Whether you’re spending your days by the pool, playing in the backyard, or firing up the grill, these are the best speakers to play your favorite tunes.
Best Overall
JBL Boombox 2
This wireless portable speaker has amazing sound, can withstand any weather, and plays music for 24 hours on one charge.
When the weather is nice, you’re likely lounging by the pool, reading a book on your porch, or BBQ’ing for the family in the backyard. The only thing that could make it even more perfect would be having the right speaker to play your favorite playlist.
But when you’re choosing a speaker for listening outside, there are a few features you’re going to want to prioritize. Choosing a wireless speaker — one where you don’t need to tangle with power cords and can easily connect your phone via WiFi or Bluetooth — can definitely make things easier, which is why all of our speakers on this list are wireless. However, there are a few other features you’ll want as well.
What should I look for when buying outdoor speakers?
First, you’ll want something that’s durable. Chances are, any outdoor speaker is going to take a few bumps. It might even get dropped. So, the last thing you need is something that easily breaks.
Second, you’re going to want something that’s weather-resistant. Of course, nothing is indestructible in the elements, but you’re going to want something that can hold up at least for a little while in whatever weather conditions are common near you. This is where something waterproof or heat resistant can come in handy,
Third, if you’re planning to use your speaker near the pool, get one that can be submerged in water. Trust us. Accidents happen.
Finally, just like with any speaker purchase, you’re going to want to prioritize sound quality. What’s the point if your speaker doesn’t play your tunes any better than your phone? So make sure you pick something with bass, clear audio, and good volume.
Unfortunately, finding a speaker that has all of these elements can sometimes drive the price up — but if you think you’re going to use the speaker often, it’s worth the cost.
After comparing countless online reviews, here are our picks for the best wireless outdoor speakers:
JBL Boombox 2
This wireless portable speaker has amazing sound, can withstand any weather, and plays music for 24 hours on one charge.-
Battery:
24 hours -
Drivers:
Two woofers, two tweeters
Amazon reviewer Michael Mathews writes:
“…WOW. and that’s not just from me. I’ve shown this to many friends and took it to a 4th of July Block party as well. Set it on top of my SUV and just blasted it. We put it on top of a car and let everyone take turns playing tunes. […] The sound quality is seriously impressive for such a small unit. The bass response is amazing, and I mean that in the “You will be seriously amazed” kind of way. Very clean, very smooth. […] At the block party we even plugged someone’s iPhone in to keep it charged. I still haven’t recharged it since the party and it’s still turning on…”
It is also great if you want to switch between playlists on two different devices. As Amazon reviewer Derek Werbowy writes:
“…you can pair two phones to the speaker at the same time and seamlessly switch playing between devices without having the music stop. Just push the Bluetooth button again to pair to the second phone and book, two people can be DJ. It’s a game changer.”
Sonos Move
This easy-to-use, rechargeable speaker streams over WiFi and Bluetooth, making it a convenient outdoor speaker for you to move around with you.-
Battery:
10 hours -
Drivers:
One downward-firing tweeter, one mid-woofer
This speaker is also super easy to use: it’s quick to set up, it’s simple to control through the Sonos app, and you can switch from WiFi to Bluetooth streaming when needed. And of course, since it’s an outdoor speaker, it’s weather resistant and able to stand up to humidity, rain, snow, dust, sun rays, and salt.
Amazon reviewer D. Gregorio writes:
“Obviously, it’s pricey, But with that price comes a sound quality I didn’t expect from a portable speaker. Audio is rich and clear.”
And Amazon reviewer Lars Swanson writes:
“Portable (Check), pairable (check), weather resistant (check), Trueplay (check), voice control (check), bluetooth (check), Sonos sound and of course WiFi capability, (Check and Mate). This really is an amazing speaker […] The ‘Move’ is the speaker I’ve been hoping that Sonos would make. Every situation is different but I’d highly recommend getting a pair of them. Everything sounds better in stereo. Enjoy and thanks Sonos for making life just a little bit better.”
