Best Rain Gauge (2026): Manual, Wireless and Sprinkler Gauges for the Garden

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The best rain gauge for most yards is the Stratus Precision Rain Gauge, a clear manual gauge that measures rain to a hundredth of an inch and holds storm totals up to 11 inches, by its listing. Stratus is one of the three gauges that CoCoRaHS, the volunteer rain network whose data the National Weather Service accepts as comparable to its own instruments, approves for its observers, and CoCoRaHS says it is the most common gauge in that network.

If you would rather read the rain from indoors, the AcuRite Wireless Digital Rain Gauge empties itself and sends the total to a display every 60 seconds, by its listing; Bob Vila's testers named it their best wireless rain gauge. The other picks cover a tall gauge you can read from up to 50 feet away, a set with a second gauge for measuring your sprinkler, a silicone gauge that Taylor says will not crack if the water inside freezes, and a small gauge to stake in a garden bed. Below the picks we set out manual against wireless, where to put a rain gauge, how to read it, how to use it to decide when to water, and what to do with it in winter.

Jump to: Manual or wireless | Where to put it | How to read it | Watering by the gauge | Rain gauges in winter

Start here: which rain gauge for you

• A gauge that reads to a hundredth of an inch, the kind a rain network uses: Stratus Precision Rain Gauge (pick 1).
• Rain totals on a screen indoors, with no gauge to empty: AcuRite Wireless Digital Rain Gauge (pick 2).
• A gauge you can read from the porch or a window: Headwind EZRead Jumbo Rain Gauge (pick 3).
• A rain gauge plus a gauge for checking your sprinkler: Taylor 2-in-1 Rain Gauge and Sprinkler Gauge (pick 4).
• A gauge to leave out when it freezes: Taylor 7 Inch Silicone Rain Gauge (pick 5).
• A small gauge to stake in a vegetable or flower bed: La Crosse 704-1531B Magnifying Acrylic Rain Gauge (pick 6).

Whichever you buy, where you put it matters as much as the gauge. CoCoRaHS says a rain gauge should be mounted 2 to 5 feet above the ground, level, away from sprinklers and well clear of trees and buildings: see where to put a rain gauge.

The best rain gauges, by job

1. Stratus Precision Rain Gauge: best overall

The Stratus is a manual gauge in two parts, by its listing: a precision inner measuring tube that measures the first inch of rain with 0.01 inch resolution, and a large outer cylinder that catches the overflow, holding up to 11 inches of rain in all. The listing describes it as UV-stable polycarbonate and says it comes with a mounting bracket for a post, fence, deck or other flat surface; the gauge slides off the bracket for reading, emptying and cleaning. The one linked here is sold by FLI Products, which CoCoRaHS lists among the suppliers of its 4 inch manual rain gauge.

Why it is the pick: it is one of the gauges a rain network approves. CoCoRaHS approves three gauges for its observers' reports, the Stratus, the TROPO and the National Weather Service's 8 inch Standard Rain Gauge, and says more of its observers use the Stratus than any other gauge, and that it meets the Weather Service's minimum requirement of reading within plus or minus 4 percent of that standard gauge in all types of weather. The hundredths come from the design: in the CoCoRaHS gauge the funnel magnifies the rain by a factor of 10 into the inner tube, which holds one inch of actual rainfall when full. CoCoRaHS adds that the gauges sold at hardware stores and garden centers usually cannot be read to the nearest 0.01 inch and hold less than its 4 inch gauge.

Good to know: after more than an inch, reading it takes two steps. The CoCoRaHS observer's guide says to read and empty the inner tube first, then pour the water from the outer cylinder into the tube a little at a time, writing down each reading and adding them up. The bracket needs a post, fence or deck to screw to, and CoCoRaHS says the gauge's top should stand a few inches above the top of its post. In freezing weather CoCoRaHS has its observers bring the inner tube and funnel indoors and let snow fall into the outer cylinder (see winter). Bob Vila's testers picked a Stratus gauge, the RG200, as their best for rain and snow; that is a different listing from the one linked here. The durability wording is the listing's.

