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The best watering cans for your garden in 2025

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Watering cans BBC Gardeners' World Product Guide

The best watering cans for your garden in 2025

Published: Wednesday, 19 March 2025 at 3:10 pm

Find out which type of watering can is best for your plants, with our selection of some of the best

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All plants need water to stay alive and an essential tool to provide them with this is a watering can. It can be one of the most important items in a gardener's arsenal and helps us be selective about the amount of water we provide our favourite plants.

Not only are watering cans simple to use they're far less wasteful than using a hose and allow us to target exactly where we wish our water to go. Despite this relative simplicity watering cans can vary from model to model and with hundreds on the market it can be difficult to choose the right one for your needs.

To help you navigate the many watering cans available we’ve put together this list of our favourites. We’ve got everything from large cans to those best suited to indoor plants, plus we've answered some key questions to help you choose whether you’d prefer a metal or plastic watering can, how to water your plants properly and key things to look for in a watering can.

For more watering tools, see our reviews of the best plant misters, best garden hoses and best garden spray guns, as well as our guide to buying the best pressure washer. Alternatively, take a look at our picks of the best water butts, bird baths and solar water features.

The best watering cans in 2025

Flopro Quick Fill and Flo Can-Can watering can

Price: £19.99

Available from Marshalls Garden and Amazon

Flopro Fill & Flo Can-Can watering can

This 7.5L watering can is the first of a kind, connecting directly to a hose connector so you can fill it easily without having to hold it or carry it back and forth to the tap.It has an extra-long reach for watering right in the middle of beds and the flip top rose can be instantly swapped for a pouring spout so you can gently water young plants and then trees. The wide filling hole also makes dunking and filling in from water butts easy.

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Ward 10L Watering Can

Price: £7

Available from B&Q

2048-1365-gw-watering-cans-Ward-10l

Ward 10L Watering Can

For watering on a budget, check out the Ward watering can. This deceptively simple can has a couple of useful features. We love the measures along the side, so you can water precisely, as well as the rose storage, which makes it easy to switch between sprinkling plants and a full flow.

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Garden Trading 10L Galvanised Watering Can

Price: £45

Available from Garden Trading

Garden Trading 10L Galvanised Watering Can - BBC Gardeners' World Magazine

Garden Trading 10L Galvanised Watering Can

This simple watering can is all you need to keep your plants well-watered. Made of hard-wearing galvanised steel, with a brass rose, it holds up to 10 litres. You can also buy it in 1.5- and 5-litre capacities if you have a smaller space.

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Haws Bearwood Brook Green Two Gallon Watering Can

Price: £125

Available from Haws

Haws Bearwood Brook Green Two Gallon Watering Can - BBC Gardeners' World Magazine

Haws Bearwood Brook Green Two Gallon Watering Can

Haws is a big name in watering cans, and for good reason. Handmade in Smethwick, this galvanised steel watering can is powder-coated in attractive British racing green and comes with a brass rose. All Haws products have a fantastic 10-year guarantee, and the company has been known to still restore products more than fifty years old. This model holds up to two gallons, or 9L in new money.

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Kent & Stowe 9L Long Reach Watering Can

Price: £39.99 £31.99 (save £8 or 20%)

Available from Marshalls Garden

Kent & Stowe 9L Long Reach Watering Can - BBC Gardeners' World Magazine

Kent & Stowe 9L Long Reach Watering Can

If you struggle to water hanging baskets or the back of deep flower beds, this long-reach watering can might be the one for you. Made from powder-coated galvanised steel, the long arm will help you water all your plants evenly, without treading on your flower beds or veg patch.

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Burgon and Ball Waterfall 5L Watering Can

Price: £34.49

Available from Burgon and Ball

Burgon and Ball Waterfall 5L Watering Can - BBC Gardeners' World Magazine

Burgon and Ball Waterfall 5L Watering Can

We love the long arm on this galvanised steel can as well as the one-piece round handle, so it’s easy to use with one or two hands. The rose screws on to ensure a tight fit with no water wasted, and the can has a good five-year warranty.

