Best Bluetooth speakers for the shower

No one will judge you; we’ve all done it—singing in the shower has been around since before showers were invented (don’t fact-check that). The acoustics of the bathroom turns everyone into Christina Aguilera. But streaming music off of your phone doesn’t sound good enough to match your newfound timbre, and it’s often too quiet to hear over the falling water. Your quest for the best Bluetooth speakers to use in the shower brought you here, and however you go about it, this list has you covered. These are the best shower speakers for budding superstars.

The UE WONDERBOOM 4 is the best shower speaker

UE has offered several great shower speakers in the last few years, but the WONDERBOOM 4 is its current best option. It has a 40-meter range, so you don’t have to bring the speaker and your phone in the shower.

The speaker has an IP67 rating, so you won’t have to worry about it getting damaged if it falls into the water as long as you fish it out within 30 minutes. Paired with the ability to float, this makes the WONDERBOOM 4 not only one of the best shower speakers but one of the best bath speakers, too. There are also prominent “+” and “-” signs on the front, which, as you might expect, control the volume.

A small elastic loop on the back makes it easy to hang the WONDERBOOM 4 from a hook or shower caddy. The speaker houses two 40mm drivers and two passive radiators for loud bass. Its “outdoor boost” mode also increases the speaker’s output, but at the cost of clarity.

Bluetooth connectivity is still limited to the SBC codec, with no support for aptX or AAC, but it’s more than sufficient for shower use. Additionally, Ultimate Ears upgraded the outdated micro-USB port from previous models to a USB-C port on the WONDERBOOM 4

If you just want good sound, the JBL Charge 6 is for you

The JBL Charge 6 is one of the best waterproof speakers you can buy—and that’s exactly what makes it such a great pick for the bathroom. Everything that’s good about this speaker gets amplified in the shower, especially the sound.

Like most of JBL’s Bluetooth speakers, the Charge 6 is wrapped in a tough, grippy fabric, and this one comes with an IP68 rating. You can fully submerge it in the bath if you really want to, though I’m not sure why you would. It also includes a dual USB-C input/output to charge your phone or other devices straight from the speaker. Doing so will chip away at the battery, but it’s hardly a concern—losing two or three hours barely puts a dent in the Charge 6’s 28-hour battery life.

The Charge 6 borrows the exposed passive bass radiators from the Xtreme 4 and Flip 7, which helps deliver even more punch in the low-end. That’s a big plus, considering the Charge 6 already sounds impressively full and dynamic. JBL also built a small handle into the design, allowing you to hang it from a shower head or caddy. Otherwise, it sits securely on any flat bathroom surface.

With Bluetooth 5.4 and full Auracast support, it’s easy to sync your music from the shower to the backyard—and anywhere in between. All of this makes the Charge 6 one of the most versatile and capable shower speakers available today.

You can take the JBL Clip 5 anywhere

If you want a shower speaker that can go anywhere with you, the JBL Clip 5 is a no-brainer. This compact speaker has an IP67 dust and water-resistance rating, so it’s built to handle everything from your morning shower to a weekend hike.

JBL offers the Clip 5 in a wide range of colorways, so you can choose the look that best fits your style. A built-in carabiner clip makes attaching the speaker to a backpack, purse, or shower caddy easy—no extra gear needed. Battery life is solid too: JBL claims up to 12 hours of playback, and when it runs low, you can top it up with the included USB-C cable.

The Clip 5 also gets a power boost, jumping to a 7W output from the Clip 4’s 5W. That may not sound like much, but in my experience, it gives the speaker a bit more presence and clarity, especially helpful in noisy environments like the shower.

Want a compact, stylish shower speaker? Get the Bose SoundLink Micro

Bose is one of the better-known brands in audio, and although its products might not be the most popular among audiophiles, the company certainly knows how to make a great niche product. The Bose SoundLink Micro is like that, but in the speaker world, and it looks just as good in the shower as it does in your family room.

The only downside is the battery life, which was around 4 hours in our testing. However, it’s still good enough just for the shower. Plus, it has playback controls built into it and a hook on the back so you can clip it to something in your bathroom. It isn’t the best, but for the price, it’s a great product.

The Soundcore Select 4 Go is small but mighty

The Soundcore Select 4 Go is a great choice if you’re looking for an affordable Bluetooth speaker for personal listening or small gatherings. With an IP67 rating, it’s built to handle the beach, the shower, or just about anywhere your day takes you. What really makes it stand out is its customizability—the Soundcore app includes a 9-band EQ, giving you more control over the sound than most budget speakers offer.

Battery life is another strong point, with up to 20 hours of playback, easily enough for several days of casual use. The speaker also features a built-in loop for attaching a carabiner and four rubber feet on the bottom, so you can position it as an upward-firing speaker—a nice touch for maximizing sound in tight spaces.

That said, while you’re getting solid sound and good features for the price, the build quality doesn’t quite match more rugged models like the JBL Clip 5. The Select 4 Go feels reasonably sturdy but is not the most durable option in its class.

Should I buy the Skullcandy Terrain Mini XT or Kilo?