2. AcuRite Wireless Digital Rain Gauge: best wireless rain gauge

AcuRite's 00899 pairs an outdoor rain collector with an indoor display. The collector is self-emptying, by the listing, with tipping cups inside, by AcuRite's manual, and it sends the rain total to the display every 60 seconds; the display shows the date and time, and the listing describes alarms you can set for the rain rate or a flood watch. AcuRite's manual says the display and the gauge must be within 100 feet of each other, and gives the rainfall range as 0.01 inches and up. It runs on batteries, 2 AA in the rain gauge and 3 AA in the display, by the manual.

Why it is the pick: Bob Vila's testers named it their best wireless rain gauge after testing rain gauges in light and heavy rain, and the listing Bob Vila links is the one linked here. They found it simple to set up and get going, and Bob Vila credits the self-emptying collector with making it easy to use. By Bob Vila's account, the display shows totals for the current rain event, the current day and the last 7 days. For a gardener that means no trip outside to read and empty a tube after every storm: the week's rain is on the display when you decide whether to water.

Good to know: CoCoRaHS, which has had volunteers test automated gauges against its manual gauge, says most automated rain gauges record less rain than the National Weather Service's standard manual gauge, with daily differences sometimes of 10 percent or more in intense storms, and that automated gauges do not work well where it snows; it still values them for showing when rain began, when it ended and when it fell hardest. AcuRite's manual says the gauge must sit on a flat, level surface, at least 3 feet above the ground for the best wireless range, and should come indoors whenever freezing weather is possible, because water left inside can crack the plastic. The manual also gives a calibration test with a cup of water. Bob Vila found that working out the display's controls took time, says the batteries are not included, and notes that left freestanding it can tip over in strong wind, though theirs stayed upright on a windy, rainy day; it comes with screws for mounting. Bob Vila also says it may not hold up to a lot of heat or direct sun.

3. Headwind EZRead Jumbo Rain Gauge: best for reading from a distance

Headwind's EZRead is an oversized manual gauge, 26 inches tall, that the listing says can be read from up to 50 feet away. A float rides up with the water and the tube magnifies the water level, by the listing, and a funnel at the top keeps leaves and debris out of the tube. It comes with a plastic hanger for mounting. The one linked here is the green version, model 820-0002; Headwind's catalog lists the jumbo gauge in other colors too.

Why it is the pick: it is Bob Vila's best overall rain gauge, and the listing Bob Vila links is the one linked here. Bob Vila's testers found it simple to mount to a post and simple to lift out of its bracket to empty, said its screened funnel is an excellent feature for homes with a lot of trees, and said its numbers are big enough to read from the porch or a window. Bob Vila gives its capacity as up to 5 inches of rainfall, with markings at quarter inch intervals.

Good to know: quarter inch markings are coarser than the hundredths of pick 1, so this is a gauge for seeing the week's rain at a glance more than for a daily record. Bob Vila says it needs a wall or post to mount on, lists no mounting hardware with it, credits its plastic hanger with easy installation, and says it is not freeze-resistant, so bring it in before a freeze, although the listing's title calls it freeze proof. The listing also calls it all weather and says it displays accurate results; that wording is the listing's.

4. Taylor 2-in-1 Rain Gauge and Sprinkler Gauge: best for checking your sprinkler

Taylor's 2-in-1 set is two gauges: a 5 inch rain gauge and a 1 inch sprinkler gauge that nests inside it, by the listing. Use them together as one rain gauge, or separate them and set the sprinkler gauge where your sprinkler reaches, to see how much water the sprinkler delivers to the lawn. Both mount on a post or stake into the ground, the yellow color makes them easy to find in a bed or lawn, and the listing gives a 1 year limited warranty. Taylor's own page lists the same capacities, 5 inches for the rain gauge and 1 inch for the sprinkler gauge.

Why it is the pick: catching the sprinkler's water is how the extension services tell you to work out how long to run it. The Washington State Department of Health says to set out at least three flat-bottomed cans or mugs around the lawn, run the sprinkler for 15 minutes and measure the depth of water in each, and says a rain gauge can stand in for a can. Clemson Extension's version uses 6 to 10 straight-sided containers and a 10 minute run. This set gives you a marked gauge for that test, while the rain gauge stays out of the sprinkler's reach, which is where CoCoRaHS says a rain gauge belongs.