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Kent And Stowe 4.5L Metal Watering Can

Price: £25.97

Available from Amazon

Kent And Stowe 4.5L Metal Watering Can - BBC Gardeners' World Magazine

Kent And Stowe 4.5L Metal Watering Can

This 4.5L watering can from Kent and Stowe is just right for country-style gardens. It has a copper coloured rose and a folding top handle for easy storage, but if you forget to put it away after use, this attractive cream can will still look great on the patio.

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Garden Trading 1.9L Indoor Watering Can

Price: £22

Available from Garden Trading

Garden Trading 1.9L Indoor Watering Can - BBC Gardeners' World Magazine

Garden Trading 1.9L Indoor Watering Can

For a high-quality indoor watering can, check out the Garden Trading 1.9L watering can. Offering a large capacity in chalk or stone, this attractive galvanised steel can will help keep your plants healthy for years.

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Elho Brussels 1.8L Watering Can

Price: £12.69

Available from Elho

Elho Brussels 1.8L Watering Can - BBC Gardeners' World Magazine

Elho Brussels 1.8L Watering Can

Made from recycled plastic, the Elho Brussels can has a great 1.8L capacity. Its small spout is ideal for targeted watering, and it has a large filling hole too, so it’s easy to top up from kitchen and bathroom taps.

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Haws Indoor Plastic 700ml Watering Can

Price: £9.99

Available from Haws

Haws Indoor Plastic 700ml Watering Can - BBC Gardeners' World Magazine

Haws Indoor Plastic 700ml Watering Can

This plastic watering can delivers Haws’ upmarket aesthetic at a lower price. Holding 700ml, it’s great for nipping around the house and keeping your plants topped up, and will look great alongside them on a shelf.

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Burgon & Ball 700ml Indoor Watering Can

Price: £14.99

Available from Burgon & Ball

Burgon and Ball 700ml Indoor Watering Can - BBC Gardeners' World Magazine

Burgon and Ball 700ml Indoor Watering Can

For a simple but attractive watering can, check out the Burgon and Ball Indoor watering can. The handle is made of sustainable FSC beech, and the thin spout is just right for gently watering plants. It’s also available in charcoal, stone, or blue.

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Ward Woodstock 1L Indoor Watering Can

Price: £7

Available from B&Q and Amazon

Ward Woodstock 1L Indoor Watering Can - BBC Gardeners' World Magazine

Ward Woodstock 1L Indoor Watering Can

If you’re on a budget, try the Ward Woodstock watering can. This small 1L can is ideal for keeping out on kitchen surfaces so you don’t forget to water herbs.

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Elho Plunge 1.7L Indoor Watering Can

Price: £14.79

Available from Elho

Elho Plunge 1.7L Indoor Watering Can - BBC Gardeners' World Magazine

Elho Plunge 1.7L Indoor Watering Can

We love the ingenious design of the Elho Plunge because it’s a watering can disguised as a vase. It also offers a capacity of 1.7 litres, so it’s great if you’ve got a lot of plants to water.

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What to look for in a watering can

The type of watering can you need depends on what you're watering and where.

To water plants growing outside in borders or large pots, you'll need a watering can with a capacity of around 10 litres to help you water everything efficiently, without having to constantly refill.

If you struggle to carry heavier watering cans, choose a smaller option, but bear in mind it will mean more refills at the garden tap. Plastic cans are lighter than metal ones, but you may prefer a metal watering can for environmental or aesthetic reasons.

If you’re caring for plants inside your home or greenhouse you're unlikely to need a large watering can, and a capacity of around four litres should be enough. Indoor watering cans are more likely to be on show than those used in the garden and are often designed with appearance in mind. There are lots of colours, materials and styles to choose from, with designs catering to personal aesthetics as well as practical needs.

Good balance and grip are also important especially if you'll using a can a lot or need to carry it a distance from the tap. Some handles are on both the top and the side and along the spout, which can help balance the can while pouring. and look for a handle that's wide enough to grip comfortably. Some plastic can even have fingers grooves to ensure it sits comfortable in the hand.

