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Walkie Talkies for Restaurants Introduction
When you run a restaurant, life can get very, very busy. From making all the meals, serving them quickly, bussing tables, seating patrons, and everything else that goes into making a restaurant run smoothly, coordinating the entire operation requires constant communication so that everyone can do their job correctly. Walkies talkies are the ideal communication solution for restaurants, as they offer a quick way to get everyone up to speed, solve problems, and make sure the restaurant operates at its best. If you’re in a rush and just want to know our #1 best walkie talkie for restaurant, it is the Retevis RT22 because its amazing combination of range, battery life, and affordability, though the Cobra PX500 is a close second!
If you’re looking for the best walkie talkies for restaurants, we’ve got you covered. We’ve created this in-depth walkie talkie for restaurants buyer’s guide to ensure that no matter the number and pack size, price, range, or durability of walkie talkies you’re looking for, there is an amazing option here for you. We’ve also made sure to include some walkie talkie headsets for restaurants, as well as high-quality walkie talkie earpieces for restaurants, in this guide as we know many of you will be searching for a hands-free solution for your greeting staff, valets, and managers. Dive into our reviews to find the best walkie talkie restaurant options for you!
Best Walkie Talkies for Restaurants
Retevis RT22 Walkie Talkie Review
The Retevis RT22 is the best walkie talkie for restaurants because of its long range and great battery life at an amazing price. It operates license-free so you don’t have to worry about the headache of registration or fees. The RT22 offers 16 channels of communication and has a durable yet lightweight design. We loved the feel of the RT22 and how simple it was to attach it onto our pants with the included belt clip. It’s simply the best walkie talkie for a restaurant given its very solid overall performance and affordable price.
- Small, solid and lightweight.
- No FCC license required.
- Good audio for such a small size radio.
- Channel lock function can keep everyone on the same channel.
- Can be charged using standard USB cable.
- No option to use AA or AAA batteries.
- Need to remove belt clip before it will fit in the charger.
- Quality of charger isn't as good as the walkie talkies.
The Retevis RT22 will give you 3-4 miles of range, which should be plenty for restaurants, even those with valets who might be out and about parking cars. The battery life is around 11-12 hours, which means you’ll be able to communicate all day without worry. The RT22 also comes with Vox capability, so you can go hands-free when you need. Set-up is non-existent – these walkie talkies are ready to go out the box! Retevis currently offers two different bundles for the RT22: a six-pack with a fast-charging and convenient gang charger or a ten-pack with included earpieces which make hands-free communication super easy. You can’t go wrong with either bundle given the overall quality and value of the Retevis Rt22, so choose based on your expected need. If you need the other item, you can always purchase it as an add-on for a low price. Overall, the RT22 is the best walkie talkie for restaurants because of its consistent high performance and affordable price!
Cobra PX500 Walkie Talkie Review
The Cobra PX500 is a powerful license-free business walkie talkie designed for restaurants and events, and its one of our favorite overall walkie talkies for restaurants because of its balance of range, battery life, and attractive pricing. It packs a punch into its solid frame, offering 1 Watt power and up to 250,000 square feet, or around twenty floors, of range. It has a straight-forward design and clean black look which makes it both easy to use and discrete.
We love that the Cobra PX500 comes with 360 degree swivel holsters, which offer great versatility and flexibility when you’re on the go in your restaurant and need to communicate quickly. The battery life of the Cobra PX500 comes in at around 11-12 hours, which is great considering the great range you’re getting and the reasonable price of the device. Further, it only takes about 4-5 hours to charge up the walkie talkies completely, which can be very helpful if you run multiple shifts. You’ll get 121 privacy codes, mixed between CTCSS and DCS options, which means you’ll have no problem finding a secure line to organize your staff on. With 22 channels and Vox hands-free capacity, we’re sure the Cobra PX500 will meet your needs. A a cherry on top, Cobra includes 8 high-quality GA-SC01 Surveillance Headsets, which are sleek silicone earpieces which offer better sound, noise cancelling capacity, and a way for your servers, managers, and hosts to communicate hands-free. All of these features make the Cobra PX500 the overall best walkie talkie restaurant option out of all twenty walkie talkies we carefully reviewed!
