Amps guide
The best guitar amps for playing at home
Great tone at bedroom volume: modelling amps, desktop amps, headphone amps and a small valve amp, for every budget.
Undertuned · Updated 11 October 2026
Most guitarists play at home far more than on stage, and in a house or flat, a loud amp is the last thing you need. The best home amps sound good at low volume, have a headphone socket for late nights, and give you lots of sounds without a pile of pedals.
What to know first
Watts don't mean what you think
You don't need lots of watts at home. A 20 to 50-watt modelling amp is plenty, and often has a power control to play quietly while keeping the tone. Valve amps are much louder per watt: even 5 watts can be too loud for a flat.
Modelling, solid-state or valve?
- Modelling amps imitate many classic amps and effects in one box. Best for home: versatile, affordable and good at low volume.
- Solid-state amps are simple, light and reliable, but usually have fewer sounds.
- Valve (tube) amps have a warm, responsive feel many players love, but they're heavier, need more care and sound best louder.
Useful extras
A headphone output for quiet practice, an aux input or Bluetooth for playing along with songs, and a USB output for recording straight into your computer.
How we chose
These are popular, well-supported amps from established brands, chosen for how well they work at home rather than on stage. Retailers don't pay to be included. Playing bass? You need a bass amp instead; see our bass guide.
Best all-rounder
Boss Katana 50
Good for: nearly everyone: practice, recording and small gigs.
The Katana is one of the most recommended amps of recent years: great sounds, a sensible price, and a power setting that makes it work as well in a bedroom as in a rehearsal room.
What's good
- Wide range of sounds and built-in effects
- Power control for quiet playing
- Loud enough to jam with a drummer
Worth knowing
- Deeper editing needs the app or software
- Bigger and heavier than a desktop amp
Best for beginners
Fender Mustang LT25
Good for: beginners who want lots of sounds with simple controls.
A small modelling amp that makes it easy to find a good sound fast, with presets for everything from clean to heavy.
What's good
- Dozens of preset sounds
- Headphone socket and USB recording
- Compact and affordable
Worth knowing
- Small speaker limits the low end
- Not loud enough for a band
Best desktop amp
Yamaha THR10II
Good for: playing in a living room or on a desk, and players who want a stylish amp.
The THR range was designed for home from the start: it looks like a hi-fi, sounds excellent quietly and doubles as a speaker for your music.
What's good
- Sounds great at very low volume
- Stereo speakers, good for music playback too
- Can run on a battery
Worth knowing
- Not loud enough to play with others
- Premium price for its size
Best for practising along with songs
Positive Grid Spark 40
Good for: learning songs and practising with backing tracks.
The Spark is built around practice: stream a song, and its app can suggest a tone to match. A very motivating amp if you learn by playing along.
What's good
- Bluetooth for playing along with music
- App with a huge library of tones
- Doubles as a speaker
Worth knowing
- Many features rely on the app
- Not designed for gigs
Best for silent practice
Fender Mustang Micro
Good for: flats, late nights and practising anywhere.
A headphone amp that plugs into your guitar's output. If you share walls, this might be the best money you spend.
What's good
- Plugs straight into your guitar: just add headphones
- Completely silent to others
- Tiny and rechargeable
Worth knowing
- Headphones only, no speaker
- Fewer controls than a full amp
Best small valve amp
Blackstar HT-1R
Good for: players who want real valve feel at home volume.
If you've got your heart set on a valve amp, a 1-watt amp like this gets you that feel at a volume a house can survive.
What's good
- Genuine valve tone and feel
- 1 watt is (just about) home-friendly
- Built-in reverb
Worth knowing
- Fewer sounds than a modelling amp
- Valves need occasional replacement
Recording at home
Many modelling amps have USB recording built in. Otherwise, put a dynamic microphone in front of the speaker, or plug your guitar straight into an audio interface and use amp-simulator software. Our home studio starter guide covers the rest.