Rain gauges allow people to measure rain without having to go outside. Knowing how much rainfall you’re getting every day, week, month, or season lets you know whether to water your garden or prepare for bad weather. Finding the correct gauge for your needs may seem daunting at first.
We’ve selected eight different gauges. Our first four recommendations offer the most accurate precipitation measurements. If you’re looking for a rain gauge at a more affordable price, the last four are some of the best-reviewed by owners on Amazon. They might not have the precise readings of the more expensive models, but they still work well for general applications.
Digital Rain Gauges
Digital rain gauges work by funneling rain into a tipping bucket inside the gauge. Once the buckets reach a certain level, they tip over and release the contents. Some, like the WeatherFlow Tempest, use haptics to detect raindrops and calculate rainfall from that data.
Rainfall is measured accurately with digital rain gauges, but the buckets may overflow before filling up if there is heavy rainfall. This could cause inaccurate measurements.
Analog Rain Gauges
Analog rain gauges are the traditional devices used to measure rainfall. Some funnel water into a measuring tube, while others, like the OutdoorHome Rain Gauge above, are open at the top to allow rain to collect. These gauges are usually placed on a post and are frequently found in gardening and home improvement stores. They are also the preferred method to collect data for scientific applications.
Rain gauges allow people to measure rain without having to go outside. Knowing how much rainfall you’re getting every day, week, month, or season lets you know whether to water your garden or prepare for bad weather. Finding the correct gauge for your needs may seem daunting at first.
We’ve selected eight different gauges. Our first four recommendations offer the most accurate precipitation measurements. If you’re looking for a rain gauge at a more affordable price, the last four are some of the best-reviewed by owners on Amazon. They might not have the precise readings of the more expensive models, but they still work well for general applications.
Digital Rain Gauges
Digital rain gauges work by funneling rain into a tipping bucket inside the gauge. Once the buckets reach a certain level, they tip over and release the contents. Some, like the WeatherFlow Tempest, use haptics to detect raindrops and calculate rainfall from that data.
Rainfall is measured accurately with digital rain gauges, but the buckets may overflow before filling up if there is heavy rainfall. This could cause inaccurate measurements.
Analog Rain Gauges
Analog rain gauges are the traditional devices used to measure rainfall. Some funnel water into a measuring tube, while others, like the OutdoorHome Rain Gauge above, are open at the top to allow rain to collect. These gauges are usually placed on a post and are frequently found in gardening and home improvement stores. They are also the preferred method to collect data for scientific applications.
Our Top Picks
The Stratus has provided accurate rainfall measurements for 50 years!
Best Rain Gauges
Climalytic Tropo Rain Gauge & Snow Gauge
We tested the TROPO, and loved it. It's a massive improvement over the Stratus.
You might not know this, but the Stratus turned 50 this year. And while the design of rain gauges have generally been the same for hundreds of years, there has definitely been some advancement in understanding how to accurately measure precipitation in a wide array of conditions. The TROPO by Climalytic Instruments is a representation of those advancements.
Now our preferred rain gauge, the TROPO features a steeper funnel, shown to more accurately measure precipitation in wind. The overall gauge is larger and has a 13.5-inch capacity — making the inner cylinder much easier to read than the Stratus. Optional bird spikes keep your feathered friends from relieving themselves in the rain gauge, and textured grips on either side make transport much less risky.
But that’s not all — the TROPO also includes a handle and spout on the outer cylinder, making measuring heavier rainstorms simple (that’s not the case with the Stratus). We’re huge fans, and we recommend accuracy-conscious weather watchers consider the TROPO first.
- Easy to read
- Very accurate, even in windy conditions
- Larger capacity
- You pay for these features
The Stratus has provided accurate rainfall measurements for 50 years!
Digital gauges are very popular; however, you’ll never get the precise measurements you will with an analog rain gauge, especially the Stratus Precision Rain Gauge. Made of UV-resistant polycarbonate plastic, the Stratus can measure up to 11″ of rain (1″ in the inner tube and up to 10″ in the outer cylinder.
You’ll get precise rainfall readings to .01″, and the Stratus is built to National Weather Service standards. The Stratus is the preferred rain gauge if you’re planning to join a rainfall reporting network like CoCoRAHS.
