Best water butts for the garden (2026)
A water butt collects rainwater off your roof for the garden — free water that keeps beds and pots going through a dry summer or a hosepipe ban, when a butt-fed watering can is one of the few things you're still allowed to use. Here's how to pick the right size and the diverter that fills it.
By Tom Rowland · Updated 18 July 2026 · 6 products, price-tracked
Before you buy
Start with the safety line, because it matters: rainwater from a butt is NOT safe to drink — it runs off a dirty roof and grows bacteria in storage. It's for the garden, washing the car with a bucket (allowed in a hosepipe ban) and, at a push, flushing. Keep it firmly separate from your emergency drinking-water plan.
Size to your space and roof. Slimline butts (around 100L) tuck against a wall in a small garden; 200–250L barrels suit bigger plots and fill fast off a decent roof area. A single downpipe feeds a butt via a diverter that returns overflow to the pipe once full — buy the diverter to match your pipe (round vs square) and butt height. Link two butts for more storage.
Practicalities reviews miss: a raised stand or bricks give height to fit a watering can under the tap; a lid keeps out leaves, mosquitoes and children; and a base tap plus an overflow are non-negotiable. Food-grade recycled-plastic butts are fine for garden use.
Top pick: Harcostar 227L Water Butt. A sturdy, long-proven 227-litre butt made in Britain from recycled HDPE, with a child-safe lid and a universal rain trap that fits most downpipes. It is a low-fuss, durable way to bank rainfall for dry spells, and the 5-year guarantee reflects that.
| Water butt | Capacity | Type | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harcostar 227L Water ButtTOP PICK | 227 | Barrel water butt (recycled HDPE) | £70.00at usual price | Check price → |
| Ward 100L Slimline Water Butt | 100 | Slimline rainwater butt (kit with stand, tap, lid & downpipe filler) | £34.00at usual price | Check price → |
| Strata 250L Water Butt | 250 | Slimline rainwater butt (kit: tap, lid, stand, diverter) | £75.00at usual price | Check price → |
| Universal Rainwater Diverter Kit | — | Universal downpipe diverter (fits round & square) | £15.00at usual price | Check price → |
| Blackdown Slimline 100L Water Butt | 100 | Slimline rainwater butt (kit with tap, lid, stand & filler) | £33.00at usual price | Check price → |
| Rainwater Terrace Planter Water Butt | 200 | Tiered water butt with self-watering planters | £230.00at usual price | Check price → |
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Harcostar 227L Water Butt
Who it's for: Households wanting a robust, British-made rainwater store to keep the garden going through a hosepipe ban.
A sturdy, long-proven 227-litre butt made in Britain from recycled HDPE, with a child-safe lid and a universal rain trap that fits most downpipes. It is a low-fuss, durable way to bank rainfall for dry spells, and the 5-year guarantee reflects that.
- British-made from recycled HDPE with a 5-year guarantee, built to sit outdoors for years
- Sold as a complete kit: three-part stand, tap, child-safe lockable lid and a universal rain trap that fits 68/80/100mm round and 65mm square downpipes
- 227 litres (50 gallons) is a genuinely useful store for watering beds and pots when mains use is restricted
- Complete kits typically cost £70-80, more than budget own-brand butts of similar size
- The round barrel has a wide footprint and does not sit flush to a wall, so it needs open space beside the downpipe
Don't buy if Don't buy if space is tight against a wall or fence, where a slimline flat-backed butt fits better, or if you only need occasional top-ups and a cheaper 100-litre model would do.
Ward 100L Slimline Water Butt
Who it's for: Households with a narrow gap or tight corner who want to start collecting rainwater cheaply.
A sensible, low-cost way to bank rainwater against hosepipe bans and dry spells, and the slim square footprint tucks into spots a barrel-shaped butt won't. UK-made from recycled HDPE and supplied as a complete kit, so there's little to buy separately.
- Slim square shape fits tight corners and narrow side-returns where a round butt won't go
- Arrives as a complete kit - stand, tap, lid and downpipe filler included, so it's usable straight away
- UK-made from recycled HDPE at a genuinely low price
- 100L empties quickly in a real drought - it's a top-up, not a serious reserve
- Tall, narrow profile can feel top-heavy when full, so it needs firm, level ground
Don't buy if You have the space for a larger 200L+ butt - bigger capacity is far better value per litre and more useful when a dry spell drags on. This is garden/non-potable water only, not for drinking.
Strata 250L Water Butt
Who it's for: Slim, space-saving rainwater collection in a tight garden corner.
A sensible, UK-made slimline butt that stores a useful 250 litres against a wall without dominating the garden. Well reviewed for stability and value, with only minor assembly and fitting niggles to watch.
