Makita Radios
Makita radios keep the site going with DAB and Bluetooth sound that survives dust, knocks, and wet mornings, running off your LXT batteries.
When you're in and out of rooms all day, a proper Makita radio saves you messing about with phone speakers and cheap plastic units that die after a week. These Makita DAB radio options are built for site life, with solid handles, protected controls, and power from mains or a Makita radio with battery, so you can keep the noise going wherever you're working.
What Are Makita Radios Used For?
- Working through first fix in empty plots where there's no Wi Fi and patchy signal, a Makita DAB plus radio keeps stations coming in without constant dropouts.
- Running a Makita radio Bluetooth connection off your phone when you're moving room to room, so you're not unplugging leads and risking snapped aux sockets.
- Keeping a Makita jobsite radio on the van or in the workshop for steady sound that doesn't get killed by dust, overspray, or the odd knock off a bench.
- Powering a Makita cordless radio from your existing LXT batteries on refurbs and snagging, so you're not hunting for a spare plug socket in a client's house.
- Using a Makita site radio DAB for early starts and outdoor work where cheap radios struggle, because the aerial and casing are made to take proper site handling.
Choosing the Right Makita Radio
Sorting the right Makita radio is simple: match the power and features to how you actually work, not what looks good on the shelf.
1. DAB, DAB Plus, or FM
If you're on new builds or rural jobs where FM is hit and miss, go Makita DAB or Makita DAB+ for a cleaner signal and less fiddling. If you only ever use it in the workshop, FM can still do the job, but DAB is usually the safer bet.
2. Bluetooth or No Bluetooth
If you want your own playlists and podcasts, you'll want a Makita radio bluetooth dab model so you can stream without cables. If it's just background radio while you graft, you can save the faff and stick to DAB presets.
3. Battery Platform and Power Options
If you're already on Makita LXT, a Makita 18v dab radio makes sense because it shares batteries with your core kit. If you're mainly in one spot, pick a model that also runs on mains so it's not chewing through batteries when there's a socket right there.
4. Size and Carry Around Factor
If you're up ladders and shifting rooms, a small Makita radio is easier to grab and won't take over the floor. If it's staying put in a workshop or plot, the bigger units are worth it for fuller sound and easier controls with gloves on.
Makita Radio FAQs
Is a Makita radio worth the money?
If it's going on site, yes. A Makita work radio is built to take dust, knocks, and getting dragged around, and it runs off the same batteries you're already carrying, so you're not replacing cheap radios every few months.
Can Makita radio charge batteries?
Some Makita radios have charging or USB power features, but not all will charge an LXT battery like a proper charger. If charging is a must, check the model spec and don't assume every Makita radio with battery will charge packs.
What is the battery life of a Makita radio?
It depends on the battery size, volume, and whether you're on DAB or Bluetooth streaming. As a rule, bigger LXT packs run longer, and loud volume with heavy bass will drain quicker, so bring a spare if it's an all day job.
Do I want a Makita DAB radio, a Makita DAB+ radio, or just FM?
If you're buying now, DAB or DAB+ is the sensible choice for clearer reception and more stations in most areas. FM still works, but it's the first thing to get annoying on new builds and steel framed jobs where signal can be weak.
Is a Makita radio Bluetooth connection reliable on site?
Yes, for normal site distances it's solid, but don't expect miracles through multiple concrete walls. Keep your phone reasonably close, and you'll avoid dropouts when you're moving between rooms.
Do Makita radios come with a battery and charger?
Some listings are body only and some are supplied as a kit, so always check what's included. If you're new to Makita, a Makita DAB radio with battery and charger can be the easiest way to get up and running without borrowing packs off the lads.
What's the difference between a Makita jobsite radio and a normal home DAB radio?
A site radio Makita unit is built around impact protection, better handles, and controls that cope with dust and gloves. A home radio might sound fine, but it won't last long once it's bouncing around the van and getting plaster dust in every gap.
Who Uses Makita Radios on Site?
- Sparks and chippies doing first and second fix who want a Makita work radio that runs all day on the same batteries as their drills and saws.
- Decorators and fit out teams who need a Makita DAB Bluetooth radio that survives dust sheets, sanding, and being shifted room to room.
- Groundworkers and landscapers after a Makita DAB site radio that can sit on the edge of a job without getting wrecked by mud, drizzle, and rough handling.
- Maintenance and facilities teams who keep a Makita radio dab+ bluetooth unit in the van for call outs, so they've always got sound without relying on mains.
The Basics: Understanding Makita DAB and Bluetooth Radios
A Makita jobsite radio isn't just a speaker in a tough box. The key is how it receives signal and how it's powered day to day on site.
1. DAB and DAB Plus Reception
Makita DAB radios pull digital stations through an aerial, so you get clearer audio and more consistent tuning than FM when coverage is decent. DAB+ is the newer standard with more stations in many areas, so it's the better long term pick if you're buying once and keeping it.
2. Bluetooth Streaming on Site
A Makita bluetooth radio lets you use your phone as the source and the radio as the loud, tough speaker, which is ideal when you're moving around and don't want leads snagging on doorways or getting ripped out of sockets.
3. Battery vs Mains Power
A Makita radio with battery is made for plots with no power or where sockets are already taken by chargers and extractors. If you've got mains available, running it plugged in saves your batteries for the tools that actually earn you money.
Makita Radio Accessories That Make Site Life Easier
A couple of add ons stop your radio becoming another thing that's flat, missing, or in the way when the job's moving.
1. Spare Makita LXT Batteries
If you're running a Makita battery radio all day, a spare pack stops you nicking the last charged battery from the drill when you're mid fix and the radio dies.
2. Fast Charger
A decent charger keeps the rotation going so the Makita site radio isn't sat dead on a Monday morning, especially if the same batteries are feeding saws, impacts, and lights.
3. Mains Lead or PSU (Where Applicable)
If your Makita radio dab bluetooth model supports mains power, keep the lead with it so you can run plugged in at the bench and save batteries for when you're actually away from sockets.
Why Shop for Makita Radios at ITS?
Whether you need a small Makita radio for room to room work or a full Makita DAB+ Bluetooth radio for the workshop and site cabin, we stock the range in one place. It's all held in our own warehouse, ready for next day delivery, so you can get your Makita radios on site without waiting around.
