The Best Rain Gauges of 2023

Best Overall

Headwind Consumer Products Jumbo EZRead Rain Gauge

4.7

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If you’re looking for a basic, easy-to-read rain gauge, the Headwind Jumbo EZRead Rain Gauge is affordable and well-designed. This model is a standard-style gauge, meaning it’s essentially just a large graduated cylinder with measurement marks. But its oversized form makes it incredibly easy to read. In fact, you can see how much water is in it from up to 50 feet away (according to the manufacturer), thanks to its large markings and red visibility float, which rises to the top of the water level. It can measure up to 5 inches of rainfall, and it comes with a mounting bracket you can attach to a fence, post, or other wooden surfaces. 

The Headwind Rain Gauge is quite large, measuring 26 inches tall, and its debris guard on the top prevents leaves and other items from getting into the tube. The product is made from weatherproof materials that can stand up to wind, precipitation, and heat. Some users find the interior of the tube tricky to clean, as small particles can accumulate inside over time. But overall, you’d be hard-pressed to find a more reasonably priced, easy-to-use rain gauge.

Price at time of publish: $27

_{Type: Standard | Material: Plastic | Collection Capacity: 5 inches | Display: Manual}

Best Budget

AcuRite 5 in. Easy-Read Magnifying Rain Gauge

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It doesn’t get more budget-friendly than the AcuRite Rain Gauge, which costs less than $10. This acrylic gauge can hold up to 5 inches of water, and its white markings on a blue background make its large display easy to read. It’s a great choice for precise measurements, as it’s marked with 0.1-inch increments. As rain fills the tube, the numbers are magnified 35 percent, making it easier to see from a distance. 

You can install this rain gauge in a couple of ways: Stake its pointy base into the ground, or mount it to a wall or fence via its keyhole hangers. While the material is designed to be weather-resistant, it may not last for quite as long as other options. We have noted that the acrylic eventually becomes discolored or faded from sun exposure.

Price at time of publish: $8

_{Type: Standard | Material: Acrylic | Collection Capacity: 5 inches | Display: Manual}

Best Splurge

WeatherFlow Tempest Weather System

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If you want to collect more than just rain measurements—and are willing to spend a little more for the latest technology—the WeatherFlow Tempest Weather System is an all-in-one solution that you can monitor right from your smartphone. This weather system is designed to be mounted to a 1-inch pole (not included) or other flat base, and its built-in solar panel eliminates the need for batteries or another power source. Not only is the Tempest 100 percent wireless but it also measures a wide range of data points, including temperature, humidity, dew point, wind speed and direction, wind chill, UV index, and more. 

This smart weather system has built-in Wi-Fi, so it sends all the data it collects to your smartphone. It can transmit up to 1,000 feet, allowing you to mount it on your roof or in the yard, and can sync up with digital assistants such as Alexa and Google Home. You also can use it to create smart-device schedules based on the weather such as adjusting your irrigation system according to the rain levels, or changing your thermostat in response to temperature fluctuations. 

Price at time of publish: $329

_{Type: Haptic rain sensor | Material: Not listed | Collection Capacity: Unlimited | Display: Smartphone}

Best Manual

Stratus Precision Rain Gauge with Mounting Bracket

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The Stratus Precision Rain Gauge is one of the most precise manual models available today. Crafted from UV-resistant polycarbonate and built to U.S. National Weather Service rain gauge standards, it provides rain accumulation measurements to 0.01 of an inch. The gauge can hold up to 11 inches of water—significantly more than most other standard rain gauges—and its “quick connect” bracket makes it easy to mount in your yard. 

The 4-inch-diameter funnel captures rainfall, and the water is held in the inner measurement tube. If more than 1 inch of rain falls, the water spills into the larger outer container. But the exterior compartment doesn’t have measurement markings, so you have to pour the water back into the smaller tube to measure it. For this reason, it can be a bit tedious to use. However, this design also allows you to measure snow, sleet, or hail, as you can simply remove the inner tube and use the outer container to capture the precipitation.

Price at time of publish: $50

_{Type: Standard | Material: UV-resistant polycarbonate | Collection Capacity: 11 inches | Display: Manual}

Best Display

ECOWITT WH5360B Wireless Rain Gauge

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The digital display on the ECOWITT Wireless Rain Gauge makes it easy to keep track of your local rainfall—without even going outside. The gauge's self-emptying design measures precipitation, then transmits the data to the wireless display, which you can mount inside your home. You can locate the two components, which run on AA batteries (not included), up to 328 feet apart in an open field (according to the manufacturer). 

This rain gauge measures precipitation levels down to 0.01 of an inch, and it transmits the latest data every 49 seconds. On the interior display, you can see how much it’s rained in the last day, week, month, or year. You even can set a rain alarm that lets you know when the first raindrop falls. The display also measures the temperature and humidity levels inside your home, but we'd prefer that it measure the outdoor temperature instead.

Price at time of publish: $70

_{Type: Tipping bucket | Material: Not listed | Collection Capacity: Not listed | Display: Digital}

Best Smart

Netatmo Rain Gauge

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The Netatmo Rain Gauge is a smart device that sends precipitation data right to your phone. However, it requires the main Netatmo Weather Station (not included), which significantly increases the overall cost. The wireless rain gauge, made from UV-resistant plastic, has a self-emptying design that requires minimal maintenance for operation. You can place the gauge up to 330 feet from the main weather station, and once set up, it sends real-time rain data right to your smartphone.

You can program this smart device to alert you when it starts raining, and it stores data history, so you can see rainfall levels over the past weeks or months. Its battery should last up to a year before needing replacement. Depending on where you mount the gauge, you may need to purchase the manufacturer's compatible bracket (sold separately).

Price at time of publish: $80

_{Type: Tipping bucket | Material: UV-resistant plastic | Collection Capacity: Not listed | Display: Digital}

Best Self-Emptying

AcuRite Wireless Digital Rain Gauge

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One of the downsides of standard rain gauges is you need to empty them after each storm. If you tend to let this detail slide, upgrade to the AcuRite Wireless Digital Rain Gauge, which has a self-emptying design. This battery-powered gauge uses tipping buckets to measure rainfall, allowing it to simply dump out any collected water. The rain collection module pairs with a digital display you can place inside your home. The two components need to be within 100 feet of each other to communicate. 

This gauge’s display features oversized text that’s easy to read, even from a distance, and it displays rainfall totals from the current rain event, past 24 hours, past 7 days, or a time frame you can customize. You can set alarms that let you know when it starts raining or if there’s risk of flooding. The rain collector transmits data to the display every 60 seconds, providing near real-time measurements.

Price at time of publish: $43

_{Type: Tipping bucket | Material: Plastic | Collection Capacity: 99.99 inches | Display: Digital}

Best Decorative

Catherine Murphy Praying Mantis Rain Gauge

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This handmade Praying Mantis model from artist Catherine Murphy is as attractive as it is functional. Crafted from copper wire and sheet metal, the rain gauge resembles a quirky praying mantis, and the insect holds up a plastic tube that collects rain. It can hold up to 6 inches of water, and comes on a 36-inch stake that makes it easy to mount in your garden or yard. 

The metal rain gauge likely develops a rustic patina, adding to its charm. However, it holds the collection tube at an angle, so remove it from the frame and hold it level if you want to get a precise measurement. To that end, the cylinder has markings every 0.1 inch, allowing you to get extremely accurate rainfall totals.

Price at time of publish: $89

_{Type: Standard | Material: Metal | Collection Capacity: 6 inches | Display: Manual}