As the world becomes increasingly connected, it’s important that we have speakers that can handle any type of audio. In this article, we’re going to take a look at the best outdoor speakers of 2022.

  1. The JBL Xtreme Portable Bluetooth Speaker is perfect for traveling or using in any environment. It has a built-in amplifier and speaker that can handle any audio quality. It also comes with a rechargeable battery and is lightweight so you can take it with you anywhere.
  2. The Harman Kardon SoundLink Mini is perfect for anyone who wants an affordable speaker that will sound great in any environment. It has a built-in amplifier and speaker that will give you great sound quality, even in low-light conditions. Plus, it comes with a rechargeable battery so you can keep it running for hours on end without having to worry about battery life.
  3. The UE Boom are perfect for anyone who wants an amazing sound experience when listening to music or watching videos outdoors. They have an 8” woofer and 2” tweeter that will give you clear and loud sound no matter where you are in the room. Plus, they come with an adjustable EQ so you can find the perfect listening experience for your specific needs.

The first decision you’ll need to make when it comes to outdoor speakers is whether you’re looking for something portable or speakers you’ll use as part of an installation. We’re leaning toward generally portable for the most part, as these are the best choice for most people, but if you’re looking for year-round outdoor speakers, we have a recommendation for those as well.

Wired or wireless is a consideration too, but this largely ties into whether you’re opting for portable speakers or an installation. For outdoor speakers meant to stay outdoors, you’ll need to choose the appropriate speaker wire to hook them up to your amplifier or receiver.

The overall size and form factor are important too. Even portable speakers can range from pocket-sized to speakers approaching the size of a boombox. You need to weigh whether you want a bigger, often better-sounding speaker, or a smaller model that’s easier to move around.

As we’re talking about speakers meant for outdoor use, every option we’re looking at has a certain level of weather resistance built-in. Even so, this will still vary between speakers. The portable models we’re looking at have different IP ratings, while the stereo outdoor speakers are even more weather resistant.

For Bluetooth and wireless speakers in general, battery life is a significant factor to consider. If you’re only using a speaker for an hour or two now and then, any model here (aside from the speaker system) will be fine, but it’s always better to have more battery life if you can get it.

After the above considerations, think about the extra features you might want. Some Bluetooth speakers let you pair two models for stereo, for example, while others feature fun features like color LED lighting.

With all of that out of the way, let’s get into the best outdoor speakers available right now.

Best Outdoor Speaker Overall: Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 2

For years now, Ultimate Ears speakers have been a popular choice for anyone looking for booming bass and serious volume in a Bluetooth speaker. The Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 2 takes this signature sound and presents it in a package perfect for outdoor listening.

✓ 360-degree sound is nice to have outside✓ IP67 dust and water resistant✓ The speaker floats in water✓ Pair two for stereo

✗ Maximum volume could be louder

Many Bluetooth speakers are directional, meaning they sound great if you’re in front of them, but less so if you’re listening from anywhere else. The WONDERBOOM 2 features 360-degree sound, meaning the music will sound great, regardless of where you’re standing. This makes the speaker great for outdoor parties.

The WONDERBOOM 2 also features an IP67 rating, meaning it’s dust-proof and waterproof. Even better, this speaker floats, so you don’t need to dive in after it if you drop the speaker into a pool. If you miss the pool but drop it on the ground, you still don’t have to worry, as it’s also drop-resistant.

When it comes to battery life, Ultimate Ears claims the WONDERBOOM 2 offers up to 13 hours of playback. This will depend on volume, but if you keep the volume at 50 percent or less, you should get close to the quoted time.

For as portable as it is, the Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 2 sounds surprisingly big. The only downside is that it isn’t stereo. If you need stereo sound and don’t mind buying another speaker, you can pair two WONDERBOOM 2 models for stereo sound.

Looking at color varieties, the WONDERBOOM 2 comes in black (though Ultimate Ears calls this Deep Space), as well as Radical Red, Crushed Ice Grey, and Bermuda Blue.

