If you're looking for a speaker to use at your next party, it's important to choose one that can get loud enough to fill large, crowded spaces. Speakers designed for parties are often large and heavy because they tend to reproduce deeper, thumpier bass than smaller speakers. They also often come with RGB lighting and inputs for connecting external microphones and instruments. If you want the best Bluetooth speaker for outdoor parties, battery power is a must, so you're not limited to where you can place it. A speaker with an IP rating for water resistance is also ideal, so you won't have to worry about splashes or light rain.
We've tested over 190 speakers, and below are our recommendations for the best speakers for parties. See also our recommendations for the best Bluetooth speakers for bass, the best outdoor speakers, and the best karaoke speakers.
All of our recommendations start with the products we've tested. And, they're backed by in-house experts who ensure unbiased, objective data to help you choose the right speaker.
Want to see how we've tested more than 150 speakers? Our How We Test Speakers article walks you through the entire process: from selecting and purchasing products to testing, reviewing, and publishing our results.
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Best Speaker For Parties
The best speaker for parties we've tested is the JBL PartyBox Stage 320. This premium speaker is a great choice for your next event, thanks to its many party-centric features. And 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 as well. You can even customize its sound performance with the graphic EQ and presets available in the JBL PartyBox app, which is a cool touch. If you don't have an easily accessible power outlet, this speaker has a swappable battery pack that gives you just over 23 hours of playback based on our tests.
Like many JBL party speakers, this device features additional tools to add excitement to your next celebration. Karaoke lovers can plug a microphone or guitar directly into the speaker to jam out, and the JBL PartyBox app adds 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. If you're happy to sacrifice a little battery life in search of a better deal, consider the JBL PartyBox 310. It's usually a bit cheaper than the Stage 320 and performs fairly similarly, although the Stage 320 does have a more balanced default sound.
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Best Upper Mid-Range Speaker For Parties
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 Stage 320, and it comes with many of the same fun features and tools to boost the energy at your next big event. You also gain access to the JBL PartyBox app, where you'll find customization tools to adjust the colors and patterns of the RGB lights, as well as a graphic EQ and Bass Boost preset to enhance the 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-along at your next party.
Given its smaller size, this speaker doesn't get as loud as the PartyBox Stage 320. 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 portability; while the 110 is smaller, it doesn't come with wheels or a telescopic handle like the Stage 320.
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Best Mid-Range Speaker For Parties
If you're looking for the best Bluetooth party speaker you can carry with one hand, check out the JBL PartyBox Encore Essential 2. This smaller, more lightweight party speaker has a built-in carrying handle, so it's easier to bring around than the JBL PartyBox 110. It also comes with JBL's standard suite of party-friendly features, including an input for a mic or guitar, customizable RGB lights, and a companion app with a graphic EQ and presets.
Like its predecessor, the JBL PartyBox Encore Essential, the Essential 2 delivers plenty of punch in the bass, while still reproducing vocals and other mid-range sounds clearly and accurately. That said, it doesn't dig quite as deep in the bass or get as loud as pricier options, and it compresses noticeably more at max volume. Its design isn't the most stylish, but it's meant to tag along with you both indoors and outdoors, so some polish has been sacrificed for outdoor durability. With a battery life of almost 13 hours on a single charge, this PartyBox will get you through an all-night rave or a long day at the park.
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Best Lower Mid-Range Speaker For Parties
The LG xboom Stage 301 might not have quite as accurate a frequency response as the more expensive JBL PartyBox Encore Essential 2, but other than that it goes toe-to-toe with its more expensive rival. The LG even has a longer battery life, offering an extra two hours of playback over the JBL. It also has less compression at max volume, hitting nearly 97 dB with ease. That's enough to fill your backyard with sound, which is impressive given its relatively small size. That said, the LG doesn't offer as much rumble in the bass as the pricier options on this list, though there's still more than enough warmth to ensure bass lines feel immersive.
The LG has a companion app that lets you EQ the speaker to your tastes and location, and you can pair it with a second identical speaker for a more encompassing stereo sound. It also strikes a reasonable balance with extra inputs. You only get one mic input, so it's not ideal for duets, but that may not matter if you're handling announcements solo or just letting the music do the work. The battery lasts over 14 hours, and since it's replaceable, you can swap it out to keep the party going. You can also plug the speaker into the wall if you run out of juice.
