The Best Water Butts in the UK: Our Picks for Every Garden

There’s a huge choice of water butts out there, and many look much the same in the listings. To make it easier, we’ve picked out the best options for different gardens, spaces and budgets, explained what makes each one a good fit and pulled together a buying guide so you know what to look for.

How we chose: we compared listings from UK sellers on Amazon, looking at capacity, what’s included in the box, how each one connects to a downpipe, footprint and value. We haven’t hand-tested every butt, so always check the full details and the latest customer reviews on Amazon before buying. Prices change often, so the product cards show the current Amazon price.

Our picks at a glance

Best for	Pick	Capacity	What stands out
Most gardens	Harcostar 227 L Green Water Butt Kit	227 L	Well-known UK brand, classic green kit
Budget all-rounder	Charles Bentley 210 L Set with Stand & Tap	210 L	Simple black butt with stand and tap
Small spaces	100 L Slimline Space Saver Kit	100 L	Slim, complete with stand, lid and diverter
Sheds and greenhouses	Buttacup Mini Rainsaver 100 L Kit	100 L	Compact kit with lid, tap, base and diverter
Big roofs, small footprint	Aqua Tower 350 L	350 L	Tall square tower, anthracite finish
Maximum storage	4rain Slim Wall Tank 650 L	650 L	Huge capacity against a wall
Stone-effect patio butt	Strata Amesbury 120 L Stone Kit	120 L	Stone look, sold as a complete kit
Traditional look	Rustic Oak Whisky Barrel Water Butt	See listing	Real oak barrel with stand and tap
Flowers and water	Water Butts Direct 120 L Planter Kit	120 L	Planter on top, kit with stand
Renters and allotments	Dellonda 250 L Collapsible Butt	250 L	Folds away, zipped lid, drain tap

Best water butts for most gardens

The 200 to 250 litre size is the sweet spot for the typical UK back garden. It’s big enough to keep pots and beds going between showers, yet still fits neatly beside a back door, garage or shed. Not sure that’s the size for you? Use our water butt size guide.

Harcostar 227 Litre Green Water Butt Kit: best overall

See the Harcostar 227 L kit

Harcostar is one of the most familiar names in UK water butts, and its 227 litre barrel is a classic. This kit version gives you the butt in traditional green along with the bits you need to get it working, so it’s an easy choice if you just want something that does the job well.

• Good for: most back gardens, first-time buyers
• Look out for: check the listing to confirm exactly which parts are included and that the diverter suits your downpipe

Charles Bentley 210L Water Butt Set: best budget all-rounder

See the Charles Bentley 210 L set

A no-nonsense black 210 litre butt with its own stand and tap. According to the listing it includes a downpipe filler kit and a lockable lid too, and it’s described as UK-made. It’s a solid, affordable choice for an everyday garden butt.

• Good for: value, a neutral black finish
• Look out for: stand height relative to your watering can

Best water butts for small spaces

If you’re working with a narrow side return, a small yard or the side of a shed, a slimline butt is the answer. They sit flat against the wall, so you don’t lose the path.

100L Black Slimline Space Saver Water Butt Kit: best slimline

See the 100 L slimline kit

A slim 100 litre butt that comes with a stand, lid and diverter, so it’s ready to go. According to the listing it’s about 32 cm by 36 cm and 95 cm high, which makes it ideal for tight spots. It’s also one of the most affordable complete kits we list.

• Good for: side returns, small gardens, beside back doors
• Look out for: at 100 litres it empties quickly in a heatwave, so consider linking a second one

Buttacup Mini Rainsaver 100 Litre Kit: best for sheds and greenhouses

See the Buttacup Mini Rainsaver kit

A popular compact kit with a lid, tap, base and rain diverter included. It’s a great match for a shed or greenhouse roof, where the downpipe is often close to where you need the water.

More options: slimline water butts and small water butts.

Best large water butts for big roofs

A big roof can fill a standard butt in a single downpour. If you grow veg, keep a greenhouse or just want to make the most of your rain, go bigger.

