Best Garden Watering Cans 2026: Dramm, Behrens and Fiskars Compared
The Dramm 5L is our best garden watering can for 2026. See how it compares with a steel Behrens for outdoor use and a slim Fiskars can for houseplants.
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Prices and availability are accurate as of the time of publication and are subject to change.
The Dramm 5L Watering Can is the best garden watering can for most people in 2026. It holds 5 litres, weighs just 1.5 lb empty and comes with a lifetime guarantee, which makes it the most sensible all-rounder for beds, borders and patio containers. We compared it with a hot-dipped steel can from Behrens and a slim 40 oz indoor model from Fiskars, and each of those wins in one specific situation.
What matters in garden watering cans
Capacity looks like the obvious starting point, but it is really a question about weight. Water weighs about one kilogram per litre, so a 5-litre can adds roughly 5 kg (11 lb) to whatever the empty can weighs. A bigger can means fewer trips to the tap, but a heavier lift when you reach into the back of a border. For most gardens, around 5 litres is the point where refills stay infrequent without the can becoming a strain.
Material decides how the can ages. Plastic is light and will not dent, while hot-dipped steel is heavier but made to stay outdoors and can be recycled when retired. Spout length matters more than most buyers expect: a long spout lets you pour at the base of a plant, under the foliage, instead of splashing leaves. Finally, think about storage. A can kept by the back door faces weather and the occasional rodent, while one kept indoors needs to be slim and drip-free.
| Product | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Dramm 5L Watering Can | Everyday beds and containers | View |
| Behrens 1.5 Gallon Steel Watering Can | Year-round outdoor storage | View |
| Fiskars 40oz Indoor Watering Can | Houseplants and shelves | View |
The three watering cans compared
Dramm 5L Watering Can
The Dramm 5L is the can we would suggest to most gardeners first. Its green plastic body holds 5 litres, enough to soak a large container or a short row of vegetables in one trip, yet the empty can weighs only 1.5 lb, so a full load stays manageable across a longer session. The long spout is its most useful detail: it reaches past foliage to the soil in raised beds and deep planters, putting water where roots can use it. At 6 x 16 x 21 inches it is long rather than bulky, so it stands neatly against a shed wall. Dramm backs it with a lifetime guarantee, and that mix of capacity, low weight, reach and cover earns it our best overall badge. The limitation is the material: plastic will not match the weather toughness of steel if the can is left outside all year, and its 21-inch length needs a clear spot on the floor or a wide shelf.
Pros
- 5-litre capacity waters a large container or a short vegetable row per fill
- 1.5 lb empty weight keeps a full can easier to carry than the steel Behrens
- Long spout reaches the soil beneath foliage in raised beds and deep pots
- Lifetime guarantee from Dramm covers the can far beyond a single season
Cons
- Plastic body lacks the weather and impact resistance of hot-dipped steel
- 21-inch overall length takes noticeably more storage room than a compact can
Behrens 1.5 Gallon Steel Watering Can
The Behrens is the choice for anyone who leaves a watering can outside through every season. It is made from hot-dipped alloy steel and is described as watertight and resistant to both weather and rodents, so it can stay next to a raised bed or compost bin rather than being carried back into a shed after each use. The offset bottom and two handles round out a sturdy design, and the second handle gives you another grip point when you tip a full can to pour. At 1.5 gallons, roughly 5.7 litres, it holds a little more than the Dramm, and the steel is recyclable at the end of its life. Those durability details earn it our outdoor badge. The tradeoff is weight: the empty can already weighs 2.1 lb, so once filled it is the heaviest of the three, which matters for anyone with limited grip strength. Its 11 x 9 x 16 inch body is also wide for a crowded potting bench.
Pros
- Hot-dipped alloy steel body is built to stay outdoors through all weather
- Watertight, rodent-resistant construction suits storage beside sheds and compost bins
- Two handles give a second grip point when carrying and tipping a full can
- Recyclable steel means the can does not end up as plastic waste
Cons
- 2.1 lb empty weight plus about 5.7 litres of water makes it the heaviest to lift
- 11 x 9 x 16 inch body is wide for tight potting benches or indoor use
Fiskars 40oz Indoor Watering Can
The Fiskars 40oz is designed for the windowsill rather than the vegetable patch. It holds 40 oz, about 1.2 litres, which covers a shelf of houseplants without the strain of lifting a garden-sized can at eye level. The long, slender spout slips between leaves to reach the soil in small pots, and the translucent, marked anti-drip nozzle helps keep water off furniture and floors. Its cap lets you refill without taking it off, a small detail that makes topping up at the kitchen tap quicker. The body uses 30% recycled plastic, the footprint is only 5.19 x 5.19 inches with a height of 12.13 inches, and Fiskars adds a lifetime warranty. That compact, tidy design earns it our houseplant badge. Its limitation is capacity: 1.2 litres is far too little for outdoor beds or large planters, so treat it as a second can alongside the Dramm or Behrens rather than a replacement.
Pros
- Long slender spout reaches soil between leaves in small indoor pots
- Anti-drip nozzle helps keep sills, shelves and floors dry after pouring
- Refill cap stays in place, so topping up at the tap is quick
- 5.19-inch-square footprint fits on a windowsill or narrow shelf
Cons
- 1.2-litre capacity means frequent refills for a large houseplant collection
- Too small to double as a can for outdoor beds or big containers
How to choose the right watering can for your garden
Start with your routine. If you water beds, borders and patio pots most days, the Dramm offers enough capacity to work efficiently while staying light to carry, and its long spout helps with plants set behind others. If the can will live outside next to raised beds or a compost area, the Behrens is the more durable option, as long as you are comfortable lifting a heavier full load.
For indoor plants, a garden can is the wrong tool: its weight makes precise pouring on a high shelf awkward. The Fiskars fills that gap, and many households end up with two cans, a large one by the back door and a small one under the kitchen sink.
FAQ
What size watering can is best for a garden?
For most gardens, around 5 litres is the practical sweet spot. It is large enough to water several containers or a short row before refilling, while a full can stays within what most people can carry comfortably. The Dramm sits at exactly that size. If you have limited strength, fill a larger can only partway rather than buying a smaller one that forces constant trips to the tap.
Is a steel or plastic watering can better?
It depends on where the can is stored. Plastic, like the Dramm, is lighter and cannot dent, which makes it easier to carry and handle every day. Hot-dipped steel, like the Behrens, is heavier but is made to withstand weather and rodents when left outdoors, and it can be recycled at the end of its life. If your can stays outside all year, steel is the safer choice.
Can I use an indoor watering can outside?
You can, but it is not efficient. The Fiskars holds about 1.2 litres, so watering even a small bed would mean many trips to the tap. Its strengths are the slender spout, the anti-drip nozzle and a footprint that fits on a windowsill, all of which matter most indoors. For outdoor watering, pair it with a larger garden can instead of using it on its own.
Prices and availability are accurate as of publication and can change.