The Best Outdoor Speakers To Pump Up Your Jams

Forbes

11-04-2025

Built specifically for outdoor spaces and all sorts of weather conditions, the best outdoor speakers not only make your music pop in your backyard or on the patio—they're also designed to withstand the elements. After hours of research and testing, we named the Polk Audio Atrium 6 as the best outdoor speaker for its impressive audio and certifications for literally any kind of weather that gets thrown at it.
We've rounded up the best outdoor speakers to deliver music in any weather.
While the Polk Audio Atrium 6 includes mounting hardware, you don't need to affix these speakers—or others—to a wall or post in order to enjoy audio outdoors. If you want the best wireless outdoor speaker, we recommend the Sonos Outdoor by Sonance. And if you want to be mindful of your budget, the Yamaha Audio NS-AW150W 2-Way Indoor/Outdoor Speakers should be your go-to. Read on to find the best outdoor speakers you can add to your backyard oasis, which we determined after hours of research and testing.
Amazon
Dimensions: 8.8 x 7.8 x 11.8 inches | Driver size: 5 inches, 1-inch dome tweeter | Mounting required: Yes (includes hardware) | Waterproof rating: All-weather certified
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The Polk Audio Atrium 6 outdoor speakers offer 5.2-inch polypropylene woofers and a one-inch tweeter so you can enjoy deep bass at your next backyard party. For those who prefer a flatter profile, this may be a little off-putting, but for most people, this pair will more than suffice. Moreover, the driver's cone shape and rubber surround pumps help reduce distortion for clear audio, too. The mounting hardware is easy to use, with a one-click locking mechanism that makes for a hassle-free installation, and you can install them vertically or horizontally. Polk also says that the installation is so simple that it can be installed one-handed.
For those that want to install the speakers somewhere they're completely exposed to the elements, Polk's all-weather seal helps maintain their overall health over many seasons. They also come in two colors, white and black. That said, users have reported the bass sounds too powerful and drowns out the mids and trebles. It's also only available as a wired installation, not in a wireless version.
Best Buy
Dimensions: 5.2 x 10 x 6 inches | Driver size: 5 inches, 0.5-inch dome tweeter | Mounting required: Yes (includes hardware) | Waterproof rating: All-weather certified
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If you want outdoor speakers at a truly affordable price, the Yamana NS-AW150W is available for $200 as a pair, and you can usually find them on sale for even less. For that price, the five-inch drivers have pretty good audio, and the half-inch dome tweeters round out the sound profile nicely. It won't get the deep bass found in other models on this list, but if you aren't looking for that anyway, it won't matter to you. They also come in two colors to help them blend into your space.
Be careful how you place these. Once they're installed horizontally or vertically, you can only adjust in two directions. There are also reports from East Coast customers that the weatherproofing may not last as long in locations with extreme temperature swings. If you opt to use them in harsher climates, you may want to place them underneath a canopy to extend their lifespan.
Amazon
Dimensions: 4.7 x 10.4 x 4.1 inches | Driver size: Unknown | Mounting required: Yes (includes hardware) | Waterproof rating: IP68
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The Bose SoundLink Max ticks almost every box you'd want in a portable outdoor speaker. Bose traditionally doesn't share its driver and tweeter size, but after testing, I found that the audio quality was in backyards and patios. Because it's wireless, it has a 20-hour battery life, and a convenient grab handle allows you to move it where you want it. Plus, if you accidentally drop it in the water, the speaker floats so you can grab it and get back to enjoying music—it's fully waterproof. Just don't expect it to float and play music at the same time—it can't do that. You can also pair a second for Stereo Mode and Party Mode to boost your tunes.
For a portable outdoor speaker, there are some drawbacks, though. Notably, while it can handle deep bass, it simply won't have the raw power of the other picks on our list—it's too small. Yes, it does have great sound, but if you have a large yard, you'll want something that as the extra power.
Sonos
Dimensions: 7.5 x 15.4 x 7.8 inches | Driver size: 5 inches, 0.5-inch dome tweeter | Mounting required: Yes (includes hardware) | Waterproof rating: IP66
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For fans of the brand, Sonos Architectural Speakers by Sonance should be your pick. You get a crisp listening experience, but because it's Sonos remember that you'll need to add a Sonos Amp, which is sold separately for an extra $699. You can bundle the whole set for just over $1,400, which is pricey compared to other picks on our list. But once you add the amp, you get a clean, crisp sound that produces lovely mid and low frequencies.
That's partially attributable to the high-excursion pivoting subwoofer. To balance the sound, the speakers feature a one-inch tweeter to produce high frequencies, too. Another perk is that they're rated IP66, which means it can handle water sprays as powerful as a power wash. That absolutely does not mean you should spray it, but it has robust waterproofing against rain storms and other inclement weather. Also, it's important to note that these speakers use the Sonos software, which in its current form is pretty counterintuitive and has gotten catastrophic reviews by customers—so new users beware. We also recommend considering a professional installation for peace of mind, too, which can also drive up the cost.
Amazon
Dimensions: 17.5 x 13 x 16 inches | Driver size: 1-inch dome tweeter, 8-inch woofer | Waterproof rating: All-weather sealed
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If you don't want a pair of black or white speakers, you can opt for something with natural camouflages. The OSD Audio RS850 Outdoor Rock Speaker comes in multiple rock shades to blend seamlessly into your garden, and it's sturdy enough to withstand the harshest of weather conditions thanks to the aerospace-grade build. Under that sturdy exterior, a powerful 200-watt speaker can fill large backyards with booming audio so long as you place them no more than 30 feet apart.
Its power does mean it needs cables in order to work—and those cables need to be buried, per OSD Audio's recommendations. If you're worried about disturbing your flowerbeds, look elsewhere. Like the Sonos on this list, also plan to get an amplifier that can output 100W of power at least, too.
The Forbes Vetted team has published hundreds of tech and electronic guides that leverage our hands-on testing and research, including audio stories for all of your listening needs like noise-canceling headphones and soundbars.
To find the best outdoor speakers, we combined research with hands-on testing to seek out reputable brands and compare key features.
Based on our research and testing, we named the Polk Audio Atrium 6 as the best speaker overall. It has robust waterproofing features and gives you great sound for your music and movies.
According to Melissa Hoistion, vice president of marketing and e-commerce at Sakar International, one of the largest differences between and indoor and outdoor speaker is its proofing against the elements, i.e. waterproofing and dustproofing. 'Where indoor speakers are typically safe from water, extreme temperatures and debris, outdoor speakers are made to ensure the safety of their internal components, no matter what scenario they face,' she says. Simply put, according to Danilo Coviella, founder of Espresso Translations: 'Indoor speakers just are not built for the outdoors.' He goes on to recommend an IP65 or higher-rated speaker for an outdoor space.
It's not just about its durability, too. The audio quality changes because, 'indoor speakers rely on walls for acoustics, while outdoor models are designed to project audio across open spaces and overcome background noise,' according to Hoistion. But you also want the, 'ability to clearly and consistently at high volumes," according to Coviello.
It will depend on your setup. 'If you value convenience, wireless speakers with Bluetooth connectivity are typically the way to go. They're easy to set up and move around, and a great way to ensure users can still play their music even when an outlet isn't available, recommends Hoistion.
But wired also has its perks, mainly consistency. If you're seeking more consistent audio and don't want to worry about charging a device, Hoistion recommends opting for a wired speaker. 'Wired speakers tend to deliver more consistent sound quality and allow listeners to play their music without any worry of having to charge their device,' she says.