Aqua Tower 350 L: best large butt for a small footprint

See the Aqua Tower 350 L

A tall, square-sided tower that stores 350 litres. According to the listing it’s about 775 × 383 mm with a height of 1,350 mm. The anthracite finish looks smarter than a standard barrel, so it works well on a modern patio too.

4rain Slim Wall Tank, 650 Litres: best for maximum storage

See the 4rain 650 L wall tank

If you’ve got a long stretch of wall and a big roof, a wall tank like this stores a serious amount of water while staying relatively slim. With this much water, add a pump so you can use a hose.

See all large water butts and rainwater tanks.

Best decorative water butts

A water butt doesn’t have to look like a water butt. If yours will sit on a patio, by the front door or in view of the house, it’s worth choosing something easier on the eye.

Strata Amesbury 120 Litre Stone Water Butt Kit: best stone effect

See the Strata Amesbury kit

A circular stone-effect butt sold as a complete kit, so you get the look and everything you need to connect it. At 120 litres it suits patios and smaller roofs.

Rustic Oak Whisky Barrel Water Butt: best traditional look

See the oak whisky barrel butt

A real oak barrel with a stand and tap, for a traditional cottage-garden feel. Wooden barrels need a little more care than plastic, so check the listing for any guidance on sealing and maintenance.

Water Butts Direct 120L Planter Kit: best planter water butt

See the planter kit

A water butt with a planter on top, sold as a kit with a stand. Fill the top with herbs, bedding or trailing plants and it becomes a feature rather than an eyesore.

More ideas: decorative water butts and planter water butts.

Best collapsible water butt

Dellonda 250L Collapsible Garden Water Butt

See the Dellonda 250 L

A folding PVC butt with a zipped lid and a drain tap. It’s ideal for renters, allotments or anyone who wants to pack their butt away over winter. Collapsible butts are lighter and cheaper than rigid ones, but they’re less robust, so keep them away from sharp edges.

How to choose the best water butt: buying guide

1. Capacity

Match the butt to your roof and how much you water. As a rough guide: 100 litres for a shed or small garden, 200 to 250 litres for most back gardens, and 300 litres or more for big roofs and veg growers. Our size guide has the maths.

2. Space and shape

Measure the spot. Round butts are the cheapest, slimline butts save space, and square butts make the most of corners. Don’t forget the height of the stand and room to open the lid.

3. What’s in the box

A complete kit with a stand, tap, lid and diverter is the easiest way to start. If a butt is sold on its own, budget for a diverter and a stand.

4. The lid

A tight, secure lid keeps out light, leaves, insects and disease spores. A child-safe or locking lid is essential if children use the garden.

5. The tap

Look for a tap that’s easy to turn and high enough to fill a watering can. A standard 3/4 inch BSP fitting makes replacements easy. See water butt taps.

6. Material and durability

Most butts are made from UV-stabilised plastic, which won’t go brittle in the sun. Recycled plastic options are widely available. Wood and terracotta-effect butts look great but may cost more.

7. Expandability

If you might want more storage later, choose a butt that can take a linking kit, or buy two matching butts from the start.

Don’t forget the accessories

• A rain diverter to fill the butt from the downpipe
• A stand so a watering can fits under the tap
• A linking kit to add a second butt
• A pump if you’d rather use a hose
• A water butt treatment to keep the water fresh

Best water butt FAQs

What is the best size water butt for a garden?

For most UK gardens, 200 to 250 litres. Smaller roofs suit 100 litres, and big roofs or veg plots suit 300 litres or more.

Are slimline water butts any good?

Yes. They hold less than a standard butt, but they fit where nothing else will. Two linked slimlines can store as much as one large round butt.

Is it better to have one large water butt or two smaller ones?

Two smaller linked butts are easier to place, spread the weight and let you start small. One large butt is simpler and often better value per litre.

Do expensive water butts last longer?

Not necessarily. A basic UV-stabilised plastic butt on a solid base can last many years. You pay more mainly for capacity, looks and what’s included.

What colour water butt is best?

Darker, opaque butts let in less light, which helps reduce algae. Beyond that, choose whatever suits your garden.

Ready to fit yours? Follow our step-by-step guide to fitting a water butt.