The Stratus comes with a mounting bracket that you can place on a post and easily slide the Stratus on and off the bracket to measure rainfall and clean the gauge. While it’s as expensive as some digital rain gauges, you’ll be able to measure both rain and snow, something digital gauges cannot do.
- A time-tested design
- Difficult to handle when measuring precipitation from the outer gauge
Ecowitt WH5360B Wireless Rain Gauge
The Ecowitt WH5360B is one of the better digital rain gauges on the market.
You’re correct if you think the Ecowitt WH5360B looks a lot like the instrumentation from the Ambient Weather WS-5000. Ecowitt licensed its stations to Ambient Weather in the US, but you can still purchase a few weather instruments from Amazon that Ambient Weather doesn’t sell here in the States.
The WH5360B includes only the rain gauge from the WS-5000, with a 300-foot wireless transmission range to a console that includes a temperature and humidity sensor. This is displayed on the included console, along with rain rate, daily rainfall (weekly, monthly, and yearly), a graphical display — and the support for metric measurements for those outside the US.
A rainfall alarm alerts you to events exceeding a set rate or amount, with flood watch alarms when rainfall may cause flooding.
It is much cheaper to buy than the WS-5000 — so if you want the accuracy of the WS-5000 but don’t need all the bells and whistles of a weather station, the Ecowitt WH5360B is a good choice.
- Accurate
- Nice console
- No connectivity options
AcuRite Wireless Digital Rain Gauge
If you're looking for a good cheap digital gauge, this one is it.
We think the AcuRite Digital Rain Gauge is a great budget option for those interested in an accurate rain gauge without breaking the bank. It’s regularly on sale on Amazon and is one of the best-reviewed as well.
The AcuRite’s large LCD display updates every 16 seconds. It can display totals for the current rainfall event, the last 24 hours, the previous seven days, and two customizable periods which you can cycle through using the buttons on the console. Owners can set alerts to trigger when a high rain rate occurs or when the potential exists for flood conditions.
Unlike other options, this electronic rain gauge can’t connect to the internet to share your data. It is only stored on the console. That’s a letdown, but it’s also why this particular model is so much cheaper than the others.
- Cheap and decent accuracy
- Limited ways to track and store data
Editors Note: Our first four suggestions are intended for those looking for more accurate measurements. The next four below are much cheaper and better if you’re looking for a budget rain gauge. However, we strongly recommend you not use these when accuracy is needed.
The Best Budget Rain Gauges
AcuRite 5" Capacity Easy-to-Read Magnifying Rain Gauge
This rain gauge is easy to read from a distance, so you don't have to get wet.
If you’ve walked around Walmart or Home Depot, you’ve seen the AcuRite 5″ Capacity Easy-Read Rain Gauge. It’s a popular budget gauge that provides relatively accurate readings. It’s made of durable plastic that can withstand harsh weather conditions. And most importantly, you don’t have to get soaked to read it in the middle of a torrential downpour!
The numbers on the gauge are magnified by a third, thanks to the half-circle shape of the front. An integrated hang hole allows you to hang it from a post, but you can also place it on the ground using the included stake.
While we haven’t purchased this gauge, we know of people who have. While it’s not a precision rain gauge like the Stratus, it is cheap and does the job.
- Inexpensive and easy to read from a distance
- Questionable accuracy
La Crosse Waterfall Rain Gauge
This uniquely designed rain gauge is intended to sit on your deck railing.
The La Crosse Waterfall Rain Gauge is interesting. It is built to be hung over your deck railing or fence, with large numbers on the front and a floating marker to make the La Crosse Waterfall easier to read at a distance. Rainfall is collected from the top, falling into the gauge itself (thus the waterfall name). The gauge can be slid off the mounting bracket and measures up to 6″ of rain.
This is probably your best bet if you’re looking for a way to mount a rain gauge on your patio. Keep in mind that you will have splashback from your railings into the gauge, especially in heavy rain, which might skew your measurements a bit high.
- Great for your backyard deck
- Splashback in heavy rainfall affects accuracy
This Australian-made rain gauge is one of the best selling models on Amazon, with decent accuracy.