Best Budget Outdoor Speaker: Tribit StormBox

Finding the right outdoor speaker can be difficult. You can find tough, weather-resistant speakers, but they’re usually pricy. In the case of the Tribit StormBox Bluetooth Speaker it’s tough enough to take nearly anything you can throw at it, sounds great, and it won’t hit you too hard in the wallet.

✓ 360-degree sound✓ Surprising amount of bass for the small size✓ IPX7 water resistance lets you submerge the speaker✓ 20-hour battery life

✗ No app for EQ settings, etc

The StormBox is on the smaller size, measuring just over seven inches long and less than three inches across. It’s also lighter, weighing in at just over one pound. That said, when we spent some hands-on time with the StormBox, we found the sound quality was much better than we expected from the small size.

The speaker is plenty tough too, with IPX7 water resistance. You can submerge the speaker in water up to three feet deep for as long as 30 minutes without causing any harm. We’ve seen this plenty in more expensive speakers, but less in budget-priced speakers.

Unlike a standard Bluetooth speaker, the StormBox uses a 360-degree design. This means that regardless of where you’re standing, you’ll get the same sound quality. This is useful in any outdoor situation, but it’s especially useful for outdoor parties.

You’ll be able to keep the party going for quite, too. The internal Lithium-ion features up to 20 hours of playback time on a single charge. You don’t have to guess how much battery you have left either, as an illuminated four-segment indicator on the front shows you how much battery life you have left.

Best Bluetooth Outdoor Speaker: JBL Charge 5

When it came time to choose our pick for the best Bluetooth outdoor speaker, the solution was simple—why not just add our pick for the best Bluetooth speaker, period? The JBL Charge 5 is loud enough to keep a party going all by itself, and with weather resistance, it’ll be fine if it starts raining.

✓ Excellent sound quality✓ Bluetooth multipoint lets you pair multiple devices✓ Built-in power bank is a nice extra utility✓ IP67 rating for dust and water resistance

✗ No microphone for calls or voice assistant✗ May be too large for some uses

The Charge 5 is plenty loud, but what if that isn’t enough? Easy, just use the PartyBoost feature to pair another compatible speaker from JBL, giving you full stereo sound, or at the very least a boost in volume when listening to music.

Regarding battery life, the JBL Charge 5 has the longest battery life of any Bluetooth speaker we’re looking at, with a maximum playtime of 20 hours. Even better, you can use the built-in power bank feature to charge your other devices.

The Charge 5 is IP67 rated, meaning it’s dust-proof and waterproof. While we’re not sure if the Charge floats like the Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 2, the water resistance is still nice if it starts to rain in the middle of your outdoor party.

To ensure that the Charge 5 stays with you for a long time, JBL has included an accessory we rarely see in Bluetooth speakers—a hard-shell case. This helps protect the speaker when you’re not using it, letting you truly take it anywhere with you.

The Charge 5 comes in the standard Black colorway, but there are more options. If you prefer a splash of color, you can choose from Blue, Red, and Teal.

Best Portable Outdoor Speaker: JBL Clip 4

Not everyone is looking for a speaker to be the virtual life of the party. If you’re more concerned with something light, nimble, and easy to take everywhere with you, a portable Bluetooth speaker like the JBL Clip 4 may be more your speed.

✓ Built-in carabiner is improved from previous models✓ IP67 dust and water resistance✓ 10 hours battery life is nice for a smaller speaker✓ Loud for its small size

✗ Can’t pair two for stereo✗ No built-in microphone

One of the best features of the JBL Clip 4 is the titular clip, a carabiner-style attachment built right into the speaker. This lets you hang the speaker nearly anywhere, from a loop on your backpack to a branch on a tree at your campsite.

The Clip 4 has an IP67 rating, similar to many of the other Bluetooth speakers we’re looking at on this list. This means the speaker is protected from dust and water, two of the biggest problems you’re likely to encounter carrying a speaker outside.

