensures that it won’t rust.

While this Wilson model is the most expensive antenna in this list, its excellent build quality provides you great value for money that makes it worth the cost. Unfortunately, the baseload design of this model is less efficient than center-load antennas with a heavy-duty coil above the lower shaft, and it’s worse than top-load models.

Still, the Wilson 305-38 is the best CB antenna in our books.

Check Today’s Price

2 – President Electronics New York CB Antenna – Runner up, Best Overall

Next on our list is this New York model from President Electronics. Put against its competitors, this is one of the best-looking antennas because of its modern, angled design. But aside from the looks, it boasts a number of impressive features too.

At a little less than 2 feet, this President Electronics antenna may not feature the longest range, but it can still pick up transmission within a mile or two without any trouble or interference. Installing this antenna is also simplified since it comes with a pre-tuned SWR that’s in the range of 1.1/1.

Another thing that makes this the best antenna is its magnetic base. It’s easy to mount on your vehicle, staying put even if you’re on the interstate on a windy day. The cable is about 12 feet, which should be sufficient for smaller cars. However, this might not be long enough for high vehicles such as trucks.

This antenna is also capable of receiving the weather channel, making it a little more flexible than competing products on Amazon. The only difficulty we had with this antenna is that it is quite expensive than other models with the same capabilities.

Check Today’s Price

3 – RoadPro RPPS-23KB Platinum Series – Best CB Antenna for 18 Wheelers

While the previous antennas are roof-mounted, this model from RoadPro is designed be installed on your mirrors. As such, this antenna is excellent for trucks where extra clearance make a big difference.

Even though you have to exert more effort into mounting both halves of this antenna system, it’s not too much of a challenge because it comes with large brackets. These brackets are designed to be mounted to a wide range of wing mirrors, so you shouldn’t have any problems with compatibility.

You also get a few extra features in this reliable antenna that you won’t find in competing models, like a hermetically sealed coax for superior resistance to the elements. Your antenna will be exposed to the outside world, so this added layer of durability is great.

In our tests, the 16-gauge copper wire is capable of handling power of up to 1000 watts. With that impressive result, this is a high power CB antenna for the greatest CB radios in your arsenal.

The kit comes with a 20-foot coax that will allow you to mount the antenna to nearly any vehicle regardless of size (trucks included). If you have a small car, you may have to find somewhere to coil them because they’re so long.

Our only complaint is that this good antenna didn’t come with springs. But other than that, it’s a good choice.

Check Today’s Price

4 – TRAM 3-B-HC Fiberglass CB Antenna – Best for Pros

The best CB antenna doesn’t necessarily have an expensive price tag. In fact, some of the best CB antennas a little more affordable, like this model from the brand TRAM. Fair warning: this unit is not for beginners.

This model doesn’t come with a mount, making it a great choice if you’re looking to replace your current unit. However, it comes with a stainless steel whip antenna.

Durability is another one of its main advantages, as it’s made out of heavy-duty fiberglass. The parts won’t break anytime soon, so you can expect to use this product for a long time. At three inches, this antenna is also tiny enough to give you the clearance that you need to get through short entrances.

Despite being relatively small, this CB antenna can still handle up to 1500 watts of power, which gives it a superior range compared to other models of the same size. This can even beat some four-inch antennas when it comes to clarity, so it is perfect if you need something small yet powerful.

Since this antenna has a frequency of between 26 and 29 MHz, you will be able to tune into all 40 CB channels without a problem. As mentioned earlier, the only issue that we had with this antenna is that it doesn’t come with a mount, so people who buy it will either need to buy one separately or use the mount from their previous antenna.

Check Today’s Price

5 – RoadPro (RP-711) 24″ Magnet Mount CB Antenna – Best for the Money

The RP-711 from RoadPro is a little more expensive, but it also comes with a good mount. Even if you aren’t a pro when it comes to CB radios, you’d appreciate the simplicity of mounting this antenna. It’s lightweight so it’s easy to position on top of your vehicle.

Since the included mount is magnetic, all you have to do is place it on the right spot or location. However, make sure that’s where you want it, as it would be a little harder to get off. But because the magnet is pretty powerful, you won’t have to worry about the antenna flying off of your vehicle, even at speeds of up to 75 mph.

This good antenna from RoadPro remains stable while on the road, and the center loaded structure makes it more efficient than a bottom-loaded model. Another good thing is that the cable is nine ft., so you won’t have a problem installing it in big vehicles. This can vary based on the antenna’s position, though.

With a range of one to two miles, this may not be the most powerful CB antenna on the market, but it gets the job done for its cost, and it’s great if you travel in convoys. The only complaint we have is that this antenna sticks to your vehicle so tightly that it may damage the paint on the roof. That’s why it’s important to be decisive with the spot you want.

Check Today’s Price

6 – TRAM 703-HC Center Load CB Antenna – Best Long Range

This second model from the TRAM brand comes with the mount, unlike the first one on our list. According to our experts, this magnetic mount antenna is more resilient than competing models, as it can withstand high winds ranging from 80 to 100 mph.

Part of what keeps this antenna locked down is its low center of gravity, because it only measures two feet. But despite being tiny, this antenna can pick up and transmit wave signals or any base station within a radius of 10 miles. This makes it one of the best choices for listening in at extensive distances through CB radios.

