10 Best Tailgate Speaker Options in 2023

Let’s admit that to have a successful tailgate party, you need music. Even if you have all the other components (barbecue, drinks, appetizers, and, of course, people), there will be no party unless there is a good beat.

Your automobile speakers may be a fantastic option, but they may not sound good, especially at high volumes (unless they are custom-made). More importantly, car speakers take power from the car battery, which you presumably don’t want to deplete. So, the best option is to have tailgate speakers which can pump up the volume and make you rock and roll.

At a party, you want to be in a good mood, full of energy, and ready to have a good time. If you’re going to do the music and your tailgate party justice, you’ll want to invest in the most incredible tailgate speaker money can buy.

To help you make an informed purchase, we tested over 45 tailgate speakers on the market over four months. Finally, we’ve found the 10 best tailgate speakers for you. Here’s a quick roundup before we proceed.

Before purchasing tailgate speakers, there are a few factors to be considered. Let’s discuss them first.

Roundup of the Best Tailgate Speakers

Overall Best Tailgate Speaker	ION Audio Tailgater Plus
Best Tailgate Speaker for Outdoor Activities	ION Tailgater Express Game Day Bluetooth Speaker
Tailgate Speaker With Best Bass	ION Audio Tailgater Game Day Lights High-Power Portable Bluetooth Speaker
Loudest Tailgate Speaker	SOUNDBOKS 2
Best Budget Tailgate Speaker	Sylvania SP332-BLACK Water Resistant Bluetooth Speaker
Best Tailgate Speaker with Wheels	Monster Rockin’ Roller 270 Portable Indoor/Outdoor Wireless Speaker
Most Portable Bluetooth Speaker for Tailgating	iLive ISB659B Wireless Tailgate Party Speaker
Best All-Weather Tailgate Speaker	Gemini Sound MPA-2400
Best Waterproof Tailgate Speaker	Sony SRS-XB33
Tailgate Speaker With best LED Lights	JBL PartyBox 300

Before purchasing tailgate speakers, there are a few factors to be considered. Let’s discuss them first.

Things to Consider When Looking for the Best Tailgate Speakers

If you are headed out to celebrate or throw a party at home, you must be aware that they risk becoming dull affairs without exciting music to enliven the mood. Picking the appropriate tailgate speaker can be a challenge due to the wide range of options available in the market. To make your task simple, here is a list of the essential points to keep in mind while purchasing a tailgate speaker.

Mighty and Potent Sound Output

The most important feature to look for before investing in a tailgate speaker is high-quality sound production with ample bass. If you enjoy deep bass, you should opt for a speaker with bass radiators and two drivers. While bass radiators improve bass response, two drivers generate more powerful sound for improved performance.

There are numerous characteristics to consider when purchasing a tailgate speaker, the most important of which are the output power (watts) and frequency of the product. The most crucial aspect to consider is that the sound quality should be consistent across all ranges.

Durability with Interactive Design

When purchasing a tailgate speaker, another essential consideration is the build quality and mobility of the speaker itself. While tailgate speakers should be compact and portable, they should also have a cutting-edge and intuitive design that fits in with the current fashion and is compatible with your active lifestyle. If you are constantly on the move and like to take your speakers with you everywhere you go, you should look for a tailgate speaker that is both lightweight and portable.

Battery Capacity

Another vital feature of tailgate speakers to consider is their long-lasting battery, just like the best party speakers. Because a speaker with a poor battery backup would undoubtedly hinder your music listening experience, battery life is always the most important consideration when using a portable device. If it takes a long time to charge, this becomes a nuisance and takes all the pleasure away.

In addition, if your speaker has multiple functions like a karaoke mic, lights, a powerful amp, or a high volume, your battery life may be drastically reduced. The speaker’s battery life decreases as power consumption increases.

Splash and Water Resistance

If you’re looking for a tailgate speaker, you’ll want a system that can withstand the weather, which may include rain, wind, sunlight, and humidity.

It’s crucial to look for a tailgate speaker that is splash and water-resistant as you are mostly going to use it outdoors, and water spills frequently occur outdoors. Tailgate speakers resistant to minor water splashes are ideal for usage in and around pools and bodies of water.