JBL states the maximum battery life for the Clip 4 at 10 hours, which is on the lower end for the speakers we’re looking at, but this does make sense given the small size. Unlike larger JBL speakers, this model won’t charge your phone, and it doesn’t support PartyBoost for pairing multiple speakers.

The JBL Clip 4 is available in the nearly standard black finish, but while it doesn’t have as many color options as its predecessor, there are still plenty on offer. Color varieties include Blue, Grey, Pink, Red, Squad (Camouflage), and White.

If you’re looking for a more affordable model, the JBL Clip 3 is still available. While it doesn’t offer the same dust resistance (or at least isn’t tested for it), the speaker has the same battery life and features at a lower price.

If you’re looking for an outdoor speaker with plenty of volume that can also double as a smart speaker, pickings are slim. Most larger smart speakers aren’t tough enough for outdoor use. The Bose SoundLink Revolve+ (Series II) may not be the smartest, but it’s perfect for pulling double duty as an outdoor speaker and a smart wireless speaker.

✓ 360-degree sound is great outdoors✓ IP55 water resistance✓ Handle makes carrying the speaker easy✓ Can pair with multiple Bose speakers, either stereo or multiroom✓ Easy setup

✗ No Alexa built-in✗ Higher IP rating would be nice

The SoundLink Revolve+ II isn’t as durable as some of the other speakers we’re looking at, but it does feature IP55 water resistance. This means it can handle a few splashes at a pool party, but you don’t want to dive in while carrying it.

Speaking of carrying the speaker, it features a flexible fabric-covered handle that makes it easy to bring everywhere.

Connecting to Bluetooth speakers isn’t generally a very difficult process, but Bose makes it even easier with the SoundLink Revolve+ II. The built-in voice prompts walk you through the entire pairing process, meaning you don’t have to check the manual to connect to the speaker.

The speaker features a built-in microphone, which lets you take calls using the speaker and also use your phone or tablet’s default voice assistant. There is no Alexa or other smart assistant built in to the speaker. That said, you can connect an Echo Dot or other Alexa-enabled device to add more smart controls to the SoundLink Revolve+ II.

While the speaker offers plenty of volume, it may not be enough if you’re hosting a big party. Fortunately, you can pair two SoundLink series speakers together in either Party Mode for extra volume or Stereo Mode for better imaging. You can also use Bose’s SimpleSync to pair with other Bose smart speakers for multiroom audio.

The Bose SoundLink Revolve+ II is available in black and silver varieties.

Best Outdoor Speaker System: Polk Audio Atrium 4 Outdoor Speakers

While the other speakers we’ve looked at are speakers you can carry anywhere, that doesn’t do you much good if you want a proper outdoor speaker system. For this, you’ll need a set of outdoor stereo speakers, like the excellent Polk Audio Atrium 4 Outdoor Speakers.

✓ Ready for extreme temperatures and heavy rain✓ Mount vertically or horizontally✓ Easy to mount✓ Small and unobtrusive

✗ Small size makes for lacking bass✗ You need an amp or A/V receiver to use these

These are the smallest, most affordable speakers in Polk’s Atrium range, with 4.5-inch drivers still capable of bringing plenty of bass. While we’re looking at these for use in playing back music, these will also be a perfect fit if you’re looking into setting up an outdoor home theater.

Polk says these speakers are all-weather certified. This means they’re not just able to handle a few splashes of water. Instead, they will stand up to extreme temperatures and heavy rain, meaning you don’t have to worry when the weather takes a turn for the worse.

When it comes time to install the speakers, they’re easy to fit anywhere. This is thanks in part to the mounting system, which lets you mount them oriented either vertically or horizontally. The mounting bracket itself lets you install the speakers with just one hand.

These are passive speakers, rated 80 watts, so in addition to an amplifier or A/V receiver to power them you’ll also need speaker wire. If you’re using them outside (which you likely are), you may want to spring for some outdoor-specific speaker wire to ensure that they keep working for year after year.