Best Rain Barrels. Environmentally-Friendly Water Collection

Rain barrels have become very important garden tools. As conservation efforts increase due to drought, population increases, and reduced fresh water sources, rain barrels are an environmentally-friendly way to recycle gray water and clean our aquifers. Whether you’re watering your lawn or plants, washing the car, or trying to save money and conserve in general, rain barrels are a simple, great choice. After a thorough examination of several water collection barrels, we have determined that the best rain barrels are the Oak 40-Gallon Rain Wizard from Good Ideas. It has a roto-molded resin plastic shell and high-quality aesthetics that make it look great in the garden.

These fully-featured barrels have a front overflow screen which can help divert water away from your foundation, which is always a plus. The Rain Wizard stands above the rest in terms of (assembly, basic functions, features, taking care of it, longevity, etc. And the fact that this barrel is not terribly expensive is a real plus! For a complete review of this barrel, see our Product Reviews section below.

The Algreen Castilla Rain Barrel is our runner-up out of the 5 rain barrels we reviewed. Coming in at 50-gallons, it is the perfect in-between size, whereas Algreen’s other line, the Cascata, is significantly larger at 65-gallons, which is perhaps too large for many users’ needs. This boasts one of the most aesthetically pleasing options out of all the rain barrels on our list, with a unique pottery texture and planing area to help it fit into the garden decor more subtle than other rain barrels. For a detailed review of the Castilla Rain Barrel, see below. For further reading, see our full review of the Castilla Rain Barrel here.

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Rain Barrel Reviews

In this section, we look closely at five different lines of rain barrels. We consider the aesthetics, sizing, build quality, eco-friendliness, and price, in order to pick our favorites.

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RTS Home Accents 50-Gallon ECO Rain Water Collection Barrel, Made with 100% Recycled Plastic and Plastic Spigot

The RTS Home Accents line of 50-gallon rain barrels has a great look and some nice features. And with color three options to choose from, many homeowners will find the right color for their needs here.

Key Points at a Glance

• 50-gallon capacity
• Made from 100% recycled plastic (Eco model only)
• Three color options
• Plastic spigot for draining/hose (Eco only)
• Plastic screen to keep out bugs
• Flat back design to sit flush against the side of the house
• Ability to be linked to other barrels to increase total water collection
• Front side overflow to prevent flooding against back wall
• [RTS Home Accent’s Warranty information](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/7129fo86fxS.pdf?tag=outsidemodern-rev-20)

Dimensions

24 x 19 x 34 inches

Item weight18 pounds

Shipping weight22 pounds

The RTS rain barrel line has three color options, two of which look quite nice, and one of which (the black) is an ECO version made of recycled plastic, and while it is not the most aesthetically beautiful, is the most environmentally friendly, and most economical as well. The ECO version of the rain barrel is certainly focused on both a low environmental footprint and low cost. It is made of recycled plastic, including the spigot and screen. The higher end, less-eco focused models have brass spigots and metal screens, which are a nice step up, though less environmentally friendly. Capable of storing 50 gallons of water, it isn’t the largest collection barrel we’ll review but it isn’t the smallest either. To put it in perspective, the average capacity usually ranges between 40 and 70 gallons, so you may consider this on the smaller side. Aesthetically, these RTS barrels should fit in almost anywhere without drawing attention to themselves. There are a few potential shortcomings with this particular rain barrel as noted by its users. One of the major issues to arise was the spigot where you would normally attach a garden hose; the problem is that the barrel isn’t properly sized to fit a normal garden hose, meaning you need a separate attachment. Beyond this small nuisance, others have mentioned it bowing at the back when full, or cracking in storage and it draining a bit on the slow side.

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Good Ideas RW40-OAK Rain Wizard Rain Barrel 40-Gallon

The Good Ideas Rain Wizard line of Rain Barrels are our favorite option among rain barrels, for a variety of reasons. These 40-gallon beauties are quite attractive, made from rot0-molded resin plastic, and look great. They feature a brass spigot and a flat rear so that the barrel sits comfortably against the side of the house.

Key Points at a Glance

• 40-gallon capacity
• Available in 5 color options
• Brass spigot
• Underwent rotational molding as to help make it sturdier and prevent cracking
• Flat back design to help sit flush against a wall, such as the side of your house
• Screen to help keep out insects and other debris

For their warranty information, you must make a request to Amazon for their manufacturer’s warranty.

