Best Rain Barrels (2026): 7 Picks Compared for Colorado Yards

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Picking the best rain barrel is less about looks than about four practical details: how much it holds, how it keeps mosquitoes and debris out, how high the spigot sits, and what happens to it in January. Colorado adds a fifth detail most buying guides skip. Since 2016, state law has allowed a household to use no more than two rain barrels with a combined capacity of 110 gallons, and only for outdoor watering on the property where the water was collected. That rule shapes which barrels and pairings make sense on the Front Range. Below are seven picks, each matched to a specific job, followed by a buying guide on sizing, placement, overflow and winter care.

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How we compared: we compared 12 current Amazon rain barrel listings on what each listing states: capacity, lid and screen design, spigot material, whether a stand or link kit is included, overflow handling, material and stated warranty. We did not lab-test any of these barrels or use them hands-on. Ten of the 12 listings come from one brand, RTS Home Accents, and several are color variants of the same body, so we treated those as one design when counting. Prices and availability change often, so check the current listing before buying.

Quick picks: the best rain barrels by use case

Product	Best for	Key features	Price	Buy
RTS ECO 50-Gallon 2-Pack	Colorado-legal two-barrel kit	Two 50-gal barrels = 100 gal Stands and link kit included Two plastic screens included	$266.64as of Nov 13, 2026 6:31 pm GMT+0000	Buy now →Check current price
Step2 Lakewood 60-Gallon	Largest single barrel	60-gal capacity Stainless mesh screen filter 3/4-in brass spigot	$179.99as of Nov 13, 2026 6:31 pm GMT+0000	Buy now →Check current price
RTS Newport 50-Gallon	Easy cleaning with lid and stand	Removable lid Top screen kit Stand and brass spigot included	$189.00as of Nov 13, 2026 6:31 pm GMT+0000	Buy now →Check current price
RTS Premium 55-Gallon	Pair for the full 110 gallons	55-gal capacity Removable lid Brass spigot	$184.99as of Nov 13, 2026 6:31 pm GMT+0000	Buy now →Check current price
RTS 50-Gallon Brass Spigot	Classic flat-back barrel	50-gal flat back Brass spigot Built-in overflow	$99.00as of Nov 13, 2026 6:31 pm GMT+0000	Buy now →Check current price
Laspeiraux 53-Gallon Collapsible	Folds away for winter	Three-layer PVC Folds for storage Mesh top filter	—	Buy now →Check current price
RTS ECO 50-Gallon	Recycled-plastic starter barrel	100 percent recycled plastic 18 lb empty Made in the USA	$79.00as of Nov 13, 2026 6:31 pm GMT+0000	Buy now →Check current price

Prices are Amazon’s listed prices as of the time shown and change often; check Amazon for today’s price. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

The seven picks, compared listing by listing

1. RTS Home Accents ECO 50-Gallon 2-Pack — Best Colorado-Legal Two-Barrel Kit

Best Colorado-legal two-barrel kit

Why we like it

• Two barrels total 100 gallons, under Colorado’s 110 cap
• Link kit included, so barrels fill in series
• Stand for each barrel raises the spigot
• Plastic screens, hose barbs and Teflon tape in box

RTS Home Accents ECO 2-Pack — 2 x 50 gal, recycled PE, stands + link kit + screens, overflow valves, 1-yr warranty

The Only Listing That Ships a Complete Linked Pair

Colorado’s limit is two barrels and 110 gallons combined, so the sensible Front Range setup is usually a matched pair connected so the first barrel spills into the second. This is the only one of the 12 listings that ships two barrels together, and the only one that includes a link kit in the box. Seven other listings mention linking barrels, but none of them lists a link kit in the box.

The pair also comes with stands, which matters more than it sounds. Six of the 12 listings include a stand. Without one, a barrel’s spigot sits a few inches off the ground and a watering can will not fit under it. The kit’s two plastic screens cover the inlets, which is the detail the CDC cares about: it advises tightly covering rain barrels, or using fine mesh where there is no lid, so mosquitoes cannot get in to lay eggs.

