The 14 Best Outdoor Speakers For Every Budget in 2023

Polk brings a minimal design and solid sound system to any outdoor area. You get a pair of either black or white speakers that easily mount to any wall, deck, or railing. They have over 900 near-perfect reviews on Amazon from users gushing over how great the sound is and comparable to Bose for a lower price point.

The sturdy brackets allow for slight rotation to optimize sound in different areas. Plus, if you get sick of the placement, you can easily demount with their patented snap and lock bracket closure. The pair delivers a super wide listening angle, making this the best option for oddly shaped areas. These speakers are made for all weather and pass the rugged durability test of withstanding extreme temperatures and heavy rain.

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On the flip side of the expensive outdoor speaker sets, there are the more affordable ones. Dual Electronics puts out this weather-resistant set for an insanely low price of $50. The speakers are wired, so you need to connect them to an amp; however, you can add the Dual Electronic amp with your purchase. The amp actually pairs with your phone via Bluetooth, so you do have the ability to control your tunes from your phone.

In terms of audio quality, we find this set perfect for listening passively to your favorite radio station or sporting event as you do some other activity on your back patio, in your garage, or in your home workshop. If you want deep bass and crisp acoustics (on high volume) then you’ll want to look elsewhere on this list. Otherwise, there’s no better pair of under $100 speakers for the price point.

Pros

• Strong carrying strap
• Solid battery life
• Premium 360-degree sound
• IP55 waterproof and dustproof rating

Most Bluetooth speakers are capable of serving as portable outdoor speakers, but going down that rabbit hole would require much more time and distract from the truest form of outdoor speakers on this list. With that being said, the Bose SoundLink Revolve+ is a portable outdoor speaker through-and-through, built to be carried around a backyard or poolside. Its 360-degree premium sound, IP55 dust and water-resistant rating, and long battery life (up to 17 hours) make it a no-brainer pick in our book.

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Pros

• Can be paired with other Sonos speakers
• Pair wirelessly to the Sonos amp
• Long lifespan
• Incredible audio quality

The Sonos Outdoor Set requires a hefty investment, but if you’re looking for the best sound quality (for the easiest setup) then look no further. Included are two outdoor speakers that are fully compatible with the Sonos app and Apple AirPlay 2. This means you can add these speakers right into your current Sonos ecosystem and play your music through the house and out to the back patio without ever skipping a beat. You also get the Sonos amp, which serves as the central point for the outdoor speakers to respond without the need of being wired.

If you ask us, there’s no other outdoor speaker system that combines great looks and performance with this simple setup like this one by Sonos. It’s ok to swipe the card on this one (responsibly, of course).

Most of the price tags of the speakers on this list are on the higher side. While we believe they are an investment that can stand the test of time, sometimes you have to compromise a few qualities to bring the price down. The best set at providing more value than the price point suggests is this one from Yamaha.

Both the sound quality and design are pretty advanced with a two-way bass reflex, a powerful woofer for mid-to-low frequencies, and a balanced dome for crystal-clear optimum placement listening. The one thing you’d be giving up is the all-weather guarantee. These can handle a splash or two, but we wouldn’t leave them out all year round if you have changing seasons.

Technically, portable speakers shouldn’t end up on an “outdoor speakers” roundup, but we couldn’t not include the powerful sound and ruggedness of the JBL Xtreme 3. Plus, it’s much larger than your typical portables and with comparable sound quality to the best outdoor wire speakers, so we felt it was more than worthy of a place on this list.

At 29” wide, this speaker is bigger than most. It has a monstrous bass and 15 hours of wireless playtime. With the IP67 tech spec, one can argue it’s one of the best waterproof portable speakers on the market. You can throw this chunk of tech in the pool, sand or ocean, and it will not only survive but thrive and continue to pump out the elegant powerful sound we all know and love.

The top handle and adjustable carrying strap make it a great outdoor speaker for traveling. It mimics your old-school boom box, but with high-tech Bluetooth capabilities and an in-house power bank feature to charge your phone.

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Unless you live under a rock, you know that Bose is the leader in high-quality audio. From headphones to speakers alike, there is nothing quite like a Bose, which is why we deem the 251 Environmental Outdoor Speakers the best overall. We take into consideration value, size, design, and of course, tech specs. These babies deliver a wide sound field in a compact, slim design that mounts to the wall in either white or black.

Notable features include precise multi-angled chambers that minimize audible distortion as you move around from one area to the next. Most outdoor speakers don’t have this, and trust us, it makes a huge difference, especially in larger spaces. What you get are well-rounded, consistent deep bass and crystal-clear listening. They come in a pair and have been tested to withstand snow, rain, salt, and extreme temperature. They may be on the higher end, but they are pretty damn amazing.

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If you’re looking for an outdoor speaker that’ll look as good as it sounds, the Marshall Kilburn II Speaker has a cool, retro feel that’ll elevate your outdoor settings to an entirely new level.

Marshall’s durable and water-resistant speaker features multi-directional sound with its stereo system. The frequency range goes from 52 to 20,000 Hz and will last for over 20 hours on a single charge (in other words, it’s good). And if the battery’s running low, there’s a quick charge feature that’ll give you two hours of playtime after 20 minutes. Of course, we can’t ignore the benefits of the fact that it’s wireless and portable, too.

The Kilburn II speaker also has multi-host functionality, which will make it easy to switch between devices (which means whoever wants to be the DJ for the night can do it seamlessly). So, whether you’re planning to hit the road for a weekend camping trip with your friends or just want to add the right vibes to your back patio, you won’t go wrong here.

