Collecting rainwater is an eco-friendly way to conserve water and reduce your environmental impact. Installing a rain barrel is an easy and affordable way to harvest rainwater from your roof that would otherwise go to waste. The collected rainwater can then be used to water your lawn, garden, and indoor plants. With concerns about droughts and water shortages on the rise, setting up a rain barrel is a practical solution for sustainable living.
When shopping for the best rain barrel, you’ll want one that is durable, efficient at catching water, and aesthetically pleasing. The capacity, material, and included accessories are key factors to compare. You’ll also need to decide on placement to ensure proper drainage and stability. With a quality rain barrel, you can capture hundreds of gallons of free rainwater every year. This reduces the amount of water pulled from municipal sources for non-potable uses.
In this article, we will discuss the benefits of rain barrels and the features to look for when choosing the best system for your home. You’ll learn rain barrel basics like ideal size, positioning, and how to connect it to your downspouts. We’ll also provide tips to maintain your rain barrel so you can enjoy the rewards for many rainy seasons to come. Read on to learn how to select and set up the perfect rain barrel for your needs and budget. With the right system, you’ll be able to efficiently collect rainwater and make an eco-friendly impact.
Our Top Picks For 2025
The RTS Home Accents Polyethylene 50 Gallon Flat Back Eco Rain Barrel with Stand is an eco-friendly water storage solution designed for residential use. Built to last, this product offers a unique blend of functionality and aesthetic appeal.
Introducing the RTS Home Accents Polyethylene 50 Gallon Flat Back Eco Rain Barrel with Stand, a brilliant solution for homeowners seeking to conserve water and reduce their impact on the environment. This rain barrel is designed with a flat back, allowing it to sit flush against a wall, maximizing space and ensuring stability. It’s made from commercial grade, UV-stabilized polyethylene, promising durability and longevity.
Key Features and Benefits:
- 50 USG / 190 L Capacity: This rain barrel can hold up to 50 gallons of water, providing ample supply for your gardening needs.
- Durable Construction: Made from BPA-free commercial grade, 12-year UV stabilized polyethylene, this rain barrel is built to withstand harsh weather conditions and resist impacts.
- Eco-Friendly: Manufactured from 100% recycled materials, this rain barrel is an environmentally friendly way to conserve water.
- Stand Included: The RTS Home Accents Rain Barrel Stand raises the spigots further from the ground, making it easier to fill watering cans.
- Easy to Assemble: With easy-to-follow instructions, assembling this rain barrel is a breeze.
the RTS Home Accents Polyethylene 50 Gallon Flat Back Eco Rain Barrel with Stand is an investment in sustainability. Its functional design and durable build make it a valuable addition to any home.
The FCMP Outdoor RC45-BLK Rain Barrel is a 45-gallon water collector designed for efficient and sustainable watering of outdoor plants. With its practical design and environmentally friendly materials, this rain barrel provides an effective solution for garden irrigation.
The FCMP Outdoor RC45-BLK Rain Barrel is an excellent addition to any garden or landscape, aiming to conserve water and promote eco-friendly practices. This 45-gallon capacity barrel is constructed from 100% recycled, UV-inhibited, BPA-free polyethylene, demonstrating the manufacturer’s commitment to environmental sustainability.
Key Features and Benefits:
- Large Capacity: With a 45-gallon (170 L) capacity, this rain barrel can store a significant amount of rainwater for gardening needs.
- Inclusive Accessories: The product comes with a debris screen, garden hose, shut-off thumb valve, and hanging hose clip. These accessories enhance the usability and convenience of the product.
- Safe Design: The safety rib in the top of the barrel ensures it is safe for both children and pets.
- Durable Material: Made from 100% recycled, UV-inhibited, BPA-free polyethylene, this product is designed for longevity and resistance against wear and tear.
- Flat Back Design: The flat back and shallow depth allow for easy installation and placement of the downspout.
the FCMP Outdoor RC45-BLK Rain Barrel is an efficient and environmentally friendly solution for your watering needs. Its thoughtful design, coupled with its large capacity, makes it an ideal choice for any outdoor space.
The Good Ideas Wizard Rain Barrel is a 50-gallon rainwater collection system made of durable plastic with brass spigot. It allows you to save money and conserve water by collecting rainwater from your roof.
The Good Ideas Wizard Rain Barrel is an innovative rainwater harvesting system designed to help you save money on your water bill while also conserving water. Made by Good Ideas, a leader in sustainability products, this 50-gallon rain barrel provides an easy and efficient way to collect rainwater from your home’s roof.