What the listing does not state: whether the screens are fine enough to stop mosquitoes specifically, or how the barrels should be wintered. The spigots are plastic rather than brass, and the listing notes the set ships in more than one package.

Check RTS ECO 50-Gallon 2-Pack price on Amazon

2. Step2 Lakewood 60-Gallon — Best Large Single Barrel

Best large single barrel

Why we like it

• Largest single capacity on the shelf at 60 gallons
• Stainless steel mesh screen filter on top
• 3/4-inch brass spigot included
• Elevated design improves spigot pressure

Step2 Lakewood 545599 — 60 gal, double-wall plastic, stainless mesh screen, 3/4-in brass spigot, stand, 46 in tall

The Only 60-Gallon Barrel Here, and the Pairing Math That Comes With It

Capacities on this shelf cluster tightly: seven listings are 50 gallons, two are 55, two are 53 and this Step2 is the only 60. For a household that wants one barrel at the busiest downspout, it holds the most. It is also the only listing that names a stainless steel screen, which should outlast plastic mesh.

The Colorado math is the catch. A 60-gallon barrel plus a 50-gallon barrel lands exactly on 110. Pair it with a 55 or another 60 and the total goes over the state limit. Anyone planning two barrels should either pick this as the primary and add a 50-gallon second, or choose a matched pair from the RTS line instead.

At 46 inches tall with its stand and 34 pounds empty, it is the heaviest and tallest barrel on the shelf. Full, the water alone weighs roughly 500 pounds, so the base needs to be level, compacted and away from any window well. The listing does not state a warranty.

Check Step2 Lakewood 60-Gallon price on Amazon

3. RTS Home Accents Newport 50-Gallon — Best for Easy Cleaning

Best for easy cleaning

Why we like it

• Removable lid opens the whole barrel for scrubbing
• Screen kit on top keeps debris out
• Stand and brass spigot both included
• Overflow nozzle installs on either side

RTS Home Accents Newport (Slate) — 50 gal, removable lid, top screen kit, stand, brass spigot, reversible overflow

One of Only Two Listings With a Lid, a Screen and a Stand Together

Four of the 12 listings have a removable lid. Of those, only the two Newport color variants, Slate and Bronze, also describe a screen kit and an included stand. That combination makes it the easiest barrel here to keep clean: lift the lid, rinse out the sediment that settles from roof runoff, and close it again.

Cleaning is not cosmetic. The EPA notes that roof runoff can pick up bacteria from birds and other animals and chemicals from roofing materials, and suggests weighing that before using barrel water on edible plants. A barrel that opens fully is far easier to scrub out each spring than one with only a small inlet.

The reversible overflow nozzle is a small practical plus. It lets the overflow hose exit on the side away from the foundation, whichever corner the barrel sits at. The listing does not state the plastic type, UV resistance or warranty, all of which the older RTS listings do.

Check RTS Newport 50-Gallon price on Amazon

4. RTS Home Accents Premium 55-Gallon — Best Pair for the Full 110 Gallons

Best pair for the full 110 gallons

Why we like it

• Two of these equal Colorado’s 110-gallon maximum
• Removable lid for cleaning
• Brass spigot and overflow system
• Flat back fits against walls and fences

RTS Home Accents Premium 55 — 55 gal, removable lid, brass spigot, overflow, flat back, 1-yr warranty, USA made

The Largest Barrel That Still Pairs Legally With Its Twin

Only two listings on the shelf are 55 gallons, and this woodgrain model is the one with a brass spigot. Two of them come to exactly 110 gallons, the most storage Colorado allows. For a homeowner who wants to max out the limit with a matched look, this is the cleanest way to do it.

It shares the removable lid with three other listings, and at 28 pounds empty it is the heaviest of the RTS line. The listing does not describe a screen, so plan on adding fine mesh at the inlet or fitting the downspout diverter tightly. The CDC’s guidance is to cover barrels tightly so mosquitoes cannot reach the water.

The trade-off is height. Without a stand, the spigot is low. The matching stand is sold separately, so budget for two stands if you buy a pair.

