The 11 best pedalboards for guitarists: give your effects pedals a home

If your favourite flavour of gear acquisition syndrome is an addiction to collecting guitar effect pedals, then the time when you will need to equip yourself with one of the best pedalboards is fast approaching. Unless you fancy being one of those guitarists with their pedals splayed out everywhere, and the cables in a giant knotted mess, a guitar effects pedalboard will save you a huge amount of headaches, plus, bandmates and sound engineers will love you for getting organised and ensuring your pedals are immediately ready to go for rehearsals and gigs.

Whether you have a small but mighty team of effects pedals, or if you’re an ambient guitarist with a set-up requiring enough electricity to power a small island, this Headliner guide is here to help you peruse and choose the best guitar pedalboard for your needs and cherished guitar.

Not to mention the fact that there are many, many guitar pedal boards out there claiming to be the best, so we’ve whittled it down to the 11 finest ‘boards that you should consider parting with your money for. If you’re looking to spend a lot or as little as possible, this guide has you covered — we’ll start with the best budget options, and work our way up to the premium pedalboards.

Harley Benton SpaceShip 40

Pro: Highly affordable; solid aluminium construction.

Con: Included hook-and-loop tape may be lower quality.

If you enjoy using Thomann, the site which sells so many of the world’s music products, then you may be pleased to learn that the company offers its own guitar pedalboard, and it is proof that the best pedalboards don’t have to cost a small fortune. This space-travelling board comes with a soft case, with the option to upgrade to a hard case if you’re anticipating the hard knocks of life. It’s a very durable pedalboard despite its competitive pricing, and the size range means you should be able to accommodate all your beloved guitar pedals, going up to an enormous 80cm.

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Pedaltrain Nano Plus

Pro: Ultra-compact (0.3kg) and highly portable fly rig.

Con: Very limited space for standard power supplies underneath.

Choo, choo! All aboard the next entry in this best pedalboards list: it’s the Pedaltrain Nano Plus, a great option for the minimalist guitarists out there. If you’re looking for a smaller board, the Nano, as its name suggests, is a fantastic option to consider. The tradeoff is less pedal space — just one row of pedals, so probably not the pedalboard for the spacey guitarists up to their ears in reverb, delay, and chorus. Accessories aren’t a paid upsell, as this one comes with everything you’ll need to get set up. Also note that the space beneath for power supplies is pretty tight, potentially needing some DIY work. The workaround for this is to go for pedals and power supplies on the slimmest end of the spectrum.

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Warwick RockBoard TRES 3.1

Pro: Modular, slotted design with patch bay options; great cable routing.

Con: Slotted design can complicate placement of side-jack pedals.

For those ready to rock, we salute you. The Warwick RockBoard is a modular pedalboard system that offers custom-level specifications at a price that is nice. Despite its lightweight nature, integrated support brackets mean you can count on the board remaining ultra-stable even when fully loaded with all the effects pedals you can chuck its way. Boards come standard with a soft case and feature options for rear-mounted patch bays, which provide organised I/O, power supply, and buffer connectivity.

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Boss BCB-90X

Pro: Integrated, tough moulded case; includes bundled power supply.

Con: Included power supply is not isolated, risking signal noise.

For those looking for a guitar pedalboard to be the boss of your carefully curated pedal collection, then look no further than the BCB-90X from Boss. It’s full of fab features like send and return jacks, I/O connectors, an included power supply, and unlike some here, there’s enough room for the inevitable extra bits you might need space for besides the pedals. The caveat to consider is that Boss have cheekily designed the board to fit Boss guitar pedals specifically, and users have reported other brand pedals not being accommodated as well by the foam inserts — particularly larger pedals like the BigSky. The answer is either to fully remove the foam or cut into it.

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Pedaltrain Classic JR

Pro: Industry standard; extremely durable and compatible with most accessories.

Con: Basic aluminium frame is not the cheapest entry-level option.

Make no mistake, Pedaltrain has asserted itself as a go-to brand in the competitive world of the best pedalboards for good reason, and here is a classic reason why. The Classic JR is as durably built as they come, and it’s a great size if you have approximately ten guitar pedals of standard stompbox size. Pedaltrain also offer the company’s own power supplies, which you can count on them for custom fitting with their own boards. Most other brands will fit perfectly well, though. Nor should you have any trouble fitting I/O connectors and cable runs beneath. Its portable size and weight are the reasons you’ll see so many guitarists bringing this one to their gigs.

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Temple Audio Duo 17

Pro: Lightweight, modular design with customisable I/O patch panels.

Con: Proprietary mounting plates can be inconvenient if pedals are swapped frequently.