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We love a party trick, especially when it involves tech. Think of the good ole fashioned rock-disguised-speaker as a part of the landscaping. While these speakers are fun to look at, they actually pack a pretty amazing sound. The AWR-650 from Klipsch delivers top-of-the-line heavy bass for any backyard or poolside cookout in a true dual coil design.

Since they are on the heavier side compared to most top-rated speakers (13 pounds each), we recommend leaving them as stationary objects and using them as a pair. However, they do require a nearby outlet, as they are not wireless. The granite-like fiber finish is weather-resistant and UV treated, perfect for permanent outdoor installation.

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Pros

• Excellent sound quality thanks to 3-in-1 design
• Booming bass
• Unique in-ground design

If you’re looking to create an epic outdoor movie theater or hefty music setup, the Cherry Bomb should be on your shortlist. For starters, the speaker is much bigger than size than one might expect (about the size of a large blender). What you can do is then bury the bottom of the speaker—where the built-in subwoofer is located—into a planting box or a custom outdoor entertainment center and leave the top speaker poking out. The design leaves for some unique audio configurations around your home, and the sound quality is essentially near the level of the home audio system here.

You’re going to pay a lot for just one, and two are probably ideal if you want more spread-out listening, but if you want to go all out then you certainly should consider making the investment.

Unless stated otherwise, most of these outdoor speakers come with wires and require some sort of DIY home installation. But the Sonos Move is quite the opposite. Coming in as the smartest system, it brings both Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa in a battery-powered, Bluetooth-enabled arrangement. Plus, it’s extremely rugged with an IP56 rating, meaning it’s weather and shock-resistant.

Sonos products always deliver brilliant, immersive sound to last the test of time. No wonder it’s the speaker system of choice for many high-end hospitality businesses. What’s even better about this is the capability to connect to a larger system for bigger land. You can even connect it to the Sonos amp, which makes this a great choice for outdoor concerts and movies. But if you go with Sonos, you better be committed, because the products work exclusively through the Sonos app and operating system. This product alone can bring you 11 hours of wireless listening.

If you’re planning to invest in a set of outdoor speakers that are built to last, consider those from Klipsch, which live up to the brand’s reputation. These mountable speakers are perfect for audiophiles who want to spend nearly all their time outside.

Marked down at a hefty discount you’ll get a pair of speakers that provide high fidelity thanks to its Tractix Horn tweeter. So, if you like to listen to music with higher sounds, this is the set for you. Plus, the hardware is stainless steel, so you won’t have to worry about any rusting.

Spruce up your backyard setup with these sleek, under-$200 outdoor speakers. They’re built to withstand all types of weather, making them ideal for mounting outside your home—and they’ll even tilt or swivel, so you can direct the sound exactly where you want it. Plus, they’re completely sealed from dust, as well as water and bugs.

As for the actual sound, these will give you full, robust sound that’ll fill up to around 1,500 square feet. They’re also AP650, which means they’re good for beats heavy on the bass. These will be a great investment that won’t break the bank.

If there’s one speaker that can be truly considered small but mighty, it’s Bang & Olufsen’s new Beosound Explore. Measuring up to 5 inches with a diameter of just over 3 inches, this small, sturdy speaker will fit in the palm of your hand—but once you start playing a track, it’ll sound like so much more. The Beosound Explore features 360 sound with a powerful bass, so it’s sure to fill any outdoor space without overbearing the scenery. Want to create an easy-to-pair, portable stereo system? All you need is a second.

As a wireless Bluetooth speaker, this speaker will go anywhere with you—especially since it’ll last up to 27 hours and comes with a carabiner clip for you to hook it onto, say, a hiking backpack or a beach bag. Plus, it only weighs about 22 ounces. And just in case you weren’t convinced this pretty, dust-resistant speaker was built for the outdoors, we’ll enlighten you: The Beosound Explore, which was designed with a tough aluminum shell, can handle up to half an hour submerged in water and has drop resistance for up to 1.5 meters. Yeah, this thing was made for the outdoors.

Dedicated Outdoor Speakers vs. Portable Bluetooth Speakers

When buying outdoor speakers, there are essentially two routes you can go down: dedicated outdoor speakers and portable Bluetooth speakers. Dedicated outdoor speakers provide more power and a fuller sound, yet they are hindered by needing to be installed in one location and often require a setup process (wired up to an amp).

Portable Bluetooth speakers, on the other hand, provide versatility in listening and can be taken anywhere you, please. The downside is, however, less output and need to be recharged.

Audio Quality

Regardless of which type of outdoor speaker you choose, all will have various levels of audio quality. If you are aiming to have a deluxe listening setup for music or for outdoor movies and TV, then a more expensive system with a high-quality amp and subwoofer for bass should be considered. If you are looking for outdoor speakers you can throw up a playlist on and enjoy while out by the pool and sitting on your patio, you can aim for a mid-tier audio setup.

And if you’re looking for outdoor speakers to listen passively on, like a ballgame or your favorite radio station, then budget-friendly pair (with good weather resistance) is a smart buy. Write down a list of your listening needs and then you can decide which tier you want to be in.

Weather Resistance

Pretty much all outdoor speakers are weather resistant, but some have stronger waterproof and dustproof ratings than others. If you’re keeping your speakers out by a pool or setting them up in direct sunlight, you’re going to want to prioritize a set with strong water and sun resistance. If you’re keeping your outdoor speakers in the shade or using a portable Bluetooth speaker, then you don’t have to pay attention to high-grade weatherproofing as much.

One other detail to note when buying dedicated outdoor speakers is the hinges that are used to install the speakers. Make sure the hinges are treated with some type of rust resistance and are of quality; otherwise, you could start seeing rust over time.