Best Rain Barrels of 2026

Two side spigots, a mesh screen, and a linking kit arrive with the Raincatcher 4000, and that completeness is why it is our default. The 50-gallon body has a flat back and a wide opening, so it sits close to the house without making the downspout connection a puzzle. We like that one barrel can serve a hose on one side and a watering can on the other.

The wide top screen is easy to lift and rinse, and the side spigots sit where a hose can be threaded without crawling behind the barrel. We appreciated that the linking kit was in the box; it turns a second barrel from a future project into a same-afternoon job. The overflow hose is equally practical, since it gives the excess water somewhere to go besides the foundation. We also liked the gray color, which reads as a utility barrel without calling attention to itself.

One practical check: the barrel is 32 inches tall and 25 pounds empty, so the downspout needs to end above the screen rather than at the side of the drum. We set ours on a level patio and left room for the overflow hose to run downhill. Once full, the 50-gallon body is not something to drag, so decide on the spot before you fill it. The screen is the part to check after a storm; leaves collect there before they reach the water.

The Premium 55 has a removable lid, a flat back, a brass spigot, and an aluminum screen. The 55-gallon body is finished in woodgrain with black stripes, so it is meant to pass for a wooden barrel rather than a plain plastic tank. It is 33.5 inches tall and 28 pounds empty, so one person can set it before filling.

We found the lid useful for reaching in with a brush or a small bucket, and the brass spigot is a nicer touch than the plastic taps on cheaper barrels. The woodgrain finish is the other draw; it hides the plastic better than a plain color, especially against a fence or shed. The flat back also lets it sit close to siding without a wide gap.

We think the Premium 55 is the pick for someone who wants easier cleaning and a more finished look, and who does not need the raised stand. The 55-gallon capacity sits between the 50-gallon barrels and the 60-gallon Lakewood, so it is a middle choice on storage. The removable lid is the feature that earns it a place. If the barrel will sit beside a deck, the finish is worth the extra care; if it will be behind a shed, a plainer barrel does the same job.

A 4-inch planter sits on top of the Nantucket, and the barrel's dark brown body is meant to be seen rather than hidden. The 50-gallon drum has a mesh screen, two metal spigots, and a routed overflow channel that sends excess water to the front instead of toward the foundation. The barrel is 32 inches tall and 23.25 inches square, so it needs a real corner rather than a gap between shrubs.

We think the planter earns its place if the barrel is going beside a deck or a front walk. In our testing, the two spigots were the more useful feature: one takes a hose, the other fills a tall bucket without moving the barrel. The overflow channel is the quiet advantage, since it keeps a heavy rain from dumping against the wall.

The planter is only 4 inches across, so it is for herbs or small flowers, not a vegetable patch. The dual spigots also mean more fittings to check for a snug seal at setup; we tightened ours before the first rain. Set it where you can reach both spigots; a barrel tucked behind a shrub wastes the second one. For a visible spot, the extra bit of garden on top is worth the fuss.

At 46 inches tall, the Lakewood puts its brass spigot at about the height of a watering can's handle, so you are not stooping to fill it. The height comes from a molded stand, and the barrel itself is a double-walled 60-gallon rectangle with a stainless-steel mesh screen and a 3/4-inch brass spigot.

We think that arrangement is worth the extra vertical space. In our testing, the raised spigot made filling a can faster, and the wide base felt stable on a level patio. The 60-gallon capacity is the largest in this group, so it holds more of a long storm before the overflow has to work. We also appreciated the metal spigot, which feels more substantial than the plastic taps on several other barrels.

The trade-off is the shape: 46 inches tall by 24 inches wide, it needs a downspout that ends high enough and a spot where the height does not block a window. We set ours on a level patio and checked that the overflow ran away from the house. The barrel is 34 pounds empty, so bring it into place before the first rain. If your downspout is low, the Catalina or Raincatcher is a better fit.

The Laspeiraux folds down to a fraction of its size when empty, which is unusual for a 53-gallon barrel. It is built from a three-layer PVC shell with a screw-in faucet and a mesh top, and the square footprint measures 23.62 inches on each side. The barrel is 27.56 inches tall, so it sits lower than the Lakewood and is easier to reach over.

We found the screw-in faucet one of the easier connections to make: there is no bundle of small parts to cross-thread, and the mesh top keeps leaves out of the water. The footprint is close to the rigid barrels, so it does not save floor space while full; the savings come when the season ends and it goes into a bin. The faucet sits low, so a shallow can or a short hose is easier than a deep bucket.

We think the Laspeiraux is the right pick for a renter who wants rainwater without a permanent fixture. The collapsible body is the reason: it stores in a shed and sets up again in minutes. Fill it where it stands, keep the screen seated, and plan to drain it before the first freeze. It is the one we reach for when the shed is small and the barrel cannot stay out all year.