6 Best Rain Barrels for Gardens (October 2026) Reviews & Picks

The Step2 Lakewood Rain Barrel with Stand is the best overall rain barrel for a home garden because it holds 60 gallons, ships with its stand, and includes a brass spigot and a stainless steel mesh screen, so a watering can fits under the tap without extra parts. A rain barrel collects roof runoff from a downspout and stores it for watering plants, and the lists below are mostly 50 and 55 gallon flat-back barrels from RTS Home Accents that sit flush against a wall. If your garden needs several fills a week, plan on linking more than one barrel.

Quick List

• RTS 50-Gallon ECO Rain Barrel, Black – best for recycled-plastic construction and a flat-back fit against the wall
• RTS 50-Gallon Rain Barrel with Brass Spigot, Walnut – best for a wood-look finish with a brass tap
• RTS 50-Gallon ECO Rain Barrel with Stand, Black – best for a recycled-plastic barrel that comes with a stand
• RTS 50-Gallon Rain Barrel with Brass Spigot, Oak – best for a lighter oak color that blends with fences and siding
• Step2 Lakewood Rain Barrel with Stand, 60 Gallon – best for the most capacity and a ready-to-use stand
• RTS Premium 55-Gallon Rain Barrel with Removable Lid – best for easy access to the water through a lid that comes off

Which One Is Right for You?

The stand is the biggest practical difference. A raised barrel lets you slide a watering can under the spigot and gives a hose a little more pressure, while a barrel on the ground may need a platform you build or buy. After that, choose the color and the style of opening that fits how you water.

All 6 Picks in Detail

1. RTS 50-Gallon ECO Rain Barrel, Black – Best for Recycled Plastic

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#1 Pick

RTS Home Accents 50-Gallon ECO Rain Barrel Made with 100% Recycled Plastic, Flat Back Rain Water Collection Barrel, Black

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The RTS ECO barrel is described as made with 100 percent recycled plastic, a flat-back design that sits against a house wall or downspout, and a 50 gallon capacity in black. It suits gardeners who want a no-frills barrel, care about recycled content, and already have a platform or plan to build one. Black is a neutral color that disappears against dark siding.

The listing title does not mention a stand or a spigot material, so confirm what is included on the product page.

• Capacity: 50 gallons
• Material: recycled plastic, per the listing
• Shape: flat back, designed to sit against a wall
• Color: black
• Spigot type, screen and overflow fitting: confirm on listing

Where it works best is beside a downspout on a side wall, with a sturdy paver base underneath. Because the back is flat, it leaves more walking room along a narrow side yard than a round barrel. The recycled plastic also makes it a reasonable option for gardeners who prefer to reuse materials rather than buy virgin plastic.

Pros

• Recycled plastic content
• Flat back saves space against a wall
• Neutral black color

Cons

• Stand is not named in the listing title
• Smaller than the Step2

It is the stand-free alternative to the next ECO model, which is the same capacity with a stand.

2. RTS 50-Gallon Rain Barrel with Brass Spigot, Walnut – Best for a Wood Look

#2 Pick

RTS Home Accents 50-Gallon Rain Barrel with Brass Spigot, Flat Back Rain Water Collection Barrel, Walnut Color

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This RTS barrel offers a 50 gallon capacity, a brass spigot named in the title and a walnut color finish, on the same flat-back design. A brass spigot is a durable fitting that stands up to repeated use and cold weather better than many plastic taps. The walnut finish suits a deck, a wood fence or a brown-trimmed house.

The listing does not mention a stand, so budget for a platform that can hold the weight of a full barrel.

• Capacity: 50 gallons
• Spigot: brass, per the listing
• Shape: flat back
• Color: walnut
• Stand, screen and material: confirm on listing

A brass tap lets you attach a short hose or a faucet extension without worrying about the thread stripping. Walnut is the darker of the two wood-look finishes and shows less dirt and algae film on a shaded side of the house. Check the product page for the opening size and whether a diverter or overflow hose is included.

Pros

• Brass spigot is durable
• Walnut color blends with wood decks

Cons

• No stand mentioned
• Smaller capacity than the Step2 or Premium barrel

It differs from the oak model only by color, so choose by what matches your house and fence.

3. RTS 50-Gallon ECO Rain Barrel with Stand, Black – Best for a Barrel Plus Stand

#3 Pick

RTS Home Accents 50-Gallon ECO Rain Barrel Made with 100% Recycled Plastic, Flat Back Rain Water Collection Barrel, Stand Included, Black

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This version of the ECO barrel adds “stand included” to the recycled plastic, flat-back, 50 gallon, black package. The stand is the main reason to choose it: elevating the barrel gives you clearance for a can or bucket and helps water flow out of the spigot. That is a considerable convenience over a barrel that you need to raise on blocks.

Confirm on the listing how the stand attaches and what weight it is rated for, because a full 50 gallon barrel holds roughly 417 pounds of water.