Good to know: one sprinkler gauge measures one spot, and both extension tests use several cans so you can see how evenly the water falls; add a few cans or mugs for the full test. The listing does not give the size of the scale's steps. The listing calls the set weather resistant; that wording is the listing's, and no hands-on comparison we found covers this set.

5. Taylor 7 Inch Silicone Rain Gauge: best for winter

Taylor's silicone gauge is made of flexible silicone that Taylor says will not crack if the water inside freezes, and the listing says it stays intact even when the water in the tube freezes solid. It holds 7 inches of rain, marked in 1/10 inch increments, and comes with a removable ground stake and brackets for a post or fence; Taylor's page adds that it can hang from a nail by a bracket at the back of its collar. The one linked here is teal.

Why it is the pick: freezing water is the hazard the sources warn about. CoCoRaHS warns that water freezing in its gauge can crack the plastic, and tells its observers to bring the inner tube and funnel indoors when temperatures go below freezing; AcuRite's manual says to bring its gauge indoors when freezing temperatures are possible; and Bob Vila says picks 3 and 6 are not freeze-resistant. A gauge that can stay on its stake through a cold snap saves that trip, by Taylor's account. Its 7 inches also hold more rain before emptying than the 5 inch picks.

Good to know: the freeze claim is Taylor's, and its page says to hand wash the gauge with mild soap and water. Tenths of an inch are coarser than pick 1's hundredths. Taylor does not say it measures snow; CoCoRaHS measures the water in snow with its 4 inch gauge, inner tube and funnel removed. No hands-on comparison we found covers this gauge.

6. La Crosse 704-1531B Magnifying Acrylic Rain Gauge: best small gauge for a garden bed

La Crosse's 704-1531B is a 12 inch plastic gauge that holds up to 5 inches of rain, with magnifying acrylic and white numbers and markings on navy blue, by the listing. Its keyhole bracket fits onto a post or fence with screws, which are not included, or the gauge works as a garden or yard stake. La Crosse's page gives it a 2-year limited warranty against manufacturing defects.

Why it is the pick: Bob Vila's testers picked it too, and the listing Bob Vila links is the one linked here. They staked it in a garden and found it very simple to install and use, and Bob Vila says the large numbers read well from a distance. The University of Minnesota Extension says a vegetable garden needs an inch of rain a week and that a simple rain gauge will tell you whether it got it; this is that simple gauge, small enough to stake at the end of a row.

Good to know: Bob Vila says it is not freeze-resistant, so bring it in for winter. Staked low in a bed it sits below the 2 to 5 feet CoCoRaHS recommends, and in a bed it also catches the sprinkler or the hose, which tells you what the bed got in all but is not a rain record; for that, mount it on a post away from the sprinkler. The listing calls it weather resistant; that wording is the listing's.

How we chose these

We compared the manual and wireless rain gauges that turned up in our Amazon searches against what CoCoRaHS and extension services say a rain gauge is for and how to use it: a scale that reads small rains, room for a storm, a way to mount it level in the open, and a plan for freezing weather. Specs come from each Amazon listing and, where the maker publishes one, its own manual, catalog or product page: AcuRite's manual for pick 2, Headwind's catalog for pick 3, Taylor's pages for picks 4 and 5 and La Crosse's page for pick 6. Bob Vila's hands-on test of rain gauges covers picks 2, 3 and 6, and each pick says whose word it rests on.

For measuring rain, we read CoCoRaHS's pages on installing the rain gauge, measuring snow and gauge suppliers, its note on why it requires manual measurements, its Ohio newsletter on approved gauges, and two National Weather Service guides for CoCoRaHS observers, setting up and reading the gauge and winter measurements. For watering, we read Clemson Extension, the University of Minnesota Extension and the Washington State Department of Health.

Our rules: each pick was in stock on Amazon on November 11, 2026, with no low-stock warning and a new offer in the buy box. Each pick is a rain gauge rather than a weather station, and its listing or maker states how much rain it holds or, for the wireless pick, the range it reads. We make no promise about readings, rainfall or your lawn: the measuring and watering advice on this page is CoCoRaHS's, the Weather Service's and the extension services', and the claims about what a product does come from its maker, its listing or Bob Vila, named where they appear.