If you don’t mind getting a little wet and would like more accuracy than either of the two options above, the Australian-made OutdoorHome 6″ Rain Gauge is a good buy. As a bonus, measurement markings are in both US and metric measurements (our other budget recommendations are all in the US system, unfortunately — sorry international readers!)
This rain gauge is made of heavy-duty plastic material, which won’t turn yellow or crack with age. You should get several years of use out of this gauge without an issue.
- Features US and metric measurements
- High quality plastic
- Not as accurate
Taylor 5 inch Capacity Jumbo Rain Gauge
At two feet tall, you can read this rain gauge from 50 feet away.
Some yards will be tough to find a spot close to the house that isn’t blocked in some way that could affect the accuracy of your readings. Well, the Taylor 5 inch Capacity Jumbo Rain Gauge is perfect for this.
Measuring in at a massive 26 inches tall, this extra-large rain gauge can be read from over 50 feet away (that’s not a typo). A red float moves up the inside of the gauge to indicate the water level and has a maximum capacity of five inches. An included mounting bracket can be attached to a fence post or porch railing.
We’re big fans of the Taylor’s debris guard to keep it from clogging. While you’ll still need to make sure none of that captured debris accumulates, which could prevent the funnel from draining, that is something you should do with any gauge, and it’s easy to remove to clean.
- It's massive and can be read from far away
- It's massive and not easy to hide
How to Choose the Best Rain Gauge
Rain gauges are essential tools farmers, gardeners, and weather enthusiasts use to measure rainfall. There are many different types available, but there are some things you should know before purchasing.
Rain gauges should measure rainfall accurately. They should also be easy to use and maintain. You must consider how much money you want to spend. While you don’t have to pay much for an accurate rain gauge, expect to spend around $25-50 USD.
Installation
Rain gauges should be placed two to five feet off the ground on the side or fence posts. Placing them above the post ensures that rain hitting the post doesn’t splash back into the gauge. You should use a level to ensure that the mouth of the gauge is also level. A crooked gauge will give inaccurate readings!
Be sure to position the gauge away from obstructions that could block precipitation, like tall buildings or trees. Ideally, placing it in an area twice the distance away from the height of the nearest obstacle would be best. No worries if you can’t do this. Just put the gauge in the most open area of your property for the best results.
Accuracy
Rain gauges must measure rainfall accurately, and a gauge’s size affects how much water it can hold. Typically most gauges can measure about four to five inches of rain before needing to be emptied, but some gauges, like the Stratus Precision Rain Gauge, can hold nearly a foot of rain. Generally, you want a gauge with a wide funnel, which helps maintain accuracy in windy conditions.
Gauge markings also affect accuracy. Cheap gauges may be marked to the tenth of an inch, but official measurements are taken to a hundredth of an inch.
Construction and Durability
Most of our gauges have lasted several seasons, even the cheaper ones. The cheapest models are usually the shortest-lasting ones, though. However, if you’re willing to spend more money, you’ll be rewarded with a longer-lasting gauge.
Measuring Capacity
Rain gauges should be purchased with a minimum capacity of four inches. A digital model may offer unlimited capacity. However, a professional analog gauge such as the Stratus Precision has a maximum capacity of 11 inches.
Ease of Use
Digital rain gauges are much easier to use than analog ones. But you still need to know how to operate them properly.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does a rain gauge work?
Rain gauges measure rainfall by measuring how much water falls into a tube. An analog model requires manual recording and dumping of water. A digital or wireless rain gauge automatically records and transmits data to an indoor unit.
Where is the best place for a rain gauge?
A rain gauge should be placed between two and five feet above the ground and away from obstructions. The best place to measure rainfall is on a flat surface.
What is the best way to mount a rain gauge?
Rain gauges come with mounting hardware, for which you’ll also need screws. Using the provided mounting bracket, you can mount them on fence posts, patio rails, or other elevated spots. Some models include spikes for securing them directly into the ground.
How often should I check my rain gauge?
We recommend checking your rain gauge at the end of each rain event, and if you’re recording the data, check it every day at the same time. For example, CoCoRAHS participants are asked to submit daily data each morning.
How do I clean a rain gauge?
Rain gauges should be cleaned gently with soap and water. Don’t use harsh chemicals. Read the manufacturer’s instructions before cleaning.