Dimensions

28.2 x 22 x 21.5 inches

Item weight23 pounds

Shipping weight29.8 pounds

This Oak Rain Barrel from Good Ideas is the first we will review that underwent a process of rotational molding, or roto-molding for short. Rotational molding gets its name from the development process, where a heated hollow mold is filled and then rotated, causing the material to stick to the walls. This process is continued all the way until it cools down, and it offers a few significant advantages. The primary one is that it helps reduce overall stress on the unit, which means it will be less likely to crack from heavyweight, overuse, or regular wear and tear. It can also help reduce the cost. This rain barrel features a brass spigot, which is heavy duty and fits a garden hose perfectly, not posing the same problem that the recycled plastic barrel from Home Accent does. One of the more common questions regarding this barrel and others is whether or not the top can be removed from the unit. In this case, it cannot, but the 6” x 8” screen can be removed, allowing for some access inside. Besides this small screen, there is a screen near the top front of the barrel, allowing for overflow. Though there is a screen on these barrels, you should probably pick up get Summit mosquito dunks for these barrels to ensure that you don’t inadvertently cause an infestation.

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Algreen Products Castilla Rain Barrel 50-Gallon

The Algreen (note: not Al Green!) Castilla Rain barrel is another one of our favorite barrels, with several significant features that make it so attractive. Instead of going for a faux-wine barrel look, Algreen has chosen to mimic a pottery look with the Castilla line, and it looks fantastic! These even have a spot on the top for a small plant, which adds to the overall disguising effect.

Key Points at a Glance

• 50-gallon capacity
• Pottery-like texture
• Available in 5 color options
• Roto-molded plastic to help prevent cracking and ensure longevity
• Brass spigot
• Corrosion proof screen
• Separate bottom piece attachment which can allow access to all the water in the unit at once
• Optional linking kit allowing multiple barrels to be linked together

For their warranty information, you must make a request to Amazon for their manufacturer’s warranty.

Dimensions

23 x 23 x 33 inches

Item weight16.9 pounds

Shipping weight16.9 pounds

Our first barrel was mostly made of recycled plastic; the second barrel we reviewed was roto-molded but had an exterior design resembling oak. This barrel from Algreen is created from roto-molded plastic with an exterior resembling pottery texture. It has a dual water overflow at the top, allowing for overflow and linking with other barrels using Algreen’s linking kit, sold separately, and can be pressurized with the Algreen Pump Kit (see here for more information on the pump kit). It also comes with an area that remains damp to enable you to place a plant on the barrel!. The design is more on the elegant side, blending inconspicuously as a potted plant rather than a large rain collection barrel. With several colors to choose from, you can easily get the perfect look for your garden. Functionally, one feature that sets this apart is the removable bottom fitting attachment, which means it is capable of emptying all of the water at once. Some rain barrels are notorious for draining quite slow, so if you are in a hurry or just need to empty it somewhere, the removable attachment should help out.

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Algreen Products Cascata Rain Barrel 65-Gallon

The Algreen Cascata rain barrel line is extremely similar to the Castilla line above, though it has a larger capacity, at 65 gallons, and has only three colors to choose from. Like the Castilla, one can place a plant on the top to turn this rain barrel into a lovely garden planter.

Key Points at a Glance

• 65-gallon capacity
• Pottery-like texture
• Roto-molded plastic to help prevent cracking and ensure longevity
• Three Color options
• Brass spigot

Dimensions

24 x 24 x 46 inches

Item weight24 pounds

Shipping weight45 pounds

Algreen’s Cascata Rain Barrel is the largest of the barrels being reviewed, coming in with a massive 65-gallon capacity. It is quite similar to their Castilla Rain Barrel in design, which we examined above, but has some distinct differences. The first is the capacity, boasting a difference of 15 gallons (Castilla only had a capacity of 50 gallons). Next is the color palette, with three choices (gray, terra cotta, and brown) as opposed to five from the Castilla line. Besides that, this shares many of the same basic features as the other rain barrels - ability to be linked to other barrels for greater water collection, a screen over the top to keep out bugs and children, and dual water overflow. However, Algreen is the only company to have a removable bottom attachment in their rain barrels, as seen in this one as well as their Castilla barrel.

