Best Overall
Bloem Easy Pour Watering Can
- Design5/5
- Effectiveness4/5
- Ease of Use5/5
- Size5/5
- Durabilty5/5
Why You Should Get It: This watering can holds a large volume of water but is still easy to carry and use.
Keep in Mind: It can get heavy when lifting overhead for hanging plants.
If you want to buy one, all-purpose watering can for all types of plants, you can’t go wrong with the Bloem Easy Pour Watering Can. Whether you are tending to indoor potted plants, hanging vines, or an outdoor vegetable garden, the 2.6-gallon capacity gives you enough volume so that you won’t have to make constant trips back to the sink. It also boasts an ergonomic design, with two different handles to make carrying and pouring even easier.
We loved the two-handle design, with one hinged handle that made carrying and pouring a breeze, and noted that the can was surprisingly easy to fill under a sink for its size. The clever design places the fill hole slightly off center so the handles don’t get in the way of a spigot or faucet. Another helpful feature is the adjustable spout that can go from light shower to heavy stream, depending on what you are watering.
The Bloem Easy Pour Watering Can also proved to be extremely durable and stayed upright even when we dropped it on both grass and concrete. This is due to its thick wall structure, made of fade-resistant polypropylene plastic, which is sturdy enough to last through multiple seasons of use.
If you’re primarily watering hanging plants, you may want to purchase a smaller watering can than this one. Its larger capacity means that you really have to tip the can to get a full pour, which isn’t as much of an issue when watering standing pots or a garden.
Product Details: Weight: 1 pound | Capacity: 2.6 gallons | Material: Polypropylene plastic | Spout type: Adjustable sprinkler head
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / RACHEL MAREK
Best Outdoor
XXXFlower Watering Can
- Design4/5
- Effectiveness4/5
- Ease of Use5/5
- Size4/5
- Durabilty4/5
Why You Should Get It: The fully removable sprinkler head makes this a good choice for watering a variety of plant types.
Keep in Mind: This watering can has a very basic look that you probably wouldn’t want to put on display, so consider where you might store it when not in use.
While the XXXFlower Watering Can might not have the stylistic attributes of some of our other picks, its basic design and sturdy construction make it a great pick for watering a vegetable garden or a large number of outdoor plants. The 1.5-gallon capacity is plenty to keep your plants hydrated, and the placement of the dual handles (one for carrying and one for tilting and pouring) make it easy to handle even when full. Despite its size, it was easy to lift up and reach hanging plants.
We also loved the removable sprinkler head, which makes it easy to switch between full water flow and a soft rainshower. This versatility is incredibly helpful when taking care of a garden, allowing you to water hearty plants deeply and also take gentle care of delicate herbs and flowers.
In addition to the removable spout head, the XXXFlower Watering Can also comes with a handy cover for the top opening, which can help keep debris out of the basin when not in use. We also found that the durable plastic construction makes this watering can a good pick if you plan to store it outside since it’s less likely to get damaged by weather and moisture. In our testing process, this watering can dented when we dropped it completely full of water on a concrete surface, but it didn’t crack and was still usable.
If you want your watering can to serve both a functional purpose and have an attractive exterior, this one may not be the best choice for you—we found it to be quite plain. However, in terms of durability, ease of use, and versatility, this watering can is a great choice for outdoor garden enthusiasts.
Product Details: Weight: 1.6 pounds | Capacity: 1.5 gallons | Material: Plastic | Spout type: Detachable sprinkler head
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / RACHEL MAREK
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / RACHEL MAREK
Best Plastic
Fasmov Plastic Watering Can
- Design4.5/5
- Effectiveness4.5/5
- Ease of Use4/5
- Size4.5/5
- Durabilty4.5/5
Why You Should Get It: This durable, lightweight watering can impressed us with its overall ease of use.
Keep in Mind: The placement of the handle and the small mouth might make this hard to fill from a fixed faucet.
The light weight of this plastic Fasmov Watering Can means that you can easily tote it around the house (or yard) without adding much heft beyond the water itself. Plastic watering cans are a great choice for gardeners who want a long-lasting, easy-to-care-for watering can—and this one passed our testing process with flying colors.
We found the Fasmov model to be extremely easy to carry around. The 1-gallon size makes it lightweight enough to transport while still holding a decent amount of water, and the ergonomic handle design adds to the general ease of use. The mouth on top is slightly smaller than normal, which means that it might be hard to fill depending on your faucet or spigot. However, the plus side to a smaller fill hole is that you are much less likely to drip water or have it slosh over the top when carrying the watering can around.
The Fasmov watering can is made from sturdy plastic that held up well in our durability tests, and the pretty, deep blue color keeps the otherwise basic watering can from being an eyesore. The spout is open, but the long, narrow neck allows for a controlled flow and precise watering.
