Best rain barrel

When it rains, you can capitalize on free water for your garden, yard work, or washing your car with a rain barrel. These containers sit under one of your gutter downspouts and collect the rainwater that would normally end up flooding a section of your lawn or running down your driveway. However, you might be worried about having a large reservoir of standing water near your home, but there's no need because rain barrels are designed to keep pests out. So, which style should you buy? Read on to find out.

Adding an oak barrel to your yard would look cool as it weathered the elements, but it wouldn't be the best place to store rainwater. Instead, opt for this plastic rain barrel that has the appearance of an oak finish. Our favorite feature of this option is the flat back. Since it's not round on all sides, this rain barrel will sit flush against a wall or fence. And surprisingly, the flat side doesn't distract from the barrel look.

This rain barrel offers easy assembly and has features that make safety a top priority. For starters, the barrel's top has a large mesh screen inside it and also a hub and spoke pattern to keep children and animals from falling into it. When you're ready to use the reservoir, unclip the included hose, and you'll have access to your (free) rainwater reserves. Additionally, if you have the opportunity to collect a lot of rainwater, you might consider linking more barrels. 

Most rain barrels have only one function: store water. However, this option has a planter area at the top, adding charm and helping it fit in with your other garden items. The thatched design wrapped around the exterior offers a natural look, but it's entirely made of plastic to withstand the elements. You can hook a hose up to the lower spigot to gain pressure when watering and fill your buckets or sprinkling cans from the slightly higher one so you don't strain your back. And you can store 50 gallons at a time, so you'll save on your water bill. 

Rainwater collection can sometimes be a dirty business. To prevent buildup in your rain barrel, you may need to give the inside a good clean now and then. This Fiskars barrel is easy to maintain and is recyclable if you ever decide to leave it behind. As a bonus, it comes with a built-in elevated spigot and a diverter, so you won't need to run to the hardware store to grab these. We also think the polyethylene material is a good choice since the barrel will be sitting in and collecting the elements.

Choosing a rain barrel

Our top pick is the RTS Companies Inc Home Accents rainwater collection barrel. While it doesn't look too fancy, it's very good at getting the job done—and that's what's important, right? It sits against fencing and walls due to the flat-back design and has one spigot at the front. The screen at the top will keep gutter debris and insects from invading the water storage area. 

We also want to give an honorable mention to the Good Ideas Impressions Nantucket rain saver. Who knew a place to store water could have multiple functions and look good at the same time? Evidently, Good Ideas did, and that's why this option exists. We think the planter at the top is the perfect spot for thirsty ferns or your favorite flowers. What will you plant there?

Why trust us?

At GardeningEtc, we recommend the best products to enhance your life. As expert curators, we handpick products based on quality and usefulness to positively impact your day-to-day, from cart to doorstep. We take our responsibility seriously — testing products, reading reviews, and sourcing knowledgeable outlets to ensure our selections are worthy of your time and money. We deliver detailed product overviews, balancing objective information with subjective opinions, so making the best choice for your home and lifestyle is as easy as possible.