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Great American Rain Barrel

The Great American Rain Barrel is what many people think of when they think of rain barrels – a rather unsightly plastic drum that sits in the corner of the yard. While these have a decent capacity and acceptable features, they aren’t cheap for their quality and don’t even come close to the aesthetics of the other products on our round-up.

Key Points at a Glance

• 60-gallon capacity
• Created from recycled food grade plastic resin
• Unfinished look for the option to do it yourself
• Capable of linking to other barrels

For warranty information regarding the Great American Barrel, contact the seller directly.

Dimensions

39 x 22 x 22 inches

Item weight24 pounds

Shipping weight24 pounds

The Great American Rain Barrel is the second largest of the rain barrels we will be reviewing today, coming in at 60 gallons. Similar to the first barrel we reviewed, the ECO barrel from Home Accent, this is also made from recycled plastic. It touts an unfinished look which can be a good or bad thing depending on the angle you come from. If you don’t mind putting in a little extra work to touch it up or finish it, you could turn it into something half-way attractive (though painting plastic is a hassle). If you just want to assemble it and completely forget about it, then this may not be the most aesthetically pleasing piece of equipment in your yard. Like others, it can be linked to other rain barrels with a special garden hose, which is not included. The spigot and connection materials are made of plastic and are not as high quality as those made of brass.

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Rain Barrel Buyer’s Guide

In this section, we will consider a few of the major aspects that need to be considered when purchasing a rain barrel.

Sizing Your Rain Barrel

You’ll want to get the right sized barrel for your roof, and for your garden needs. To determine the size of a rain barrel, look at the area of the roof that drains down the downspout you intend to hook up. From there, you can use this handy calculator to see how much water the barrel will receive in a given storm (e.g. a 1“ rainfall storm). From there, you can size out all of your barrels.

Connecting Your Rain Barrel to the Downspout

In order to connect your rain barrel to the downspout, you will need a rain barrel diverter kit. These come in many different designs, and depending on your needs, can be quite inexpensive and easy to install. One of the important aspects to consider is what happens when your rain barrel fills up. Some diverters are designed to revert water flow down the downspout and away from the house when the barrel is full. Others just continue to pour water out, which can lead to basement water problems if you’re not careful!

Linking Multiple Rain Barrels

Most of the rain barrels on our list today can be linked together in such a way that when one fills up completely, water is automatically routed to the next rain barrel, and it is filled as well. This sort of design can be great for collecting significant water during those big storms, but you’ll still need to be aware of what happens when that final barrel is filled. Does the water just spill out on the ground, or is it routed back to the downspout? If it pours out on the ground, you will need to grade around the final barrel to ensure that water flows away from the house.

Winter Storage

Generally, rain barrels are not used in winter, as downspouts freeze, and any water in the rain barrel can freeze and cause the barrel itself to crack. Consequently, you’ll probably want a diverter that is easy to disconnect and reconnect, so that you’re ready to connect up that barrel to collect as much rainwater as possible once that first big thaw hits!

Build Quality Considerations

Generally, those rain barrels with brass spigots and steel screens are of higher quality than those with plastic spigots and plastic screens. The freeze-thaw cycle will gradually wear away at plastic fittings, and over time these will likely fail and start to leak, at least sooner than brass will. Going with brass will buy you some time, though you could start out with plastic, and when it fails, simply purchase a new brass fitting, and replace the existing fitting with brass. You won’t need a whole new rain barrel. This path can keep the price down, to begin with, and still give you a high-quality rain barrel to use.

Mosquito Protection

Standing water, even small buckets and pools, can be ideal breeding grounds for mosquitos. This environment can be extremely hazardous, as mosquitoes can carry deadly diseases, and are just all around nuisances! Most of the rain barrels on our list have screens to protect against mosquito invasion, but it is almost always wise to pick up some Summit Mosquito Dunks to give a little extra protection to the rain barrel, and to be a good neighbor!

Conclusion

It is not common for outdoor home improvement products to be decided on by aesthetics, but this is the rare exception. Given the simplicity of rain barrels, once basic functioning is achieved, this is ultimately what it comes down to. Some do have advantages over others, as you see with those that have rotational molding to help ensure durability and longevity, and higher quality spigots and screens are certainly a great help. While all of these barrels achieve basic functionality and can be used based on your preference, the Rain Wizard by Good Ideas is a great option, and in our opinion, is the best rain barrel around!

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