If you're watering baskets or plants in tricky spots a watering can with a long spout is useful for giving you extra reach. A watering can sprinkler - or ‘rose’ - over the spout will help distribute a gentle spray of water that's less likely to damage plants or disturb compost, and is most useful for watering seedlings, cuttings and very young plants. Roses come with differently sized holes so you can choose the best spray to suit your plants. A universal rose tends to be made of rubber and should fit most cans, whereas brass roses are crafted to fit individual watering cans.

How to water effectively

Outdoor plants

To water established plants in containers, flower beds and vegetable patches use a can without a rose and water plants individually, aiming the spout around the base of the plants towards the roots. Give them a good soak so that water penetrates deep into the soil to encourage plants to root deeply. In summer, try to water in the early morning or late evening so that precious water doesn’t evaporate in the heat of the day.

House plants

Many house plants should be watered at the base, to avoid splashing their leaves and so water is targeted directly at their roots. However, carnivorous plants need damp roots, and cacti, succulents and cyclamen are prone to rotting at the base of the stems, so should be watered from below, either by standing them in a sink of water or watering the saucer they're standing in.

For more on this, check out this fascinating discussion between Arit Anderson and water expert Janet Manning on the BBC Gardeners’ World podcast.

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Find out more about our Growing Greener podcast series

Is a metal watering can better than a plastic one?

If you’re picking between a metal watering can and a plastic one, they both have their own advantages and disadvantages. Ultimately, the choice between both will depend on your preferences, budget, and specific gardening requirements. We’ve compared them below so you can make a more informed decision regarding which watering can you want to buy.

Metal watering cans

Metal watering cans are a durable option and will generally last longer than plastic models. They can withstand exposure to sunlight, temperature changes, and rough handling without deteriorating as quickly. Unlike plastic, metal watering cans are not affected by UV rays, so they won't degrade or become brittle over time due to sun exposure. But, while many metal watering cans are treated to resist rust, over time, they might still develop rust spots if the coating gets scratched or if they are not properly dried after use.
They are typically heavier and more stable, which can help prevent them from tipping over when filled with water. This stability is especially useful if you're watering delicate plants that could be easily damaged by accidental spills.
Metal watering cans often have a classic and attractive design and come in various finishes such as brass, copper, or galvanised steel, offering a vintage or decorative look.
However, they are usually more expensive than their plastic counterparts due to the higher cost of materials and manufacturing process required to make them.

Plastic watering cans

Plastic watering cans are much lighter than metal ones, making them easier to carry, especially when filled with water. They're generally more budget-friendly, which can be a significant factor if you're just starting out gardening or have limited funds.
They come in a wide range of colours and styles, allowing you to choose one that matches your preferences or garden or room décor. They're also easy to clean, don’t rust, and don’t require the same level of care and attention as metal cans to prevent corrosion.
Plastic watering cans are more susceptible to wear and tear over time, especially with prolonged exposure to sunlight and changing weather conditions. They can become brittle and crack as they age. UV exposure can also cause plastic to fade and become less attractive over time, affecting the overall appearance of your watering can.

How to set up a water butt

Water butts come in imaginative different designs and you can have as many as you can fit between the ground and your gutters. Be aware that full water butts are very heavy and they do need lids to stop anything falling in. Clean water butts regularly when empty to avoid contamination by water-borne diseases such as damping-off disease, which can harm seedlings. Wiping with lemon juice and vinegar is a kind way to freshen them up.

Fix gutters on sheds and greenhouses. Fit with a light slope so water flows along them, and attach downpipes to the gutters with connector kits. When your system is set up, make sure you keep gutters free of fallen leaves and other debris, so the flow of water is not restricted. Place the leaves and dirt on your compost heap.
Put the water butt on its stand and measure the length of downpipe needed. You can either place the butt directly below so the pipe goes through the lid, or install a rainwater diverter. You can install more than one water butt to be fed by the same downpipe, connecting the butts with a special kit that fills each one in turn.
Use a kit to fix a tap to the base of the butt. You can open the tap to fill a watering can or even attach a hose, with a special fitting. If you are using a hose with your water butt, make sure it’s one with a trigger-type control. This will allow you to control how much water you’re using, and help to focus your watering more accurately.

This product guide was last updated in March 2025. We apologise if anything has changed in price or availability.

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