Off-Grid & Self-Sufficient Living
Collecting rain off your roof gives you a renewable water source for gardens, flushing and cleaning, and, with proper treatment, drinking in an emergency. Bob Vila's best overall rain barrel, the RTS Home Accents 50-gallon, has a brass spigot and a debris screen and sits flat against the wall. Its best-value pick, the FreeGarden RAIN 55-gallon, holds a little more, has a higher spigot and comes with an overflow hose, though it looks more like a trash can. Roof runoff can carry bird droppings, debris and chemicals from shingles, so do not drink it untreated. Run it through a gravity filter like the Platypus GravityWorks from our water filter guide, then disinfect it with tablets or by boiling. Some states and cities regulate rainwater harvesting, so check local rules first. Use a first-flush diverter if you can, keep lids screened against mosquitoes, and clean barrels at least once a year.
Why it's hereBob Vila's best overall: brass spigot, aluminum debris screen, flat back sits flush to the wall.
Recommended by Bob Vila| Rank | Product & source | Key note | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ★ Top Pick | RTS Home Accents 50-Gallon Flat Back Rain BarrelRecommended by Bob Vila | Bob Vila's best overall: brass spigot, aluminum debris screen, flat back sits flush to the wall. | ~$131.49Price checked Oct 20, 2026at rtshomeaccents.com View product | |
| Runner-up | FreeGarden RAIN 55-Gallon Rain Barrel (EWC-10)Recommended by Bob Vila | Bob Vila's best bang for the buck: 55 gallons, brass spigot set higher than most, sloped lid and an included overflow hose. | ~$129.95Price checked Oct 20, 2026at globalindustrial.com View product | |