Key Features and Benefits:
- Capacity: 50-gallon capacity allows you to collect a substantial amount of rainwater from each storm.
- Durable Construction: Made from plastic that won’t rot, crack or split like traditional wooden barrels. Stands up to all weather conditions.
- Brass Spigot: Comes with a brass spigot so you can easily connect a hose or use as an overflow.
- Water Bill Savings: Collecting and reusing rainwater reduces the amount of water needed from the city supply, helping lower your water bills.
- Environmental Benefits: Rainwater harvesting decreases demand on limited freshwater supplies and is easy on the environment.
The Good Ideas Wizard Rain Barrel is an excellent option for an eco-friendly and cost-effective rainwater collection system. It has the ample capacity, durable construction and convenient brass spigot to make rainwater harvesting easy for homeowners.
Stylish 50 gallon rain barrel with slate rock texture and integrated overflow channel. Comes with brass spigots and mesh screen to keep out debris. Can double as a planter.
The Good Ideas Impressions 50 Gallon Rain Saver Barrel is a beautifully designed rain barrel that adds flair to rainwater harvesting. With its unique slate rock texture, it looks like a work of art instead of a basic plastic barrel. This 50 gallon rain saver barrel has several useful features:
- Large 50 gallon capacity to collect rainwater from roof
- Integrated overflow channel diverts excess water to prevent flooding
- Fine mesh screen keeps out leaves and insects
- Two brass spigots for hose and watering can
- Can double as an attractive planter when not collecting rain
With its stylish design and ample capacity, the Good Ideas Impressions Rain Saver is an excellent choice for an eco-friendly and decorative way to harvest rainwater for your garden.
The Upcycle 55 Gallon Terra Cotta Rain Barrel is a high-density polyethylene container designed to harvest and store rainwater. This eco-friendly product can hold up to 55 gallons of water, perfect for garden irrigation or other domestic uses.
The Upcycle 55 Gallon Terra Cotta Rain Barrel is an excellent choice for homeowners looking to employ sustainable practices in their daily lives. Made from food-quality recycled high-density polyethylene, this rain barrel is both environmentally friendly and safe for use.
Key Features and Benefits:
- Large Capacity: With its generous 55-gallon capacity, this rain barrel can collect substantial amounts of rainwater, reducing your reliance on municipal water supplies and lowering your water bill.
- High-Quality Material: Constructed from high-density polyethylene (HDPE), this rain barrel is durable, weather-resistant, and made to last. It’s also made from food-grade materials, ensuring the safety of the collected water.
- Easy Installation: This rain barrel is equipped with a bottom spigot that fits a standard garden hose, making it easy to install and use.
- Connectable Design: The design allows for linking to other barrels, enabling you to increase your rainwater collection capacity as needed.
- Compact Shape: Its cylindrical shape and terra cotta color blend seamlessly into any garden or patio setting, offering functionality without compromising aesthetics.
the Upcycle 55 Gallon Terra Cotta Rain Barrel is a practical, sustainable solution for water conservation at home. Whether you’re watering your garden, washing your car, or simply storing emergency water supplies, this rain barrel delivers superior performance and reliability.
Durable 80-gallon rain barrel made from roto-molded plastic with authentic granite look and rock-like texture. Comes with brass spigot, screen, and bottom fitting. Features dual water overflows and decorative planter. Dimensions 48.5” H x 24” W.
The Algreen Products Athena Rain Barrel is an attractive and functional addition to any outdoor space. This rain barrel offers a generous 80-gallon capacity, providing a sustainable water source for gardens, lawns, and landscaping. Key features and benefits include:
- Durable Construction: Made from roto-molded plastic that won’t chip, crack or fade. BPA free.
- Authentic Look: Elegant design with granite-look exterior and rock-like texture for a natural aesthetic.
- Complete Package: Comes with high-quality brass spigot, corrosion-proof screen, and bottom fitting for hose attachment.
- Dual Overflow: Allows water to escape when full and enables linking multiple rain barrels.
- Decorative Planter: Built-in planter feature lets you grow flowers, herbs or veggies on top.
With its stylish design and ample storage capacity, the Algreen Athena Rain Barrel is ideal for environmentally-conscious homeowners looking to conserve water. It adds beauty while fulfilling an important practical purpose.
