If you're looking for a speaker to use at your next party, it's important to have a speaker that can get loud enough to fill large, crowded spaces. Speakers designed for parties are often large and heavy since they tend to reproduce deeper and thumpier low-basses than smaller speakers. They also often come with RGB lights and inputs to connect external microphones and instruments to them. If you're looking for the best Bluetooth speaker for outdoor parties, being battery-powered is a must, so you're not limited by power outlets when placing it. It's also good if it has an IP rating for water resistance to survive splashes and light rain.
We've tested over 140 speakers, and below are our recommendations for the best speakers we've tested to use at parties. See also our recommendations for the best Bluetooth speakers, the best Bluetooth speakers for bass, and the loudest Bluetooth speakers. pa speaker system
The best speaker for parties we've tested is the JBL PartyBox 310. This premium speaker is a great choice for your next event thanks to all its party-centric features that amp up the excitement while you rock out to your favorite tunes. Right out of the box, this speaker brings lots of thump and rumble in the low bass to shake the dance floor as you listen to genres like EDM and hip-hop. Its clear and accurate reproduction of voices and lead instruments makes it suitable for other genres like rock and pop. You can even customize its sound performance with the graphic EQ and presets available in the JBL PartyBox app, which is a cool touch.
Like many JBL party speakers, this device has some added tools to bring excitement to your next celebration. Karaoke lovers can plug their microphones and guitars right into the speaker to jam out, and the JBL PartyBox app brings some additional effects to adjust the microphone's performance for the best possible sound. You can also customize the color and pattern of the RGB lights around the speaker in the app to set the mood on the dance floor. It can also get loud, easily filling larger, more open dance floors with sound. Overall, this is a really powerful speaker that's lots of fun.
If you're planning a party on a tighter budget, the JBL PartyBox 110 might be for you. It's a smaller and more affordable cousin to the JBL PartyBox 310, and it comes with many of the same fun features and tools to amp up the energy at your next big event. Again, you get access to the JBL PartyBox app, where you'll find customization tools to switch up the colors and patterns for the RGB lights, as well as a graphic EQ and Bass Boost preset to change up its sound. Plus, the DJ and karaoke effects let you make the most of the included microphone and guitar inputs if you want to host a sing-a-long at your next party.
Given its smaller size, this speaker doesn't get as loud as the PartyBox 310. Its low-frequency extension isn't as impressive, either, so you feel a touch less thump and rumble with bass-centric genres like EDM and hip-hop. That said, it's a small difference overall, and this party speaker still gets loud enough to fill larger and more open spaces with sound. Perhaps the biggest difference between the two devices comes down to their portability—while the 110 is smaller, it doesn't come with wheels or a telescopic handle for transport like the 310. Instead, you have to carry it with your hands. It's not ideal for everyone, but depending on your preferences, you may still find that this speaker is a better value overall.
The ION Pathfinder 280 is one of the best speakers you can pick up on a budget if you're looking to party. This powerful speaker offers solid performance for the price, and it comes with many of the same cool party features as the more premium speakers on the list. For example, the speaker has RGB lights that you can customize in different colors to set the mood at your next event, as well as a graphic EQ and several presets to customize its sound. There's even a Boom preset designed to add more emphasis in the bass range. And since its battery lasts over 68 hours, you can host multiple events without worrying about a recharge.
With a max volume of over 100 decibels, this speaker gets loud enough to fill the dance floor with sound, too. Its sound quality is pretty impressive, so it's suitable for genres like EDM, hip-hop, rock, pop, and more. Voices and lead instruments are clearly and accurately reproduced, which is great for more audio-centric partygoers. It doesn't pack as much punch in the bass range as the JBL PartyBox 110 or the JBL PartyBox 310, which is especially noticeable with bass-heavy tracks like EDM and hip-hop. Still, this portable speaker performs well for its price, and if you can't spend much on a speaker, it's worth checking out.
The loudest speaker for parties we've tested is the SOUNDBOKS (Gen. 3). With a max volume of 110 decibels, this powerful speaker packs a punch, making it a great choice for filling larger and more open spaces with your favorite tunes. It has many cool features to make the most of your next event. For example, the two XLR ports let you connect an external microphone for your next karaoke session or a guitar to rock out with your friends. It's not quite as portable as picks like the JBL PartyBox 310, but it's not a big deal if you plan to stay in the same place.