Here is a temple for guitarists to worship at. The Duo board offer a modular, velcro-free platform where pedals are secured using either zip ties or the quick-release pedal mounts. The durable design keeps things nice and lightweight and allows for clean cable runs and power supplies to be kept snugly underneath. There’s customisation a-plenty also via end-panel options, allowing for integrated I/O and power connectors for a clean setup.

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Aclam Smart Track S2

Pro: Completely Velcro-free, non-destructive pedal mounting system.

Con: Cable runs must be visible along the top or side of the board.

Here is another of the best guitar pedalboards that is receiving acclaim; the Smart Track S2 from Aclam is a smart purchase if an extendable, modular-based pedalboard sounds like your cup of java. If you’re not fond of having to fix your pedals down with unwieldy velcro, you’ll be delighted to hear that this guitar board has fasteners that do the trick very nicely indeed. It also has very easy-to-use features for extending the pedalboard as your pedal collection grows in line with your ambitions — you can switch out the main bed of the Smart Track without needing to be an expert in DIY. And if you’re gigging regularly, the included soft case is a lifesaver.

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Voodoo Lab Dingbat Medium

Pro: Seamless, pre-drilled integration for Voodoo Lab power supplies.

Con: Soft case lacks storage pockets for accessories/cables.

If you’re more familiar with ‘dingbat’ as the term you’d use for a silly person, don’t let that put you off one of the best pedalboards courtesy of Voodoo Lab, which is anything but silly. The company, known for its own effects pedals and guitar power supply options, will be very familiar to many gigging guitarists. The dingbat is available in three sizes, and this medium variant can be the happy home for up to ten guitar effects pedals of relatively standard size. It comes with plenty of accessories, saving you from purchasing extra bits, and the included gig bag is padded and ready for the gritty giggin life to keep your board and pedals protected.

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Mono Pedalboard

Pro: Includes a professional, highly protective, water-resistant gig bag.

Con: Higher cost is mainly due to the case quality, not the board's complexity.

Why would you wish to set your settings to mono as you seek out the best guitar pedalboard? Because Mono do a fabulous job of ensuring a winning mix of protection and portability. The included soft case is also of premium quality. Their boards, such as the Lite and Club series, feature a lightweight, bent-aluminium chassis that maintains a low profile and clean aesthetic. You’ll also get yourself a high-quality, professional gig bag included with every board, which is mega durable, water-resistant, and has dense padding for safe transport. While the boards themselves are structurally simple compared to some modular systems, you’ll find that the value lies in this bundled protection, making them ideal for guitarists on the go.

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Gator G-Tour Large

Pro: Bombproof flight case with wheels and handle, built for professional touring.

Con: Extremely heavy and bulky; unsuitable for casual gigging or small venues.

Here is a Gator that you don’t need to travel to Florida for. As the G-Tour title suggests, this is one of the best pedalboards for guitarists who love to head out on tour with their pedals in tow. With that in mind, it packs in size and durability as you head from city to city. If you don’t think the soft case will cut it, you can go for a flight case for extra protection. They offer some almost over-the-top guitarist coverage options too, like the Gigbox, which doubles up as a guitar stand for up to three guitars and has integrated power. You could build a veritable guitar city with Gator.

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Schmidt Array

Pro: Hinged, tiered deck allows ultimate access to power and cable routing.

Con: High cost; long lead times (often custom-made).

We’ve been through a huge array of the best pedalboards as we close out this compendium, and we’re giving the final word to Schmidt Array. These particular pedalboards represent a premium, modular solution distinguished by their unique hinged, two-tier design. The fun detail is they are typically custom-made or highly bespoke, meaning you’ll get the ultimate guitar pedalboard for you and your pedal collection's wants and needs. The access provided for power supplies and complex cable runs is top-tier. With this being the final entry, that means you won’t be getting this quality cheaply by any means, but professional guitarists and guitar techs will love these boards.

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Do I need a guitar pedalboard?

While the answer is that you don’t necessarily need one of the best guitar pedalboards listed above, the deeper answer is that your playing life could be much less enjoyable as you slip into a chaotic mess of cables and unorganised guitar effects pedals. Pedal boards exist to get your pedal affairs in order. Your board will keep them wired up, lined up in order, and ready to go, saving you a huge chunk of time and freeing up creative space in your beleaguered brain. Engineers in studios and at venues will love you for speeding up the setup process. The added protection from a good pedalboard case could save you hundreds from unwanted damage, too.

Read more:

Best Guitar Effects Pedals: Complete Your Dream Pedalboard Lineup

Best Multi-Effects Pedals: Replace Your Rig with One Pedal

The Best Affordable Wireless Guitar Systems: Go Cable-Free For All Budgets