This 50 gallon rain barrel from Good Ideas collects rainwater from your downspout to conserve water usage. It includes a diverter kit to easily connect to your downspout. The BPA-free plastic barrel has a brass spigot for attaching a hose.
Harvesting rainwater with the Good Ideas Rain Wizard 50 Gallon Rain Barrel is an eco-friendly way to conserve water usage for gardening, washing cars, and other outdoor needs. This rain barrel features:
- 50 gallon capacity plastic rain barrel in khaki color
- Diverter kit for easy connection to standard 2″ x 3″ downspouts
- Sealed unit returns overflow water back into downspout
- BPA-free durable resin construction
- High quality brass spigot for attaching garden hose
- Overflow spout prevents water from spilling over the sides
- Flat back design sits flush against walls
- Raises on included stand for proper water flow
Collecting rainwater helps the environment by reducing runoff and erosion while providing a free sustainable water source for gardens, lawns, and other uses. The Good Ideas Rain Wizard 50 Gallon Rain Barrel is an attractive and affordable way to harvest rainwater for outdoor water needs.
The Rhino CLEARMATE Collapsible Rain Barrel is a 100-gallon portable rainwater collection system. This heavy-duty rain catcher barrel is made of durable 500D fabric and has a 0.55 mm UV-inhibited PVC coating to reliably hold up to 100 gallons. The rain barrel is lightweight, collapsible, and easy to transport.
The Rhino CLEARMATE Collapsible Rain Barrel is an ideal way to collect rainwater for watering gardens and lawns. This portable rain barrel has several features that make it convenient and easy to use:
- Large 100-gallon capacity holds plenty of water for multiple uses
- Collapsible design makes the rain barrel lightweight and easy to set up, take down, and store
- Heavy-duty 500D fabric construction with UV-protected PVC coating for durability
- Mesh screen on top keeps debris out of stored rainwater
- Overflow spout prevents overfilling
- Brass spigot connects directly to garden hose for easy watering
- Detailed instructions for quick and simple setup
The Rhino CLEARMATE rain barrel is a high-quality rainwater collection system that provides an efficient way to save water and lower your water bills. The collapsible design makes it easy to use this large-capacity rain barrel anywhere rainwater collection is needed.
This 55 gallon rain barrel from BayTec is ideal for collecting and storing rainwater for gardening and irrigation purposes. Made from durable food-grade polyethylene, it features a closed top design with two 2″ bung holes for access.
Harvesting rainwater with the BayTec 55 Gallon Rain Barrel is a great way to conserve water and reduce your environmental impact. This rainwater collection system is constructed of thick, high density polyethylene that won’t crack, fade, or leach chemicals. It has a sturdy and stable design perfect for outdoor installation.
Key Features and Benefits:
- Capacity: 55 gallon capacity provides ample rainwater storage for gardens and lawns
- Material: Durable food-grade polyethylene is BPA-free and ideal for rainwater collection
- Design: Closed top with two 2″ bung holes for easy access and filling; stable base
- Versatile: Perfect for using collected rainwater for irrigation, gardening, washing, and more
- Conservation: Harvesting rain reduces runoff and helps conserve water usage
- Easy Setup: Install under gutter downspouts and connect to existing irrigation system
With its ample 55 gallon capacity and durable polyethylene construction, the BayTec Rain Barrel is ideal for any home looking to conserve water and reduce environmental impact through rainwater collection. It offers an easy and efficient way to capture rain to use for gardening, irrigation, and other outdoor water needs.
The Oatey Mystic Rainwater Collection System is an easy-to-install rain barrel diverter kit that directs rainwater from your downspout into a rain barrel for water collection and reuse. Made from durable UV-resistant plastic. Fits standard 2″ x 3″ residential downspouts.
The Oatey Mystic Rainwater Collection System is the perfect way to save and reuse rainwater from your roof. This simple rain barrel diverter kit allows you to easily set up a rainwater harvesting system to irrigate your garden, wash your car, or conserve water usage for other outdoor needs.
Key Features and Benefits:
- Fits standard 2″ x 3″ residential downspouts for easy installation
- UV-resistant plastic construction is durable for long-lasting use
- Efficiently directs rainwater from downspout into rain barrel
- Comes with 4 ft high flow hose to connect diverter to rain barrel
- Red outlet plug stops water flow when disconnected
- Can be painted to match downspout color
Collect and reuse free rainwater for your home and garden with the Oatey Mystic Rainwater Collection System. This affordable and easy-to-install kit is the perfect way to set up your own rainwater harvesting system.
