Are Our Water Butt Barrels Worth Buying? A Complete UK Guide (2025)

With rising water bills and growing awareness around sustainability, more UK homeowners are turning to rainwater harvesting. One of the most popular options is our Roto water butt barrel — designed to combine practical water storage with a traditional wooden appearance.

But are these barrel-style water butts actually worth buying? Or are they simply decorative?

In this guide, we’ll break down durability, lifespan, performance and value — so you can decide if a water butt barrel is the right investment for your garden.

What Is a Water Butt Barrel?

A water butt barrel is a rainwater storage container designed to look like a traditional oak barrel. While it has the appearance of wood, it is actually made from a seriously durable polyethylene plastic.

Unlike a wooden barrel, it is:

• available in a range of capacities - typically from 50L to 480L - to suit your exact needs, and

• is built for year-round outdoor use without aging and cracking.

These beautiful barrels offer a more attractive alternative to standard ugly plastic water butts, making them ideal for areas where they will be on display, such as patios, decking or in period-style properties.

They are also compatible with gutter diverter kits, like the Gutter Mate, Harcostar Rain Trap & 3P Collector.

Durable Construction: Why Manufacturing Matters

Not all water butts are manufactured in the same way — and this has a direct impact on durability.

Our high-quality barrel water butts are produced using rotomoulding (rotational moulding) — a process that creates a seamless, one-piece structure with uniform wall thickness.

Unlike cheaper injection-moulded water butts that will likely have bonded seams or thinner walls, rotomoulded barrels;

• have NO weak points – the barrel is made in one strong piece with no seams or joints
• are much more impact-resistant – when hit or dropped, it stands up to the test
• are designed for long-term outdoor use without the wear and tear that you’ll inevitably see with a wooden barrel.

If you’d like a deeper explanation of why this matters, you can read our full guide on why our roto-moulded rain barrels are stronger, longer-lasting & worth the investment.

Built for UK Weather Conditions

The UK climate puts outdoor products to the test. Heavy rainfall, frost, freeze–thaw cycles and summer UV exposure can all weaken lower-quality plastics over time.

Our well-manufactured barrel water butt is:

• UV-resistant – it won’t fade or become brittle over time
• more resistant to cracking during cold winters
• is less likely to split under water pressure

Choosing the right construction method significantly increases lifespan – it will stand up to all weathers, rain or shine, for many years to come.

What size suits you?

Barrel-style water butts are available in a wide range of capacities — typically from 50L to 480L — allowing you to match storage volume to your needs.

Factors to consider in deciding the right size for you:

• Roof surface area – how much water will you collect?
• Garden size – how much water do you need?
• Typical rainfall levels where you live
• Intended water use (are you using the water in a watering can or for an irrigation system?)

Make sure you choose the right size to get the most out of your rainwater and reduce overflow risk. To help stop any overflow to a look at our Harcostar Overflow Kit or Gutter Mate, Harcostar Rain Trap & 3P Collector.

Practical Features That Improve Usability

Our barrels are designed to be both functional and user-friendly.  They include:

• Removable lids for cleaning
• Brass threaded inserts to prevent cross-threading
• Optional dual tap locations on certain models – which means you can choose to pour your water out through a higher or lower tap
• Full compatibility with out Harcostar Linking Kit so you can link to other barrels for increased storage
• Some models also include a matching stand, raising the barrel for easier watering can access and improved gravity flow.

Barrel Water Butt vs Standard Plastic Water Butt

Standard plastic water butts may have a lower upfront cost, barrel-style models often provide better long-term performance and improved aesthetics.

Final Verdict:  Are Water Butt Barrels Worth the Investment?

If you are looking for:

1. Reliable rainwater storage
2. Strong, long-lasting construction
3. Resistance to UK weather conditions
4. A beautiful garden feature
5. A sustainable water-saving solution

Then our quality barrel-style water butt is absolutely worth considering.

The key is choosing a well-constructed model manufactured using rotomoulding rather than thinner, lower-cost alternatives.