Best Water Butts UK 2026: Rainwater Storage Guide
Published: June 24, 2026
A water butt is the single best long-term investment for beating UK hosepipe bans. Collected rainwater is completely unrestricted under any Temporary Use Ban: you can use as much as you like, from any number of butts, for any garden purpose. A two-butt installation costing £100-150 collects enough rainwater across a normal UK winter to keep a typical garden going through summer drought without ever touching the tap. This guide covers the buying decisions that matter (capacity, shape, accessories) and explains where to buy what.
Why a Water Butt Beats Every Other Drought-Saving Tool
Three reasons. First, collected rainwater is completely unrestricted under any UK TUB: the legal restriction is on the use of a hosepipe (Section 76 of the Water Industry Act 1991), not on the water source. A watering can refilled from your own water butt is the most reliably-permitted way to water a UK garden under any restriction. Second, the volume is significant: a typical UK roof of 100 square metres collects around 75,000 litres of rainwater per year, far more than even a 500-litre butt installation can store. Third, the economics work out: a 200-litre butt costs £30-60 and pays for itself in saved metered water within two summers for most households.
For households on water meters, a water butt is a meaningful annual saving. For households on rateable-value-based water charges, the butt does not save money directly but reduces the strain on the water system and gives you the certainty of garden water during any future restriction.
How to Choose a Water Butt
- Capacity. 200 litres is the UK standard starter size and right for most gardens. 250 to 300 litres is right for larger gardens. Multiple smaller butts (100 to 150 litres each, linked together) store more total water than a single large butt and are easier to position.
- Shape. Barrel (cheapest per litre, requires alongside-house space), slimline (narrower, suits side passages, ~30 percent premium), wall-mounted (flat-back, fits very narrow access, the most expensive per litre).
- Material. Polyethylene is the universal UK material - UV-stabilised, food-grade, lasts decades. Avoid metal water butts (rust through eventually). Avoid wood-effect plastic that is just decorative wrapping on plastic; the function is identical to plain plastic at higher price.
- Tap position. A tap at the very base of the butt drains every last litre but only works on a tall stand. A tap raised 10 cm above the base loses some bottom-water but is easier to fit a can under. Standard supermarket butts use the raised-tap design.
- Lid type. A child-safe lockable lid is now standard on UK butts and is genuinely worth confirming - butts are deep enough to be a drowning hazard for toddlers.
Where to Buy the Butt Itself
UK DIY retailers carry the broadest selection of complete water butts. Check stock and current pricing before committing.
- Wickes water butt range - typically strong on Strata and Ward butts, 100 to 250 litres, with bundled tap and stand options.
- B&Q water butt range - similar selection to Wickes plus a wider range of slimline and decorative options.
- Homebase water butt range - good for larger barrel butts (300 to 500 litres) and for the Harcostar wood-effect range.
- Argos water butt range - smaller selection but often the cheapest entry-level 100 to 200 litre options.
These retailer links are plain URLs (not affiliate). We do not currently operate affiliate accounts with these UK DIY retailers.
Accessories Worth Buying on Amazon UK
The accessories are where Amazon UK is genuinely competitive, often cheaper than the equivalent at DIY retailers. These are the affiliate links.
1. FloPlast Rainwater Diverter (Black)
The essential accessory; fits standard round downpipes | Typically £15-25 on Amazon UK
FloPlast is the dominant UK brand for downpipe fittings, sold in every UK plumbing supplier and most DIY shops. The black-finish rainwater diverter intercepts your gutter downpipe, fills the water butt automatically when it rains, and bypasses excess water down the original drain when the butt is full. Fits standard UK 68 mm round downpipes; check before buying for non-standard properties. The single most important accessory for any water butt installation.
View on Amazon2. FloPlast Rainwater Diverter Kit (round + square)
Versatile kit fitting either downpipe shape | Typically £20-35 on Amazon UK
The same FloPlast diverter system bundled with adapters for both 68 mm round and 65 mm square downpipes - the two standard UK formats. Buy this if you are not sure which downpipe format your property has, or if you want one kit that fits multiple downpipes around the house. Includes all the connector fittings; install time is around 15 minutes per downpipe.
View on Amazon3. Strata HydroSure Water Butt Connector Kit
Link multiple butts together | Typically £15-25 on Amazon UK
The Strata HydroSure connector kit lets you link two or more water butts together so they fill as a single connected system: rainwater enters the first butt, overflows into the second, and so on. This is materially better than running multiple independent butts because the total storage capacity is treated as one volume. Particularly useful for households who start with one butt and add more as they discover the value.