Lag-free Connectivity

If the tailgate speaker provides you with the option for wired connectivity in addition to wireless connectivity, this is undoubtedly a bonus. To connect with devices that do not have Bluetooth connectivity, the presence of a 3.5 mm auxiliary input will allow you to connect via an AUX cable to the device. 3.5 mm auxiliary input.

True Wireless Connectivity Feature

Another cutting-edge yet practical feature that a Bluetooth speaker must have is connecting numerous speakers for a more robust overall performance. Bluetooth speakers are becoming increasingly popular. If you are performing music in an outdoor setting or a large venue where a single speaker is not sufficient, combining two of the same type of speaker offers a significant efficiency advantage.

Enhanced Features

Tailgate speakers are already being used for various purposes other than simply playing music. If the tailgate speaker in question can also support Google Assistant and SIRI, it will be far more functional than the average. A tailgate speaker should be simple-to-use and have an extensive operating range.

Top 10 Speakers for Tailgate Parties, Game Days, Outdoor Activities, and More

With so many tailgate speakers on the market, it might not be easy to choose the one that’s right for you. After considering and analyzing all of the aspects listed above and witnessing the difficulty a person experiences when purchasing tailgate speakers, our experts came up with the following recommendations.

1. ION Audio Tailgater Plus

Overall Best Tailgate Speaker

• Lightweight
• Setup is simple
• Bluetooth has a range of up to 100 feet
• Bass booster produces a strong low end
• Battery life is greater than 24 hours
• Features of AM/FM
• USB port charges your smartphone or tablet indefinitely

• No SD Card reader

ION Audio Tailgater Plus can be a great choice if you are looking for the next big thing to wow your guests at your summer party, barbeque, or sporting event. Our experts put this model to test on various parameters to see how it compares to the competition.

Build Quality

This Bluetooth speaker is a little over a foot tall. It’s made of a rigid, matte black material, perfect for the outdoors. The Tailgater Plus is the modern man’s boombox, featuring a variety of sound-boosting and playing choices. It has seven buttons and two adjustment knobs on the front-angled control panel for audio and mic control.

Simple Setup Process

The ION Tailgater Plus is simple to assemble and takes only a few minutes to complete. An introductory instruction booklet, charging cable, Tailgater Plus, and wired microphone are included in the box. Plugin your Tailgater to charge the battery, connect the microphone, adjust the volume, and you’re ready to go.

Sound Quality

The Tailgater Plus’s built-in 18-inch audio input allows you to connect your music via Bluetooth or older devices quickly. It is compatible with any standard device connected via aux and any Bluetooth streaming capability on your phone or tablet.

Tailgater Plus packs a surprising amount of audio punch thanks to a 50 Watt amplifier and two-way speaker with an integrated 6.5-inch subwoofer. You can tap the “Bass Booster” button to crank up the bass or turn down the music and turn up the microphone if you want to hear the announcements on a game day.

Bluetooth Support

Connect your Bluetooth device to this speaker and enjoy crystal clear audio up to 100 feet away. The best feature of this speaker is that you can control the audio remotely or insert a device into the USB port to charge it while also adjusting music settings from the front-facing control panel.

In conclusion, ION Audio Tailgater Plus is an excellent option at an affordable price. Its simple, durable design, Bluetooth connectivity, long battery life, and excellent sound quality make it a perfect choice for any sports fan or outdoor enthusiast. However, if you are looking for a light show to go with the karaoke sound, this model isn’t for you, but you have to shell out more money.

View on Amazon: ION Audio Tailgater Plus

2. ION Tailgater Express Game Day Bluetooth Speaker

Best Tailgate Speaker for Outdoor Activities

• Up to 9 hours battery life
• Lightweight design
• Microphone
• Two-way speaker
• Powerful woofer
• Wide-dispersion tweeter

• Microphone is not wireless
• No wheels or trolley

ON is known as one of the greatest brands in the industry. If you’re looking for portable tailgate speakers with excellent sound quality, you needn’t look far from ION Tailgater Express Game Day Bluetooth Speaker. Our team of experts tested it and found it to be simply impressive.