Retevis H-777 Walkie Talkie Review
The Retevis H-777 is one of the best walkie talkies for restaurants because of its overall quality, power, battery life, and range at a reasonable price. The H-777 does not require a license to operate, but it offers professional level quality and 16 communication channels right out of the box. You can expect around 8-12 hours of battery life from the H-777, though that can range with your rate of usage. That said, the H-777 will get you through even the most demanding day at your restaurant, and can be recharged easily in the included gang charger.
In fact, the gang charger can fully charge all six of the Retevis H-77 in just a few hours, which is very convenient if you forget to plug it in overnight! The H-777 comes standard with adjustable belt clips and Vox hands-free capacity, which means easy communication for your wait staff and hosts at all times. It also comes with an emergency alarm which could be useful in case a scary situation or natural disaster takes place at your restaurant, as can the included flashlight. The H-777 is slim and small, and fits easily into the palm of the hand. Its one of our overall favorite walkie talkies for restaurants because of its simple design yet strong power, and the great battery life and included gang charger also comes through for restaurant owners. If you’re looking for a walkie talkie restaurant option that is powerful yet low price, you can’t go wrong with the Retevis H-777.
Motorola RDU4100 Walkie Talkie Review
The Motorola RDU4100 is one of Motorola’s best business walkie talkies, and its crazy strong range and power as well as solid battery life make it one of the most powerful options for restaurant owners. Coming in at 350,000 square feet of range, or around 30 floors, no matter the size, shape, or distance between your restaurant, kitchen, valet, parking garage, or other facilities, we are confident these walkie talkies will have the range to reach all areas involving your restaurant.
You will get up to 18 hours of battery life with the RDU4100, which should be more than enough to get you through even the longest of days at your restaurant. The RDU4100 has 4 watts of power, which means the signal will confidently penetrate walls as needed. It is powered by AA batteries or rechargeable lithium ion batteries, and you’ll get strong battery life with either but should go with whatever is easier for you to use on a daily basis. With 89 UHF business channels as well 121 privacy codes, you’ll easily be able to communicate securely and safely with your restaurant staff. The RDU4000’s belt clips and strong antenna make it deal for any restaurant owner seeking a powerful walkie talkie with great range. We’d imagine a parking attendant, valet, and manager communicating on it, or a hotel restaurant owner who needs to communicate across many floors. As an added bonus, this RDU4100 bundle comes HKLN4606 Speaker Mics for your use if desired. They offer great sound quality and have a sleek black look.
Retevis RT68 Walkie Talkie Review
The Retevis RT68 is a solid choice for restaurants who want a walkie talkie that is dependable, easy to use, and which offers solid range and battery life at an affordable price. In fact, the Retevis RT68 is one of the best overall deals on this list. The Retevis RT68 has 16 different channels for you to use, and offers enough power to operate in and around walls and different floors, which means most restaurant owners will find these walkie talkies very satisfactory. The walkie talkies are small and sleek, and have easy to use dials as well as a moderately-sized antenna to boost range.
The Retevis RT68 comes with Vox capability which means easy hands-free communication when you want it. The RT68 also comes with charging bases and power adapters for all ten walkie talkies. Also standard is a belt clip and an attachable string which can be used to hang the walkie talkie wherever you need it. With around 12 hours of battery life, the RT68 should get you through the majority of the day on just one charge. RT68 is durable and well-designed, and generally a solid overall walkie talkie. This six-pack bundle also comes with restaurant earpieces which allow for quick communication and better sound quality. We’re big fans of the Retevis RT68’s dependability and we confidently recommend as one of our top walkie talkie restaurant options.
DeWalt DXFRS800 Walkie Talkie Review
The DeWalt DXFRS800 is the most durable walkie talkie on this list. With IP67 waterproofing and dustproofing, as well as drop resistance up to a few meters, You can be sure that this walkie talkie will survive anything you throw at it. If that’s not enough, it’s backed up by DeWalt’s lifetime warranty for this device. If you ever have any damage or issues with it, just return it for a full refund or replacement. With battery life of up to 12 hours, you can feel comfortable knowing you can use this through an entire shift in your restaurant, and you can charge it in the convenient gang charger every night.
