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When we think of dorm room necessities, things like shower caddies, bedsheets and desk fans all immediately spring to mind. Yes, those are certainly important, but arguably one thing that no dorm room can be considered complete without is a truly great portable speaker. Headphones are a solid option (you will need to ignore your roommates and get down to studying at some point), but there’s nothing quite like the feeling of turning the music up just a little louder than normal on a night where you have the room to yourself, or for when you’re hanging with friends.
At A Glance: The 8 Best Dorm Room Speakers for 2025
Best Overall: Sony SRS-XB100
Best with Lighting: MusiBaby M88 Pro
Most Portable: JBL Clip 5
Best Boombox: Soundcore Boom 3i by Anker
Most Versatile: MLOVE A200 Retro Speaker
And you won’t have to blow all of your textbook budget to get room-filling sound, either — you can get some of the best speakers for dorm rooms for under $100. They share many of the same features you’d find in higher-end audio gear, just in a shrunken down form. Their audio quality is supplemented by additional features like durability (meaning you can knock them around a little), and portability, which you won’t find in similar-sounding bookshelf speakers.
We test a ton of speakers at RS Recs, and from affordable Bluetooth speakers to water-resistant picks, these are our top recommendations for your dorm that are actually worth buying this semester.
The Best Portable Speakers for Dorm Rooms 2025
Jonathan Zavaleta/Rolling Stone
Sony SRS-XB100
$59.99
Buy Now on sony
$58.00
Buy Now On Amazon
For a speaker that’s smaller and lighter than a soda can, Sony’s SRS-XB100 speaker puts out surprisingly big, crisp sound. The design isn’t especially high-end, but it comes in a range of fun colors that add character, and the clearly labeled buttons make it easy to use. As for the sound, it’s impressively clear for a speaker of this size, even if the bass doesn’t have as much authority to it. But again, given its tiny size, it puts out surprisingly rich sound, and the fact that it’s so light and portable means it’s the kind of speaker you’ll want to bring everywhere, and the IP67 rating means you don’t have to be too precious with it.
Amazon
MusiBaby M88 Pro
$39.99
$69.99
43% off
Buy Now on amazon
This portable speaker boasts high stereo sound quality, delivering a booming 40w of bass despite its smaller size. You can stick this on your desk, end table, shelf or even a windowsill without it eating into precious space. And thanks to its impressive 40 hours of play time, you won’t need to worry about constantly having to recharge the battery (it’s also equipped with rainbow lights that flash to the beat, so you can create a mini party atmosphere anywhere). It’s also available in a variety of colors.
Jonathan Zavaleta/Rolling Stone
JBL Clip 5
$79.95
Buy Now at jbl
$79.95
Buy Now On Amazon
JBL’s Clip 5 boasts an explosive amount of sound for a speaker so small. The lightweight, palm-sized speaker features a built-in clip that easily attaches to belt loops, backpacks, or anything you can think to clip it to or hang it off of. It’s available in a plethora of colors, and you can even customize your own design. The speaker boasts surprisingly hefty bass, despite its small size, and you can adjust the EQ settings in the app. It can also get surprisingly loud, although like many smaller speakers,the battery life tops out at 12 hours, or less at higher volumes. Still, it’s a great option if you want something ultra-portable to take outside of your dorm room.
Soundcore Boom 3i by Anker
$89.99
$139.99
36% off
Buy Now on amazon
This Bluetooth speaker from Anker is about the size of a tumbler, which combined with a neck strap, makes storing and transporting it a breeze. It can fit comfortably in your designated backpack and sit on your desk without taking up much space, or you can sling it over your shoulder and take it to the quad. But don’t let its small size deceive you — this speaker packs a punch with a powerfully clear and immersive sound. You clearly can hear every lyric and beat without having to jack up the volume. Our favorite feature, however, is the battery which can be wirelessly charged and support up to 16 hours of activity.
