Best Rain Barrel for Beginners: 5 Picks Compared

The best rain barrel for beginners is a 55-gallon food-grade plastic drum kit, usually $60 to $90 with the spigot, lid, and overflow fitting included. It holds enough water for a week of watering ornamental beds and a lawn patch, fits beside most downspouts, and is light enough to move empty. We ranked the five beginner types on capacity, material safety, fittings included, and footprint.

All water in this guide is for non-potable use only: watering ornamental garden beds and lawns, and outdoor cleaning. Rain barrel water is not drinking water. If you want to know how much your roof actually collects before you buy, run the numbers on the rain barrel calculator first.

Quick picks

• Best overall: 55-gallon food-grade drum kit — cheapest per gallon, easiest to find.
• Best for tight spaces: slim 50-gallon upright — holds almost as much in half the floor space.
• Best looking: 65-gallon decorative urn — costs more, but blends into a front garden.
• Best for a small budget: 35-gallon compact — the cheapest way to start, and light enough to carry.

The 5 Best Beginner Rain Barrels, Ranked

Barrel	Gallons	Material	Price	Best for
55-gal food-grade drum kit	55	Food-grade HDPE plastic	$60–$90	Most beginners
Slim 50-gal upright	50	HDPE plastic	$90–$130	Narrow side yards
65-gal decorative urn	65	Polyethylene resin	$110–$150	Front gardens
50-gal flat-back	50	HDPE plastic	$80–$120	Against a wall
35-gal compact	35	HDPE plastic	$40–$70	Small patios, renters

Prices are typical US retail ranges including basic fittings. A bare drum is cheaper, but you pay the difference in parts and time. Still deciding how many you need? Read how many rain barrels do I need before you buy two.

1. 55-Gallon Food-Grade Drum Kit

This is the standard beginner barrel for a reason. A food-grade drum is HDPE plastic built to hold food or drink, so it does not leach chemicals the way an old chemical drum might. Most kits arrive with a spigot, a mesh lid, and an overflow port already fitted — you only need a diverter and a level spot.

A full 55-gallon barrel weighs about 460 pounds, so set it on level ground and never move it full. One barrel waters a modest ornamental bed for several days; if your roof is large, link a second one later — see how to connect two rain barrels.

Watch out: never buy a used drum unless the seller can tell you exactly what was stored in it. A drum that held chemicals is not safe for garden water, even for ornamental plants.

2. Slim 50-Gallon Upright

The slim upright holds almost as much as the standard drum but stands tall and narrow, about 18 inches across. It fits in the gap between a house wall and a fence, or on a narrow strip beside a garage. That is its whole advantage: same water, half the floor space.

The trade-off is stability: a tall, narrow barrel tips easily when empty, so anchor it to the wall. It also costs more per gallon than the drum kit.

Watch out: a slim barrel on soft soil leans as it fills. Set it on a paving slab or gravel pad, not bare dirt.

3. 65-Gallon Decorative Urn

The urn looks like a large terracotta or stone pot, so it suits a front garden where a blue drum would look out of place. At 65 gallons it also holds the most water of the five picks, which matters if you water every day in summer.

You pay for the looks: roughly twice the drum kit, with a lid and spigot that are harder to reach for cleaning. It is also the heaviest empty barrel here, so get help carrying it.

Watch out: dark barrels heat up in full sun, and warm water grows algae faster. Put the urn in partial shade if you can.

4. 50-Gallon Flat-Back

The flat-back has one flat side that sits flush against a house wall, so it wastes no space and looks tidy. It holds a full 50 gallons and usually comes with the same spigot and overflow fittings as the drum kit.

Its weak point is the wall: the flat side needs a smooth surface, or the barrel rocks. Check the wall before you buy.

Watch out: a flat-back hides the wall behind it, so check for damp or peeling paint once a season.

5. 35-Gallon Compact

The compact barrel is the cheapest and lightest way to start. At 35 gallons it is enough for a few pots and a small ornamental bed, and when it is empty one person can carry it. Renters like it because it moves house easily.

The limit is capacity: a 35-gallon barrel empties fast in a dry week. It is a starter barrel, not a whole-garden solution. Setup steps are in our rain barrel setup guide.

Watch out: a small barrel overflows sooner in a heavy storm, so the overflow hose matters even more. Point it away from the foundation.

Which Ones Should You Leave for Later?

Option	Why wait	Try instead
200+ gallon storage tanks	Heavy, needs a concrete pad and a pump	Start with one 55-gal drum kit
DIY drum builds from scrap	Needs cutting, sealing, and leak testing	A ready-made kit first, DIY second
Underground cisterns	Digging, plumbing, and permits	Above-ground barrels until you outgrow them
Stacked multi-barrel towers	Complex plumbing and overflow routing	Two linked barrels side by side

These are good upgrades once you know your roof and rainfall. As first purchases they add cost and complexity too early. If money is tight, our DIY rain barrel under $50 guide shows how to build a safe starter barrel cheaply.

5 Beginner Tips That Save Money

• Buy the kit, not the bare drum. The fittings cost more bought separately than in the box.
• Measure your downspout gap first. A barrel that does not fit under the downspout is a barrel you cannot fill.
• Raise it on blocks. A stand gives the spigot height to fill a watering can — see how to install a rain barrel for the height that works.
• Keep the lid on. A mesh lid keeps out leaves, mosquitoes, children, and pets.
• Check your roof first. Asphalt shingles are fine for ornamental watering, but if your roof is old or flaking, read best roof for rainwater harvesting before you buy.

Maintain it once a season and it lasts years — see how long does a rain barrel last. Torn between barrel and tank? Rain barrel vs water tank compares them.

Frequently Asked Questions

What size rain barrel should a beginner buy?

A 55-gallon barrel is the best beginner size: enough water to be useful, fits most downspouts, and cheapest per gallon. Go smaller only if space is tight.

Are plastic rain barrels safe for the garden?

Yes, if it is food-grade HDPE or polyethylene made for water storage. Never use a drum that held chemicals.

Do I need a diverter with my first barrel?

Yes. A diverter sends roof water into the barrel and overflow away from your foundation when it is full. Without one, the barrel either never fills or floods the wall.

How much does a first rain barrel setup cost in total?

A 55-gallon kit ($60–$90) plus a diverter ($15–$30) and a stand ($0–$40) comes to roughly $75–$160 — the whole setup, with no plumber needed.