Sound Quality

ION created this speaker to pump music for days while maintaining crisp and clear sound quality. The Tailgater Express Game Day has a two-way speaker system complemented with a robust woofer and a wide-dispersion tweeter. It is known for providing some of the best sound output available. The sound output of 50 watts produces a powerful and dynamic audio experience for the listener.

Microphone

It comes with a microphone which you can use to be the Master of Ceremonies, make announcements, and, most importantly, kill it at karaoke.

Sturdy Design and Portable

With its rugged design, Tailgater Express is built to last. Furthermore, the Express Game Day is incredibly portable due to its lightweight construction. Even though it lacks wheels, you can easily carry it from one location to another.

Connectivity

Many other essential functions, such as an AM/FM radio, Bluetooth, and NFC connectivity, are also included. For example, you may connect your NFC device with only a single tap on your smartphone with its simple pair link. The built-in USB charging connector allows you to charge your devices on the go.

In conclusion, we found out that although it checks all the boxes, the battery life of Tailgater Express Game Day is its weak point. So, if you plan to use this product for an extended period, either barbecuing or tailgating, you need to have access to power lest the speaker may die on you.

View on Amazon: ION Tailgater Express Game Day Bluetooth Speaker

3. ION Audio Tailgater Game Day Lights High-Power Portable Bluetooth Speaker

Tailgate Speaker With Best Bass

• Woofer glows in multiple colors
• AM/FM radio with 20 presets
• 1/8-inch (3.5mm) aux input for non-Bluetooth devices
• 50-hour rechargeable battery
• USB-Port for charging your smartphone or tablet
• 50-watt peak power amplifier (with Bass Boost feature)
• Excellent sound quality
• Sturdy design

• We did not experience any issues with this speaker

You can rely on Game Day Lights to make any gathering into a winning celebration, whether it’s a pre-game party or a backyard barbecue. Our experts found it to deliver on all the parameters in the Ion range, making it an excellent choice for party throwers.

Excellent Sound Quality with Extra Bass

Game Day Lights has a 2-way speaker system and 50-watt dynamic power amplifier along with a distinctive bass boost function gives your music an exhilarating low-end punch. It gives you loud music which is needed for a party. The woofer lights in a variety of colors and can even be programmed to pulse in time with the music!

Connectivity

It has excellent connectivity so you may stream music from any Bluetooth-enabled device, listen to the built-in AM/FM radio with 20 presets (10 AM, 10 FM), or use the inbuilt microphone.

Excellent Build Quality and Portability

Game Day Lights’ has excellent build quality and comes with one-handed carry handle, mounted in the rear which makes it very easy to carry along. It is portable than many other speakers on our list.

Long Battery Life

It has an extended battery life and comes with a long-lasting rechargeable battery, lasting up to 50 hours. This feature alone makes it ideal for long parties and outdoor sports.

In conclusion, we found Game Day Lights’ to be very satisfactory and delivering on all the claims. For the money, this has to be one of the best wireless speakers with a microphone input available. The speakers give a loud sound which is the life of the party.

View on Amazon: ION Audio Tailgater Game Day Lights High-Power Portable Bluetooth Speaker

4. SOUNDBOKS 2

Loudest Tailgate Speaker

• 40-hour battery life
• Weather- and water-resistant
• Bluetooth 3.0, 3.5mm AUX input 
• 2 x 10-inch woofers, 1-inch neodymium silk dome tweeter
• High energy sound with plenty of volume
• Tough build
• Indoor/outdoor modes
• Easy to set up
• Comes with a backpack

• No microphone, or additional inputs, built-in FM tuner
• Expensive
• Bluetooth range is less
• Not suitable for those who prefer low volume

SOUNDBOKS 2 is manufactured by a Danish firm known as SOUNDBOKS. We were impressed by the first version of this speaker (the SOUNDBOKS 1), but this new improved version outperforms it in almost every aspect possible. SOUNDBOKS 2 is a massive, portable tailgate speaker and stands almost two feet tall and weighs 33 pounds. Let’s review some of its features.

