Best pedalboards
Almost any board of the right size works. The one specification that genuinely changes your life is whether the frame has usable space underneath.
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We have not played this gear. Every pick below is chosen from published manufacturer specifications and the arithmetic set out in how we research, which you can re-run yourself.
Buy the smallest board that fits your current pedals plus two more, and check whether the frame leaves usable space underneath for a power supply. That second question is the only one that materially changes how the board works — an angled frame like a Pedaltrain Classic JR has room underneath; a flat one like a Nano+ does not.
The board is the least consequential purchase in this hub. It does not affect your sound, it does not fail on stage, and the differences between reputable brands are real but small. Two decisions matter: size and under-board space.
Best pedalboards
| # | Product | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | No photo Pedaltrain Classic JR pedalboard The angled frame leaves genuine room underneath for a power supply, which is the whole point. | The default board for a real pedalboard | |
| 02 | No photo Pedaltrain Metro 20 pedalboard Long and shallow, which suits a small chain and does not suit an under-board brick. | A single row of pedals in a shallow footprint | |
| 03 | No photo Pedaltrain Nano+ pedalboard Two rails, 18 by 5.5 inches, and effectively no under-board space. | Four pedals and nothing more | |
| ! | No photo Gator Cases Aluminum pedalboard with bag An aluminum frame and a carry bag at a lower price, in several footprints. Skip this one — see why below | The cheaper frame, with a bag rather than a case |
Rows link to the full write-up further down this page. Prices come from the live price layer only — where there is no live figure the button reads “Check price” rather than showing a remembered number.
02Published sizes, side by side
| Board | Size | Rails | Under-board space | Realistic capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pedaltrain Nano+ | 18 x 5.5 in | 2, flat | Effectively none | 4-5 compacts, one row |
| Pedaltrain Metro 20 | 20 x 8 in | 3, flat | Very little | 5-6 compacts, one row |
| Pedaltrain Classic JR | 18 x 12.5 in | 4, angled | Yes — a brick mounts underneath | 6-8 compacts, two rows |
Sizes are the manufacturer's published dimensions. Capacity is an estimate based on the footprint of a standard BOSS compact at 73 x 129 mm.
03Sizing it properly
Measure your pedals rather than counting them. A BOSS compact is 73 mm wide and 129 mm deep — that figure is published. A large-format pedal like a full-size Big Muff or a Strymon takes the space of two. A mini pedal saves width and then spends some of it back on cable clearance, because most minis have side-mounted jacks.
Then add space for two more pedals. Every pedalboard grows, and the cost of buying one size up now is far lower than the cost of rebuilding the board later.
Pedaltrain Classic JR pedalboard
The default board for a real pedalboard
The number18 x 12.5 in (45.7 x 31.8 cm), 4 rails, soft case included.
Eighteen by twelve and a half inches holds roughly six to eight compact pedals in two rows, which is where most boards end up.
The angled frame is the feature. A power supply mounts underneath, out of the way, with short DC runs — which keeps the top surface for pedals and reduces the antenna area of your DC cabling.
Soft case included on the standard version; the HC version has a hard case. Hook-and-loop tape is included; the tape for your pedals is your problem.
| Size | 18 x 12.5 in (45.7 x 31.8 cm) |
|---|---|
| Rails | 4 rails, aluminum, angled frame |
| Case | Soft case included on the standard version; hard case on the HC version |
| Under-board space | Designed to mount a power supply underneath the frame |
| What it does not do | No power supply, no mounting hardware for a supply beyond the standard brackets, and no patch cables. Hook-and-loop tape is included but the tape on your pedals is on you. |
Specs from Pedaltrain pedalboard range. We have not used this unit.
Pedaltrain Metro 20 pedalboard
A single row of pedals in a shallow footprint
The number20 x 8 in (50.8 x 20.3 cm), 3 rails, flat single-tier frame.
Twenty inches by eight, flat rather than angled. It fits a single row of five or six compacts and it takes up very little depth in a car or a case.
The flat single-tier frame is the trade-off: there is very little usable space underneath, so a power brick will usually end up on the board surface and cost you a pedal slot.
For a board powered by a wall-mounted 1 SPOT rather than a brick, that is a non-issue and this is an efficient shape.
| Size | 20 x 8 in (50.8 x 20.3 cm) |
|---|---|
| Rails | 3 rails, flat single-tier design |
| Format | Long and shallow — sized for a single row of compact pedals |
| Case | Soft case included |
| What it does not do | The flat single-tier frame leaves very little room to mount a power supply underneath. A brick will usually end up on top of the board, costing you a pedal slot. |
Specs from Pedaltrain pedalboard range. We have not used this unit.
Pedaltrain Nano+ pedalboard
Four pedals and nothing more
The number18 x 5.5 in (45.7 x 14 cm), 2 rails, soft case included.
Four or five compact pedals in a single row. That is the entire capacity and it is honest about it.
There is no meaningful space underneath. Plan on a 1 SPOT-style wall supply or a very small brick sitting beside the board rather than under it.
For a tuner, two drives and a delay this is the right size and it fits in a gig bag pocket.
| Size | 18 x 5.5 in (45.7 x 14 cm) |
|---|---|
| Rails | 2 rails, flat |
| Capacity | Roughly four to five compact pedals in a single row |
| Case | Soft case included |
| What it does not do | There is no under-board space worth the name. Plan on a 1 SPOT-style wall supply or a very small brick sitting beside the board. |
Specs from Pedaltrain pedalboard range. We have not used this unit.
Gator Cases Aluminum pedalboard with bag
The cheaper frame, with a bag rather than a case
We are not picking this one as a first choice, and it is a perfectly serviceable board. Aluminum frame, hook-and-loop tape and cable ties included, several sizes.
The bag is the reason. It is a bag, not a road case, and it will not survive an airline hold or a stack of gear on top of it. If the board never leaves your house, that does not matter at all.
If it does leave the house regularly, the money saved here gets spent on the case later, and in the meantime your pedals are protected by fabric.
| Construction | Aluminum frame with an included carry bag |
|---|---|
| Sizes | Offered in several footprints from small to large |
| Included | Hook-and-loop tape and cable ties |
| What it does not do | No power supply and no patch cables. The bag is a bag — it is not a road case, and it will not survive an airline hold. |
Specs from Gator Cases pedalboard range. We have not used this unit.
04The under-board question
A power supply mounted under the frame does three things: it frees the top surface for pedals, it keeps DC cable runs short, and it keeps the DC cables away from the patch cables. The third one is a real noise consideration — DC cables running parallel to signal cables is a classic way to induce hum.
On a flat board, the brick goes on the surface and costs you a pedal slot, or beside the board where it can be kicked. Neither is fatal, but it is the difference the frame geometry makes and it is worth knowing before you buy. The power supply roundup covers the mounting side.
05Case or bag
A soft case protects against scuffs and rain. A hard case protects against being stood on and against baggage handling. If the board goes to rehearsals in the back of a car, a soft case is fine. If it goes on a plane or gets stacked with other gear, it is not, and the upgrade later costs more than the difference now.
Frequently asked questions
+ What size pedalboard do I need?
+ Do I need an angled pedalboard?
+ Are expensive pedalboards worth it?
+ How do I attach pedals to a pedalboard?
Sources
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