Once you own more than two or three pedals, a loose pile on the floor turns into a tangle of patch cables, wall warts and dropped batteries. A board fixes that: everything is mounted, powered from one supply and ready to plug in with two cables. The best pedalboard for you comes down to size, how you travel and where your power supply goes. A fly-date player wants a tiny board that fits in carry-on luggage, while a worship or ambient player with two rows of pedals needs something wide and tiered. Below are eight boards across every size band, from mini to tour-grade, with honest trade-offs and a sizing method that saves you from buying twice.
How to size a pedalboard before you buy
Lay your pedals on the floor in the order you will use them, leaving about an inch between each for patch cable plugs and your foot. Measure the total width and depth, then add room for one or two pedals you are likely to buy within a year. Check that your power supply can mount underneath: most rail-style boards have clearance for low-profile supplies, but tall ones may need to sit on top. If you are building from scratch, our step-by-step guide on how to build a pedalboard covers layout, hook-and-loop fastening and cable routing in detail.
The best pedalboard picks by size
Pedaltrain Nano
The Pedaltrain Nano is a 14 x 5.5 inch single row board with a soft case. It fits a tuner, a drive, a delay and maybe one more compact pedal, and it slides into a backpack or the accessory pocket of some gig bags.
Best for: fly-in gigs, jam nights and minimal rigs.
- Pros: tiny, light, Pedaltrain rail design for under-board cable routing.
- Cons: very limited space; most supplies will not fit beneath it.
Gator Cases Aluminum Pedal Board (Small)
The Gator GPB-LAK is a 15.75 x 7 inch aluminum board with a carry bag. It costs less than the Pedaltrain equivalents and gives slightly more depth, which helps when your pedals have top-mounted jacks.
Best for: small boards on a modest budget.
- Pros: light aluminum frame, good value, color options.
- Cons: the bag is basic protection, not a flight case.
Pedaltrain Metro 16
The Pedaltrain Metro 16 measures 16 x 8 inches, enough for five or six compact pedals in a slightly staggered layout. It is a sweet spot for players who want a full basic chain (tuner, compressor, two drives, delay, reverb) without a big footprint.
Best for: the typical first “real” board.
- Pros: compact but usable, angled rails, soft case included.
- Cons: fills up quickly once you add a wah or expression pedal.
Donner DB-2 Pedal Board
The Donner DB-2 gives you a 20 x 8 inch aluminum board and a bag at a budget price. It is a single long row, so it suits a straight left-to-right chain of compact pedals.
Best for: beginners who want width without spending much.
- Pros: cheap for its size, light, includes bag.
- Cons: shallow depth and lower-grade hardware than premium brands.
Pedaltrain Classic Jr
The Pedaltrain Classic Jr is an 18 x 12.5 inch two-tier board, with a raised back row so you can reach the second line of pedals without stomping the first. Many working players consider it the ideal mid-size board.
Best for: gigging players with eight to ten compact pedals.
- Pros: two-row layout, room underneath for many common supplies.
- Cons: soft case only on this version; tour case costs more.
Temple Audio DUO 24
The Temple Audio DUO 24 takes a different approach: pedals clip onto the board with mounting plates instead of hook-and-loop tape, and optional modules add jacks and power inlets on the edge. That makes rearranging and swapping pedals very clean.
Best for: tweakers who change their board often and want a tidy, modular build.
- Pros: tool-free pedal mounting, modular I/O, neat finish.
- Cons: mounting plates and modules add cost on top of the board.
Pedaltrain Classic 2
The Pedaltrain Classic 2 stretches to 24 x 12.5 inches. It fits two full rows of compact pedals plus a wah or a larger multi-function pedal, and remains a touring standard for big boards.
Best for: large rigs, ambient and worship setups.
- Pros: lots of room, two tiers, proven design.
- Cons: heavy once loaded, and a hard case is wise for travel.
BOSS BCB-90X
The BOSS BCB-90X is a molded board and case in one, with an integrated lid. You set it down, open the lid and play, which is ideal for quick setups at rehearsals and church services.
Best for: players with mostly BOSS compact pedals who want an all-in-one case.
- Pros: case and board combined, protective, fast to deploy.
- Cons: bulky to carry; layout options are less flexible than an open rail board.
Comparison table
| Product | Best for | Key feature |
|---|---|---|
| Pedaltrain Nano | Fly-in gigs | 14 x 5.5 inch, soft case |
| Gator GPB-LAK Small | Budget small board | 15.75 x 7 inch aluminum |
| Pedaltrain Metro 16 | First real board | 16 x 8 inch, angled rails |
| Donner DB-2 | Budget width | 20 x 8 inch single row |
| Pedaltrain Classic Jr | Mid-size gigging rigs | 18 x 12.5 inch, two tiers |
| Temple Audio DUO 24 | Modular builds | Clip-on pedal mounting |
| Pedaltrain Classic 2 | Large rigs | 24 x 12.5 inch, two tiers |
| BOSS BCB-90X | All-in-one case | Integrated lid |
How to choose the best pedalboard
Size for your next year, not just today. Boards are cheap compared with rebuilding a layout. Add roughly 20 to 30 percent spare space if you are still adding pedals.
Plan the power supply first. Under-board mounting keeps the top clean and keeps power cables away from audio cables, which reduces hum. Check the supply’s height against the board’s clearance, and see our best pedal power supplies guide for isolated options sized for small and large boards.
Single row or two tiers. One row is easy for six pedals or fewer. Beyond that, a two-tier board keeps pedals within foot reach and lets you put rarely switched pedals (compressor, always-on boost) on the back row.
Case matters as much as board. A padded bag is fine for car travel. If your board goes in a van, a shared backline or a plane hold, budget for a hard case or a molded board like the BOSS.
Weight. Aluminum rail boards are light, but a loaded large board with a heavy supply can be a real carry. If you take public transport to gigs, smaller is almost always better.
Cabling. Short, flat or low-profile patch cables let you pack pedals tighter and keep the board tidy. Our best guitar cables and patch cables roundup covers both.
A simple layout that works
Signal flows right to left on most boards, since amps and pedal inputs are on the right side. A common order is tuner, compressor, wah, drives and distortion, then modulation, delay and reverb, with the output on the left. If you are unsure what each pedal type does or how to order them, start with our guitar effects pedals guide. Put pedals you switch often at the front edge, and leave a gap near the input in case you add a wah or volume pedal later.
FAQ
What size pedalboard do I need?
Measure your pedals laid out with about an inch between them, then add space for future pedals. As a rough guide, five or six compact pedals fit a 16 x 8 inch board, while eight to twelve need a two-tier board around 18 to 24 inches wide.
Is a cheap pedalboard good enough?
For home and car-to-gig use, yes. Budget aluminum boards hold pedals just as well. Premium boards earn their price through better clearance for supplies, stronger cases and accessories designed for the system.
Should I use hook-and-loop tape or mounting plates?
Hook-and-loop tape is cheap and works on almost any board but can be messy to change. Mounting plates and clip systems such as Temple Audio’s cost more but make rearranging pedals quick and clean.