This CB antenna is also tunable. You can adjust the standing-wave radio by turning the screw that’s installed in the tip. As for the wire length, this antenna has an impressive 17-foot wire. It’s long enough to reach the radio in nearly any vehicle, provided that it’s mounted conventionally.

However, since this antenna itself is not long, we weren’t able to adjust the SWR as much as we would have liked to. Then again, one of the best things about this antenna is the cost. It works better than some models that sell for twice as much but with the same reception.

Check Today’s Price

7 – Midland 18-2442 – Best Compact CB Antenna

This CB antenna from Midland is ideal for buyers who want a small model with a good performance. With a 17-inch whip, this handy antenna is shorter than most other whip options on this list, making it perfect for applications where you need clearance above your vehicle.

The compactness of this mobile antenna is not the only good thing about it, as it also comes with a magnetic mount that is easy to install. In our tests, the antenna stays set down once mounted, even at higher speeds. And to ensure that the base doesn’t start to rust away over time, it features a plastic coating for protection. There’s also a relief-spring so the whip doesn’t degrade as fast.

While this model is designed to work instantly with all Midland CB radios (like this one), it’s also compatible with a wide range of other antennas so there’s no trouble getting it up and running.

As you may have assumed from the size, antennas like this are excellent for truckers with taller and larger automobiles (e.g. truck) where clearance may be a worry. The 16.5-foot cable reinforces that notion as well.

Unfortunately, the length of this antenna is both a blessing and a curse, as it can’t quite equal the performance of items that are over 3 ft. To boost the performance, adding an SWR meter can be a good investment for this antenna.

Check Today’s Price

8 – LUITON 28-inch CB Antenna – Best Secured

This 28-inch CB Antenna from LUITON is a little more pricey than some of the other models it’s comparable to. However, it’s also one of the most secure antennas we offer in this review.

The whip is tightly fastened to the magnet mount, and the base itself stays in place when you mount it to your vehicle. The mount also features a plastic exterior, so it’s quite flexible and won’t be easily damaged by rain or humidity.

That said, this antenna is perfect for off-roading and other applications where it may be jostled around a little more than it would when driving regularly.

While this CB antenna (whip) is relatively short, it’s comparable to other whip models between three and four feet, even though it’s range is slightly diminished. The center-loaded design helps make this model more efficient than bottom-loaded antennas, and the build quality of this antenna is also impressive.

As for the installation, setting this antenna up is easy, like you would expect from a product with a magnetic base. However, taking it off is a challenge due to how tightly it’s fixed once it’s mounted on your vehicle.

Check Today’s Price

9 – Firestik II FS-2BK Tunable Tip CB Antenna – Best for City Use

If you’re searching for an antenna that looks good but boasts an excellent performance, the Firestik II is a great choice. However, it’s not ideal for beginners or non-pro people, as only the antenna comes in the box. You’ll have to buy a mount, coaxial cable, and everything else separately – unless you already have them from a previous model.

You can choose from four different colors (i.e. black, etc) when buying a Firestik II, which means you can either match it to the color of your auto or choose one that complements it well.

The compact build of this Firestik antenna makes it an excellent option for city use, as you may have to deal with many low-clearance overpasses and tunnels. Remember that this antenna will have to be fine-tuned out of the box, though it can be tuned without the need for tools.

The Firestik antenna is also surprisingly affordable. When you take into consideration its superior build quality and a ground plane layout, you would expect it to be higher-priced than other available choices. This is also recommended by Pelican Rope Works, proving its popularity matches its actual performance.

Furthermore, this is one of the more versatile and quality CB antennas on the market, as you can use it in a single or dual layout, allowing you to further boost coverage. The only thing that let us down was how challenging it was to set up, as well as getting a low SWR. But other than that, this can be the best CB antenna for you.

Check Today’s Price

10 – Prostick 3’ Fiberglass CB Antenna – Runner up, Best for Pros

The last CB antenna on our list is the 3-foot Prostick. It’s one of the most durable antennas in the market, as it’s designed to last for a longer time than many of its competitors in the same price point.

However, you only get the antenna when you buy this product. As such, we wouldn’t recommend it for people just getting started on CB. Pros will be able to enjoy it more. And with a rating of up to 1000 watts, this antenna can handle the most powerful CB radios without trouble.

Like with other products measuring 3ft, this one is relatively small-built. Still, the range is still good, making it perfect for those who park their cars in the garage. Out of the box, this model also features a low SWR, though this leads us to some issues.

The first concern with this antenna is it doesn’t have a tunable head, meaning you’re stuck with the SWR that you get. We also weren’t impressed by the cost, as you can get antenna kits that include a base, coaxial cable, and spring in the same price range.

Nevertheless, this model is one of the best fiberglass antennas as it’s much more resilient than other CB antennas usually found in Amazon.

Check Today’s Price

Our Top Pick – TRAM 703-HC Center Load CB Antenna Kit

Check Today’s Price

With attributes that go beyond every standard antenna, we hand over the winning verdict to the Tram 703-HC as the best CB antenna. Its ability to transmit signal clearly within a 10-mile radius is quite impressive, while offering additional features like a tunable screw and a magnetic mount.

Durability is big with the Tram 703-HC as well, so you can be sure that this lasts long. Considering all these and a good price to boot, the Tram 703-HC definitely wins the top spot on our list.

Now, if you’re torn between getting a CB or a Ham radio, here’s our comparison of the two: Ham versus CB article.