- Made in the UK from at least 95% recycled, UV-stabilised plastic and rated stable even when empty
- Slim square footprint tucks neatly into a corner or against a wall
- Sold as a complete kit with tap, child-safe locking lid, elevating stand and downpipe diverter, so it works out of the box
- The stand can be fiddly to assemble and some owners question how it copes under a full load
- The diverter joint can weep after fitting and the tap fills a bucket slowly
Don't buy if You are looking for emergency or drinking-water storage. This collects rainwater off the roof for garden use only and should never be treated as a potable supply.
Universal Rainwater Diverter Kit
Who it's for: Feeding a garden water butt from a standard house downpipe, cheaply and without tools beyond a saw.
A cheap, sensible way to fill a water butt from your guttering, and most universal kits fit the 68mm round and 65mm square downpipes on typical UK homes. It does one job well, and the built-in overflow means it stops diverting once the butt is full.
- Inexpensive and widely stocked, so easy to source and replace
- Universal fitting covers the round and square plastic downpipes on most UK houses
- Automatic overflow bypass returns excess water to the drain once the butt is full
- Basic kits offer little or no leaf filtering, so a mesh guard or butt lid filter is worth adding
- Thin plastic connectors and short hoses can leak or perish if not seated squarely
Don't buy if Your water butt already came with its own diverter, or your downpipes are cast iron or a non-standard size, in which case a matched or bespoke fitting will seal far better.
Blackdown Slimline 100L Water Butt
Who it's for: Small gardens, patios and side returns where a full-size butt simply won't fit.
A sensible, affordable way to start collecting rainwater in a tight spot. The slim 36cm-wide footprint and complete kit make it easy to set up, though 100L is modest and empties quickly in a dry spell.
- Genuinely space-saving slimline shape (about 96cm tall, 36cm wide) for narrow gaps and patios
- Complete kit out of the box — tap, lid, four-part stand and downpipe filler included, so no extra spend
- UK-made from recycled plastic and typically around £30, so an easy, low-risk first water butt
- 100 litres is small — it drains fast, so it's more a top-up than a serious store
- The lightweight plastic and slim stand can feel less stable than a wider tub once full
Don't buy if Don't buy this if you're trying to irrigate a large garden or ride out longer dry spells — you'll be far better served by a 200L+ butt (or two linked together) rather than refilling this constantly.
Rainwater Terrace Planter Water Butt
Who it's for: Small gardens, patios and balconies where storing rainwater and growing a few plants have to share the same footprint.
A neatly designed, UK-made modular butt that stacks in 67L tiers and doubles as a set of self-watering planters, so it earns its place where a plain barrel would look out of place. Useful garden water resilience during hosepipe bans, but treat it as non-potable supply, not drinking-water storage.
- UK-made and genuinely modular — add tiers or link units (67L up to 268L) to fit an awkward space
- Doubles as decorative self-watering planters, so it suits front gardens and patios where an ordinary butt looks utilitarian
- A calm, practical way to bank rainwater for the garden through dry spells and hosepipe bans
- Costs far more per litre than a standard water butt of similar capacity
- Collected rainwater is non-potable — fine for plants, flushing or washing, but not for drinking without proper treatment
Don't buy if You simply want the cheapest bulk rainwater storage, or you're looking for emergency drinking-water capacity — a plain 200L+ butt costs a fraction of this, and neither stores water you can safely drink untreated.
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Common questions
Can I drink water from a water butt?
No. Water-butt rainwater runs off a dirty roof and grows bacteria in storage — it's for the garden only, never drinking, even boiled it's a poor idea versus stored mains water. Keep it separate from your drinking-water plan.
What size water butt do I need?
A 100L slimline suits a small garden and courtyard; 200–250L suits a family garden and fills quickly off a normal roof. If you water a lot in summer, link two butts rather than buying one huge one that's hard to move.
How does a rainwater diverter work?
It fits into your downpipe and channels rainwater sideways into the butt, then automatically sends overflow back down the pipe once the butt is full. Match it to your downpipe shape (round or square) and set it at the butt's fill height.
Can I use a water butt during a hosepipe ban?
Yes — hosepipe bans apply to mains water, so a watering can (or even a hose) fed from collected rainwater is generally allowed. It's one of the main reasons a butt is worth having.
How do I stop a water butt going green and smelly?
Keep the lid on to block light and debris, site it out of direct sun where you can, and empty/clean it occasionally. A lid also keeps out mosquitoes and is a child-safety essential.
Do I need a stand for a water butt?
Effectively yes — you need height under the tap to fit a watering can, so a proper stand or a stack of bricks/blocks. Make sure the base is level and can take the weight (200L of water is 200kg).