Best rain barrels

The best rain barrels will make it easy to stock up on a sustainable water supply. These barrels will blend easily into your yard and collect rain water from your gutters or garden space, and they come with hose attachments to make it easy to use your rain barrel to water your plants or keep your lawn green. 

Our top pick, the COMMYEE 66 Gallon Rain Barrel Foldable Tank, is entirely collapsible so you can use it as and when you need it. It also has a massive capacity, but the tanks in our guide come as small as five gallons. 

The 66-gallon rain barrel from VINGLI folds down to make it easier to store when you’re not using it. There is also a 50-gallon and a 100-gallon option available. This barrel has a small opening on top to allow water to fall into it. It also has a mesh lining to keep debris out, and a second filter that removes more debris as the water is used.The COMMYEE 66 Gallon Rain Barrel Foldable Tank has a spigot with an on/off faucet switch that makes it easier to get the water out and use it. There is also an overflow spout to ensure this barrel doesn’t get too full. 

One of the best features in the BLUMAT Water Reservoir rain barrel is its HDPE food-grade plastic construction. It comes with high quality spigots already installed, which is perfect for those who don't want to deal with construction. The lid comes with the barrel, and it features an opaque lining which is designed to keep algae out, and prevent sunlight from reaching your water. It's got a rather small capacity, but this is great for avid gardeners. 

The Eagle 1656MBBG Straight-Sided Drum can be used to hold hazardous waste securely, so it's a top choice for keeping water secure and uncontaminated for use in emergencies such as power cuts and shortages. It is hard to dispense water from this barrel, but it will be there if and when you need it. 

Take the Etna portable rain barrel with you to collect water on camping or hiking trips to ensure you have a good source of water. This rain barrel collapses smaller so it’s easier to transport. It’s made from tarpaulin, the same material used to make tarps. There is a small, screened opening on top of the barrel to collect water and a spigot at the bottom with an on and off switch to get the water out. You can attach a hose to the spigot which makes it easier to water lawns and gardens or fill containers with. 

Some rain barrels include a downspout kit, but in case yours doesn’t have one, we recommend this Oatey Mystic Rainwater Collection System. This attaches to your existing gutter downspout and diverts enough water to your rain barrel while allowing excess moisture to continue down the spout. It is made from white PVC plastic that is UV-resistant, but it can also be painted to match your existing gutters. It also has a hi-flow hose included just in case you can’t get your rain barrel close enough to the downspout. The hose will ensure water is properly collected. 

Reduce, reuse and recycle

The COMMYEE 66 Gallon Rain Barrel Foldable Tank is our top choice of rain barrel, because it comes with smart features such as an on/off faucet and overflow spout. We've also included smaller barrels such as the BLUMAT Water Reservoir, which has five gallons in capacity. It's perfect for use in gardening because its color prevents sunlight from reaching the water, and keeps algae levels low. For this and the Etna portable rain barrel, you'll need the Oatey Mystic Rainwater Collection System to collect water from your gutters. 

If you just want a rain barrel for storing water, the Eagle 1656MBBG Straight-Sided Drum is the best choice. It is super secure and will keep your water in perfect condition for when you need it.