Also considered: gauges that missed the list and why

TROPO Precision Rain Gauge. The other 4 inch gauge CoCoRaHS approves, from Climalytic Instruments, which CoCoRaHS calls the manufacturer of its premium TROPO gauge. Its listing gives the same 0.01 inch resolution as pick 1 with a larger outer cylinder, about 13.5 inches in all, a pour spout, and an inner cylinder and funnel top that come off to catch snow. CoCoRaHS says field testing has shown the TROPO is accurate and that it adds more capacity and more ways to mount it. Pick 1 is the more common gauge in CoCoRaHS's network; the TROPO is the step up in capacity.

Holdly Professional Rain Gauge. Holdly's TY4 uses the same layout as pick 1, by its listing: a clear inner tube marked in 0.01 inch graduations for the first inch, an outer cylinder that holds up to 11 inches in all, and a removable bracket. Its listing does not claim CoCoRaHS approval, and Holdly is not one of the three gauges CoCoRaHS approves, so pick 1 is the gauge of this design we would buy.

AcuRite 01089M Self-Emptying Rain Gauge. AcuRite's 01089M adds an outdoor temperature and humidity sensor to a self-emptying rain collector, by its listing, with rainfall totals for the day, week, month and year and an oncoming storm alert. It is closer to a small weather station; pick 2 is the rain-only choice.

La Crosse 724-1415BL Wireless Rain Station. A self-emptying rain bucket with internal tilting cups and indoor and outdoor temperature and humidity, by its listing, with rainfall readings for the past hour, 24 hours, 7 days, month and year. Like the AcuRite above, it is a rain gauge with a small weather display.

Taylor ClearVu Rain and Sprinkler Gauge. Taylor's 2703 has a 5 inch capacity and stands 10 3/4 inches tall, by its listing, but the listing says little about how its sprinkler gauge works; pick 4's listing explains both of its gauges.

La Crosse 704-4612 Metal Cardinal Rain Gauge. A decorative gauge: a blown glass tube in a metal cardinal holder that measures up to 5 inches, with 1/10 inch indicators, by its listing, and hardware to mount it on a deck rail or fence post. It is a gift for a bird lover as much as a measuring tool.

Manual or wireless: what the difference means

A manual gauge is a marked tube you read by eye and empty by hand. A wireless gauge counts the rain in a tipping-cup collector outside and shows the total on a display inside. Here is how the two compare, by whose word.

What it shows: for a record a rain network would accept, a manual 4 inch gauge; for totals without going outside, a wireless one. CoCoRaHS suggests using the two together: it says automated gauges are good at showing when rain fell and how hard, and that alongside its manual gauge they show when the rain began, ended and fell hardest.

Where to put a rain gauge

CoCoRaHS's advice is to find a spot protected from strong wind that has nothing to block the rain or splash it toward the gauge, such as an open back yard set well back from buildings and trees. These are its rules, with AcuRite's for a wireless gauge.

CoCoRaHS admits the perfect spot is not always possible: "When in doubt, do your best." In a garden, keep the gauge out of the sprinkler's path, or it adds your watering to the rain.

How to read a rain gauge

The National Weather Service's guide for CoCoRaHS observers covers the mistakes people make with a manual gauge:

• Read the bottom of the curve. The water's surface curves in the tube, a meniscus; always read its bottom.
• Tenths and hundredths. The most common error, it says, is confusing the two: on a 4 inch gauge such as pick 1, the long lines are tenths and the short lines between them hundredths.
• A trace. Rain too light to reach the 0.01 line is recorded as a trace, "T".
• More than an inch. Read and empty the inner tube, then measure the overflow from the outer cylinder in the tube, a little at a time, and add up the readings.
• Dew is not rain. If the only water in the gauge is from dew or fog, the guide says to report 0.00.
• Do not use a ruler. The tube is calibrated and a household ruler is not.

CoCoRaHS also asks its observers to keep a written record. For cleaning, it suggests a mild detergent and a soft bottle brush now and then. A gauge read at the same time each day, and written down, gives you the weekly total to add up before you water.