View on Amazon4. Water Butt Stand (Multi-Part Barrel Base)
Raise the butt for can access | Typically £15-25 on Amazon UK
A water butt needs to sit 30 to 45 cm above the ground for a watering can to fit under the tap. This multi-part plastic stand provides a stable platform at the right height and disassembles for storage when not in use. Universal fit for standard barrel butts up to 250 litres. Cheaper than the matching Strata branded stand and structurally equivalent.
View on Amazon5. Replacement Water Butt Tap (Black)
For when the original tap leaks | Typically £5-12 on Amazon UK
Water butt taps are the single most-replaced accessory. The original tap on a budget butt typically lasts 2 to 4 years before the seal degrades and starts dripping; a quality replacement tap extends the butt's life by another 5+ years. Universal fit for standard UK water butt outlet threads. Stock one as a spare; you will need it eventually.
View on AmazonInstallation Walkthrough
Position the butt next to a downpipe with the stand underneath. Mark the downpipe at the height of the diverter (typically 15 cm below the gutter inlet on the butt). Disconnect the downpipe at that point. Install the diverter on the downpipe, connect the diverter to the butt's inlet with the supplied hose or fitting, and reconnect the downpipe above and below the diverter. Total install time for one downpipe-to-butt connection is around 30 to 45 minutes including the stand assembly.
For the broader hosepipe-ban lawn-survival approach, see keep your UK lawn alive during a hosepipe ban. For the watering tool to pair with your butt, see best watering cans UK. For grey-water reuse from washing-up and bath water, see greywater and rainwater reuse UK.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are water butts allowed during a hosepipe ban?
Not just allowed, but the best long-term solution. A Temporary Use Ban under Section 76 of the Water Industry Act 1991 restricts the use of a hosepipe. Rainwater you collect yourself in a water butt is completely unrestricted under any UK TUB. You can use as much collected rainwater as you like, from any number of butts, to water any part of your garden during any ban.
How much rainwater can I actually collect on a UK roof?
A typical UK roof of 100 square metres collects roughly 75,000 litres of rainwater per year (the UK averages 750 mm of rainfall annually). Even a single 200-litre butt fills several times over during a normal British winter. A typical two-butt installation (200 to 400 litres total) gives a household enough collected rainwater for 20 to 40 watering-can soaks of priority lawn area during a summer drought.
What size water butt do I need?
200 litres is the standard UK starter size and covers most gardens. 250 to 300 litres is right for larger gardens or households who want a fuller water reserve through a summer drought. Slimline butts (100 to 200 litres in narrower shapes) are designed for properties with limited side-passage space. Multiple smaller butts linked together can store more total water than a single large butt and are easier to position.
Slimline, barrel, or wall-mounted - which shape?
Barrel (standard cylinder) is the cheapest per litre and the most common; it suits gardens with space alongside the house. Slimline (narrow, rectangular) suits properties with restricted side-passages or alley gardens; pay roughly 30 percent more per litre. Wall-mounted (flat-back, designed to sit against a wall) suits very narrow access; the most expensive per litre but the only practical option for some properties.
Do I need a stand for my water butt?
Strongly recommended. A water butt needs to sit 30 to 45 cm above the ground for a watering can to fit under the tap. A standard stand raises the butt to this height and provides a stable platform. Most butts are sold separately from stands; budget another £15-30 for a quality stand. Without a stand, you have to tip the butt to fill a can, which is impractical for a full 200-litre butt and shortens the butt's life.
What is a rainwater diverter and do I need one?
A rainwater diverter is a small fitting that intercepts the downpipe from your gutter, sends water into the butt until it is full, and then bypasses the rest down the original drain. Without a diverter, you have to manually disconnect the downpipe to fill the butt, which means missed rainfall and a complicated connection. A diverter is the single best accessory for any water butt installation; expect to spend £15-25 for a quality FloPlast or equivalent diverter that fits standard UK round or square downpipes.
Where do I buy a UK water butt?
Most complete water butts in the UK are sold through Wickes, B&Q, Homebase, and Argos. Amazon UK's water-butt listings are dominated by accessories (diverters, taps, stands, connector kits) rather than complete butts. For the butt itself, visit your nearest garden centre or DIY retailer; for diverters, taps, stands, and other accessories, Amazon UK is convenient and often cheaper.