Creating the perfect outdoor audio environment requires equipment that can deliver great sound while standing up to the elements. Sonos offers a versatile ecosystem that brings its renowned streaming quality and multi-room capabilities to your patio, deck, or backyard. From permanently installed architectural speakers to portable, battery-powered options, there’s a solution for every outdoor space and listening style. This roundup will help you navigate the best Sonos-compatible products to extend your music, podcasts, and entertainment outside.
The right choice depends on your setup: whether you want a permanent, wired installation or the flexibility to move sound around. Built-in speakers paired with a Sonos Amp provide a seamless, high-fidelity experience, while portable speakers like the Move 2 or Roam 2 offer incredible convenience. For those seeking truly immersive backyard theater or party sound, adding an outdoor subwoofer can make all the difference. We’ve compiled the top eight products to consider for your al fresco listening.
Our Recommended Sonos Outdoor Audio Solutions
- Sonos Outdoor by Sonance
- Sonos Amp – The Versatile Amplifier
- Sonos Move 2 – Wireless Portable Speaker
- Sonos Roam 2 – Portable Waterproof Speaker
- Sonos Era 100 (for covered outdoor use)
- Sonos Outdoor Subwoofer by Sonance
- Sonance Landscape Series with Sonos Amp
- Sonos Architectural In-Ground Subwoofer
Sonos Outdoor by Sonance
Designed in collaboration with Sonance, these speakers are the official solution for a permanent, weather-resistant outdoor Sonos setup. They are engineered specifically to pair with the Sonos Amp, creating a system that delivers rich, full-range sound capable of filling your patio or garden. The acoustic components are custom-tailored to provide clear fidelity and a natural listening experience, even when played at higher volumes for gatherings.
Built to withstand sun, rain, snow, and salt spray, these speakers are made for true outdoor installation. Their design prioritizes durability without compromising on audio quality. Once set up, they integrate wirelessly into your wider Sonos system, allowing you to group your outdoor zone with indoor speakers for whole-home audio or play different music outside independently.
Sonos Amp
The Sonos Amp is the essential hub for powering any wired outdoor speaker system, including all the architectural options in this list. This versatile amplifier connects your traditional audio equipment—like a turntable or CD player—to the Sonos ecosystem while providing robust power to drive high-quality outdoor speakers. It transforms passive speakers into smart, streaming-capable audio zones.
Beyond music, the Amp can connect to your TV to deliver stereo sound for outdoor viewing areas or patios. You can also use it to add a pair of wireless Sonos speakers as rear surrounds for a more immersive setup. Its compact design houses substantial power, ensuring your outdoor speakers perform at their best and integrate seamlessly with the rest of your home’s audio.
Sonos Move 2
The Sonos Move 2 is a premium portable speaker that brings impressive, room-filling sound to any corner of your outdoor space. Its updated acoustic architecture features two tweeters for a wide stereo soundstage, delivering crisp vocals and detailed instrumentation. The precision-tuned woofer provides deep, dynamic bass, making it suitable for everything from background music to lively outdoor parties.
With up to 24 hours of battery life, it can easily last through a full day of use. It features automatic Trueplay tuning, which constantly adjusts the sound to optimize it for your surroundings, whether it’s on a patio table or in a garden. The Move 2 is also weather-resistant, allowing you to use it outside with confidence, and it switches seamlessly between Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
Sonos Roam 2
For the ultimate in portable outdoor sound, the Sonos Roam 2 is a compact and lightweight speaker that you can take anywhere. Despite its small size, its precision-engineered drivers produce clear audio with surprising bass. It’s the perfect companion for more intimate patio settings, picnics, or moving around the yard while you work.
This speaker is built to be tough, with an IP67 rating for complete waterproof and dustproof protection. You can leave it by the pool or take it to the beach without worry. Like the Move 2, it operates on both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, making it simple to stream music directly from your phone or integrate it into your Sonos system when you’re within range of your network.
Sonos Era 100
The Sonos Era 100 is primarily an indoor speaker but can be used in covered outdoor areas with proper caution, such as on a screened porch or under a deep, protective eave. It delivers a significant upgrade in sound over previous models like the Sonos One, with improved stereo separation from its dual tweeters and enhanced bass from a larger woofer.
If your outdoor space is shielded from direct rain and sun, the Era 100 can be a great way to add high-quality Sonos sound without a permanent installation. It supports line-in via an adapter and features Bluetooth for easy streaming. Always ensure it is placed in a fully protected location, as it is not rated for full outdoor exposure like the dedicated outdoor models.
Sonos Outdoor Subwoofer by Sonance
To complete a high-performance outdoor audio system, the Sonos Outdoor Subwoofer by Sonance adds the deep, powerful low frequencies that standard patio speakers often lack. This subwoofer is engineered to withstand the elements, allowing you to place it discreetly in your outdoor living area. It connects directly to a Sonos Amp, seamlessly integrating into your setup.
The addition of a dedicated subwoofer means you can feel the impact of movie soundtracks, the rumble in electronic music, and the full depth of orchestral pieces. It takes your outdoor entertainment to a new level, providing a balanced and immersive audio experience that matches a quality indoor home theater.