• Capacity: 50 gallons
• Material: recycled plastic, per the listing
• Stand: included, per the listing
• Shape and color: flat back, black
• Spigot, screen and overflow fittings: confirm on listing

If you are starting from scratch, the included stand removes the main installation question, which is where to put the barrel and what to put it on. Set it on a level patch of packed gravel or a row of paving slabs, line up the inlet under the downspout, and trim the downspout to fit. Keep the overflow pointed away from the house.

Pros

• Stand included
• Recycled plastic content
• Flat back fits snugly

Cons

• Capacity is lower than the Step2
• Stand details need confirming

It is the closest rival to the Step2 Lakewood, which offers 10 more gallons and a confirmed brass spigot.

4. RTS 50-Gallon Rain Barrel with Brass Spigot, Oak – Best for a Light Wood Color

#4 Pick

RTS Home Accents 50-Gallon Rain Water Collection Barrel with Brass Spigot, Oak Color

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The oak colored RTS barrel is a 50 gallon rain water collection barrel with a brass spigot. It is the lightest of the wood-look options, a good match for cedar fences, tan siding or a garden shed. The title does not state whether it is flat back, so confirm the shape and the stand status on the product page.

Like its walnut sibling, it relies on the brass spigot for durability. It is a straightforward collection barrel without extras named in the title.

• Capacity: 50 gallons
• Spigot: brass, per the listing
• Color: oak
• Function: rain water collection barrel
• Shape, stand, screen and overflow: confirm on listing

The lighter oak color suits the side of a house with tan or cream siding, a cedar fence or a shed. As with the walnut version, plan to buy or build a platform. A level base of pavers topped with a layer of sand is a simple option that holds the weight of a full barrel and keeps the base from sinking after heavy rain.

Pros

• Brass spigot
• Light color blends with many exteriors

Cons

• Few features named in the title
• Needs a platform

Choose it over the walnut barrel only if you prefer the lighter finish; the capacity and spigot are the same.

5. Step2 Lakewood Rain Barrel with Stand, 60 Gallon – Best for Capacity and Convenience

#5 Pick

Step2 Lakewood Rain Barrel with Stand, Outdoor Water Conservation Container, Holds 60 Gallons, Brown

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The Step2 Lakewood is a 60 gallon barrel in a brown finish with a stand. Manufacturer information describes double-walled plastic construction, an inset three-quarter inch brass spigot, a stainless steel micro mesh screen and a top opening that fits standard downspouts. It can be linked to other barrels for more storage and overflow handling. Assembled, Step2 lists the barrel at about 46 inches tall, 24 inches wide and 20 inches deep, and about 34 pounds empty.

The stand raises the spigot so a watering can fits underneath. Step2 notes that a full barrel weighs roughly 500 pounds, so the stand must sit on a firm, level surface.

• Capacity: 60 gallons
• Size: about 46 x 24 x 20 inches, per the manufacturer
• Spigot: three-quarter inch brass, inset design
• Screen: stainless steel micro mesh
• Stand: included; linking supported for multiple barrels

The extra ten gallons over the RTS barrels matter more than they sound: that is a full additional watering can fill or two. Combined with the stand and the built-in screen, it is the easiest barrel here to set up and use. If you add a second barrel, link the two so the overflow from the first fills the other instead of running onto the ground.

Pros

• Largest capacity on the list
• Stand, brass spigot and screen are all included
• Linkable with more barrels

Cons

• Taller than the flat-back barrels, so it needs more floor space
• Not listed as flat back, so it may not sit flush against a wall

It beats the RTS ECO with Stand on capacity and documented fittings, while the RTS flat-back models are better where depth is limited.

6. RTS Premium 55-Gallon Rain Barrel with Removable Lid – Best for Easy Top Access

#6 Pick

RTS Home Accents Premium 55-Gallon Rain Barrel with Removable Lid, Flat Back Rain Water Collection Barrel, Woodgrain with Black Stripes

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The Premium model holds 55 gallons, has a flat back, a removable lid and a woodgrain finish with black stripes. A removable lid lets you dip a watering can or bucket into the barrel, clean the inside, or check the water level. It is also useful for scooping out leaves and sediment at the end of the season.

If you use the lid to dip water, be careful to keep it secure whenever you are not in the garden, so that children, pets and mosquitoes cannot get in. Confirm the screen and downspout opening on the product page.

• Capacity: 55 gallons
• Shape: flat back
• Lid: removable
• Finish: woodgrain with black stripes
• Spigot, stand and screen: confirm on listing

If you water with a bucket and a can instead of a hose, the removable lid is a real time saver, because you can dip straight in from above. Check how the lid fits and whether it locks, then keep it in place whenever you leave the yard. A screened inlet or a fine mesh cloth over the opening helps keep leaves and insects out while the lid is off.

Pros

• Larger than the standard RTS 50 gallon barrels
• Removable lid for scooping and cleaning

Cons

• A loose lid needs to be kept secure
• Stand is not named in the title

It sits between the 50 gallon RTS barrels and the 60 gallon Step2 in capacity, with the easiest access of the group.

