How much does ham radio cost?

$165 buys all 4 essentials.

4 priced items · checked 10 Sept 2026 · retailer prices, we earn a commission

Everything essential, cheapest sensible pick

$165

4 items, nothing rented

Against 247 hobbies

Above median

Dearer than 70% of them. Median hobby: $84.

What each thing costs

Every essential item, cheapest sensible option first. Mid-range and top picks alongside.

SWR Meter / Antenna Analyzer essential

mid $368top $740

$57

Power Supply essential

mid $99top $402

$40

Antenna and Coax essential

mid $85top $382

$35

Ham Radio essential

mid $63top $250

$32

All 4 essentials

$165

What you need

$165

Everything you need to start ham radio. None of it is a big commitment.

SWR Meter / Antenna Analyzer

$57

SWR meter tells you if your antenna is matched. Antenna analyzers do that plus diagnose feedline problems.

for RS-40 Power SWR Meter 200W Network Analyzer for HAM Mobile Radio UHF VHF 144/430MHz with 140-150MHz 430-45

mid $368top $740

Power Supply

$40

13.8V DC regulated supply for base radios. Switching for budget, linear for purity, big-amperage for high-power transceivers.

Pyramid PS9KX Regulated AC/DC Power Supply

mid $99top $402

Antenna and Coax

$35

A good antenna matters more than a good radio. Start with a dipole or vertical for HF; magmount or J-pole for VHF/UHF.

Workman B78 40/80 Meter Dipole Antenna

mid $85top $382

Ham Radio

$32

Baofeng UV-5R Dual-Band Handheld (2-Pack)

mid $63top $250

Later, if you stay

Not needed to start. These are the upgrades that matter once the habit has stuck.

Base Station Transceiver

$466

HF base station for long-distance contacts. Requires General-class license. Major investment — buy after you've decided you'll stick with the hobby.

Xiegu G90 HF Transceiver

mid $1200top $1530

Startup cost · all 247 hobbieslog scale

$1Blogging

$84median

$1245Kite Surfing

$165

Ham Radio costs more to start than 70% of the 247 hobbies we price. The median is $84.

Cost questions

How much does Ham Radio cost to start?

About $165 for the 4 essential items, taking the cheapest sensible option for each.

What does each thing cost for Ham Radio?

SWR Meter / Antenna Analyzer: from $57. Power Supply: from $40. Antenna and Coax: from $35. Ham Radio: from $32.

Is Ham Radio an expensive hobby?

Ham Radio costs about $165 to start, dearer than 70% of the 247 hobbies we price. The median hobby costs $84, so this sits around the middle.

What should I buy first for Ham Radio?

swr meter / antenna analyzer, power supply, antenna and coax, ham radio — $165 together. They are the cheap half of the kit and the half you keep whatever you decide about the rest.

Hobbies that cost about the same

The 6 nearest to ham radio by startup cost, out of 247.

Slacklining$6 less$159 Podcasting$5 less$160 Model Railroading$1 less$164

Ham Radioyou are here$165

Ice Sculpting$9 more$174 Hydroponics$15 more$180 Table Tennis$15 more$180

Start ham radio Ham Radio beginner guide