Build Quality and Portability

Everything about it is black (the enclosure, the grille, and the frame) and sleek. The grille on the front side bears the SB logo in the upper left corner. The grille is rigid and appears to have a lot of sturdiness. Baltic birch plywood is used for the enclosure, while brushed aluminum is used for the frame. So, the corners are reinforced with aluminum, and all the edges are well-protected. Handles are good quality and provided on the left and right sides of the speaker for easy transportation.

Plenty Loud sound with Plenty of volume

SOUNDBOKS2 are the loudest tailgate speakers on the market. The type of music you hear will alter depending on whether you’re listening indoors or out. In indoor mode, you will get a more balanced sound than outdoors. In outdoor mode, the bass is boosted and the volume is increased. You’ll love the outside mode if you like bass-heavy music.

In both settings, the mids and highs are finely defined and lively, and the highs are brilliant. At maximum intensity, the bass can occasionally drown out the mids, especially in outdoor mode. It is simply great outdoors.

Long Battery Life

The battery life is at 40 hours at moderate volume and up to eight hours at maximum volume. The battery even has its charge indicator illuminated by an LED. It’s one of the most powerful and long-lasting batteries in tailgate speakers. Because there is no door or panel to remove and the connection is a single connector, changing the battery takes seconds.

In conclusion, in our opinion, if you’re looking for a loud speaker that can be used outside, SOUNDBOKS 2 can be an excellent option. However, the only downside is that it does not come with any extras and does not have any extra functions. So, if you’re looking for a speaker with a lot of LED lights, a microphone, extra inputs, a built-in FM tuner, or anything else, this isn’t the speaker for you. It’s perfect for hip hop music.

View on Amazon: SOUNDBOKS 2

5. Sylvania SP332-BLACK Water Resistant Bluetooth Speaker

Best Budget Tailgate Speaker

• High-quality audio
• IPX 6 waterproof
• Can be hooked to your bike or backpack
• Looks great
• Microphone for handsfree calling
• Portable
• Rugged design with hook
• Affordable

• Lacks bass (More treble, no mids)

Sylvania SP-332 Water resistant Bluetooth Speaker are ideal for camping, outdoor barbecues, and tailgating. This speaker is fantastic, especially considering the price. We tested it and found that it delivers what it promises on sound quality, portability and affordability.

Build Quality and Portability

The build quality is amazing. It has a “rugged” outer rubberized casing that keeps it from slipping out of your hand. You can handle it roughly and nothing will happen as the rubber absorbs shock, making it incredibly durable. It’s simple to use, light, and comfortable in your hand. It is so small that it can easily fit into the cup holder of your car that makes it very portable.

Water Resistant

This feature makes it a great speaker to use in the bathrooms, pool side parties and outdoors. This IPX 6 speaker is highly waterproof and can be attached to a bike or backpack to carry your music with you.

Balanced Sound Quality

It has a great sound quality. At high volume, the sound is excellent although a tad tinny. We were simply blown away by the volume coming from such a small box.

In conclusion, Sylvania SP332 is an excellent option if you want to go for a budget speaker with great sound and a sturdy portable build. They are fantastic to use for outdoor pool parties.

View on Amazon: Sylvania SP332-BLACK Water Resistant Bluetooth Speaker

6. Monster Rockin’ Roller 270 Portable Indoor/Outdoor Wireless Speaker

Best Tailgate Speaker with Wheels

• 200 watts of power
• Up to 100 hours of battery life
• IPX4 Weather resistant
• Monster Zone Control App support
• Excellent build quality
• 2 mic inputs
• Deep bass with quick highs
• Red, green, and blue LED light modes
• Telescoping handle and wheels

• Hefty piece of equipment
• Static in Bluetooth connections

Monster Rockin’ Roller is an excellent alternative for long-battery-life party speakers. They have a lot of cool mini-features.

Sturdy Design

It has a bag-like body, telescoping wheels, and an elongating grip. Despite its large weight, these characteristics make it extremely portable.

Battery Life

You can run for up to 100 hours on a single charge. It can last 40 to 50 hours at high volume. Once charged, it has enough playtime to last for several weeks so you don’t have to cut short your party time. It also includes Qi wireless charging capabilities.

