How to Build a Rain Barrel

Home > DIY Projects > Green Home > Saving Water > How to Build a Rain Barrel

Save
X
Log in to My Account

Log in to enjoy membership benefits from The Family Handyman.

Email Address

Password

Remember me on this computer

Forgot your password?

Don’t have an account yet?

Sign up today for FREE and become part of The Family Handyman community of DIYers.

Member benefits:

Get a FREE Traditional Bookcase Project Plan

Sign up for FREE DIY newsletters

Save projects to your project binder

Ask and answer questions in our DIY Forums

Share comments on DIY Projects and more!
Join Us Today

This DIY rain barrel costs less than $100 and works just as well as the expensive one you can buy. Get complete how-to instructions and start saving water with the next rainfall.

By the DIY experts of The Family Handyman Magazine

How to make your own rain barrel

How to make your own rain barrel

1 of 2

Close-up of conduit adapters

Use a 2-in. male threaded electrical (gray PVC) conduit adapter and a 2-in. female threaded conduit adapter to make a watertight hole from which the rainwater can flow.

2 of 2

Install valves

Install a large valve to quickly fill watering cans and a smaller valve for a garden hose. Secure the valves to the cross brace with J-brackets.

« Previous Photo Next Photo »

It's pretty easy to build your own rain barrels from plastic drums or trash cans. Search online for “bottles” or “containers” to find an “open head” plastic 55-gallon drum with a cover (about $60). Or find a used barrel by talking to car wash managers (they buy soap and wax by the barrel). If you can't find a container you like, buy a large, heavy-duty garbage can (about $35) at a home center. All the other plumbing parts will add up to about $40.

Place the drum near a downspout, drill a hole in the side near the bottom and screw in a drain valve. That's an OK installation if you plan to run a soaker hose to your garden. But if you want to use a wand or a spray nozzle, you'll need to elevate the barrel on a stand for more water pressure. Water is heavy (55 gallons weighs 440 lbs.), so use 4x4 treated lumber for the legs and secure everything with construction screws or stainless steel lags. But don't place the stand on soft ground. You could kill somebody if the rig toppled over. If you have large gardens and want to store more water, double-size the stand and add a second barrel.

Cut holes in the bottoms of the barrels with a 2-1/4-in. hole saw. Then screw in a 2-in. male threaded electrical (gray PVC) conduit adapter (electrical adapters aren't tapered like plumbing adapters, so you can tighten them down all the way). Squirt a thin bead of silicone caulk around the opening and screw on a threaded electrical PVC coupler to cinch the barrel between the two fittings (see Figure A). Next, glue together sections of 2-in. PVC pipe, unions (to make winter disassembly easier), reducers and valves. As long as you're at it, install an overflow pipe so you can direct the excess where you want it.

Finally, cut a hole in one of the covers and mount a screen to filter out leaves and debris. Then just wait for the next big rain.

Rain barrel details

Figure A: Trash Can Rain Barrels

You can make cheap, functional rain barrels with trash cans and simple PVC plumbing and electrical conduit fittings. Line up as many as you need to meet your watering needs.

User Comments
Write a comment about this project
+ Add Your Comment

Required Tools for this Project

Have the necessary tools for this DIY project lined up before you start—you’ll save time and frustration.

Cordless drill

Hole saw, 2-1/4 in

Required Materials for this Project

Avoid last-minute shopping trips by having all your materials ready ahead of time. Here's a list.

55-gal. barrel with lid
4x4 treated lumber and construction screws or stainless steel lags, if you build a stand to elevate the rain barrel(s)
2-in. male threaded electrical (gray PVC) conduit adapter
2-in. female threaded electrical (gray PVC) conduit adapter
Silicone caulk
Threaded electrical PVC coupler
Sections of 2-in. PVC pipe
Glue
Unions reducers and valves
Screen

Shopping List

How to Build a Rain Barrel - Shopping List

Comments from DIY Community Members

Share what's on your mind and see what other DIYers are thinking about.