Product Details: Weight: 9.1 ounces | Capacity: 1 gallon | Material: Plastic | Spout type: Open flow
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / RACHEL MAREK
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / RACHEL MAREK
Best Steel
E.Palace Stainless Steel Watering Can
- Design4/5
- Effectiveness4/5
- Ease of Use4.5/5
- Size5/5
- Durabilty4/5
Why You Should Get It: With an attractive polished steel exterior, this watering can would look great in a modern home or office.
Keep in Mind: The capacity on this watering can is quite small, so it wouldn’t work well for large plants or an entire garden.
If you’re looking for an attractive watering can to display on a shelf or ledge in your home, the E.Palace Stainless Steel Watering Can is made for you. The small, 15-ounce can is made from sturdy stainless steel with an overall minimalist design, and the size makes it easy to fit into your other home decor.
Beyond just fashion, the E.Palace pick performs well in its function-watering plants. The hand-polished steel is designed to resist scratches, corrosion, and tarnishing, so it’ll hold up for years to come. The spout is quite narrow, which means that the flow is somewhat slow and requires a patient pour unless you want to slosh water out of the top. This watering can wouldn’t work as well for plants that need a more distributed flow of water, such as delicate flowers and new seedlings.
The small capacity means that it's also easy to lift overhead to water hanging plants or bookshelf vines, and the hole at the top is large enough that it can be filled from virtually any sink. Plus, we found it quite easy to carry and pour without spillage.
The only potential downside to the E.Palace watering can is its small size. While it is an aesthetically pleasing item, the capacity of 15 ounces limits its overall utility. It would be a good choice for a home office or other small area with a houseplant or two, but it would be hard to use this watering can to water a large number of plants.
Product Details: Weight: 8.4 ounces | Capacity: 15 ounces | Material: Stainless steel | Spout type: Open flow
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / RACHEL MAREK
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / RACHEL MAREK
Best Copper
Williams-Sonoma Tall Copper Watering Can
- Design4.5/5
- Effectiveness5/5
- Ease of Use4.5/5
- Size5/5
- Durabilty3/5
Why You Should Get It: This watering can has a consistent pour to help avoid unexpected splashes.
Keep in Mind: The price point for this watering can is higher than most on our list.
If we had to pick a watering can based purely on looks, the Williams Sonoma Tall Copper Watering Can would top our list. The lustrous, solid copper body has subtle hammered detailing in the center band and is framed by a long, slender handle and spout. We also love that this product is handcrafted in Turkey by artisans using traditional techniques.
While the rounded handle doesn’t have any special ergonomic features, we found it easy to hold and carry without your arms getting tired. We also noticed the pour was consistent, no matter how full or empty the container. The narrow, open spout offers a well-paced, steady flow of water that is easy to aim low or high.
As with any shiny copper product, you should expect that over time the metal will oxidize slightly and develop a rich bronze patina on its surface (think about the color of an older penny). You can take extra care of the watering can to prevent this from happening, or embrace the natural color variations of this gorgeous metal.
There’s no doubt that this is a splurge item. If you look at this as an investment in home decor, it’s probably worth it, but if you’re choosing based on function, you can likely find a watering can that’s a better value. This watering can could also make a unique wedding or housewarming gift.
Product Details: Weight: Unknown | Capacity: 65 ounces | Material: Copper | Spout type: Open flow
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / RACHEL MAREK
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / RACHEL MAREK
Best Decorative
Terrain Beech Wood Handle Watering Can
Why You Should Get It: The small size and sleek appearance of this watering can make it a great indoor option.
Keep in Mind: The painted steel might not withstand heavy use over time.
Terrain’s Beech Wood Handle Watering Can is another attractive pick, combining function and style with the style of a modern farmhouse decor piece. The body of this device comes in dark gray or white with a contrasting beech wood handle, while the long, narrow spout allows for precision watering and good reach, ideal for houseplants.
The manufacturer doesn’t list the capacity, but we found that this watering can could hold 18 ounces without spilling when carried. The tiny size makes it a breeze to fill under pretty much any sink, including a smaller bathroom sink. This is another great choice for a home office or environment with just a few houseplants to take care of due to its smaller size, and it would also be fun and easy for children to use.
In terms of durability, the Beech Wood Handle Watering Can held up well functionally from being dropped, landing upright and denting only slightly, but the paint did chip and show the steel underneath. If you are in an environment where you expect to have a lot of wear and tear (hello, small children and pets), the painted exterior might show damage over time. In general, this is a good value for a smaller, good-looking indoor watering can.
Product Details: Weight: Unknown | Capacity: 18 ounces | Material: Painted steel and beechwood | Spout type: Open flow
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / RACHEL MAREK