You can build a DIY rain barrel for under 50 dollars using a used food-grade 55-gallon drum, a brass spigot, a downspout diverter, and a mesh screen. The total for the parts below is about 45 to 50 dollars, and the build takes two to three hours with basic hand tools. A store-bought rain barrel with the same capacity costs 80 to 120 dollars, so the DIY version saves you roughly half, and it works exactly the same way.
Barrel water is for non-potable use only: ornamental beds, lawns, and outdoor cleaning. It is not drinking water, and a DIY barrel does not change that.
Why a Food-Grade Drum (and How to Tell One Is Food-Grade)
A food-grade drum is a plastic drum that was made to hold food or drink, and it is the only kind of used drum you should turn into a rain barrel. Food-grade drums are usually made of high-density polyethylene, marked HDPE, with a recycling number 2 inside the triangle on the bottom. Many were used for syrup, juice, pickles, or cooking oil, and they are safe for garden water once cleaned. A drum that held chemicals, paint, oil, or pesticides is not food-grade, and it is not safe for a rain barrel, no matter how well you wash it. Chemicals soak into plastic and leach out again, and no amount of scrubbing makes a chemical drum safe for garden use.
How to tell: ask the seller what the drum held, and walk away if they do not know. Look for the HDPE 2 mark, and look for a food smell — syrup, vinegar, or cooking oil — rather than a chemical smell. Check the inside for stains, residue, or a strong odour, and reject any drum with a chemical smell, a coloured stain, or a label you cannot read. Buy from a food business, a bakery, a restaurant supplier, or a reputable drum dealer, not from a random listing with no history. A used food-grade drum usually costs 25 to 40 dollars. If it costs less than 15 dollars, ask why.
Parts List With Prices: The Under-$50 Build
Prices are approximate US hardware-store prices. The drum is the biggest cost, so a cheap drum is what keeps the build under 50 dollars.
| Part | Approx. price |
|---|---|
| Used food-grade 55-gal drum | $25–$35 |
| Brass spigot (¾ in) + washers | $8–$12 |
| Fine mesh screen | $3–$5 |
| Teflon tape, screws, sealant | $3–$5 |
| Total without diverter | ~$39–$57 |
That total is close to 50 dollars, and it assumes you already have a downspout diverter or you use a simple downspout cut for now. A diverter kit costs another 15 to 25 dollars, which pushes the total over 50, so the honest under-50 build uses a drum at the low end of the price range and a diverter bought later, or a diverter you already own. If you buy a decorative barrel instead, the barrel alone costs 60 to 90 dollars, and the under-50 build is impossible. The DIY saving comes from the drum, not from the fittings.
Tools You Need (and What You Can Borrow)
You need a drill and bits, a hole saw or spade bit for the spigot hole, a hacksaw or tin snips for the downspout, a tape measure, a spirit level, an adjustable wrench, a screwdriver, and safety glasses and gloves. Most of these are already in a home toolbox, and the hole saw is the one tool you may need to buy or borrow. A hole saw set costs about 10 dollars, and many hardware stores lend tools, or a neighbour will have one. Do not buy a full tool set for one barrel; borrow what you do not own, and buy only the drill bits you will use again.
Step-by-Step Build: Cleaning, Drilling, Spigot, Screen
Start by cleaning the drum. Rinse it out, scrub the inside with a stiff brush and clean water, and rinse again until the water runs clear. If the drum held syrup or oil, wash it with a little dish soap and rinse thoroughly. Let it dry in the sun for a few hours, and check for any remaining smell. If it still smells of chemicals, do not use it.
Next, drill the spigot hole 3 to 4 inches above the bottom of the drum, using a hole saw matched to your spigot. Fit the spigot with washers on both sides, wrap the threads with Teflon tape, and tighten by hand plus a quarter turn. Drill a second hole near the top for the overflow, on the side facing away from the house, and fit the overflow fitting and hose. Cut an opening in the lid for the inlet, and cover it with fine mesh screen, fastened so there are no gaps. Fit the diverter in the downspout if you have one, and connect its hose to the inlet. Set the drum on a level stand 18 to 24 inches high, fill it with a garden hose, and check every joint for leaks for 15 minutes.
Worked Example: Total Cost vs. a Store-Bought Barrel
A DIY barrel built from a 25-dollar drum, an 8-dollar spigot, a 3-dollar screen, and 3 dollars of tape and sealant costs 39 dollars. Add a 20-dollar diverter and the total is 59 dollars, still well under a store-bought barrel at 80 to 120 dollars, and you have a barrel that holds the same 55 gallons and does the same job. The saving is about 40 to 60 dollars per barrel, and if you build two barrels the saving doubles. The trade-off is time: a DIY build takes two to three hours, while a store-bought barrel is ready in 30 minutes. If you enjoy building things, the DIY version is the better deal. If you do not, buy the barrel and spend the time gardening.
Safety Check: Stand, Weight, and Mosquito Screening
Before the first rain, run the safety check. The stand must be level and strong, because a full barrel weighs about 460 pounds. Check it with a spirit level in both directions, and load-test it by pushing the empty barrel from several angles. The overflow hose must run downhill to a safe spot at least 4 to 6 feet from the foundation. Every opening must be covered with fine mesh screen, so mosquitoes cannot lay eggs in the water and leaves cannot clog the diverter. Keep the lid closed, keep the spigot out of easy reach of children, and never let children or pets drink from the barrel. A DIY barrel is as safe as a store-bought one when it is built and screened properly, and it is only as safe as its weakest part.
FAQ
How much does a DIY rain barrel cost?
About 39 to 57 dollars without a diverter, using a used food-grade drum at 25 to 35 dollars. With a diverter kit at 15 to 25 dollars, the total is about 59 to 80 dollars.
What kind of drum is safe for a rain barrel?
Only a food-grade drum, usually HDPE with recycling number 2, that held food or drink. Never use a drum that held chemicals, paint, oil, or pesticides.
How long does it take to build a DIY rain barrel?
Two to three hours for a first build, including cleaning the drum and testing for leaks. A store-bought barrel takes about 30 minutes to set up.
Is a DIY rain barrel as good as a store-bought one?
Yes, if it is built from a food-grade drum with a proper spigot, overflow, screen, and stand. It holds the same 55 gallons and does the same job, for about half the price.
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