The Best Outdoor Speakers for 2024

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Heading outside for some fun? Bring your favorite tunes in the form of an outdoor-friendly Bluetooth speaker. PCMag has been reviewing Bluetooth speakers for as long as they've been around. Whether you want something compact like the Anker Soundcore Mini 3 or a party box that pushes yard-filling sound at top volumes like the Sony ULT Tower 10, we have plenty of top options to choose from. Many of these recommendations are waterproof, so they're safe for listening by the beach or at the pool. Read our informed and comprehensive reviews for all the details, followed by everything you need to know to pick the best outdoor speaker for you.

Can You Submerge Outdoor Speakers Underwater?

Manufacturers often claim a speaker is water-resistant or waterproof, but the only true measure of protection from liquid and other potential hazards is its IP rating.

Every proper IP rating consists of either a two-digit score or an X (that acts as a placeholder) and a single digit. The first digit refers to a product's protection against solids (such as dust) and the second refers to protection against liquids. The number range for solids spans from zero (no protection) to six (dustproof), and, for liquids, it's zero to eight (waterproof and submersible beyond depths of a meter for extended periods). When you see ratings with an X, it usually means the manufacturer didn't officially test for protection but believes the rating would be higher than zero. Most portable wireless speakers fall somewhere in the IPX5 to IPX7 range.

If a manufacturer neglects to list a speaker's IP rating but makes a claim of a water-resistant design, you can probably assume that it can handle rain, sweat, and minor splashes, as well as a quick rinse in the sink now and then. But submerging it in a pool or tub is not a wise idea without knowing the IP rating.

One quick note: Bluetooth audio doesn't transmit particularly well underwater. A waterproof design's benefit is mostly that it can survive accidents or rough conditions.

What Size Speaker Is Best for Outdoors?

Not all portable speakers are small enough to stash in your backpack. In fact, plenty of the ones we test are relatively large and heavy. They are portable in the sense that you can carry them from your car to the campfire, but we wouldn't advise hiking with them.

Obviously, size plays a role in the equation concerning how much bass response and volume a speaker can project. Don't expect a pocket-sized speaker to have much, if any, bass depth. Of course, the bass frequencies don't matter nearly as much as a powerful high-mid and high-frequency response outdoors; there aren't any walls to shake and resonate powerful bass vibrations, so sound can carry only directly through the air (which is much more the treble's forte).

How Do Speakers Sound Outside?

Portable Bluetooth speakers have come a long way in the last half-decade. Today, small speakers can pack some fairly impressive firepower. This is mostly because of the near-ubiquitous inclusion of passive radiators.

Passive bass radiators use a rubber-like material that vibrates sympathetically with the output of a powered driver—like when you place a speaker on a long wooden table and you notice the table vibrating (in effect, seemingly increasing the bass response). The vibrations often create a sense of stronger bass depth, even though these radiators don't get any power. It sounds like a gimmick that shouldn't be effective, but some manufacturers have figured out a way to make it work.

Some outdoor speakers also feature outdoor listening modes. These modes tend to dial up the treble to make up for the lack of reflective surfaces when you're in the middle of a field or forest. The walls in your kitchen or office do, indeed, perform a function in transmitting audio to your ears, and without them, high frequencies, in particular, can sound dull, especially if you're not close to the speaker.

One more thing to note is whether a speaker is mono or stereo. Plenty of the Bluetooth speakers we test, especially the smaller ones, have only a single driver. Or they may have multiple drivers, but the drivers handle different frequency ranges and not left and right channels—in other words, the manufacturer decided that pumping out stronger bass matters more than stereo separation. That's not necessarily a bad approach. After all, if your left and right drivers aren't farther apart than your ears, you're not likely to hear much stereo separation. And even if you do have enough space between the drivers for stereo separation, you must still be a decent distance away from the speaker to get the full effect. Some manufacturers offer a way around this: They let you pair two units for a much wider stereo sound.

Bluetooth codecs might also be a factor for higher-end models. If you care about bitrate (even outdoors), look for something that works with the hi-res-capable LDAC codec.

What's the Battery Life of Portable Speakers?

Many of these extra features, along with drivers that pump out big bass at high volumes, come at the cost of battery life. Just about every speaker we test uses an internal battery that you charge via a USB port or an AC power adapter.

Typical battery life for portable speakers ranges anywhere between 10 and 20 hours, depending on size and features. But keep in mind that these are estimates. Manufacturers often list a higher battery life based on the assumption that you will listen at modest volume levels. As you might expect, blasting a speaker at top volume drains the battery more quickly.

If the speaker you're considering delivers less than 10 hours of battery life, it might be worth investing in a portable battery pack to keep the party going.

How Much Should You Spend on an Outdoor Speaker?

Plenty of quality outdoor-friendly speakers cost less than $150. The top end of this price range gets you a reasonably good bass response and, typically, stereo audio. At the lower end, you are likely to find smaller mono speakers that struggle a bit with lower frequencies.

Below, say, $50, you're flirting with options that might not sound markedly (or at all) better than your phone. And if you're willing to reach above $150, plenty of alluring options pack far more power.

If you don't necessarily need something rugged, check out our list of the best wireless speakers overall. For budget-friendly options, check out our top picks under $100. For more outdoor-friendly tech, see the best outdoor smart home devices we've tested.