UE Megaboom 3
If you’re looking for a wireless speaker for the pool, this waterproof, floatable option is your best bet.-
Battery:
15 hours -
Drivers:
Two 4 ohm full range, two passive radiators
One of the best features, though, is that it’s waterproof enough to survive being dropped and left in a pool for up to 30 minutes. In fact, it floats in water so it’s easy to retrieve if it does take that swim.
Target reviewer Dgonsalves writes:
“This speaker is so great! The sound is strong and the different levels each showcase a different strength of the speaker. […] The app on my phone makes turning on and off the speaker so convenient. I am going to buy these for my entire family!”
And Target reviewer Teendocmbc writes:
“This product was easy to pair to my phone and the app was easy to download and use. The sound from this device was very clear and I appreciated the ability to adjust bass, treble, etc. from the app. I would recommend this for anyone who needs a lightweight portable speaker.”
Bose SoundLink Revolve
If you’re looking for a 360-degree outdoor speaker, then this is the one for you.-
Battery:
12 hours -
Drivers:
Down-firing, full-range driver with two passive radiators
The speaker is easy to use and features a built-in mic for taking phone calls or engaging your phone’s smart assistant. It also features a good battery life of 12 hours, though the charging dock must be purchased separately.
Amazon reviewer alius writes:
“… I am impressed with the sound quality, the clarity — at pretty much the entire audible frequency spectrum (of an older guy). The other impressive feature to me is the relatively deep bass tones. And all this from a small, down-firing single full-range driver/speaker assisted by ‘two passive bass radiators’…”
And reviewer Paula writes:
“Spectacular sound, compact design. Holy Buckets!!!! This speaker is AMAZING!! Bought it for listening to Pandora at the lake and don’t regret spending the money at all. Until you hear it, you’d never believe such remarkable sound could come out of a little speaker. Crisp, sharp tones, holds a charge good enough to listen all day long. Well worth the price.”
While they aren’t the most powerful outdoor speakers, they do produce a pretty good amount of sound. They are weather-resistant, though when you mount them, you’ll want to place them under a patio or facing inwards, not directly exposed to the elements.
Walmart reviewer Paul writes:
“Hooked up these speakers on my back deck and [connected] them to one of my Echo dots. Very easy Bluetooth setup to the Echo.”
And reviewer WallyWorlddKenefickGal writes:
“Great sound quality, not distortion. About to purchase another set. We have them under the edge of the house by where we sit outside.”
JBL Pulse 4
Combine outdoor music with an impressive LED light show, and you’ve got yourself the perfect speaker for your next yard party.-
Battery:
12 hours -
Drivers:
20-watt driver and passive radiator
Reviewer Azalea writes:
“My partner bought this speaker for me for my birthday. It is absolutely worth every penny. The light show is stunning, and the design of the speaker really elevates that. I downloaded the jbl connect app, and it lets you modify the colors of the light shows. Which is really nice. The bass is incredible. It shakes the table at times. Which surprised me because of the size of this speaker. It really adds to the speaker that the LEDs seem to coordinate with the bass giving a stunning display.”
The speaker is portable, though a little heavier than one might want if you plan to travel with it a lot. It’s easy to connect to your phone and features a pretty good battery life of 12 hours.
Amazon reviewer Robert L. Bush writes
“…What a perfect speaker. I mean I own a lot of Bluetooth speakers. A lot. This totally amazing thing showed up today. I’m listening to it as I write this. This Tribit has made All of my other speakers, obsolete. The sound that I’ve been searching for, is here. The fidelity is pure. Not since the days of amps and speakers, old school, has there been such sound. Oh, am I blown away…”
And Amazon reviewer Brendon DuVarney writes:
“Best Bluetooth speaker under $100!! This speaker lives up to the hype! It’s worth every penny…”