As of April 1, 2026, the ARRL has revised its QRP (low power) definitions to adjust for higher-powered modern gear. The new standards, designed to curb “QRP inflation” in contests, are
2.5W CW and 5W SSB max, with a new “Micro QRP” category for power at or below 500mW.
- New CW Limit: * 2.5 Watts maximum.
- New SSB Limit: * 5 Watts maximum.
- Micro QRP: * 500 milliwatts
Previous Convention: Traditionally, QRP was understood as 5W CW or 10W SSB.
Goal: *The change aims to preserve the “spirit of true low-power operation” and encourages superior antenna efficiency over higher power output. 
These changes impact QRP contest classifications, and stations utilizing 10W are now considered “QRO-Lite” under the updated standards.
