The Best Two-Way Radios for Bowling Alleys
If you go out and buy the first radio that you see for your team, you might be in for a rude awakening. Static, poor battery life, messages that sound like a drive-through speaker...
That’s why you need a quality radio tailored to your alley, and we’ve got you covered!
We don't want you to buy any radio just because you like the name or the price. We want you to make an educated decision and purchase the perfect radio within the scope of your needs, staff, and location.
We’ve sold thousands of radios and have compiled all that knowledge right here in this brief guide.
What do you need in a walkie talkie for bowling alleys?
Lane 7’s ball return is jammed again... The birthday party on Lane 12 has been waiting 20 minutes for their food and no one’s updated them.
Meanwhile, a spill near the arcade’s entrance still hasn’t been cleaned up, and guests keep walking through it. The front desk is swamped with check-ins, but no one's been alerted to jump in and help.
These are all common issues in a bowling alley - and they can easily be solved with clear, quality two-way radios.
Let's walk through some important components when comparing radios....
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Coverage Considerations
When choosing two-way radios for your alley, it is important to match radio power and coverage of your building size and layout.
Selecting a radio that is too powerful for your alley needs can lead to overpaying, while choosing one with insufficient coverage may result in poor quality and dead zones.
For small buildings, 1 to 2 watts of power will do the trick - you can get from 100k - 200k sqft of coverage.
Larger buildings (or multiple buildings), covering up to 350,000 square feet, require more powerful radios in the 3-4 watt range on analog (or 1 watt on digital) that can transmit clearly through walls and across larger distances.
You also need to take obstructions and building materials into account. If you have thick concrete walls, it may be necessary to go 1-watt stronger.
Number of Channels Needed
Channels help segment team conversations, to simplify radio chatter.
Recommended groups for bowling alleys:
- Front Desk & Guest Services: Handles lane assignments, shoe rentals, birthday check-ins, and general customer needs. It’s the first point of contact and needs to stay in constant communication.
- Food & Beverage Team: For kitchen staff, servers, and bar personnel. Orders, delays, and party food coordination all go through here without clogging up other channels.
- Maintenance: Ball return jammed? Lane malfunction? Spilled soda in the arcade? This channel is all about fast fixes and keeping things running.
- Management Only: Used for private team communication, guest complaints, or sudden scheduling issues that require quick decisions without interrupting frontline tasks.
- Events & Parties: Dedicated to birthday hosts and event coordinators—ensuring cake, pizza, bumpers, and party lanes are ready on time and nothing gets missed.
From our experience, bowling alleys work best when teams are grouped into 1-3 channels.
Easy breezy. That’s concise and direct communication.
Channels can also be used to set up private conversations: “Sarah, call Tom on channel two.”
Sarah and Tom can then have an in-depth conversation over the radio without bothering the rest of the staff.
Quality Brands Make a Difference
You need a radio that is not going to fall apart within a year. You need one that will last so you’re not throwing away money.
Motorola and Kenwood two-way Radios are the most quality brands on the market because they are purpose-built for reliable communication with a durable build.
Designed to be easy to use and intuitive their radio series are affordable, cost-effective and eliminate monthly cell phone plans.
Tested for 5 years of field use, Motorola and Kenwood make sure you see a return on your investment.
Not to mention the included manufacturer warranty (1-3 years depending on model).
What features make a great bowling alley radio?
Long Battery Life: Radios need to last through long shifts without dying mid-task.
Durability/Shock Resistance: With slippery floors and lots of movement, radios need to survive drops and bumps.
Clear Audio Quality: Loud music, pin crashes, and arcade noise make clear sound a must.
Hands-Free or Earpiece Options: Lets team members move freely while staying connected.
Emergency Alert Button: Sends a quick signal to management in case of emergencies.
Our Top Two-Way Radio Picks for Bowling Alleys
To help you with your selection, we've highlighted several different models below that are perfect for bowling alleys of every size.
These recommendations come from our own experience working with thousands of these radios. Each one has a rock-solid history and great reputation.
Small Alleys
For typical bowling alley layouts, you’ll want a compact and lightweight radio that is discreet and easy to carry. Offering modest power and 1 to a handful of channels, you will have enough groups to keep operations running smoothly.
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User-friendly with reliable coverage and extended battery life.
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The Motorola CLS1110 is also Clear, Light, and Simple, as its name states. But it is a one channel radio that would be perfect for a smaller alleys where no one needs to be segmented.
Much like its sister device, it is a UHF radio, so works great indoors and outside. The CLS1110 is a simpler version of the CLS1410, with all the same features.
Vibracall technology and Audible Call Alerts will let you know when new messages are coming in.
This device’s keypad lockout security feature helps to keep the airwaves secure and ensure no malicious actors gain access to your radios.
It also features 83 digital and 38 analog private lines, 121 interference eliminator codes, and 56 business exclusive frequencies.
The included rechargeable li-ion battery has an average 18-hour life per charge.
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Compact and powerful. Easy to use and great battery life.
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The Kenwood PKT300 would be a perfect radio for your alley if you...
- Work in an area less than 275,000 square feet
- Need to send a signal around steel and concrete
- Require hands-free operation
This is a UHF radio with six channels. You can segment your staff into six different groups for more effective communication.
The PKT300 pushes out sound with two watts of power and an outdoor range of up to two miles.
It also has an indoor range of 20 floors or up to 275,000 square feet.
You’re going to have power throughout the day. It also comes with a standing charging tray, a wall charger that plugs into power outlets, and a belt clip.
This is a radio that performs under harsh or stressful conditions with a strength of signal which easily gets around concrete and steel.
This is one easy-to-use, sturdy radio.
The VOX feature also allows you to operate the device hands-free.
If you think that the Kenwood PKT300 would be perfect for your crew, reach out to us for a free customized quote
Honorable Mentions:
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Larger Alleys - Multiple Buildings
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Advanced digital technology for clear audio and extended coverage.
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There are a bunch of reasons why to choose the Curve radio…
- It’s an even more durable device that is also compact.
- There are no FCC licensing fees.
- Because it uses newer technology, digital communications are even more clear on Curve than the CLS or CLPe.
- 900 Mhz Digital Communication
With 10 channels, you can segment a much larger staff.
You're also able to save money on these radios because there is no FCC licensing. That means you won't have to pay any government fees to use your devices.
This is a portable two-way radio with an indoor range of up to 300,000 square feet or 20 floors. That range is ideal for most larger spaces.
If you've got a larger bowling alley, like those radios found in a hotel or a large chain, we recommend the Motorola Curve.
Honorable Mentions:
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Request a Quote for Bulk Purchases
Need to equip your team? We want to help!
Make sure to request a quote for our best possible pricing.
REQUEST A QUOTE for our best pricing!
We are here for you!
If you have any questions on which radio is right for your bowling alley – do not hesitate to reach out to our support team.
We have a very knowledgeable staff with over 25 years of experience in the two-way radio industry that can answer all your questions.
You can’t get rid of us that easily after purchase - we include lifetime tech support to be there for you every step of the way!