Specs Compared

How We Chose These

We started with the six barrels provided for this guide and compared them on capacity, shape, whether a stand is included, spigot material, finish and the features the listing names. We read listing titles and the Step2 manufacturer specification pages, and consulted general rain barrel guidance on sizing, water use and safe handling. We also weighed practical details that affect daily use, such as whether you can fit a watering can under the tap and whether a stand is part of the package. We did not fill or use any of the barrels ourselves, so descriptions stick to what the listings and manufacturers state. When a listing is silent on a detail, such as the screen or overflow fitting, we say to confirm it on the product page rather than assume it.

What to Look For

Capacity and How Many Barrels You Need

Barrels in this guide hold 50 to 60 gallons. Rain collection adds up faster than most people expect: one inch of rain on one square foot of roof yields about 0.62 gallons. A 500 square foot section of roof draining to a single downspout therefore produces about 310 gallons in a one-inch storm, enough to fill five 60 gallon barrels. Even a light 0.2 inch shower fills a 60 gallon barrel from that same section. A typical vegetable bed needs roughly an inch of water a week, which is about 0.62 gallons per square foot, so one 60 gallon barrel waters roughly 100 square feet of garden for a week. If that is not enough, link barrels together so the overflow from the first fills the next.

Stand, Height and Weight

Water weighs about 8.3 pounds per gallon, so a full 50 gallon barrel carries over 400 pounds and a full 60 gallon barrel about 500 pounds. The stand and the ground beneath it must be level and firm. Raising the barrel also helps: a spigot a foot or two above the ground gives you room for a watering can and a little head pressure for a hose, though a rain barrel will not match tap pressure. If a listing does not include a stand, plan on concrete pavers or a purpose-built platform.

Spigot, Screen and Overflow

Brass spigots resist wear and are less likely to crack in the cold than cheap plastic ones. A fine mesh screen over the inlet, such as the stainless micro mesh on the Step2, keeps out leaves, debris and mosquitoes. Look for an overflow port or a hose connection so that excess water is directed away from the foundation instead of pooling at the base of the barrel. Confirm each of these on the product page where the listing does not name them.

Safe Use and Seasonal Care

Rain barrel water is for the garden, not for drinking, cooking or filling a pool for people, because roof runoff can carry bird droppings, dust and shingle residue. Many extension services advise watering the soil rather than the leaves of edible plants. Keep the lid or screen secure to stop mosquitoes from breeding. In freezing climates, drain the barrel in late fall, disconnect it from the downspout and store it upside down or open so ice does not crack it. Place the barrel on level, stable ground, and keep children away from open tops.

Installing a Barrel at the Downspout

Choose a downspout that drains a decent roof area and sits near the garden. Set the barrel on a level, solid base so the inlet lines up with the downspout, then mark and cut the downspout about an inch above the barrel’s inlet, or use a diverter kit that sends water in and returns the overflow to the downspout. Aim the overflow hose away from the foundation by at least several feet. Check the connection after the first heavy rain, and clean the screen every few weeks in leaf season. A barrel that is full most of the time delivers little benefit, so use the water regularly between storms.

Your roof matters, too. Rain from asphalt shingle, metal and tile roofs is generally fine for ornamental beds and lawns, but runoff from treated wood shake roofs or roofs with moss-killing zinc strips may not be suitable for vegetables. Let the first few minutes of a storm wash the roof before you collect, because that first flush carries the most dust and bird droppings. Many gardeners disconnect the barrel inlet during the first light rain after a dry spell, or use a diverter with a first-flush option. When you fill a can, use it within a few days, since stored water can turn stale in warm weather.

Finally, check local rules. Some areas encourage rain barrels with rebates or free workshops, while a few place limits on rainwater collection. A quick look at your city or county website will confirm what applies where you live.

Questions

How much does a full rain barrel weigh?

Water weighs about 8.3 pounds per gallon, so a 50 gallon barrel holds roughly 417 pounds of water and a 60 gallon barrel about 500 pounds. Step2 gives a similar figure for its Lakewood barrel.

Can I drink the water from a rain barrel?

No. Water from a roof is not treated for drinking. Use it for plants, washing tools or rinsing the patio.

Is a stand necessary?

A stand is not strictly required, but it makes the barrel far easier to use. It raises the spigot for a watering can and helps water flow. If the barrel has no stand, build a firm, level platform.

How do I stop mosquitoes?

Keep a fine mesh screen over the inlet and a tight lid or cover on any opening. Empty and refill the barrel regularly, and fix any gaps around the downspout connection.

What should I do with the barrel in winter?

In areas that freeze, drain it fully before the first hard frost, disconnect it from the downspout and store it open or inverted. Ice expansion can crack a full barrel.

Can I link two barrels together?

Step2 says the Lakewood can be linked with other barrels for extra storage and overflow handling. For other models, check the product page for linking ports before you plan a multi-barrel setup.

Update History

• October 20, 2026 – Initial publication; product set drawn from current catalog listings.
• Check the product page for current specifications and availability before buying.

Sources

• Manufacturer product and specification pages for Step2 (Lakewood Rain Barrel)
• Retailer listing titles and specification fields for each product
• General rain barrel sizing and safe-use guidance from garden extension resources