The Soundcore Boom 3i is every bit as durable as it is compact and powerful; it’s saltwater-resistant against sea, sweat, and spray, and even stays upright and sound-forward in waves. It was even drop-tested from 3.28 ft (1 m) and came out unscathed. Even if you’re the clumsiest person in the world, you’ll have a hard time seriously damaging this speaker.
Amazon
MLOVE A200 Retro Speaker
$78.84
$82.99
5% off
Buy Now on amazon
Want a speaker that’s a little more fun and interesting? This portable Bluetooth speaker looks as good as it sounds. The amp-inspired design is stylish, and the speaker feels sturdy and well-made, with a textured faux-leather outer and metal grille. It also combines classic vintage design with modern functionality, packing in Bluetooth connectivity, a 3.5mm aux input, a micro SD card slot, and USB flash drive support (up to 32GB), along with a button to change your playing modes. The tactile knobs al treble, bass, and volume control knobs, allowing you to effortlessly fine-tune your sound to perfection. With 4 inch subwoofer and 2.6 inch tweeter, up to 80W powerful output, it’ll fill your dorm with rich, dynamic sound.
Monster Round One
$23.69
$34.59
32% off
Buy Now on amazon
The circular Monster Round One speaker looks more like a desk clock than the rest of the speakers on our list, but it’s just as powerful. In fact, this has the latest Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity, which pairs up fast and is ideal if your friends want to add a song to the queue or grab the digital aux cord. This speaker also comes with a detachable suction cup, so you can easily attach it to bathroom tiles and mirrors to turn it into a shower speaker (just maybe wait until the communal shower is empty to bust out those tunes).
Amazon
Cleer Scene
$84.99
Buy Now on amazon
This portable Cleer speaker offers up to 12 hours of room-filling sound, as well as being equipped with an echo- and noise-cancelling microphone, so you can us it to take clear calls (especially if they’re coming from the parents). Audio-wise, you’ll get less distortion than with other speakers at this price point thanks to its powerful digital amplifier combined with dual 48mm drivers (meaning it won’t sacrifice clear and detailed highs and mids). Bonus points: its also compatible with various devices for wireless stereo pairing, making it really clutch for parties.
Amazon
Altec Lansing HydraJolt
$42.27
$59.99
30% off
Buy Now on amazon
Accidents happen, which is why sometimes it’s nice to have an extra line of defense. In this case, we’re referring to waterproof electronics. Picture it: You’re engrossed in studying and completely forgot about that glass of water you kept within arm’s reach on your desk. Without even realizing it, you’ve just spilled your drink all over your speaker.
If you had the Altec Lansing HydraJolt, however, this wouldn’t be a huge issue because it’s rated IP67 waterpoof (in addition to being shockpoof and dustproof). With an enhanced bass and no distortion at any volume, this Bluetooth speaker is capable of delivering impeccable sound. It’s also incredibly compact, and features a built-in carabiner hook that can be attached to your bag. The rechargeable battery can support up to 16 hours of play time, and even has a built-in USB charger so you can top off your phone battery in a pinch.
How We Chose the Best Speakers for Dorm Rooms
Our editors looked at the following criteria when compiling our list of the best speakers for dorm rooms:
Size and Weight:Space can be limited when it comes to dorm living, especially if you have roommates, so you don’t want a massive speaker. Additionally, dorm life isn’t forever, so we chose lightweight speakers (the heaviest on our list is just shy of two pounds) and prioritized picks with attached clips or straps so they’re not a headache to transport.
Battery Life:Outlets can be few and far between depending on your individual dorm’s floor plan; you don’t want a speaker that is always plugged in. We looked for wireless speaker with a suitable amount of battery life (minimum 10 hours, but 12-16 hours were the sweet spot for these portable picks) so you’re not bogged down by charge time.
Sound Quality: It all comes back to how it sounds, and there’s nothing worse than terrible audio quality. You want a clear, crisp sound that doesn’t need the volume cranked up to the maximum level to immerse you in your favorite songs. A speaker with around 15 watts of power is perfectly adequate for your dorm room.
