Best shower speakers

No one is going to 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 playing 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 shower speakers brought you here, and however you go about it, this list has you covered. These are the best shower speakers for budding superstars.

Editor’s note: this list was updated on May 18, 2023, to retire outdated picks, add context to certain concepts.

The UE WONDERBOOM 2 is the best shower speaker

UE’s offered a number of great shower speakers in the last few years, but the WONDERBOOM 2 is its current best option. The WONDERBOOM 2 has a 30-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 2 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 2 from a hook or shower caddy. The speaker houses two 40mm drivers, as well as two passive radiators for loud bass. Its “outdoor boost” mode also increases the speaker’s output, but at the cost of clarity.

If you download the mobile app, you can get even more functionality out of the speaker. You can pair a second WONDERBOOM speaker for true stereo sound, which isn’t exactly a helpful feature for the shower, but it’s great for parties. Bluetooth connectivity remains limited to the SBC codec, rather than aptX or AAC, but for showering it’s good enough.

If you just want good sound, the JBL Charge 5 is for you

The JBL Charge 5 is one of the best waterproof speakers you can get, but that’s what makes it so great for the bathroom. Everything good about this speaker gets amplified in the shower, especially the sound.

Like most of JBL’s new Bluetooth speakers, the Charge 5 is covered in a grippy fabric, and this one even has an IP67 rating. You can completely submerge it in the bath if you want, though I’m not sure why you would. It has a USB output to charge your devices (hence the name). Doing so will deplete the battery, but don’t worry: losing two or three hours barely makes a dent in the Charge 5’s 20-hour battery life.

The Charge 5 shares the exposed passive bass radiators on either end of the Xtreme and Flip 5. This adds emphasis to the low-end, which is great considering the Charge 5 already has an impressive sound. The speaker also incorporates a small stand into its design. It may not stick to the wall of your shower, but you can easily put it on any flat surface in your bathroom for room-filling sound, making it one of a few of the best shower speakers.

With Bluetooth 5.1 and full support for PartyBoost Mode, you can get the party going from the bathroom to the backyard.

You can take the JBL Clip 4 anywhere

If you want a shower speaker that can go anywhere with you, pick up the JBL Clip 4. This compact speaker has an IP67 dust and water-resistant rating, making it ready for any and all of your adventures.

The speaker comes in a wide selection of colorways, so you can pick the speaker that best suits your style. It also features a more robust carabiner clip, which makes it easy to attach it to a back, purse, or shower caddy. JBL states the Clip 4 lasts for 10 hours at a time, and when the battery runs out, you can recharge it via the included USB-C cable. It has a 5W output, which is quite a bit louder than the JBL Clip 3’s 3.3W output.

Want a compact, stylish showers 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 really is the battery life, but at around 4 hours in our testing, 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.

Save money with the Anker Soundcore Icon Mini

This is one of the best shower speakers you can get, and its made even better by the $29 USD price. The Icon Mini is a pocketable Bluetooth speaker with an IP67 rating and portable design. You get a woven attachment loop that you can clip onto a carabiner or wrap around your bike’s handlebars.

On the side of the Anker Soundcore Icon Mini is a silicone panel that you can pull back to reveal a microUSB input and headphone jack. That’s right, you can connect to this speaker over Bluetooth 4.2 or via wired connection. You get 8 hours of battery life before you need to top it up, which is pretty good given its size.

Controls rest along the top side panel and are slightly raised, so it should be kind of easy to distinguish them by feel. You can pair two Icon Mini speakers together for stereo output, and you can even take phone calls thanks to its integrated microphone. If you want a value-packed speaker, look no further than Anker Soundcore.

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 what the difference is 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, if you’re looking to eventually hook up speakers all through your home then 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.

The best shower speakers: Notable mentions

• Altec Lansing IMW257 Mini H20: The attached clip is good for hanging the speaker from a towel rack in the shower, and the speaker itself features an IP67 build, making it an excellent pick for anyone rough on their belongings.
• Anker Soundcore Flare 2: It’s waterproof, inexpensive, and has a much better design than any of the previous Soundcore speakers.
• Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 Second Gen: This portable speaker has an IP67 rating and 18-hour battery life. You can hang it from your showerhead via the integrated carry loop, and it comes in five colors to express your style.
• Bose SoundLink Flex: 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.
• House of Marley No Bounds Sport: This portable Bluetooth speaker features an IP67 rating and it floats, so you can drop it in the bath. It has an aux-in port, stash space at the bottom, and a carabiner for transport. At just under $90, this is a great deal.
• JBL Clip 4: The Clip 4 also makes a solid option for your shower, assuming you have a showerhead thin enough to clip the carabiner around. If not, a towel tack should work just fine.
• JBL Flip 5: This is completely waterproof and sounds good. Plus, it costs less than $100 and has a string on the side, so you can hang it.
• JBL GO 3: 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.
• Soundbot SB510 HD:  If you liked the Jam Hang Up but want something with a more unique design, the SoundBot is a great pick. It still sticks to a shower wall and costs a hair less than the Hang Up.
• UE BOOM 3: This speaker is a bit more portable than its big brother the MEGABOOM 3 and features an IP67 rating, so you can take it to the beach too without hesitation. This supports UE PARTYUP, allowing you to connect over 150 compatible speakers together for insanely loud output.
• UE ROLL 2: This stylish IPX7-rated Bluetooth speaker packs a punch, delivering big sound in a slim form factor—perfect for a party… or your shower.

How we chose the best shower speakers

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

We also considered 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 be what matters 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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