1 - 8 of 8 comments

Show per page: 20 All

Sort by: Newest First Oldest First

+ Add Your Comment

Danhome

October 19, 6:33 PM [GMT -5]

If you or your neighbours (or HOA) are worried about appearances, adding some lattice or "matching" fencing will easily hide and disguise this great project.

newuanda

July 09, 11:18 AM [GMT -5]

We used this to build our three 50 gallon rain barrel system. Love it!!! Last year we had to carry the water with buckets though. This year we figured out how to add a solar powered water pump to it, so no more carrying water. Check out our blog on how to do it here: http://sistersplayinghouse.blogspot.com/2012/07/solar-powered-water-pump.html

GuidoLandscaping

April 25, 3:32 PM [GMT -5]

There was one "tool" that was required that was not on the list for this project. I found out that a critical step was the tightening of the male/female PVC conduits. Given the depth of the barrels and the small opening, I was unable to reach the coupling on the bottom. Fortunately, my girlfriend just came back from the beauty parlor. Since her hair had been cut by a beautician having a terrrible day, she was very willing to stick her head into the barrel and crawl inside. I had sufficiently prepared the barrel with lots of glue and silicone caulking fumes. While I snapped a few quick pics of pure enjoyment, she was busy getting a cheap "high" inside the barrel. The project came out great, and I think her eyes will be back in focus after another day or so. Thanks again for the plans, but hope you might include this required "tool" in the next edition.

ShaunPD

March 22, 5:27 PM [GMT -5]

Not to be a naysayer, but rain barrels are illegal in some states. Colorado is one of them. I don't believe the water *** would come around, but in a drought, that's a possibility. The issue is based upon water laws that regulate water useage in some western states. It's generally not an issue in eastern states.

FWIW, the same is true with the popular backyard fire rings/pits. Again, in most counties in Colorado, they are illegal, but yet are sold at the local big box stores and lumberyards.

So check your local codes and laws before you decide to build one.

trishwah

February 28, 9:15 AM [GMT -5]

We have a rain barrel. That we got for free from a local environmental group. But I don't know why anyone would DIY one. They aren't that much more to buy one that already has the fittings installed. Plus, a premade rain barrel will have an overflow system, which IMO is essential.

leothehandyman

January 17, 10:44 PM [GMT -5]

I have a great method that is cost efective and works perfectly. Go to http://www.lionart.com/handy/garden.htm to see a picture of it.

Greg92761

August 16, 12:46 PM [GMT -5]

I have a Pickling barrel that I paid $6.00 each actually I have 2 of them. I plan buying two more and putting them on the side of my garage. Where I have a tin roof 24x22 ft. Instead of routing one down spout and fill one barrel than have an overflow into the others I plan on putting a downspout to each individual barrel. To me the one here doesn't look like the water would FLOW UP into the second barrel as one would have an over flow.
I will elevate mine about 24" off the ground. I will put drains in the bottom with a ball valve for each barrel. Then I plan to put an individual line that will branch off each one. Then I will put the1' PVC line underground to the underground (black) soaker hose. I have noticed that if you don't have suffcient pressure the underground soaker hoses really do disperse the water well. So I am thinking of incorporating a small DCV motor to pump the water to the hoses which would have enough pressure to push the water out of the soaker hose.
I think the biggest expense will be the Platform made of pressure treated 3/4 in plywood and 4x4 posts. PVC is not expensive, the joints/fittings are more expensive than the pipe itself.

Capo

May 20, 2:12 PM [GMT -5]

There is a little bit more to this than the article states. I'm not super handy so maybe this is more obvious to the more experienced person.

- Not a $100, unless you just do the rain barrel by itself and already have a rain gutter. I did everything, gutter, base, plumbing and two rain barrels and it cost about $500. The 44 gal garbage cans were $40 alone each.

- the single leg in the middle of the back is pretty unstable only attached to the top. I added a cross beam at the bottom to connect it to the front for more support and it gave me a place to anchor the PVR to with a bracket to keep it all solid.

- I used a bracket to attach the overflow pipe to the crossbeam it goes over.

- I added bracket to secure the spigots to the wood.

- used 6" lag screws, it didn't say what size to use.

- cutting holes in the barrel and wood top, I used a 2 3/8" hole saw, the 2 1/4" was too small.

- Unions are pretty damn pricey, $10 + each so I didn't use them. Not sure how all the plumbing would add up to $40 with those. Even without them it was over $50

- I used redwood instead of treated wood, and water sealed it.

- it didn't say how high or wide or long to make it. I made it 4' long, by 2' high plus the 4x4 height and the width was 2' for the center beams plus the 4x4 width on each end.

- I also added a garden hose holder and a Full / Empty gauge with a floater inside and a string and weighted end outside.

All in all, pretty fun. though I don't think I will do another any time soon.

+ Add Your Comment

closeX