Sound Quality

It has a high level of audio quality. Without any distortion, the bass penetrates deep. As previously stated, the loudness meets the standards. Bluetooth allows you to connect two speakers.

APP Control

Monster has released the Monster Zone Control App, which allows you to control speaker features from your phone which acts like a remote control. You can adjust the volume and brightness. It also allows you to control the bass and treble.

In conclusion, the Monster Rockin’ Roller 270 Portable Indoor/Outdoor Wireless Speaker is the go to speaker for party lovers as it boasts a 270-degree sound dispersion, creating a theatrical impact. However, we found bit of static in our audio at times. Overall, it is a fantastic choice for outdoor activities and adventures.

View on Amazon: Monster Rockin’ Roller 270 Portable Indoor/Outdoor Wireless Speaker

7. iLive ISB659B Wireless Tailgate Party Speaker

Most Portable Bluetooth Speaker for Tailgating

• Built-in 8″ woofer and 2″ tweeter speakers
• Built-in microphone
• Built-in FM wire antenna and LED display
• 2 mic inputs
• Pull handle, carry handle, and roller wheels

• We did not experience any issues with this speaker

The iLive Tailgate Wireless Party Speaker is the ideal portable sound system for any tailgate party, BBQ, picnic, or other outdoor gathering. If you are the one who doesn’t like the hassle of setting up a system, this is the one for you.

Powerful Sound

iLive will deliver powerful and well-balanced sound thanks to its 8″ Woofer and 2″ Tweeter speakers, which feature a wide 80-degree dispersion angle for rich audio performance perfect for the tailgate party.

FM Antenna

What if you wanna listen to your local stations? No probs, the inbuilt FM wire antenna of the iLive provides crystal clear sound, and built-in voice prompts notify speaker capabilities simply by pressing a button.

Dual Connectivity

If you want to play a guitar or some other instruments, it has a built-in microphone and dual input connectivity for microphones, guitars, or whatever else your entertainer’s heart desires.

In conclusion, the iLive ISB659B Wireless Tailgate Party Speaker is super loud, and you can hear very well while working with noisy machines or in a Bootcamp, and if you want to go to the beach for a tailgate party, you can easily carry this super rocker. It can be a perfect choice to get the party in full swing. However, the build quality could do with some improvement.

View on Amazon: iLive ISB659B Wireless Tailgate Party Speaker

8. Gemini Sound MPA-2400

Best All-Weather Tailgate Speaker

• Strong dynamic sound
• IPX4 rating
• Intense bass
• Decent sound quality
• LED light show
• Inputs for microphone and guitar for karaoke
• Built-in FM radio

• Less battery life
• Heavy design
• Problems handling low bass

You’d be hard-pressed to find a more powerful all-weather speaker than this one. Moreover, if you are a person who wants to throw a flashy tailgate party indoors or outdoors, complete with the powerful LED lights show along with a constant flow of music, your search stops here.

Amplified Listening Experience

You can play music from your Bluetooth device or connect nearly any sound source via the aux input, which also includes specialized ports for a microphone and a guitar, among other features.

Weather- Resistant

The IPX4 certification of the Gemini MPA-2400, constructed of sturdy and durable materials, ensures that you will survive all of your rain or shine excursions.

Dynamic Audio

MPA-2400 has a 10″ woofer, a 3″ tweeter, and 240 watts of peak power which produces crisp, clear music with significant volume. 6 DSP MODES allow you to change the sound of your speaker from regular to pop, rock, classical, country, and jazz – all with the press of a single button.

Wireless Bluetooth

You can select your music from the built-in FM radio, Bluetooth connection , or even a microphone/instrument port to set the mood for karaoke sessions.

In conclusion, Gemini Sound MPA-2400 is best for using outdoors as well as indoors. We absolutely admired the ease of connection, the LED lights are bright and add to the party atmosphere. The only thing is which goes against it that it is a little bulky and the speaker sometimes seems off key.