Using a rain gauge to decide when to water

The common advice is about an inch of water a week, rain included, and the rain gauge tells you how much of that inch has already fallen. The sources agree on the inch and differ in the details:

An inch is a lot of water: the University of Minnesota Extension says one inch on 100 square feet is 62 gallons, so a 20 by 30 foot garden needs 372 gallons after a week without rain, and its three-eighths example leaves 232 gallons to add. To know how long that takes with your sprinkler, measure it. The Washington State Department of Health's test puts three or more cans or mugs around the lawn for a 15 minute run; its chart then gives the minutes to water once a week, so an average of 3/8 inch in the cans means 20 minutes in spring, 40 in summer and 16 in fall. Clemson's version runs the system for 10 minutes into 6 to 10 containers. Pick 4 gives you one marked gauge for this test, and our lawn sprinkler guide works out run times for an inch of water.

Rain gauges in winter

Cold is the hard part. CoCoRaHS warns that water left to freeze in its gauge can crack the plastic, and the National Weather Service's winter guide for CoCoRaHS observers says to take out the inner tube and funnel once fall temperatures begin dipping below freezing. That keeps the tube from cracking if water freezes in it and lets snow fall straight into the outer can, so it cannot clog the funnel's small opening.

The outer cylinder then catches snow and freezing rain. CoCoRaHS says the 4 inch gauge works in moderate snowfalls, to about 6 to 8 inches at most, best in light wind, and that wet snow building up on the rim affects the reading. To measure it, the Weather Service's guide gives three ways to melt what is in the gauge: wait for it to melt, pour in a measured amount of hot water and subtract it, or set the gauge in hot water; then pour the melted water into the funnel and inner tube to read it.

For the other picks: AcuRite's manual says to bring the wireless gauge indoors when it may freeze, Bob Vila says the Headwind and La Crosse gauges are not freeze-resistant, and Taylor says its silicone gauge (pick 5) will not crack if the water inside freezes.

Related guides

Once you know how much rain fell, our lawn sprinkler guide works out how long each sprinkler takes to put down an inch. For the hose itself, see our garden hose guide, and for watering by hand, our watering can guide.

Frequently asked questions

What is the most accurate type of rain gauge?

By CoCoRaHS, a manual gauge with a 4 inch or larger opening, read by eye. CoCoRaHS approves three manual gauges for its volunteers, the Stratus, the TROPO and the National Weather Service's 8 inch Standard Rain Gauge, and says digital and electronic rain gauges are not approved for its reports, because in its tests most automated gauges reported less rain than the standard manual gauge.

Where should I put a rain gauge?

In the open, on the side of a post 2 to 5 feet above the ground, with the top level, by CoCoRaHS. Keep it about twice as far from a tree or building as the tree or building is tall, and out of reach of your sprinklers.

How often should I empty a rain gauge?

Every day, at the same time. Clemson Extension says to check and empty a home rain gauge daily, and CoCoRaHS asks its observers to read the past 24 hours as near to 7:00 AM as they can. A self-emptying wireless gauge such as pick 2 keeps the running totals for you.

How do I use a rain gauge to know when to water?

Add up the week's readings and water the difference from about an inch. The University of Minnesota Extension says a vegetable garden needs an inch of rain a week, so three-eighths of an inch of rain means supplying the other five-eighths; Clemson Extension says that with under an inch of rain in a week, it is time to plan on irrigating.

Can I leave a rain gauge out in winter?

Not a standard plastic one with water in it. CoCoRaHS says water freezing inside can crack the plastic and has its observers bring the inner tube and funnel indoors below freezing, and AcuRite's manual says to bring its wireless gauge indoors. Taylor says its silicone gauge (pick 5) will not crack if the water inside freezes.

Are wireless rain gauges accurate?

Less so than a good manual gauge, by CoCoRaHS, which says the majority of automated gauges report less rain than the standard manual gauge, with daily differences sometimes of 10 percent or more in intense storms. AcuRite's manual gives a calibration test with a cup of water, and Bob Vila credits pick 2's self-emptying collector with making it easy to use.

What rain gauge makes a good gift for a gardener?

One that fits how they garden: pick 1 for a gardener who keeps records, pick 2 for one who would rather read the rain from the kitchen, and pick 5 for a cold-winter garden. For a bird lover, the La Crosse metal cardinal gauge under Also considered is decorative and still measures up to 5 inches.

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