How to Build a Bluetooth Speaker for Under $15 Using Everyday Household Items

Building your own Bluetooth speaker can be a fun and rewarding project. With just a few common household items, you can make a speaker that rivals those sold in stores - all for under $15!

What You'll Need

To build this budget Bluetooth speaker, you'll need just a handful of supplies:

• Plastic food storage container ($3) - This will act as the speaker enclosure. Look for one about 6 inches wide and 4 inches deep.

• Bluetooth audio module ($8) - This module contains the amplifier and Bluetooth receiver to play your music wirelessly. You can find inexpensive ones on Amazon.

• Speaker driver ($2) - The speaker driver turns electrical signals into sound waves. I used a 2-inch 4-ohm speaker.

• Wires - You'll need speaker wire to connect the Bluetooth module to the speaker driver. Regular copper wire will also work.

• 9V battery ($2) - Supplies power to the Bluetooth module.

• Hot glue gun - To assemble the speaker components.

That's it! With just these few supplies, you can build your own Bluetooth speaker for under $15.

Step 1: Prepare the Plastic Enclosure

The plastic food container will act as the speaker enclosure. Start by removing the lid and thoroughly washing/drying the container.

Use the hot glue gun to attach the Bluetooth module to the inside center of the bottom part of the container. The controls should face upward.

Next, drill a 1/4 inch hole near each corner of the container's bottom half. Feed the speaker wires through one hole and out the opposite side.

Step 2: Connect the Speaker Driver

Strip about 1/2 inch of insulation off both ends of the speaker wire. Twist the exposed wire on each side and tin the ends with solder. This will make them rigid enough to insert into the speaker driver terminals.

Attach the wires to the positive and negative terminals on the speaker driver. It doesn't matter which wire goes to which terminal.

Use hot glue to attach the speaker driver near one end of the container's bottom half, facing inward. Make sure no bare wire is exposed.

Step 3: Power and Use Your Speaker

Insert a 9V battery into the Bluetooth module's battery clip. Turn on the speaker and pair it with your phone via Bluetooth. Start playing music and adjust the volume to your liking!

The open plastic container gives the speaker a wide stereo image that belies its low cost. For increased bass, try closing the container with the lid while playing music.

Some creative additions could include:

• Adding LED lights that pulse to the music
• Painting the enclosure for a more polished look
• Integrating wireless phone charging

With just a bit of effort, you can have wireless tunes wherever you want. This budget Bluetooth speaker project is a great way to upcycle everyday items into a useful gadget!