View on Amazon: Gemini Sound MPA-2400

9. Sony SRS-XB33 EXTRA BASS Wireless Portable Speaker

Best Waterproof Tailgate Speaker

• Powerful bass
• Sturdy design
• Fun LED lighting for parties
• Bold bass
• Can pair with up to 100 compatible wireless speakers
• 24 hours of battery life
• App support
• Shockproof, dustproof and waterproof

• Not a smart speaker

Sony SRS-XB33 is the speaker to go for if you are looking for excellent audio performance and is a welcome addition to any gathering or event. We found that it does what a tailgate speaker is supposed to do which is enthrall the attendees.

Build Design and Portability

The Sony SRS-XB33 weighs slightly more than 1kg / 2.2lbs, but its shape and size allow it to be easily carried around and placed practically anyplace. It’ll look great on a bookshelf at home, but maybe more importantly, it’s strong enough to put on the ground outside or by the pool because it is waterproof (IP67), rustproof, dustproof, and even saltwater resistant. It’s also shockproof up to 1.2m / 3.9ft, so it should be able to handle whatever you throw at it.

Powerful Bass

The bass is large and strong, as one would expect from a party speaker, courtesy to the speaker’s two passive radiators and Sony’s usage of Extra Bass, which mostly translates to, well, extra bass. Live Sound attempts to generate a three-dimensional sound effect, and it generally succeeds. It’s all appropriately bold and loud, which is exactly what you want when creating a party environment.

Good Battery Life

With the SRS-XB33, Sony guarantees a battery life of up to 24 hours, as with any speaker, cranking up the volume reduces battery life; similarly, having a light display on all the time reduces battery life.

In conclusion, the Sony SRS-XB33 is an excellent choice for those looking for a bass-heavy portable speakers. You won’t have to worry about it straining to keep up with your parties because it sounds great while still being able to endure some damage. The only thing we actually wish for is a tiny improvement in the overall appearance, which is otherwise competitively priced.

View on Amazon: Sony SRS-XB33

10. JBL PartyBox 300

Tailgate Speaker With best LED Lights

• Full panel lighting effect
• Mic and guitar inputs
• Impressive battery performance
• Awesome sound quality
• Sturdy build
• Great lows and highs
• Bluetooth connectivity

• It’s a little costly
• Not weatherproof

If you are looking for deep, well-defined bass with outstanding lows and highs you must consider purchasing the JBL PartyBox 300. It features a signature JBL sound as well as amazing light effects. Our team of experts tested it on various criterions and found it to be lacking in none.

Rugged Build

The JBL PartyBox 300, one of the best portable Bluetooth speakers for outdoor use, has a tough build.  It can handle anything you throw at it because it’s rubberized. The product’s casing is made of robust, long-lasting plastic. And the grille that covers the two subwoofers and tweeters appears to be sturdy and resistant to denting.

Sound Quality

We bet that you won’t find a more powerful speaker than this one at that price. The speaker includes two 6.5-inch woofers. It also has three 2.25′′ tweeters. The tweeters and woofers produce a total of 120W RMS output. You can always use the Bass Boost option for more punch at your party. The lows are fantastic, as are the mids and highs. In terms of sound, there is nothing to dislike. It offers two levels of Bass boost.

Jazzy Design and Lighting

It stands approximately 3 feet tall and appears to be fairly tall when placed on a flat surface. The design isn’t particularly tiny. The fact that it only weighs 35 lbs means that it is still easily transportable. The PartyBox features a complete panel lighting effect, allowing you to provide your audience with a visually beautiful experience.

In conclusion, we found the performance of JBL PartyBox 300 very satisfactory. It makes fantastic sounds both indoors and outside. However, its not weatherproof, but you are getting everything else at this price so great value for money.

View on Amazon: JBL PartyBox 300

Frequently Asked Questions About Tailgate Speakers

Final Words

Are you now all ready for tailgating? Go through all the recommendations and select the best tailgate speaker suiting your budget and requirements.

We would recommend the ION Audio Tailgater Plus based on its excellent quality sound and value for money compared to all the speakers. Tailgater Plus is the best portable speaker for any event, small gathering, BBQ, big game, parking lot, and more!

Happy Tailgating!