Check RTS Premium 55-Gallon price on Amazon

5. RTS Home Accents 50-Gallon With Brass Spigot — Best Classic Flat-Back Barrel

Best classic flat-back barrel

Why we like it

• Brass spigot instead of plastic
• UV-resistant polyethylene body
• Built-in overflow with linking option
• Flat back sits tight to siding

RTS Home Accents 50-gal (Walnut) — 50 gal, UV-resistant PE, brass spigot, overflow valve, flat back, 1-yr parts warranty

The Simplest Brass-Spigot Barrel on the Shelf

Six of the 12 listings name a brass spigot. This walnut model, and its oak sibling, are the plainest of them: one 50-gallon barrel, a brass tap and an overflow valve, with no lid, stand or screen in the box. That simplicity makes it the right pick when the downspout already has a diverter or screen and the only goal is reliable storage.

A brass spigot is worth it in a dry climate where barrels sit in full sun all summer. Plastic threads can loosen with repeated hose connections. Five listings, this one included, state they are made in the USA, and it carries a one-year parts warranty.

The gaps are the ones you would expect from an older design. The listing does not describe an inlet screen, the stand is optional and sold separately, and it does not say how the barrel should be drained or stored over winter.

Check RTS 50-Gallon Brass Spigot price on Amazon

6. Laspeiraux 53-Gallon Collapsible — Best for Winter Storage

Best for winter storage

Why we like it

• Folds flat for garage storage over winter
• Mesh top keeps leaves and debris out
• Screw-in faucet with integrated design
• About 5.7 lb empty, lightest here

Laspeiraux 53-gal collapsible (Black) — 3-layer PVC, mesh top, screw-in faucet, footpads, folds flat, 5.7 lb

The Only Barrel Here That Folds Away

Two of the 12 listings are collapsible, and they are the same Laspeiraux design in green and black. Every other barrel is a rigid plastic shell that has to be drained and either flipped or moved before a hard freeze. This one empties, folds and goes on a garage shelf, which makes it the easiest choice for anyone who does not want a 20-pound plastic barrel sitting in the yard all winter.

At under 28 inches tall, the faucet sits low. Plan on raising it on a level platform of pavers or blocks. Because the sides are fabric-like PVC, the base has to be flat and free of sharp gravel.

The listing describes a mesh top but does not state how fine it is, and it does not name a warranty. Two 53-gallon units total 106 gallons, which stays under Colorado’s 110-gallon limit.

Check Laspeiraux 53-Gallon Collapsible price on Amazon

7. RTS Home Accents ECO 50-Gallon — Best Recycled-Plastic Starter Barrel

Best recycled-plastic starter barrel

Why we like it

• Made from 100 percent recycled plastic
• UV-resistant polyethylene stated
• Overflow valve with linking option
• Made in the USA, 1-year warranty

RTS Home Accents ECO (Black) — 50 gal, recycled UV-resistant PE, plastic spigot, overflow valve, 1-yr warranty

The Basic Single Barrel to Start With

Four listings on the shelf say they are made from recycled plastic, and this is the single-barrel version without a stand. It is the baseline the rest of the RTS line builds on: same 50-gallon flat-back body, overflow valve and option to link a second barrel later.

That upgrade path is the reason to start here. A household can install one barrel this spring, see how fast it fills off one downspout, and add a second 50-gallon barrel next year while staying at 100 gallons total. The listing says a stand is sold separately and the spigot is plastic.

It does not mention a screen or lid, so the inlet needs covering. If the diverter you use does not seal, a square of fine screen under the inlet keeps mosquitoes and pine needles out.

Check RTS ECO 50-Gallon price on Amazon

Colorado’s rain barrel rule, in plain terms

Colorado water law is built on prior appropriation, which is why rainwater collection was restricted for so long. House Bill 16-1005, signed in 2016, carved out a residential exception. As the rule is generally summarized, a single-family home, or a multifamily building with four or fewer units, may use up to two rain barrels with a combined storage capacity of 110 gallons or less. The water must come from a rooftop and be used outdoors, on the same property, for lawns, gardens and landscaping. It is not for drinking or indoor use.

