Last Updated on April 15, 2024 by Real Men Sow

Top 10 Water Butts For Rain Water Collection (Review) 2021

Top 10 Water Butts For Rain Water Collection

Garden water butts are fantastic additions to any outdoor space. During the drier months, our plants are at serious risk of going dry, too – and if you have a water butt, you have a stock of rainwater to splash out.

Many water butts come with everything you need to get started with – and many have a 100 litres of water capacity at the very least.

Here are the best water butts around for you to get started with in helping to cut down on unnecessary water wastage!

In This Review

Charles Bentley 210L Garden Round Plastic Water Butt

Available for a very reasonable price, this garden water butt comes with everything you need to get started. It offers a 210 litre capacity – more than what the average gardener will likely need – as well as its own water butt stand.

This kit comes with an exit tap as well as a filler kit, meaning that it’s one of the best user-friendly models on our list.

Features

Dimensions: 97cm x 57cm x 57cm (no stand), stand adds 40.5cm x 40.5cm x 30.5cm
Weight: 8.2kg
Build: Plastic
Capacity: 210L

Strata Products Ltd Ward GN325 210L Best Water Butt for Durability

This classic looking water butt is one of the best for sheer durability, and it should look the part in any garden. It offers 210L in water volume, and comes with its own tap and locking system.

This is a great piece of kit if you’re looking for something simple.

Features

Dimensions: 57cm (diameter), 97cm (height)
Weight: UNCLEAR
Build: Plastic
Capacity: 210L

Dawsons Living 210 Litre Garden Water Butt Set Best Discreet Model

This super-safe, super-secure water butt blends in really well with the garden, meaning you won’t have your rain barrel sticking out like a sore thumb. This model comes with its own filler kit, too, meaning it’s nice and easy to get started with.

The price is great considering you also get a natty stand to place the butt on, too – a butt stand is always a nice bonus.

Features

Dimensions: UNCLEAR
Weight: UNCLEAR
Build: Plastic
Capacity: 210L

Rainsaver Mini 100 litre Green Water Butt Best Efficient Choice

If you want to start watering the garden but don’t want a big bulky unit, this is one of the best water butts packages available to cut down on space.

What you actually get is two twin water butts, with the ability to collect 100L, and a water diverter kit so you can set it all up with ease. It’s a really interesting twist on the old concept.

Features

Dimensions: UNCLEAR
Weight: UNCLEAR
Build: Plastic
Capacity: 100L

Strata pro Ward 250L Slimline Water Butt Best Value Choice

Back to Spear and Jackson again, and this time around, we’ve lined up a great value stainless steel digging spade. A stainless steel digging blade means you benefit from a garden tool which is really easy to clean, as well as a tool that’s going to take plenty of what you have to throw at it. Boasting a polypropylene shaft as well as a rust resistant mirror polished stainless steel finish, the stainless steel head is ideal for turning soil. There’s little soil adhesion here, too.

Features

Dimensions: 54cm x 54cm x 121cm
Weight: 31kg
Build: Plastic
Capacity: 250L

Cloudburst Water Butt Kit, 200

Reviews for this smart looking water butt seem to say it’s well made and that it’s easy enough to fit in most gardens. It’s a medium sized butt with a smart design, and you won’t have much problem filling up your watering can from the tap built in.

It is a good enough size to be discreet, and it should look good in most gardens.

Features

Dimensions: 68cm x 68cm x 121.59cm
Weight: 8kg
Build: Plastic
Capacity: 200L

Andersons Garden Lake Water Butt Most Convenient

Ideal for a variety of gardens, this basket style water butt is medium sized and comes with the kit you’ll need to get it all set up on site. It has pre drilled holes, too, making it one of the easiest to get up and running with.

This is also a smart looking water butt that shouldn’t stick out badly!

Features

Dimensions: 68cm x 68cm x 123cm
Weight: 7.3kg
Build: Plastic
Capacity: 200L

Dellonda Collapsible Fold Up PVC Garden/Hydroponics Water Best Folding Butt

This foldable water butt is great if you really want to save on space. It folds tight down! It’s also got a good amount of water capacity. It’s nice and easy to adjust.

There is already an overflow pipe ready installed, and there’s no need for any tools.

Features

Dimensions: UNCLEAR
Weight: 3kg
Build: PVC
Capacity: 250L

Harcostar 350 liter Magnum Best Water Butt Capacity

This absolute powerhouse of a water butt is a pleasure to have on site. It’s the premium pick in our list, but as it stores a massive 350L and doesn’t even look like it, it’s great value. It’s also made from recycled plastic!

There’s a diverter supplied, too, to help you along the way.

Features

Dimensions: 78cm x 78cm x 120cm
Weight: UNCLEAR
Build: Recycled plastic
Capacity: 350L

Oipps 200 Litre Green Water Butt Kit

his recycled plastic water butt also looks the part with its own kit and stand. It’s compatible with various downpipe shapes for ease of use, too. 200L should be more than enough space for many gardeners.

There’s also a safe lid on the top to stop kids going exploring!

