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.

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.

While the Ambient Weather WS-5000 weather station isn’t just a rain gauge, we include it here because it is the top-of-the-line Ambient weather station and arguably one of the best on the market right now.

The “smart” features of the WS-5000 make it great: for example, thanks to IFTTT connectivity, you could set a rainfall alert to trigger your smart sprinkler system to shut off. Rainfall is measured to .01″, and an extra-large funnel ensures more accurate rainfall readings than most other weather stations on the market.

But rainfall isn’t the only thing the WS-5000 can measure: the station measures indoor and outdoor temperature and humidity,  wind speed and direction, and barometric pressure, with optional sensors for lightning detection, air quality, and more.

We suggest you look at a weather station first instead of purchasing a digital rain gauge if you have the money.

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.

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.

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

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. 

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.

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. 

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 Headwind Jumbo EZRead 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 Jumbo EZRead’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.

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