The Best Outdoor Bluetooth Speakers for Parties, Beach Days, and More
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Whether you’re partying before a big game, hanging by the pool, going camping, or just enjoying an afternoon in the backyard, the best outdoor speakers on our list will get you hours of music playback in small, rugged units designed for the great outdoors. No more straining your ears to hear crinkly laptop speakers, or doing the old “iPhone-in-a-cup” trick to slightly increase the volume. From Bose to Marshall, the best outdoor Bluetooth speakers below will deliver all the intricacies of your favorite tracks so everyone can enjoy them.
At a Glance: The Best Outdoor Speakers
- Top Pick: Bose SoundLink Flex
- Built-in Charger: JBL Charge 5
- 360-Degree Sound: Tribit StormBox Pro
- Best Compact: Marshall Willen
- Best Speaker for Full-Home Audio: Sonos Roam 2
- Most Durable: Ultimate Ears Womderboom 3 Speaker
- 30-Hour Battery Life: Marshall Emberton II Speaker
The best outdoor Bluetooth speakers let you take your music outside, no matter the weather conditions, with enough power to fill your yard with clear, loud sound that lasts all day long. Here’s what else to know about shopping for the best outdoor speakers.
In This Article
What Are the Best Outdoor Bluetooth Speakers?
Outdoor Bluetooth Speakers Buying Guide
How We Chose the Best Outdoor Speakers
The Best Outdoor Speakers to Buy Right Now
There are many factors to think about when choosing the right outdoor speakers for you; below are the most important ones, which we considered while we were researching this list.
Bose SoundLink Flex
Bose is known for their reliable audio quality, and we found that this SoundLink Flex portable speaker delivered loud, full-range sound in a tiny package. Built for the outdoors, this wireless speaker is super compact and got us 12 hours of playtime on a single charge. It’s IP67 waterproof too, meaning it’s dustproof and can be immersed in water up to one meter for up to 30 minutes. The built-in mic picks up your voice easily; use the SoundLink Flex as a speakerphone for calls, or pair it with your digital assistants (i.e. Siri) to read your texts, check the weather and control your tunes. Bluetooth pairing is easy and quick, allowing you to connect your smartphone or any other device in a matter of seconds.
JBL Charge 5
We liked listening to our tunes with the JBL Charge 5, which gets you a high-powered wireless speaker and charging bank in one unit. Like some other models on our list, the Charge 5 is IP67-rated, meaning it’s fully waterproof and can be submerged in up to one meter of water for 30 minutes without damage. Battery life is super strong, with up to 20 hours of playback on a single charge. We were also able to charge our phones and tablets by plugging into the speaker’s USB output. Throwing a larger event or have a big space to cover? Use the JBL Connect app and pair multiple enabled speakers together for a surround sound-like experience
Marshall Willen Speaker
Our editors personally own and recommend this compact outdoors-friendly speaker – and we think you’ll love it, too. One of Marshall’s newest portable speakers packs big sound in a very small size. The Marshall Willen speaker is waterproof, so it’s dustproof and water-resistant, allowing you to take this speaker to the beach, pool or that outdoor barbecue your friend is throwing. You’ll get over 15 hours of playback time on this speaker, and a built-in microphone means you can easily take an important call. Download the Marshall Headphones app to personalize your sound, and even pair the Willen to other speakers via Stack Mode, for bigger, better sound.
Tribit StormBox Pro Portable Bluetooth Speaker
There’s a lot to love about this portable outdoor speaker from Tribit, which delivers a 360-degree sound experience thanks to its unique rounded shape and the addition of three drivers, two passive radiators, and a booming built-in “XBass” feature. We tested this out in our backyard and were able to hear the music even from the other side of the yard. Audio isn’t muddled or murky either, making this great to keep the soundtrack going for a pool day or beach day.
The StormBox Pro is rated IP67 for waterproofing, which means it can be accidentally submerged for up to 30 minutes in up to three feet of water without worry. It’s snow-proof and dust-proof too, for ski trips to the cabin or to Burning Man in the desert.
With a whopping 10,000mAh battery, the Tribit StormBox Pro delivers up to 24 hours of playtime. Got other devices on you? Plug them into the speakers to charge up on the go. Get easy pairing with Bluetooth 5.0, with ultra low latency and connectivity from up to 100 feet, and the easy-carry handle makes it a cinch to take this portable speaker with you on the go. The Tribit StormBox Pro is your perfect partner to soundtrack your next outdoor party, camping trip or getaway.
Sonos Roam 2 Speaker
Our editors love this compact Sonos Roam 2 speaker, which connects to the complete Sonos ecosystem of home speakers and boasts a 10-hour battery life. But best of all, it’s equipped for the outdoors and can withstand everything from splashes to dust thanks to its rugged design with its IP67 rating. We love using it for outdoor parties (and pairing it with our Sonos speakers in the house when guests wander in). It’s an essential for any music lover.
Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3 Speaker
Our editors and product testers love taking the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom speaker to the beach and the pool alike, thanks to its weatherproof design, excellent sound quality, and 14-hour battery life. It can float in water, for one, but it also can easily blast your summertime playlists you’re controlling from your phone. We love the tiny carrying strap, plus the plus and minus symbols make it easy to control the volume from the front of the device.
Marshall Emberton II Speaker
From its long-lasting battery life (30+ hours on a charge) to its packable frame, the Marshall Emberton speaker checks all our boxes for a great, reliable outdoor speaker. We’ve used ours to play music outside for months (and left it there, accidentally), because that’s what it’s designed to do. It can handle rain, serious dust, and hours of tunes. Bonus: The retro design instantly makes any patio look cooler.
