Watering cans

What actually matters

Capacity is the first figure to read, and the manufacturer states it in litres or gallons. It tells you how much water the can holds, so it sets how often you walk back to the tap. A can listed at 0.7 litres (about 24 fl oz) holds less than one listed at 9 litres (about 2.4 gallons). Neither figure suits every job, because the right size depends on what you water.

A bigger can lets you water more pots on each fill, but it is heavier to carry and to pour. A smaller can asks for more trips to the tap, and it is easier to lift and tilt. That trade-off is the main reason to read capacity before anything else.

In these listings, larger capacity comes with larger dimensions. The 5 litre Waterfall can is listed at 35 cm (13.8 in) high, and the 9 litre Waterfall can at 38 cm (15 in). Listed length also steps up, from 63 cm (24.8 in) to 67 cm (26.4 in). Check these figures against the shelf or cupboard where you plan to keep the can.

Width is the smallest of the three dimensions in every listing that states them. It matters when you want to fit several cans side by side or slide one into a narrow gap. Height is the figure to check if you plan to store the can under a shelf.

Material is the next figure to check. All six cans are listed as powder-coated steel, and five of them are listed as galvanized. Because the materials are so alike, capacity and size become the main points of difference. The Collector Indoor can adds a handle that the manufacturer lists as FSC beech.

Weight is listed for only two of the six cans. The Collector Indoor can is listed at 239 g (8.4 oz), and the Sophie Conran can at 0.326 kg (11.5 oz). Compare weight only between cans that list it. Where a maker gives no weight, you have no figure to compare, and a gap is not the same as light.

Units differ between makers, which can make a fair comparison harder. Corona Tools lists capacity in gallons, and Burgon & Ball lists it in litres. Convert first: one gallon is about 3.8 litres. On that basis the 1.3 gallon Corona can is about 4.9 litres, close to the 5 litre Waterfall can. The 2.4 gallon Corona can is about 9.1 litres, close to the 9 litre Waterfall can.

Two listings, the Collector Indoor and the Sophie Conran, name indoor use in the product title, and they are the two smallest by capacity. Their listed capacities are 0.7 litres (about 24 fl oz) and 1.7 litres (about 57 fl oz). Their listed widths are 10 cm (3.9 in) and 13 cm (5.1 in). A smaller can takes less space, which you can check in its height, length and width.

Finally, read every figure as the maker's statement.

Which one for whom

If you are watering fifteen pots on a balcony, the figure to look at is capacity. The Waterfall cans are listed at 5 litres (about 1.3 gallons) and 9 litres (about 2.4 gallons). The Collector Indoor can is listed at only 0.7 litres (about 24 fl oz). The larger figures mean fewer trips to the tap.

For a windowsill with a few houseplants, look at capacity and width together. The Collector Indoor can lists 0.7 litres and 10 cm (3.9 in) wide. The Sophie Conran can lists 1.7 litres and 13 cm (5.1 in) wide. Both are small figures that fit a crowded sill more easily than a 9 litre can.

If storage space is tight, read height, length and width before capacity. The 9 litre Waterfall can is listed at 38 cm (15 in) high and 67 cm (26.4 in) long. The Sophie Conran can is listed at 23 cm (9.1 in) high and 43 cm (16.9 in) long. Measure your shelf against figures like these before you choose.

If you dislike carrying heavy loads, favor a lower capacity and check weight where it is listed. Only the Collector Indoor can and the Sophie Conran can list a weight, at 239 g (8.4 oz) and 0.326 kg (11.5 oz). A full can weighs more than these empty figures, so capacity matters as well.

If you water a large patch of containers outdoors, the larger capacities are the relevant figures. The 2.4 gallon (about 9.1 L) Corona can and the 9 litre Waterfall can are the two highest listed capacities. Both are galvanized steel with a powder coating, according to the manufacturers.

If you compare cans from different makers, convert the units first. Corona Tools uses gallons and Burgon & Ball uses litres.

If material is your main concern, the listings show little to choose between. All six are listed as powder-coated steel, and the Collector Indoor can adds a beech handle.

Setup and use

Before you choose, write down the capacity, height, length and width you need. Then set them beside the manufacturer's figures for each can. Convert gallons to litres, or litres to gallons, so every figure uses one unit.

Measure the space where the can will live. A can listed at 67 cm (26.4 in) long needs a shelf deeper than that. One listed at 38 cm (15 in) high needs that much clearance above it.

Next, think about the full can rather than the empty one. The capacity figure tells you how much water you will lift, and only two cans list a weight at all. Treat the listed capacity as the most the can holds, not as a target. Fill it to an amount you can lift comfortably, which may be less.

Compare two or three cans at a time, using the same units and the same figures, so the differences are easy to see. Remember that every figure is the maker's statement, and this site has not tested any of these cans.

Questions and answers

What does the capacity figure on a watering can mean?

The manufacturer's capacity figure states how much water the can holds. The cans on this page run from 0.7 litres (about 24 fl oz) to 2.4 gallons (about 9.1 L). Corona Tools lists gallons and Burgon & Ball lists litres, so convert one to the other before you compare.

Which cans list height, length and width?

Four of the six cans list height, length and width. They are the Burgon & Ball cans, with listed widths from 10 cm (3.9 in) to 19 cm (7.5 in). Height and length are listed alongside, so you can check storage space before choosing.

How do I compare cans that use different units?

Makers use different units, and a gallon is about 3.8 litres. The 1.3 gallon Corona can works out to about 4.9 litres, close to the 5 litre Waterfall can. Converting first shows which cans hold a similar amount.