The Skullcandy Terrain Mini XT is a pretty sure bet if you’re looking for a cheap Bluetooth speaker that will survive casual abuse or water splashes. While it has pretty good sound quality for its size, it doesn’t make the top five picks on this list because it has an IPX7 rating as opposed to an IP67, like the other options on this list, which makes it a bit less durable. Sure, the rating for water ingress protection is adequate for shower use, but because there is no rating for dust or other foreign object damage, it means this speaker might not hold up as well if you take it to the beach or on hikes.

To the Skullcandy Terrain Mini XT’s credit, if you already have Skullcandy speakers, it can be used in conjunction with them as a satellite with the Multi-Link feature. Ultimately, this one is mainly for those who need to save money and aren’t looking to buy anything fancy for their shower.

It’s more or less the same Story with the Skullcandy Kilo. With its IPX7 water-resistant design, you can use the Kilo as a shower speaker without issue, but you can’t bring it with you anywhere outdoors. However, you can leave your phone in the bedroom when it is in the shower. In our testing, the speaker maintained a strong connection to the phone through two layers of drywall. Overall, the Kilo is a good speaker for the price, but a true adventure speaker needs dust and water resistance.

The best shower speakers: Notable mentions

• Anker Soundcore Flare 2 ($55.99 at Amazon): It’s waterproof, inexpensive, and has a much better design than any of the previous Soundcore speakers.
• Anker Soundcore Flare Mini ($42 at Amazon): The flashing light might be overkill for your shower, or it might make it better for the lower price.
• Anker Soundcore Mini 3: This small IPX7 speaker by Anker Soundcore Mini 3 has a 360-degree design. You can bring it into the shower, leave it in the kitchen, or chuck it in your backpack. Still, the price is double the Anker Soundcore Icon Mini. Anker includes a helpful app with an equalizer and raised buttons for controls. 15 hours of battery life and a USB-C charge port, plus you can link up dozens of other compatible Anker speakers, too.
• Bose SoundLink Flex (2nd Gen) ($149 at Amazon): This speaker has a lot in common with the more squared-off SoundLink Mini, but you get a louder sound, more modern hardware (USB-C input), and dust resistance.
• JBL GO 4 ($49.95 at Amazon): This portable speaker features a small loop that you can attach to nearly any shower caddy. It’s also a great adventure speaker with its dust and water-resistant build.
• TOZO PA1 ($33 at Amazon): Like other TOZO products, this one often comes in much cheaper than the competition. With an IPX7 rating and a 25-hour rated battery, this one promises a lot.
• JBL Flip 7: This speaker is a bit more portable than its big brother, the JBL Charge 6, and features an IP68 rating, so you can take it to the beach, too, without hesitation. Additionally, it’s Auracast-ready to link up with other modern JBL speakers.

What you should know about the best shower speakers

When it comes to any product that claims you can soak it, it’s also good to look at its IP rating. The IP rating, or Ingress Protection rating, is an international standard used to quantify how well an electronic device is protected against water and dust. Practically, it’s just a set of tests that a product has to pass in order to get a certification. Now look, we get it: IP ratings can be confusing, and most people don’t know the difference between IP67 and IPX5. Luckily, we did all the work research for you and made this chart to explain it.

Just because something isn’t waterproof doesn’t mean it can’t survive a shower. As long as it can take a splash or minor sprinkles, you should be in the clear.

Is Bluetooth audio quality bad?

As great as you may sound when you sing, Bluetooth speakers probably won’t share that same quality. That’s not to say that music won’t sound good, but Bluetooth data transfers just aren’t up to par with wired—just don’t expect to mix your next Spotify anthem use it. It’s the practical aspect of a Bluetooth speaker that makes it worth it, not the quality.

Just keep in mind that while the acoustics in the shower are pretty nice for certain things, high volume is not one of those things. You may be better off with a smaller speaker than a much more cumbersome larger one.

What other kinds of speakers can you use?

While Bluetooth speakers are the cheapest and easiest way to get louder music into your bathroom, there are some other options. For example, suppose you’re looking to hook up speakers all through your home eventually. In that case, you can always just go with some wireless speakers like Sonos, which have a humidity-resistant speaker or two, perfect for bathrooms. Smart speakers connect over your Wi-Fi instead of Bluetooth, resulting in a stronger connection, though it will cost you more.

How we chose the best shower speakers

When it came to picking what we thought were the best shower speakers, there were a few features that we were looking for. The most important feature was obviously waterproofing.

We also considered the price. If you’re only going to be using the speaker while you shower, chances are you don’t need more than a hundred dollars. If you do decide to spend more, then it had better be a damn good Bluetooth speaker that you can use in a few different situations.

Why you should trust SoundGuys

Being a SoundGuy is each of our daily grinds, and while we thoroughly enjoy our jobs, admittedly, not every product is stellar. However, that mixed experience allows each of us to pick out the golden eggs from the Humpty Dumpties. As far as shower speakers are concerned, each of us sings in the shower, and some of us may even be related to it for singing. That said, we want you to be happy with your shower speaker pick and understand that top-notch audio quality may not matter most in this instance.

None of our writers benefit from drawing you toward and away from a product. Although the site operates via referral links, no one here will know if a link was clicked or not. And while we agree that audio is a somewhat subjective experience, certain things are quantifiable, and we objectively test units when possible.

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