The DeWalt DXFRS800 offers 22 channels for communication as well as a great horizontal and vertical range provided by 2 Watts of power. If you’re operating a multi-level restaurant, or have parking attendants and other employees who will be spread out across a building on multiple floors, the DeWalt DXFRS800 is the ideal walkie-talkie for you. You can’t beat it’s multi-level range of around 300,000 square feet (around 20-25 floors) as it’s simply the best on the market at this price point. The DeWalt DXFRS800 comes with sturdy belt clips which can attach to your pants or apron, and this pairs well with the Vox capacity included in the walkie talkie. This means you can operate nearly hands-free, which is often something you will consider and look for in your walkie talkie restaurant selection. For more information, check out our full DeWalt Walkie Talkie Guide!
Midland LXT600 Walkie Talkie Review
Midland is a well-known walkie talkie brand, but usually their products are geared towards outdoorsman and families seeking solutions for camping trips, hunting, fishing, and other fun activities.
With the Midland LXT600VP3 8-Pack, they have created an extremely solid 8-pack which we love for their overall sharp design and the discrete but powerful concealed headsets which come in the bundle.
- The best audio we heard from a walkie talkie in this price range.
- Choice of rechargeable battery pack or AAA batteries to increase talk time.
- NOAA Weather Alert will sound an alarm when there is a risk of severe weather in your area.
- The optional car charger can really extend the talk time of these radios.
- Use of GMRS channels requires an FCC license.
- Real world range of 1 - 1.5 miles in normal situations.
- Talk-time on the rechargeable battery not so good.
The LXT600V offers 36 channels for communication and battery-saving capacity which helps you make these walkie talkies last through every shift in your restaurant. With a solid range of a few miles, and around 10-12 hours of battery life, the Midland LXT600 surprised us overall. The device is powered by either AAA batteries or the included rechargeable batteries, and is the perfect walkie talkie restaurant option for those operating small to medium sized establishments, as it gets the job done and is very affordable.
Motorola RMU2040 Walkie Talkie Review
The Motorola RMU2040 is a solid business walkie talkie from the prestigious Motorola walkie talkie brand. With 2 watts of power, you can get up to 20 floors of range and 250,000 square feet of coverage. The main drawing point of the RMU2040 is the crisp sound quality you consistently get, as well as the strong battery life and charging speed. You’ll get access to two channels out the box, though you will have to program the other if you need more than that.
The RMU2040 has a solidly designed swivel belt clip which easily attaches for hands-free use, a great addition on top of the Vox capabilities which come standard with these. One of the main selling points for the RMU2040 is the fact that it meets super high military-grade standards of durability as well as being IP54 and IP55 certified. Overall the Motorola RMU2040 is a solid choice for those in a multi-level restaurant or for those who wanted added durability backed up by Motorola’s one-year warranty.
Motorola T460 Walkie Talkie Review
The Motorola T460 is one of Motorola’s overall best selling walkie talkies for good reason. It’s got great design and sound, solid battery of around 10 hours, and a range of a few miles in most conditions. When you add 22 channels of communication and 121 privacy codes, IP54 Weatherproofing, and push to talk as well as Vox hands-free capability, you get an extremely feature rich walkie talkie at a very reasonable price.
The Motorola T460 also comes with a built-in flashlight which can be useful in darker parts of your restaurant or outside, and especially if there is an emergency situation. And while style isn’t everything, we do love the clean design and attractive dark blue color of these devices. This Motorola T460 8 Pack Bundle also comes with rechargeable battery packs and belt clips for each walkie talkie, and then four charging cables to ensure you can always have most of your walkie talkies fully charged and ready to go. We love the overall quality and utility of these T460 walkie talkies for restaurants looking for a great deal and value in their next set.
Midland BR200 Walkie Talkie Review
The Midland BR200 is a great business walkie talkie that offers 2 watts of power and almost 250,000 square feet of total range. This BR200 six pack also comes with an easy-to-use gang charger, which means you never have to worry about powering up these walkie talkies or your devices running out of battery. With 16 different UHF channels and 142 privacy codes, you have more than enough combinations to create a safe and secure line of communication for your restaurant employees.
