Complete HF Band Plan Guide for Amateur Radio Operators

The HF band plan serves as the essential roadmap for amateur radio operators navigating high-frequency spectrum from 3 to 30 MHz. The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) oversees how much radio spectrum is set aside for amateur radio transmissions, and the modes and types of allocations within each frequency band is called a bandplan; it may be determined by regulation, but most typically is set by agreements between amateur radio operators.

Understanding band plans is fundamental to effective HF operation. These plans are not just guidelines but are essential for maintaining order and preventing interference on the airwaves. They ensure that all operators, regardless of their license class, can coexist harmoniously and make the most out of the shared resource that is the radio spectrum.

ITU Regions and Global Coordination

Specific frequency allocations vary from country to country and between ITU regions as specified in the current ITU HF frequency allocations for amateur radio. The three ITU regions each have slightly different allocations:

ITU Region 1: Europe, Africa, and northern Asia
ITU Region 2: The Americas (North and South America)
ITU Region 3: South and east Asia and the eastern Pacific

The 80 meter or 3.5 MHz band is a span of radio frequencies allocated for amateur use, from 3.5–4.0 MHz in North and South America (IARU and ITU Region 2); generally 3.5–3.8 MHz in Europe, Africa, and northern Asia (Region 1); and 3.5–3.9 MHz in south and east Asia and the eastern Pacific (Region 3). The upper portion of the band, which is usually used for phone (voice), is sometimes referred to as 75 meters.

Primary vs Secondary Allocations

On shared bands, amateurs may be secondary users and must not cause harmful interference to primary services. The 60-meter band is a notable example — amateur use is restricted to five specific channels with a maximum ERP of 100 W relative to a dipole.

The FCC has granted hams secondary access on USB only to five discrete 2.8-kHz-wide channels on 60 meters. The NTIA says that hams planning to operate on 60 meters "must assure that their signal is transmitted on the channel center frequency."

Complete HF Frequency Allocations by Band

80 Meters (3.5-4.0 MHz) Band Plan

80 Meters (3.5 – 4.0 MHz): This band is popular for local and regional communication, especially at night. It supports voice, CW, and digital modes. Because high absorption in the ionosphere's Sun-activated D layer persists until nightfall, 80 meters is usually only good for local communications during the day, and hardly ever good for communications over intercontinental distances during daylight hours. But it is the most popular band for regional communications networks from the late afternoon through the night time hours.

As is common for many other wide amateur bands, the lower edge of 80 meters is predominantly used for radio telegraphy (called "CW"), with the lower 10 kHz (3.5–3.51 MHz) primarily used for long-distance communications. The band segments typically follow this pattern:

Data and CW frequency range for the 80m ham band: 3.5 MHz to 3.6 MHz
Phone or voice frequency range for the 80m ham band: 3.6 MHz to 4 MHz
Sideband typically used on the 80m ham band: LSB

Special segments within 80 meters include digital allocations: 3.58-3.62 Digital modes, with 3.59 as RTTY DX frequency and 3.62-3.635 for automatically controlled digital stations.

40 Meters (7.0-7.3 MHz) Frequency Segments

The 40-meter or 7-MHz band is an amateur radio frequency band, spanning 7.000-7.300 MHz in ITU Region 2, and 7.000-7.200 MHz in Regions 1 & 3. It is allocated to radio amateurs worldwide on a primary basis; however, only 7.000-7.200 MHz is exclusively allocated to amateur radio worldwide.

This band supports both long distance (DX) and intercontinental communications between late afternoon and a few hours after sunrise, and local-to-medium distance NVIS communication during most daylight hours. With its unique combination of intracontinental and intercontinental communications possibilities, 40-meters is considered a key band in building a winning HF contesting score during any part of the sunspot cycle.

The IARU Region 2 band plan for 40 meters designates specific segments for different modes:

The band plan designates the continuous wave (CW) subband from 7.000 to 7.045 MHz, with 7.000–7.025 MHz specifically allocated as a DX window to minimize interference during intercontinental contacts. General CW operations, including QRP activities centered at 7.030 MHz, occupy 7.025–7.045 MHz.
Single-sideband (SSB) voice communications are confined to 7.175–7.300 MHz, with a dedicated DX window from 7.175–7.250 MHz to prioritize distant signal exchanges.

The FCC allows CW and digital mode operation to all operators in the 7.025 – 7.125 MHz band. The ARRL, however, suggests that digital operators restrict their operations to 7.080-7.125 MHz.

