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Climalytic Tropo Rain Gauge & Snow Gauge
You may not know this, but the Stratus is a rain gauge that is over 50 years old. While the design of rain gauges has remained essentially unchanged for hundreds of years, significant advancements have been made in accurately measuring precipitation across a wide range of conditions. The TROPO by Climalytic Instruments represents those advancements. Now, our preferred rain gauge, the TROPO, features a steeper funnel, which has been shown to measure precipitation in wind more accurately. 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. However, that’s not all — the TROPO also features a handle and spout on the outer cylinder, making it simple to measure heavier rainstorms (a feature not found on the Stratus). We’re huge fans, and we recommend accuracy-conscious weather watchers consider the TROPO first.What we like
- Easy to read
- Very accurate, even in windy conditions
- Larger capacity
Keep in mind
- Nearly twice the price of the Stratus
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World's Coolest 24" Copper Rain Gauge
A decorative, all-copper rain gauge for readers who want their yard instrument to double as a garden centerpiece. The 24″ tube gives a large capacity so it needs emptying less often, and the copper develops a natural patina over time that many buyers specifically want.What we like
- Real copper construction
- Sturdy, lasts for years
Keep in mind
- Premium price for an analog gauge
- Measurements under .25" of rain are difficult
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Stratus Precision Rain Gauge
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.What we like
- CoCoRAHS approved
- Time tested design
Keep in mind
- Difficult to handle when measuring precipitation from the outer gauge
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Certain content that appears on this site comes from Amazon. This content is provided “as is” and is subject to change or removal at any time.
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 for our best rain gauges list this year. Our first four recommendations offer the most accurate precipitation measurements, although there’s one clear winner that we strongly recommend for accuracy. But it’s not cheap, so 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.
Best Rain Gauges
We may earn a commission when you purchase through links in this article. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
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Climalytic Tropo Rain Gauge & Snow Gauge
You may not know this, but the Stratus is a rain gauge that is over 50 years old. While the design of rain gauges has remained essentially unchanged for hundreds of years, significant advancements have been made in accurately measuring precipitation across a wide range of conditions. The TROPO by Climalytic Instruments represents those advancements. Now, our preferred rain gauge, the TROPO, features a steeper funnel, which has been shown to measure precipitation in wind more accurately. 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. However, that’s not all — the TROPO also features a handle and spout on the outer cylinder, making it simple to measure heavier rainstorms (a feature not found on the Stratus). We’re huge fans, and we recommend accuracy-conscious weather watchers consider the TROPO first.What we like
- Easy to read
- Very accurate, even in windy conditions
- Larger capacity
Keep in mind
- Nearly twice the price of the Stratus
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Stratus Precision Rain Gauge
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.What we like
- CoCoRAHS approved
- Time tested design
Keep in mind
- Difficult to handle when measuring precipitation from the outer gauge
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World's Coolest 24" Copper Rain Gauge
A decorative, all-copper rain gauge for readers who want their yard instrument to double as a garden centerpiece. The 24″ tube gives a large capacity so it needs emptying less often, and the copper develops a natural patina over time that many buyers specifically want.What we like
- Real copper construction
- Sturdy, lasts for years
Keep in mind
- Premium price for an analog gauge
- Measurements under .25" of rain are difficult
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AcuRite Wireless Digital Rain Gauge
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.What we like
- Cheap and decent accuracy
Keep in mind
- Limited ways to track and store data
Certain content that appears on this site comes from Amazon. This content is provided “as is” and is subject to change or removal at any time.
Digital Rain Gauges
Digital rain gauges funnel rain into a tipping bucket inside the gauge. Once the buckets reach a certain level, they tip over and release their contents. Some, like the WeatherFlow Tempest, use haptics to detect raindrops and calculate rainfall from that data.
Digital rain gauges accurately measure rainfall, but if there is heavy rainfall, the buckets may overflow before filling up, causing inaccurate measurements. Also, if you’re taking measurements for an official purpose (NOAA, CoCoRAHS, NWS storm spotting), a digital rain gauge should not be used and is often prohibited due to these inaccuracy issues. But for most of us, a digital rain gauge will be more than sufficient even with the inaccuracy.
Analog Rain Gauges
Analog rain gauges are the traditional devices used to measure rainfall. Some funnel water into a measuring tube, like the TROPO Precipitation Gauge, 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 of collecting 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.
Best Budget Rain Gauges
We may earn a commission when you purchase through links in this article. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
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AcuRite 5" Capacity Easy-to-Read Magnifying Rain Gauge
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.What we like
- Inexpensive and easy to read from a distance
Keep in mind
- Questionable accuracy
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La Crosse Waterfall Rain Gauge
The 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.
Certain content that appears on this site comes from Amazon. This content is provided “as is” and is subject to change or removal at any time.
How to Choose the Best Rain Gauge
Rain gauges are essential tools for farmers, gardeners, and weather enthusiasts to measure rainfall. Many different types are available, but you should know some things 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, and on the higher end of that if you’re using it in a scientific application.
Installation
Rain gauges should be placed two to five feet 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, it should be placed twice the distance away from the height of the nearest obstacle. 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; 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.