Sonance Landscape Series with Sonos Amp
The Sonance Landscape Series offers a discreet and elegant audio solution for gardens and larger yards. These speakers are designed to be installed at ground level, often camouflaged among plants or landscaping features, to provide wide, even sound coverage without visible hardware. They are built with durable, weather-proof materials to perform year-round.
When powered by a Sonos Amp, this series creates an invisible soundscape that makes music feel like it’s emanating from your garden itself. This setup is ideal for those who want comprehensive audio coverage for entertaining or quiet relaxation without any speakers mounted on the house or patio walls.
Sonos Architectural In-Ground Subwoofer by Sonance
For the ultimate in discreet, powerful bass outdoors, the Sonos Architectural In-Ground Subwoofer is designed to be buried flush with the ground. This installation hides the subwoofer completely while its output vents to the surface, delivering impactful low frequencies that you feel more than see. It is a professional-grade component for a custom outdoor audio installation.
This product is meant for those seeking a pristine landscape without any visible audio equipment. Paired with the Landscape Series speakers and a Sonos Amp, it creates a fully immersive, high-fidelity outdoor audio environment that is both audibly impressive and visually unobtrusive.
Buying Guide: What to Look For in Sonos Outdoor Speakers
So you’re thinking about bringing your music outside with a Sonos system. Good call. I’ve set up a few of these myself, and getting the right gear makes all the difference between a good patio hang and a great one. Since Sonos has a few different paths to outdoor audio, your first big decision is picking the right type of speaker for your space and how you want to use it.
The main choice is between a plug-and-play portable and a permanently installed system. For most people, the portable option is the easiest. A speaker like the Sonos Move or Roam is a fantastic starting point. You just charge it up, carry it out to your patio table, and you’re done. It connects to your Wi-Fi at home just like your other Sonos speakers, but also has Bluetooth for when you’re away from your network. The big trade-off is ultimate volume and bass; a single portable won’t fill a huge yard with sound the same way a pair of wired speakers can.
If you’re after more powerful, immersive sound that’s always there, you’ll want to look at a permanent setup. This is where the Sonos Amp becomes the star of the show. The Amp is a powerhouse that connects to your Wi-Fi and then lets you wire up standard, third-party outdoor speakers. You get the full Sonos app experience, multi-room audio, and the ability to drive high-quality speakers that are built to withstand the elements year-round. This is the route I went for my main patio, and the sound quality and coverage are unbeatable.
When planning a permanent install, think about placement. For the best stereo sound, you’ll want at least two speakers, mounted under eaves or on walls to give them some protection from direct rain. Pay close attention to the speaker’s IP rating, which tells you its dust and water resistance. For true outdoor use that can handle a surprise storm, look for a rating of IP65 or higher. Also, consider the power handling and sensitivity of the speakers to make sure they pair well with the Sonos Amp’s output.
Finally, think about the future. One of the best things about Sonos is how everything works together. Maybe you start with a Move on the patio, then later add an Amp and some in-ceiling speakers for a covered area. They’ll all show up in the same app, and you can group them together or play different music in different zones. Choosing the best Sonos outdoor speakers for patios is really about matching the system to your lifestyle, whether that’s simple and flexible or powerful and permanent.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use any outdoor speakers with a Sonos system?
Yes, but you need the right hub. You can’t connect passive outdoor speakers directly to Wi-Fi. To use standard wired outdoor speakers, you’ll need the Sonos Amp. The Amp is the bridge—it connects to your home Wi-Fi network and provides the power and signal to the speakers. This opens up a huge world of speaker brands and models, letting you choose the perfect pair for your patio’s size and acoustics while keeping everything controlled through the Sonos app.
What’s the difference between the Sonos Move and Sonos Roam for outdoor use?
The main differences are size, power, and battery life. The Move is the larger, more powerful brother. It’s like a true indoor-quality speaker that you can move outside. Its battery lasts longer and it gets much louder, making it better for bigger patios or group gatherings. The Roam is super compact and lightweight, perfect for sticking in a bag or moving around a smaller balcony. Both are waterproof and have both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, but the Move is the choice for primary patio sound, while the Roam is an ultra-portable companion.
Do Sonos outdoor speakers need to be plugged in all the time?
It depends on the type. The portable speakers (Move and Roam) are battery-powered and only need to be plugged in to charge. For permanent installations using a Sonos Amp with wired speakers, those speakers get their power directly from the Amp, which does need to be plugged into an outlet indoors. The outdoor speakers themselves just have a wire running to them, so there’s no outlet or plug needed at the speaker location.
How do I protect my Sonos outdoor speakers from bad weather?
For portable models, they’re designed to handle it. Both the Move and Roam have an IP56 rating, meaning they can resist dust and powerful water jets. A little rain is fine, but I wouldn’t leave them in a downpour or submerge them. For a permanent Amp-based setup, you must choose outdoor speakers with a proper weather resistance rating (look for IP65 or higher). Also, smart placement is key—mounting them under an eave or in a covered area significantly reduces their exposure to the harshest elements.
Can I mix portable and wired Sonos outdoor speakers together?
Absolutely, and this is one of the coolest features. The Sonos app lets you group any speakers on your network. You could have a pair of high-end speakers powered by an Amp on your main deck and a Sonos Move by the pool, and play the same music in perfect sync across both. Or, you can play different music in each area. This flexibility makes it easy to start small with one portable speaker and build a more complex outdoor audio system over time.