Rules can be amended and local covenants may add their own conditions, so confirm the current limits with the Colorado Division of Water Resources or your county extension office before buying. Our separate rain barrel guide walks through the setup in more detail.

Here is how the shelf’s capacities fit the 110-gallon cap:

• Two 50-gallon barrels: 100 gallons. Fits, with room to spare.
• Two 53-gallon collapsibles: 106 gallons. Fits.
• Two 55-gallon barrels: 110 gallons. Fits exactly.
• One 60 plus one 50: 110 gallons. Fits exactly.
• One 60 plus one 55, or two 60s: over the limit.

What matters when choosing a rain barrel

Capacity and how fast a barrel fills

A roof sheds far more water than a barrel holds. Even a short summer thunderstorm over one roof section can fill a 50-gallon barrel quickly, so on the Front Range the barrel is rarely the bottleneck. The overflow is. Choose capacity based on how often you will draw it down, not on how much rain falls.

Lid, screen and inlet

Mosquitoes are the main reason a covered barrel beats an open one. The CDC recommends tightly covering water storage containers, specifically naming rain barrels, and using wire mesh with holes smaller than an adult mosquito on containers without lids. On this shelf, six listings describe a screen or mesh and four have a removable lid. A removable lid helps with cleaning; a fine screen at the inlet does the mosquito work.

Spigot height and material

A spigot needs enough clearance for a watering can, and enough height to give a soaker hose some pressure. Gravity is all you have, so every foot of elevation helps. Six listings include a stand. Brass spigots, named in six listings, hold up better than plastic to repeated hose threading.

Overflow and linking

Every rigid barrel on this shelf has an overflow port. Where that overflow goes is a drainage decision, not a barrel decision. Run it to a hose that discharges well away from the house, or link it to the second barrel so the pair fills in series.

Material and sun exposure

Most of the RTS listings name UV-resistant polyethylene. The Step2 is double-walled plastic and the Laspeiraux is PVC. High-altitude sun is intense, so a dark barrel in full sun will warm its water and may encourage algae. Partial shade and an opaque body help.

Placement, foundations and overflow

A rain barrel sits at the bottom of a downspout, which is exactly where water should not be pooling. The EPA’s moisture guidance for homes says to clean and repair gutters regularly and make sure the ground slopes away from the foundation so water does not collect around it. Its building design guidance goes further and recommends that downspout leaders carry water at least 10 feet from the foundation, with a minimum slope of 5 percent.

That has practical consequences for barrel placement:

• Set the barrel on a level, compacted base of pavers or blocks. Full, a 50-gallon barrel weighs about 400 pounds, and a tipping barrel can crack a window well or a basement wall.
• Run the overflow hose to daylight well away from the house, not onto the soil next to the foundation.
• Keep the barrel and its base from blocking any existing grade that slopes away from the wall.
• Check the area after the first big storm. Wet soil against the foundation means the overflow route needs work.

Many Front Range neighborhoods sit on expansive clay soils that swell when wet and shrink when dry. Concentrated water at one corner of a house is a classic setup for foundation movement and basement seepage. A barrel that overflows in the wrong place makes that worse, not better. Homes with a decorative alternative to downspouts can read our guide to rain chains, which have their own discharge considerations.

Winterizing a rain barrel on the Front Range

Water expands when it freezes, and a full barrel left out through a Front Range cold snap can split its seams or crack its spigot fitting. None of the 12 listings states that its barrel is rated to sit full through freezing weather. Plan on a seasonal routine:

1. Drain before the first hard freeze. On the Front Range that can come in October, well before the calendar says winter.
2. Open the spigot and leave it open, or remove it and store it indoors.
3. Reconnect the downspout to its normal extension so winter melt drains away from the foundation instead of into an empty barrel.
4. Flip rigid barrels upside down or move them under cover. Fold the collapsible model and store it in the garage.
5. Clean and inspect in spring. Rinse sediment, check screens for tears, and confirm the stand is still level before reconnecting.

Chinook winds can push an empty barrel across a yard. Weight it or bring it inside.

