Can You Charge a Bluetooth Speaker With A Power Bank?

Bryn De Kocks | January 22, 2025

Ever wondered if a power bank can effectively charge your Bluetooth speaker? Me too. Despite frequently testing speakers outdoors and even when I’m traveling, I’ve never thought to use a power bank as a method of charging while on the go. To see whether it works, and how effective it is, I grabbed my 10 000mAh Romoss and got testing. I also did a lot of reading around the topic to better understand the process at play and here’s what I found…

Can It Charge Bluetooth Speakers?

It can as long as your speaker has a USB-C or Micro-USB charging port, and the process is no different to charging a cell phone. Simply connect your USB cable and the process will begin. 

What USB Cable Is Needed?

Nowadays most Bluetooth speakers feature a USB-C charging port, the same found on the majority of cellphones. This makes it really simple, you can just use a single cable to charge both devices.

Older speakers have micro-USB charging ports, which while a little dated – are still readily available, and the chances are you already have one lying around somewhere.

Larger speakers may not support USB charging, and in those cases you won’t be able to charge them using a power bank.

Can You Charge a Bluetooth Speaker With A Power Bank? 1

What Capacity Power Bank Do I Need?

You don’t need much. When I tested this process on the JBL Go 4, using my 10 000mAh Romoss, I was able to charge it from 25% to full without losing a single bar from my power bank.

That’s because smartphones have significantly larger battery capacity than most Bluetooth speakers.

However, the size you need will depend on the battery capacity of your speaker. To calculate how many charges you’ll get from a specific power bank, look for the mAh capacity of your speaker. For example, the JBL Go 4 is 850mAh, meaning my 10 000mAh power bank can charge it around 12 times before needing recharging.

Larger speakers, like the Charge 5 for instance have a significantly larger battery capacity and may only get a single full charge from a 10 000mAh power bank and going for a high-quality 30 000mAh power bank may be better. So investing in a larger capacity power bank makes sense if you own one of these larger speakers.

Can You Charge a Bluetooth Speaker With A Power Bank? 2

Which Power Banks Outputs Are Best?

Some power banks offer a single output type (eg: USB-A or USB-C), while others may give the option for both. 

Opting for a dual-ended USB-C cable will give you the best performance (depending on the cable quality), since it offers a faster connection speed. Cables that have a USB-C on one side and USB-A on the other will be held back by the lower transfer rate offered by the USB-A connection.

A USB-A to USB-C cable is still reliable though and can still reliably charge your speaker.

Keep in mind that if your speaker has an older micro-USB connection, you’ll not be able to charge as quickly as you would with a USB-C supported speaker.

How Long Does Charging Take When Using a Power Bank?

It will depend on the cable and power bank, but the charging speed can be similar to that of a regular charging method. I found that the Go 4 took just over 3.5 hours to go from 25% to full.

Larger speakers, with higher capacity batteries will typically take longer to charge.

Can You Charge a Bluetooth Speaker With A Power Bank? 3

Can Charging With A Power Bank Damage My Speaker?

Damage isn’t likely, but it can happen in rare cases. To minimize these risks you can:

  • Use a high-quality, trusted brand of power bank.
  • Match the voltage between the speaker and power bank.
  • Use high-quality charging cables.

Can I Use My Bluetooth Speaker While Charging With a Power Bank?

It depends on the speaker. Some models will only play music when they aren’t being charged. But if your speaker supports playback while charging, it is possible.

Just keep in mind that you may be using more power than you’re providing, which while still able to get you some additional playtime, may mean that your speaker will still run out of battery in the process.

To avoid this, you can listen on lower volume levels or turn off battery intensive features.

Is It Safe To Use A Power Bank In The Rain?

That depends on the model, most are not water-resistant and should only be used inside or under sufficient cover. However, there are a few water-resistant charging banks available that will let you charge in the rain without risk of damaging the power bank or the speaker.

Can I Leave It To Charge Overnight?

You can, but the safety will depend on the type of speaker you’re charging. Most releases from the last 5 years have overcharge protection, but older devices may not. If your speaker is an older model, first confirm that it does protect from overcharging.

Keep in mind that this process should not be considered routine, as frequent overnight charging can lead to battery damage over time.

I also recommend charging your speaker from around 20% to 25% remaining battery when doing so overnight, as this will also help ensure your battery lasts longer.

What Features Should I Look For In A Power Bank?

The most important features to look for include: a high capacity to avoid frequent recharging, indicator LEDs to show you the remaining battery life, additional outputs if you want to charge your phone and speaker at the same time and waterproofing if that’s important to you.

Will Using A Power Bank Lower My Battery Life Over Time?

No. The process, if done correctly and with quality components won’t degrade your battery life any more than traditional charging.

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Author: Bryn De Kocks

Bryn has worked in the field for several years, writing in-depth speaker reviews for various audio publications. His work has historically focused on headphones and Bluetooth speakers, while incorporating his understanding of the Bluetooth speaker market to help educate potential buyers.

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Originally Published: January 22, 2025

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