Best pedal boards

best pedalboards
(Image credit: Future)

If you now have a few guitar effects pedals in your arsenal, it's time to think about getting a pedalboard to help organise them. In the first instance (if you're anything like us), you might be thinking about cobbling together your own pedalboard from an old suitcase or some wood offcuts, but investing in one of the best pedalboards listed below is well worth it.

These ready-made flat boards or panels act as a container for all of your guitar  pedals – whether that's delay pedals, reverb pedals, tremolo pedals or others – and they vary in terms of size, weight, features and price. 

For our expert guide to the best pedal boards, we've tried out a wide range to cover most bases, and our price comparison software has uncovered the best prices you'll find online today for them, so all of the heavy research has been sorted for you.

What is the best pedalboard?

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For most of us, the Pedaltrain range is the best option. They're a little pricey but solid, without being too over-the-top in terms of cost or weight. There are a variety of case options available, and even the light soft cases can take a reasonable beating. 

The Nano series are small enough that the case can be slung over your shoulder, and assuming you've got a guitar at your destination, you can even cycle to a jam or to a gig.

How to buy the best pedalboard for you

Factory-produced pedal boards can not only help to neaten your setup, but also make it more portable. Some of the boards featured here come with an over-the-shoulder carry bag, and most of the common big-name brands will have an option for a hard flight case, for if you're going on longer tours or overseas.

Even if it's just intended to be used as a home or studio board, having everything logically laid out and accessible is better than a mass of pedals skidding about on the floor. It's very satisfying to grab a board that's ready to record with and plug it straight in, rather than faffing around with choosing and connecting your 'go-to' pedals.

As with most things guitar-related, there's a range of different options, from budget to high-end custom – the Schmidt Array custom boards featured here are not only achingly beautiful, but expensive too.

With most of the options we've listed below, we've chosen roughly equivalent sizes, starter models or practical mid-sized boards. It's worth noting however that almost every manufacturer offers multiple sizes and accessories, so if the one we've focussed on here is either too large or too small for your needs, it's worth checking out the full range to see if there's one that's spot on.

The best pedal boards you can buy right now

Pedaltrain Classic JR

Specifications

Dimensions: 45.7x31.7cm
Construction: Aluminium
Case: Softcase
Power supply mounting: No

Reasons to buy

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The classic choice when it comes to the best pedalboards

The defacto standard for pedal boards, the Pedaltrain series has more different options and models than you can shake a stick at.

The Classic series has a number of different sizes, with risers available if you need to improve the ergonomics of pedals on higher rails. The JR is a decent size for a grab-and-go board, or something that you need to take on public transport, fitting up to about ten pedals. 

The regular Pedaltrains have options for their brand of power-supply, but most brands will fit comfortably underneath, as will cable-runs and I/O connectors.

Pedaltrain Nano

Specifications

Dimensions: 55.9x31.7cm
Weight: N/A
Construction: Aluminium
Case: Soft
Power supply mounting: No

Reasons to buy

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A tiny but mighty pedalboard

The Pedaltrain Nano is a compact, soft-cased board that accommodates only a single row of pedals, but it’s a great option if that’s all you need and you’re craving a tidy solution.

Because of the tight space under the board, you'll have to raise the rear feet by DIY means, or buy a specific compact power supply. Luckily Pedaltrain, Strymon and other brands offer super-slim supplies that will fit - for a price.

Gator G-Tour Large

Specifications

Dimensions: 60x27.94cm
Weight: 15kg
Construction: Wood and Aluminium
Case: Flightcase
Power supply mounting: Not included

Reasons to buy

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The best pedalboard if you want a bombproof tour option

Gator offer an overwhelming array of options, from Pedaltrain-style boards which will take power and cable runs on the underside, to heavy-duty options where everything sits topside between large carry handles. 

As well as soft-cases, there's flight case options for most of the range. There's some particularly wild board and case combinations at the more esoteric end of the range, too. For example, there's the Gigbox, which has integrated power and a case that can be used as a guitar stand for three guitars, and the Mega Bone, a single-row board with space for two wah-sized pedals at either end that curves around the user like the Holeyboard.

Warwick RockBoard TRES 3.1

Specifications

Dimensions: 51x23.6cm
Weight: 1.2kg
Construction: Aluminium
Case: Soft case
Power supply mounting: Not included

Reasons to buy

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A brilliantly modern modular system

The Warwick Rockboard is another modular option that offers custom-level specs at non-custom prices. While it's still not cheap, you can easily put together something robust and tailored for your specific needs. 

Boards come as standard with a softcase, and then you can pick a patchbay to slot into the rear for I/O, power supply and buffer options that work for you. There's also a variety of mounting accessories available for you to customise to your heart's content.

Boss BCB-60

Specifications

Dimensions: 67x37cm
Weight: 3.8kg
Construction: Moulded Resin
Case: Integrated
Power supply mounting: N/A

Reasons to buy

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A no-nonsense solution from the pedal legend

A fine first board, the BOSS BCB also has a number of useful features like I/O connectors, send and return jacks, a power supply and space at the top for miscellaneous odds and ends. 

It's a decent feature set in a highly portable and robust package, but the main drawback is that the foam inserts to brace the pedals are modelled on the BOSS form factor, meaning that if you want to have a different set of pedals than 4-6 BOSS products, they might not fit so well.

Alex Lynham

Alex Lynham is a gear obsessive who's been collecting and building modern and vintage equipment since he got his first Saturday job. Besides reviewing countless pedals for Total Guitar, he's written guides on how to build your first pedal, how to build a tube amp from a kit, and briefly went viral when he released a glitch delay pedal, the Atom Smasher.