Using the water safely

Barrel water is untreated roof runoff. The EPA notes that it can carry bacteria from birds and animals and chemicals from roofing materials, and that those factors deserve thought before watering edible plants. Practical steps include applying the water to soil rather than leaves, avoiding it on produce close to harvest, and never using it for drinking, cooking or pets. Colorado’s rule already limits use to outdoor landscaping on the collecting property.

Older roofs deserve a second look. If the roof, gutters or flashing are deteriorating, the water collected from them reflects that, and the roof itself may need attention before a barrel is worth adding.

When a barrel is not the fix

A rain barrel is a garden tool. It does not solve a drainage problem, and on some homes it can hide one. Signs that the issue is bigger than a barrel include water staining on basement walls, efflorescence near the downspout corner, a negative grade toward the house, or gutters that overflow even when clean. Those call for a look at gutter sizing, downspout routing and grading by someone who inspects exteriors for a living.

If you are buying a home and want the roof drainage, grading and foundation reviewed together, our structure and exterior hub explains what a thorough exterior inspection covers, and the hiring guide covers how to choose an inspector. Front Range homeowners can also reach out through our contact page to connect with a vetted local inspector.

More Questions About Rain Barrels

How much can a rain barrel save on a water bill?

A rain barrel usually saves a modest amount on a water bill, often a few dollars to a few tens of dollars a year, because one or two barrels hold a limited volume. The real value is having free water on hand for plants between storms.

Savings depend on local water rates, how often it rains during the growing season, and how quickly the barrel is used and refilled. A barrel that is emptied onto beds after every storm saves far more than one left full. Rain barrels work best as a supplement for flower beds, shrubs and containers, not as a replacement for lawn irrigation.

Can a soaker hose or drip line run from a rain barrel?

Yes, a soaker hose or low-pressure drip line can run from a rain barrel, but flow is weak because a barrel relies on gravity rather than water-main pressure. Raising the barrel and keeping the line short makes the biggest difference.

Each foot of height adds only a small amount of pressure, so a barrel on a sturdy stand 1 to 2 feet high works noticeably better than one on the ground. Use drip components rated for low pressure, add a simple screen filter to keep debris out of emitters, and avoid running the line uphill. A small battery or solar pump is an option for longer runs.

How do you clean a rain barrel?

Clean a rain barrel at least once a year, usually after the last use in fall, by draining it, scrubbing the inside and rinsing out sediment. Built-up silt, leaves and algae otherwise clog the spigot and can cause odors.

Disconnect the barrel, tip it to drain fully, and scrub with a long brush and a mild soap solution or diluted vinegar. Rinse well, since residue can harm plants. Check the screen, spigot washer and overflow fitting while the barrel is empty. Avoid strong bleach solutions unless thoroughly rinsed, and wear gloves, because roof runoff can carry bird droppings and debris.

Does a rain barrel need a downspout diverter?

A downspout diverter is not required, but it makes a rain barrel easier to manage because it fills the barrel first and sends overflow back down the downspout once the barrel is full. That keeps excess water away from the foundation.

Without a diverter, the downspout is usually cut and routed into the lid, and an overflow hose has to carry extra water well away from the house. Diverters also allow the barrel to be bypassed in winter with a simple switch. Install one at a height slightly above the barrel’s top so the barrel can fill completely before water returns to the downspout.

Is rain barrel water good for houseplants?

Rain barrel water is generally fine for many houseplants, and some, such as carnivorous plants and orchids, prefer rainwater because it is low in dissolved minerals. Bring it to room temperature before watering to avoid shocking roots.

Water collected from asphalt shingles, treated wood or older metal roofs can carry residues, so use the first water after a long dry spell outdoors rather than indoors. Keep a lid and screen on the barrel so the water stays free of debris and insects. Rain barrel water should not be used for drinking, cooking or pets’ water bowls.

References

• Soak Up the Rain: Rain Barrels — U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
• Mosquito Control at Home — Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture and Your Home — U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
• Moisture Control Guidance for Building Design, Construction and Maintenance — U.S. Environmental Protection Agency