Features

Dimensions: 68cm x 68cm x 90cm
Weight: 2kg
Build: Recycled plastic
Capacity: 200L

Benefits Of Using A Water Butt

As mentioned, you’re helping the planet as well as your water bills. Think about how much water you spend, and money you waste, on fresh water flowing out of the tap!

Instead, you could be making use of rainwater that you save for a dry day. This is going to be ideal, for example, when your plants are absolutely gasping and there’s a hosepipe ban in effect.

Hosepipe bans aside, you’re doing your bit to help lower your carbon footprint, too – and as all gardeners know, every little helps! Get yourself a water butt and a water diverter and you’re away.

How Does A Water Butt Work?

A water butt works by connecting to your house gutter downpipe. Essentially, it collects rainfall water so that you can keep a full tank of H2O that you can later use to water your gardens with.

Rather than continuing to go back and forth to the tap with your watering can, you can use the tap on a water butt to let rainwater collected flow through instead. It is a great way to save water, and all you need is normally right there in the box.

Water butts work through a rain diverter kit and a connector pipe, which you can then use to connect to your downpipe. By using rainwater that falls down your downpipe rather than anything fresh through your brass tap, you are making use of water that’s already fallen – and with a lid, your water butt will house all the water collected without anything nasty getting into it. Open water is a breeding ground for critters and bacteria!

Installing a water butt and a connection kits could be just what you need when it comes to lowering your water bills. If you are already on a water meter, a downpipe filler kit and water butt might be the answer to your money woes. Find yourself a water butt that suits your garden and a water butt stand that can safely sit and collect water. All you need is that downpipe and a connector kit – and you’re away!

How To Collect Rain Water

This will differ from product to product, and this may well differ depending on price, too. In many case, it is easy enough to catch rainwater in a water butt by simply closing the lid and using a connection or diverter kit to install to your downpipe.

The water butt will then need to sit on a butt stand where it can be left to its own devices! Collect rainwater and then use it with a watering can by just flicking on the tap. Fill up and feel good that you’re providing some help to the environment, as well as some help to your bills.

Depending on the type of water butt you purchase, you may need to drill a hole in the plastic to start installing the kit. However, some of the most well made water butts already come pre-drilled, so there’s no need for you to worry about taking a Black and Decker to it.

What To Consider Before Buying A Water Butt

Believe it or not, there are actually a few things you should be keeping in mind before you go ahead and buy a water butt! As you can see from our buying guide above, it’s worth comparing between the different models and types available so you can really access those that fit your needs.

Water Capacity

Of course, depending on how much hand watering you are going to need, the best water butt for you should revolve around its water supply or litre capacity. It’s perhaps better to go large than to go too conservative, as you may never know how many litres of water you’re going to need over the months to come!

Construction / Materials

Yes, you’re going to need to consider what your water butts are made of if you want the best results! On the whole, you will find most of them are made of plastic. This is a good thing, as this should still make your water butt fairly lightweight as well as durable. You can but some water butts in different materials if you’re looking for an extra touch of character to your garden. Terracotta effect water butt, anyone?

You can also buy wooden water butts, too – but in our experience, plastic works best.

Water Butt Shape

Generally, round is the shape to go for when you search for water butts, but there are some which have different styles and looks – ever seen an octagonal water butt before? They do exist!

The shape of the water butt you choose will likely depend on the look you want to go for, as well as the size you need, and the price you are going to pay. Many people choose the looks of their water butts based on how they set up their gardens, so take a look at the product carefully before you buy.

Why Do Plants Grow Better With Rainwater?

The answer lies in the science! The fact is, rainwater tends to be richer in oxygen than water straight out of the tap.

This may also be as a result of tap water being treated – anything that’s come from the sky is 100% natural, and tends to breed better results when growing plants..

Where To Locate Your Water Butt

Ideally, you should place a water butt underneath or adjacent to your downpipe for the most efficient water collection.

You can position it against the wall underneath the pipe, or if you know what you’re doing, you may wish to cut off a bit of the pipe to allow water to flow down more easily and readily. We wouldn’t recommend this if you’re unsure!

How To Prevent Your Water From Stagnating

One of the best things you can do with a water butt to prevent stagnation is, believe it or not, to use it! During the summer months, you are less likely to see rain come down – but you should make use of what you have so that you can keep your plants healthy.

Using up your water and emptying it regularly, short of choosing water butts with insulation (which come at a higher price tag), is the best way to ensure that you are fighting against bacteria.

How To Protect Your Water Butt From Severe Weather Conditions

The absolute best thing you can do with your water butt is to locate it against a wall, no matter the size – this should protect it from nasty weather that’s likely to do damage. Make sure the lid is snapped shut, too!

You should also be careful to try and empty or drain your water butt out a little during poor weather and afterwards, too.

In all other cases, to protect a water butt against the cold, you may wish to invest in an insulated model.

How To Maintain Your Water Butt

It’s really important to clean your water butt regularly. This is because even with a cover, your water butt is still going to stagnate over time.

You’re not going to want to water the plants with mucky water, so it’s going to be some help to empty out the butt and give it a good, soapy clean and rinse at least once a year.

You can also install a filter on your gutter downpipe and meter to prevent any debris clogging things up, and as well as a connection kit or water diverter kit, you might want to find an insulated water butt that will keep bacteria from multiplying.