Midland designed these walkie talkies with small to medium-sized businesses like restaurants and retail shops in mind, and that desire to create a great product comes through.The sound quality is solid and clear, and there is a speaker or headphones jack if you want to use headsets or earpieces in your restaurant as well. You can easily program the Midland BR200 if necessary, but it does come ready to go out of the box which we love. The Midland BR200 is a middle-of-the-pack walkie-talkie in terms of price, but a top-level walkie-talkie in terms of performance, which is all you can ask for!
Motorola RMM2050 Walkie Talkie Review
The Motorola RMM2050 is one of the higher-end business walkie talkies from Motorola. You get 2 watts of power which produces around 20 floors / 200,000 square feet of range, which is more than enough for even the largest restaurant. With 15 hours of battery life the Motorola RMM2050 should be more than enough for most restaurants to operate even through a breakfast to dinner shift.
This RMM2050 6-pack bundle includes chargers for all of the units, and belt holsters which are adjustable. The Motorola RMM2050 is license free and a solid choice for business owners who want higher end performance, quality, and range and trust in the Motorola brand and warranty. While it is on the more expensive side, there’s good reason because of the overall quality and durability. If you’re looking for a walkie talkie that will last for a long time at your restaurant, and that has strong power and range, you can count on the RMM2050.
Motorola CLS1110 Walkie Talkie Review
The Motorola CLS1110 is a great choice for restaurant owners who want guaranteed power and range, as well as a solid and dependable Motorola design. There’s a reason that the Motorola CLS1110 is one of the most popular walkie talkies for small business owners. It’s easy to use, and its one watt of power comfortably gives you around 12 to 15 floors of range, which is about 200,000 square feet.
Retevis RB18 Walkie Talkie Review
If you’re looking for a walkie talkie that is affordable yet will get the job done, the Retevis RB18 is a solid choice. It’s simple, easy-to-use, and has enough range and battery life to fit the bill for most restaurants. We certainly wouldn’t call it the most powerful, feature-rich, or largest battery walkie talkie on this list, but it’s still a solid option especially if you’re a smaller restaurant or want to save some money.
The RB18 has around 10 to 12 hours of battery life, and has a solid range of a mile or two which will be plenty for most smaller restaurants. A simple button setup makes it easy to train your staff on. It’s quite small and light which makes it a discrete option for use in fancy restaurants. The Retevis RB18 may not be fancy, but it’ll get the job done for you. If you’re cost-conscious and want to save money, yet want something that will work in your small to medium-sized restaurant, the Retevis RB18 is a great choice.
DeWalt DXFRS220 Walkie Talkie Review
The DeWalt DXFRS220 is a wearable walkie talkie designed to be attached to your pants or belt. Its square shape and small size ensure portability and versatility, while its 1 Watt power still offers great multi-level range of up to 100,000 sq. feet, more than enough for almost any restaurant, even across multiple floors. Like its big brother the DXFRS800, the DeWalt DXFRS220 is IP67 certified water and dust proof, and is backed by DeWalt’s lifetime warranty. This assurance really makes us confident in recommending the DXFRS220 to restaurant owners.
The DXFRS220 provides 22 channels and around 10 hours of battery life, though your rate of usage will impact that. If you use it on and off throughout the day, or just for the dinner rush, you may be able to stretch the battery a day or two. If you plan to use it heavily all day in your restaurant, rest assured that you can quickly charge the DXFRS220 every night with the included micro-USB cable. With belt clips, voice prompts, as well as a headphone jack, you can customize the DXFRS220 to meet your needs.
Cobra PX880 Walkie Talkie Review
The Cobra PX880 is essentially the big brother of the Cobra PX500, offering more range, battery life, and channel / privacy code combinations. With the PX880 you’re going to get up to 300,000 square feet of total range, and a crazy-long run time of up to 18 hours. You’ll also get the Vox hands-free feature, 360 degree swivel holster, and sleek walkie talkie earpieces that you’d get with the Cobra PX500 bundle. Beyond that, there’s not much of a difference between the two bundles.
If battery life is your main concern, or if you want that extra bit of range, the Cobra PX880 is worth the step up from the Cobra PX500. Eighteen hours is extremely long and will put you at ease knowing you 100% won’t have to charge until the end of the dinner shift / overnight. That said, if you’re running just lunch or dinner and just need 10-12 hours, we think you’re probably fine going with the Cobra PX500.