20 Meters (14.0-14.35 MHz) DX and Contest Frequencies

The 20 meter band ranges from 14.000 to 14.350 MHz. It's split: 14.000-14.100 MHz for CW and digital (e.g., FT8 at 14.074 MHz), and 14.150-14.350 MHz for SSB voice. General/Extra hams use it for DXing, reaching thousands of miles. 20 Meters (14.0 – 14.35 MHz): Excellent for long-distance contacts during the day. This band supports many digital modes and is known for its reliability across different conditions.

Digital mode frequencies on 20 meters are highly organized:

20 meters • 14.074 MHz for typical operating frequencies for weak-signal digital modes
PSK31 is assigned to the area below the RTTY segment, near 14.070 MHz. For 20m, RTTY/data modes operate within 14.070-14.095 MHz.
14.000-14.100 MHz: Primarily used for CW (Morse code) and highly efficient digital modes like FT8. FT8 is particularly popular in 2025 for making weak-signal DX contacts, even when conditions aren't perfect.

14.150-14.350 MHz: This is the heart of SSB (Single Sideband) voice communication, perfect for engaging in conversations with stations worldwide. 14.300 MHz: This specific frequency is often reserved for emergency communication.

15 Meters (21.0-21.45 MHz) Propagation Considerations

15 Meters (21.0 – 21.45 MHz): Active during the day, this band is good for DX (distance) operations. 15 meters – 21–21.45 MHz – Most useful during solar maximum, and generally a daytime band.

The band plan follows the standard HF pattern:

21.0-21.2 CW and digital, with 21.060 as QRP CW Calling frequency. 21.070-21.100 Digital modes, 21.090-21.100 Automatically controlled Digital, 21.150 CW beacons. 21.2-21.45 Voice with 21.340 SSTV, 21.385 QRP SSB Calling frequency.

10 Meters (28.0-29.7 MHz) Band Plan and Modes

The 10-meter band is one of the most versatile and exciting bands available to General license holders. It offers a wide range of operating modes and is known for its dramatic propagation changes, making it a favorite for both local and long-distance communications. The 10-meter band is particularly interesting due to its responsiveness to solar activity, which can dramatically affect its propagation characteristics. During solar maximums, this band can support worldwide communication, while during solar minimums, it's more suited to regional communications.

The 10-meter band plan is comprehensive:

28.0-28.3 CW and digital, 28.060 QRP CW Calling frequency, 28.070-28.120 Digital, 28.120-28.189 Automatically controlled Digital, 28.19-28.225 CW beacons. 28.3-29 SSB, 28.385 QRP SSB Calling frequency, 28.680 SSTV, 28.885 VHF liaison frequency. 29-29.2 AM, 29.3-29.51 Satellites, 29.51-29.7 FM with 29.52-29.58 Repeater inputs, 29.6 FM Calling frequency, 29.62-29.68 Repeater outputs.

License Class Privileges and Sub-band Restrictions

Technician Class HF Privileges and Limitations

Technicians have full VHF/UHF privileges and limited HF access: 10 meters plus CW on narrow portions of 80, 40, and 15 meters at 200 W PEP. Upgrading to General opens most HF segments; Extra opens the remaining exclusive sub-bands at the bottom of each HF band.

Novice/Technicians are limited to 200 watts PEP on HF bands. The Technician license gives you full access to every amateur frequency above 30 MHz, which covers the VHF and UHF bands where most local activity happens. In practice, that means the popular 2-meter and 70-centimeter bands used for repeater networks, local emergency nets, and satellite contacts. You can also work the 6-meter band, the 1.25-meter band, and frequencies all the way into the microwave range. On the HF bands below 30 MHz, Technician privileges are limited but still useful.

Specific Technician privileges on HF include:

Technician hams get CW access (14.025-14.150 MHz) on 20 meters. On HF, they're limited to CW on parts of 80, 40, 15, and 20 meter bands (e.g., 14.025-14.150 MHz).
3.525-3.600 MHz on 80 meters for Novice/Technician at 200W
Full privileges on 10 meters

General Class Frequency Access Across HF Bands

The General Class operator license authorizes privileges in all 29 amateur service bands. Mid-level license with access to most HF bands for long-distance communication.

Upgrading to General opens most HF segments; Extra opens the remaining exclusive sub-bands at the bottom of each HF band. General class operators gain access to the voice portions of all HF bands, though with some restrictions on the bottom segments of each band that are reserved for Extra class.

General class restrictions include:

On the 40m band, Extra Class operators cannot operate SSB below 7.125 MHz. If you operate SSB on 7.120 MHz as a General class operator, you can be cited for doing so.
Limited access to the bottom 25 kHz of most HF bands

Amateur Extra Class Expanded Privileges

Top-tier license with full privileges across all amateur radio bands. The privileges of an Advanced Class operator license include 275 kHz of additional spectrum in the HF bands. Amateur Extra class operators have access to all amateur frequencies without restriction.

Extra class privileges include: