Best emergency radio: how to choose a crank, solar or battery radio
The best emergency radio for most homes is a compact FM/AM radio that runs on ordinary AA batteries and can also be charged by hand crank, solar panel or USB. Batteries give you hours of reliable listening; the crank and solar panel are your backup when the batteries run out.
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Why a radio is on every official list
Germany’s BBK, Sweden’s civil-defence agency, the UK’s Be Ready campaign and the Dutch Denk vooruit kit all list a radio that works without mains power. The reason is simple: when the power is out for hours, mobile masts run on backup batteries, data slows down and websites stop updating. Broadcasters, meanwhile, have generators and emergency plans, and authorities use them to tell people what to do. During the April 2025 blackout in Spain and Portugal, battery radios were how many people found out what was happening.
What matters in an emergency radio
| Feature | What to look for | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Power | AA/AAA batteries plus crank, solar or USB | Batteries are reliable; crank and solar are backup |
| Bands | FM and AM; DAB+ if your country uses it | Match what your broadcasters transmit on |
| Reception | Telescopic antenna; good reviews for weak signals | Indoors and in rural areas signals are weaker |
| Battery | Built-in rechargeable plus AA option | No single point of failure |
| Extras | Torch, USB-out, headphone jack | Useful, but don’t pay for gimmicks |
| Build | Splash resistance, sturdy crank | You may use it in the rain or the dark |
Crank, solar or batteries: the honest truth
Batteries are the workhorse. A small radio can play for many hours on a set of AA cells, and you can buy them anywhere. Keep at least one spare set and check the date.
Hand cranks never run out, but a minute of cranking typically buys you minutes of listening, not hours, and cheap cranks break. Think of the crank as insurance.
Solar panels on radios are tiny. They trickle-charge in bright sun over many hours, which helps in a long outage but won’t refill the battery quickly. Leave the radio on a sunny windowsill and it will keep topping up.
USB charging lets you refill the radio from a power bank or power station, which is the fastest option if you have stored energy.
Many emergency radios sold online are designed for the US market and advertise “NOAA weather alerts”. Those broadcasts exist only in the United States and Canada. In Europe and elsewhere, the weather band does nothing, so don’t pay extra for it.
Our picks
| Product | Best for | Key spec | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crank and solar AM/FM radio | Most homes, best value | Crank, solar, USB, torch | Check price on Amazon |
| Midland ER310 | More battery options and a brighter torch | Crank, solar, rechargeable or AA | Check price on Amazon |
| Sangean MMR-88 | Rugged build, splash resistance | Crank, solar, USB | Check price on Amazon |
| Battery-powered DAB+ radio | Countries with strong DAB+ coverage | Runs on AA or rechargeable cells | Check price on Amazon |
We don’t list prices because they change often. Use the button to see the current price on Amazon.
FM, AM or DAB+?
FM is still the most widely supported band for emergency information in most of Europe and worldwide, and every crank radio has it. AM (medium wave) travels further, which can help in rural areas, but fewer stations use it each year. Some countries have moved national stations largely to digital: Norway switched off most national FM in 2017, and DAB+ is strong in countries such as Switzerland, Denmark and the UK. If you live in a DAB+ country, a battery DAB+ radio is a good main radio and a crank FM set a good backup.
Batteries: what to store
- Buy the size your radio and torches use, and standardise on AA where possible.
- Alkaline AA batteries keep for years in a drawer; rotate them into remotes and toys before they expire.
- Rechargeable NiMH cells with a charger are cheaper over time and can be refilled from a power bank.
- Store batteries next to the radio, not inside it, so a leak can’t ruin the contacts.
Before you need it
- Test the radio and find your national and local stations.
- Write the frequencies on a label on the back of the radio. The UK government gives the same advice.
- Learn how your country warns people: sirens, cell broadcast (EU-Alert, ES-Alert, NL-Alert), apps such as Germany’s NINA, and which station carries official announcements.
- Check the radio twice a year with the rest of the 72-hour checklist.
The radio is the heart of the communication kit. Pair it with a good power bank and you have information and a working phone for days.
Questions people ask
Why do I need a radio if I have a smartphone?
In a large power cut mobile networks and the internet can become unreliable, as they did in the 2025 Iberian blackout. Broadcast radio keeps working, and authorities use it to give instructions.
Is a crank radio enough on its own?
It works, but cranking gives minutes of listening, not hours. Choose a radio that also takes standard batteries, and keep a spare set.
Do I need DAB+ or is FM enough?
In most countries FM is still the most widely available and is used for emergency broadcasts. In countries that have moved national stations to DAB+, such as Norway, a radio with DAB+ is more useful. Check what your national broadcaster uses.
Can an emergency radio charge my phone?
Many can, via USB, but the built-in batteries are small. Treat it as an emergency top-up and rely on a power bank for real charging.
Where should I keep the radio?
With your 72-hour kit, somewhere you can find in the dark, with batteries stored next to it (not inside, to avoid leaks).
Keep reading
- The 2025 Iberian blackout: 10 lessons for your kit
- Best power bank for emergencies
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