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Best Budget Bluetooth Speaker For Parties
The Klipsch GIG XXL 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 options on the list. Even though it costs under $100, it can still put out more than 95 dB, so it has plenty of volume for casual parties and events. Its sound is warm and boomy, and it keeps the dynamics of your music intact with very little compression. You also get a few useful extras at this price, including a wired handheld microphone, a bit of echo control, and intuitive onboard controls for playback and inputs.
That said, there are some trade-offs compared to the LG xboom Stage 301. The battery lasts just shy of six hours, so you may need to plug it in before the night is over, and there's no app for EQ adjustments or other extra tools. Still, you can pair two identical speakers for less than $200, which is a big plus if you need more volume on a shoestring budget. If longer battery life matters more than loudness, consider the Anker Soundcore Motion Boom instead. It's smaller, more portable, and lasts 22 hours, but it isn't as loud and only supports Bluetooth connectivity.
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Best Party Speaker For Bass
The bassiest speaker for parties we've tested is the Sony ULT TOWER 9AC. Unlike other picks on this list, this Bluetooth speaker has to be plugged in to work. Still, the sound quality is impressive, as it boasts a bass-heavy sound that can be accentuated even further via the 'ULT' button. It's well-suited to getting the party started, rendering kicks and basslines with plenty of oomph.
With a max volume of 110 decibels, this powerful speaker packs a punch, making it a great choice for filling larger, more open spaces with your favorite tunes. It has many useful features to make the most of your next event. For example, you can connect an external microphone for your next karaoke session, a guitar to rock out with your friends, and a 10-band graphic EQ and DJ effects. It's not as portable as the JBL PartyBox Stage 320, weighing in at a hefty 28.7 kg (63.3 lbs), but it's not a big deal if you plan to stay in the same place.
If you're looking to squeeze out every bit of bass and volume from your speaker, consider the JBL PartyBox 720. While the JBL is more expensive, it supports battery-powered operation while getting as loud as 109 decibels. And you can plug it in for an extra three to four decibels of headroom. That said, it's quite pricey, even when compared to the Sony.
Check out our recommendations for the loudest Bluetooth speakers if you want similar options.
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Best Portable Loud Party Speaker
If you want to take your party on the go, check out the Ultimate Ears HYPERBOOM. This speaker is more compact than the other options on our list, but 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 a 23-hour battery life means you can keep the party going all night long.
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, you can tune the speaker to your preferences, too. That said, it lacks some of the karaoke features, like guitar or microphone inputs, that you get with the larger JBL PartyBox Stage 320. The Sony ULT FIELD 7 represents a good middle ground between the Ultimate Ears' smaller size and the JBL's karaoke-readiness. It has a bass-heavy sound, with more bass on tap via the 'ULT' button. Still, it compresses much more at max volume and has less than half the battery life, even if it can get a little louder than the Ultimate Ears.
Notable Mentions
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ION Tailgater Tough:
The ION Tailgater Tough is a more portable and affordable alternative to the Klipsch GIG XXL. That said, the ION can't get as loud as our pick, and its battery life is a little shorter, too.
See our review -
JBL Boombox 4:
The JBL Boombox 4 is a portable Bluetooth speaker that's better-built than the Ultimate Ears HYPERBOOM. The JBL also has a longer battery life. However, it's quite a bit more expensive than the Ultimate Ears, and it doesn't get as loud, either.
See our review
Recent Updates
Apr 23, 2026:
We've rejigged this article slightly to better serve readers shopping at different price points. The JBL PartyBox 110 is now our upper mid-range pick, with the JBL PartyBox Encore Essential 2 as our mid-range pick. That makes the LG xboom Stage 301 our lower mid-range pick, with the Klipsch GIG XXL becoming our new budget pick. Finally, in our Notable Mentions, the JBL Boombox 4 replaces the JBL Boombox 3, and we removed the JBL PartyBox On-The-Go.
Mar 24, 2026:
We've updated our top pick to the JBL PartyBox Stage 320 for its longer battery life and merged the 'Loud' and 'Bass' picks, as the Sony ULT TOWER 9AC is great in both categories.
Nov 24, 2025:
We've replaced the JBL PartyBox 1000 with the Sony ULT TOWER 9AC as our loudest speaker for parties, as the Sony can get a bit louder and is capable of stereo playback. The JBL remains as a comparison, though.
May 20, 2025:
We added the ION Tailgater Tough to our Notable Mentions for anyone looking for a more portable alternative to the ION Pathfinder 320.
Feb 20, 2025:
We've removed the JBL PartyBox 1000 from the Notable Mentions, as it's now featured in the main article. Otherwise, we've checked our picks to ensure they remain up-to-date and in stock.
All Reviews
Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best party 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).
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.