This portable Bluetooth speaker boasts a battery life of over 43 hours, so you can rock out late into the night without interruption. The sound quality is impressive, too, so it's suitable for listening to many different music genres. It offers a v-shaped sound, meaning that you get some extra rumble in the bass and a touch of brightness in the treble to make higher-pitched sounds sparkle. As a result, it's especially suited to genres with lots of highs and lows, like EDM, hip-hop, modern rock, and pop. If you want a different sound, though, you're in luck—there's a graphic EQ available in the SOUNDBOKS app and some handy preset modes like BASS+. If you love to shake the walls with your favorite songs, this loud party speaker is worth a look.
Check out our recommendations for the loudest Bluetooth speakers if you want similar options.
If you want to take your party on the go, you'll want to check out the Ultimate Ears HYPERBOOM. This speaker is smaller and more compact than the other options on our list, and it still gets loud enough to bring the energy to your next big event. In fact, its max volume of 98 decibels rivals some of the larger picks on our list. Thanks to its built-in carrying strap, it's easy to bring from room to room, and its 23-hour battery life is great for listening for days on end.
When it comes to sound, voices and lead instruments are clearly and accurately reproduced right out of the box, and there's a touch of extra rumble in the bass for genres like EDM and hip-hop. Thanks to its graphic EQ, this speaker is also customizable, and some presets are even available in its companion app. That said, it lacks some of the karaoke features, like guitar or microphone inputs you get with the JBL PartyBox 310. The Sony ULT FIELD 7 represents a good middle ground between the Ultimate Ears' smaller form factor and the JBL's karaoke-readiness. It has a bass-heavy sound, with more bass on tap via the 'ULT' button. While it can get a little louder than the Ultimate Ears, it compresses much more at max volume and has less than half the battery life.
Listen to lots of bass-heavy genres like EDM and hip-hop? The JBL PartyBox 710 is the best Bluetooth party speaker for bass we've tested. This big and booming speaker offers an impressive low-frequency extension of 26.7Hz, meaning that it can easily reproduce the deep thump and rumble in the bass range. Crank it up to feel the floor shake with bass-heavy tunes. If you want even more punch, you can set its Bass Boost feature to Deep or Punchy, depending on your mood. This speaker is a larger cousin to the JBL PartyBox 310, and it boasts many of the same features to amp up the excitement at your next party. Use its microphone and guitar inputs to host a singalong, or customize its RGB lights to set the mood on the dancefloor. The graphic EQ lets you customize its sound to your liking, too.
However, this speaker's big and hefty design isn't ideal for everyone. It's not battery-powered like the 310, so you must keep it plugged into an outlet while using it. Still, it's a great choice overall. If you're looking for a smaller, battery-powered speaker that can still bring the bass, it's worth taking a look at the Brane X instead. This lunchbox-sized speaker can produce a surprising amount of bass from its small frame, and it even comes with smart features, like voice assistant integration and Wi-Fi. That said, although it's loud for its size, it still won't be able to soundtrack larger events the way you can with the PartyBox 710.
Aug 30, 2024: We've checked this article to ensure all our picks are still relevant and up-to-date. Due to its bass-heavy and loud sound, we added the Sony ULT FIELD 7 as an alternative to the Ultimate Ears HYPERBOOM.
Jun 04, 2024: We've added the Brane X as an alternative to the JBL PartyBox 710 for those who want a bass-heavy sound in a small package. Otherwise, we've checked our picks and made only minor changes to the text.
Apr 05, 2024: We've checked this article to ensure it's still accurate and our picks remain relevant, but we've made no changes.
Feb 28, 2024: We've removed the discontinued ION Pathfinder Go as a notable mention and replaced it with the Klipsch GIG XXL to ensure there's still an affordable option for those who don't need a very high-volume speaker. We also checked our other picks to ensure they're still up-to-date and in stock.
Jan 05, 2024: Added the JBL PartyBox 1000 as a Notable Mention.
Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best portable party speakers and the best tailgate speakers for most people to buy, according to their needs. We factor in the price (cheaper speakers win over pricier ones if the difference isn't worth it), feedback from our visitors, and availability (no speakers that are difficult to find or almost out of stock everywhere).
big party bluetooth speaker If you would like to see more products, here's the list of all our speaker reviews filtered by maximum volume. Be careful not to get caught up in the details. There are no perfect speakers. Personal taste, preference, and listening habits will matter more in your selection.