Walkie Talkies for Restaurants Buyer’s Guide and Tips
Size
Walkie talkies come in all different shapes and sizes, and our list has options that range from those about the size of your palm to those that are quite large. Depending upon your needs, or how discreet you want your walkie talkies to be, you’ll need to evaluate your use case as well as your restaurant environment before you choose the perfect size walkie-talkie for your business. If you want a small and versatile device, we recommend the DXFRS220.
Durability
When you’re looking to invest in a set of walkie talkies, you want ones that will last for a long time and always be there for you. The durability of the walkie talkies you choose is especially important for restaurant owners who have outdoor seating, or who live in areas where the weather can get bad. Just as snow, rain, dirt, and dust can impact your restaurant environment and experience, they can impact your walkie talkies as well. If you get poorly designed or weak walkie talkies, you might find yourself replacing them soon after purchase. Because of this, we’ve made sure to only select and review walkie talkies that are truly durable and which we feel meet our high standards. We’ve also highlighted some highly durable options for you, like the DeWalt DXFRS800, with provide the highest level of durability to dust and water, and even come with a lifetime warranty.
Pack Size
Depending upon the size of your restaurant staff, the number of walkie talkies you will need will vary. For a small diner, you might only need two, whereas a large city restaurant might want 12, 20, or even more. We’ve reviewed a variety of pack sizes to ensure that you can find a set of walkie talkies that fits your needs. In addition, many of the items we’ve reviewed come in different pack sizes and quantities.
Battery Life
Battery life is always important when considering what walkie talkie to buy. No matter if you’re running a small mom-and-pop restaurant, or a massive multi-level hotel restaurant, you want to buy a walkie talkie that’s going to last you throughout the day. Because of this, we’ve made sure to document the actual battery life of all of the walkie talkie on this list. While the lowest we’ve reviewed comes in at around eight or nine hours, which may be sufficient for those of you who only run breakfast or dinner operations, we’ve also included solid options with great battery life which can last you 12, 15, and even 18+ hours if need be. Be sure to think about your expected use of the walkie talkie to help you decide the battery life that you need. If you’re wondering which walkie talkie restaurant option has the longest battery life, its the Cobra PX880 at over 18 hours.
Range
Range is generally one of the first things that comes to mind when people consider what walkie-talkie they want to buy. If you want to talk as you hike a mountain you’re going to need a lot more range than if you want to talk to your neighbor across the street. For restaurant owners, the most important feature for their walkie-talkie selection process may not be range, given that you are generally operating in a relatively small environment. That said, some restaurants may have multiple levels or may have valet or parking staff who will be far away from the restaurant at times. Because of this, we’ve included walkie talkies that have great multi-level range and can operate across 20 to 25 floors as well as walkie talkies that have great general range and reach which will be the perfect walkie talkie for restaurants with valet service.
Price
When you’re running a business, every dollar counts. That’s even more true for restaurants, where margins can be thin and competition is stiff. Finding a walkie talkie that is both good value and powerful is thus top of mind for many restaurant owners. Some may want to get the cheapest option that works, while others of you will want to pay a bit more for greater power, battery life, range, and overall quality. We’ve reviewed walkie talkies from all levels of price, from entry-level to super high-end. We’re sure that you can find something that will fit your budget and meet your needs in our list of the best walkie talkies for restaurants. if you want our best budget, middle level, and high-end walkie-talkie for restaurant options, we detailed those right here for easy access.
Headset / Earpiece
When we were evaluating the best walkie talkies for restaurants, we kept coming back to the point that many restaurant owners want their waitstaff, servers, and managers to have earpieces and easy hands-free communication at all times. Because of that, we’ve been sure to detail the walkie talkie headset systems for restaurants which come with some of these walkie talkie bundles. These sweet and high-powered walkie talkie earpieces for restaurants can create a lot of value and time-saving benefits for your employees. If this is important for you, be sure to choose one the bundle options we’ve recommended that come with walkie talkie headsets and walkie talkie earpieces for restaurants. If you want more options, you can check out our comprehensive walkie talkie earpieces and headsets buyer’s guide to find the perfect addition for your restaurant.