Best of the Rest: Top Outdoor Bluetooth Speakers
Anker Soundcore 2 Portable Bluetooth Speaker
Thanks to its beach-friendly IPX7 waterproof exterior and 24-hour runtime per charge, the top-rated Anker Soundcore 2 portable speaker deserves a spot on any patio this summer. We like that it also promises to deliver powerful bass with “zero distortion,” along with its small size and affordable price point. The outdoors-friendly speaker currently has over 120,000 ratings on Amazon to boot.
Positive Customer Feedback: “My Anker Soundcore 2 has amazing sound perfect for the beach or the backyard Fire Pit with 12watts of power it’s perfect for all ocations, comes with Bluetooth that is easy to connect. If you’re looking for something compact with great sound & light weight that can be carried in a beach bag. Would highly recommend to anyone.” — Tim Stephenson
Sony SRS-XG300 X-Series Wireless Portable Bluetooth Party Speaker
Sony’s SRS-XG300 X-Series portable Bluetooth speaker is ideal for carrying to outdoor parties, thanks to its built-in handle and dustproof, IP67-rated waterproof exterior. It can even blast tunes up to a whopping 25 hours on a charge, and on top of its Bluetooth connectivity, features a 3.5mm jack to plug in and play your playlists.
Positive Customer Feedback: “One aspect that really stood out to me is its portability. Despite its powerful sound output, this speaker is surprisingly compact and lightweight. You can effortlessly carry it with you wherever you go, be it a picnic or a fun beach gathering. Moreover, with its IP67 rating, it’s designed to withstand dust and water, making it ideal for all kinds of escapades.” — Noah
JBL Clip 5 Speaker
The latest version of the fan-favorite JBL Clip works best for everything from hikes to bike rides, thanks to its, well, clip design. Of course, it can easily withstand the outdoors thanks to its wind- and dust-resistant design, and boasts a 12-hour battery life. One of the most functional outdoor Bluetooth speakers in this guide, it’s also a beloved speaker among reviewers.
Positive Customer Feedback: “I’m a speaker nerd and have the clip 4 as well. This blows it out of the water. Idk how they get such a great sound out of a little speaker way to go JBL!” — Kevin H
Editor’s Note: Customer reviews have been edited for length and clarity.
How We Chose the Best Outdoor Speakers
To choose our list of the top outdoor Bluetooth speakers, our audio-obsessed editors and contributors tested multiple Bluetooth speakers outdoors to select our top picks, as well as considered positive customer reviews with 4/5-star ratings.
Outdoor Speaker Buying Guide
The best portable outdoor speakers let you take your music outside, without taking up too much room in your bag or too much space at your outdoor setup. Here’s what else to consider when shopping for the best portable outdoor speakers online. Not every speaker is worth your cash, so keep the below features in mind when you’re searching for a new one, including a reliable battery life, connectivity, and how they make your music or calls sound when in use.
Editor’s picks
Materials: Unlike traditional at-home speakers, which often favor style over function, the best outdoor speakers in our buying guide are made to be carried around and put to use, with durable materials that can hold up to accidental dings and drops. Look for weather-proof materials too (more on that later) so you can take these mini outdoor speakers camping, to the lake or by the pool without worry.
Weight: They should be lightweight enough to be carried around from place to place and small enough to be tucked into a backpack or tote. Some of the small outdoor speakers on our list are even tiny enough to fit into your jacket pocket.
Bluetooth: The best part about top-rated outdoor Bluetooth speakers is that you don’t have to worry about making sure you have the right cable to connect them to your phone. All you’ll need is a Bluetooth connection and you’re good to go. Each of the speakers in our guide have Bluetooth connectivity.
Waterproofing: Go for one that’s water-resistant, and in some cases, fully waterproof, meaning they can be (accidentally) dropped in water without damaging the equipment. The best portable outdoor speakers should be dust-proof and shock-proof too. Keep in mind, that the waterproofing varies depending on each speaker; some can withstand accidental sprays of water or light rain but aren’t designed to work in a downpour.
Connectivity: Outdoor speakers also can’t be beaten when it comes to convenience. Since they don’t need to be plugged in, you’re freed from getting tangled in messy cables, and you can place the speakers wherever is most convenient. In other words: no need to stay close to an outlet anymore.
Audio Quality: Of course, no set of portable outdoor speakers is worth its (light) weight if it can’t deliver on audio quality. The product picks in our guide boast clean, crisp sound with surprisingly powerful bass and discernible mids and highs. They’re loud enough to soundtrack your own space too, whether you’re lounging by the pool or spread out across a campsite.
Battery Life: The best portable speakers for the outdoors should also get you long battery life (think 8+ hours to at least get you through a day), so you can keep the tunes going without needing to recharge all the time. While some of the models on our list deliver up to 30 hours of playback time, keep in mind that the louder you blast your music, the more battery power it will require.
Weather-Resistance and Durability: Along with water resistance, make sure your speakers are some degree of weatherproof, since they’ll be outside and exposed to the elements. Weatherized casing, or housing, is a necessity for a speaker that lives outdoors. Same goes for UV-resistance, rust-proof grilles, and the ability to withstand things like sand and debris. Speakers are an investment, and it doesn’t hurt to be a little extra cautious to protect them from the damage nature can quickly deal out.
Design: Finally, choose an aesthetic and design that’s not only functional but also fits in with your surroundings. Some speakers can blend in so well, guests won’t even guess where the music is coming from. Our recommendations look fairly subtle, and some are available in different colors, so you won’t mind when they’re seen and heard.
Contributors: John Lonsdale, Joshua Kanter, Tim Chan, Sage Anderson, Brandt Ranj