Bird food is a small but crucial way of supporting British wildlife. Provide meals for birds and their young and you’ll be rewarded with beautiful birdsong and displays of natural colour.

Bird food is a vital source of energy for birds. It feeds not only adult birds but also their chicks and makes birds bigger and stronger, ensuring a healthier population. It also means you’ll have birds visiting your garden all day long.

A host of different bird feed is available to provide for a wide variety of birds, all year-round. Mixed bird feed will feed insectivores, omnivores, and herbivorous birds alike. Alternatively, you can tailor your food to the birds you know visit your garden or that you hope to attract. Insectivores like house martins won’t go for sunflower hearts; conversely, wood pigeons won’t eat from feeders filled with mealworms.

Looking to support British Wildlife? Have a look at our guide to bird feeders or bird tables. Offer birds a home with our guide to bird nesting boxes and check up on your new wild companions with a bird box camera.

Browse our pick of bird food below:

Nutritious bird feeds for your garden

Peckish Natural Balance Seed Mix, 1.7kg

Price: £3.99 for 1.7kg

Available from Pets at Home

This mixed bird food is perfect for supporting a wide variety of birds. It also has great green credentials – its packaging is entirely recyclable and contains no plastic.

Extra Select Premium Wild Bird Food

Price: £2.09 for 1kg

Buy Extra Select Premium Wild Bird Food on Amazon

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With eight different ingredients, this bird food is perfect for attracting a wide variety of birds. A great starting point for first-time use or gardeners on a budget.

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RSPB Favourites blend bird food

Price: £9.50 for 1.8kg

Available from RSPB

RSPB Favourites Blend

The RSPB have combined their best-selling bird foods into this mix of ingredients. With sunflower hearts, a pellet mix of suet and raisins, and dried mealworms, this bird food is the avian equivalent of a full English: high-protein, high-calorie sustenance.

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National Trust CJ Wildlife Hi-Energy No Mess Seed Mix

Price: £2.98 per kg

Available from Ocado

[image id="108621" size="full" title="National Trust CJ Wildlife Hi-Energy No Mess Seed Mix, 3L - BBC Gardeners' World Magazine" alt="National Trust CJ Wildlife Hi-Energy No Mess Seed Mix, 3L - BBC Gardeners' World Magazine" classes=""] National Trust CJ Wildlife Hi-Energy No Mess Seed Mix, 3L

This seed mix is good for birds and good for your lawns and patios. With no wheat filler or husks, this bird food won’t leave debris all over your garden, but still provides great nutrition.

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Peckish Complete Seed and Nut

Price: from £5.35  for 1.7kg

Available from Amazon

[image id="108533" size="full" title="Peckish Complete Seed and Nut 5kg - BBC Gardeners' World" alt="Peckish Complete Seed and Nut 5kg - BBC Gardeners' World" classes=""] Peckish Complete Seed and Nut 5kg

This is an impressive mix of twelve different seeds and nuts. It’s no-mess and is also vitamin fortified to help birds grow strong bones and produce robust eggshells. Great for attracting songbirds.

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Seedzbox Ultimate Deluxe Wild Bird Seed Feed

Price: £10.99

Available from Seedzbox

This bird feed mix has a remarkable variety of ingredients. It’s designed to not only maximise the number of birds enjoying your garden, but to provide them with a diverse source of proteins and carbohydrates. This seed also donates to One Tree Planted, a non-profit which plants trees.

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RSPB No grow ground mix

Price: £4.25 for 900kg

Available from RSPB

[image id="108605" size="full" title="2048-1365-gw-bird-food-RSPB-No-grow-ground-mix-5.5kg" alt="RSPB No grow ground mix 5.5kg - BBC Gardeners' World Magazine" classes=""] RSPB No grow ground mix 5.5kg

This no-grow mix is good for fastidious gardeners. The mix has been selected and cut to lower the chance of this feed germinating in your garden. It’s a hearty mix of suet, rolled oats and flaked maize – perfect for bigger songbirds like blackbirds.

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What should I feed the birds?

Bird foods can be split into four rough categories – insects, high-protein sources, seeds and grains, and berries.

Insects

Insects such as dried mealworms are great for most British birds, which are largely omnivorous. Dried or roasted mealworms are most common but waxworms, earthworms, and crickets are also fantastic unprocessed food sources, though they can be a little more expensive.

Protein sources

High-energy, high-protein food like sunflower hearts, suet or nuts are vital in winter. Just as for humans, proteins are crucial for helping birds build crucial muscle mass and body fat. However, in too large a quantity they can be unhealthy, so make sure you provide a healthy balance with different types of foods. It’s also good to make sure they’re in small pieces, so birds – especially chicks – don’t choke.

Seeds and grains

These are helpful all year round and are a mainstay of most birds’ diet. Try to avoid feed with wheat, because this has little nutritional value for birds and is used to bulk up feed – birds often won’t eat it either, and will dump it on the ground to get to tastier food. Keen gardeners will appreciate no-grow seeds, which have been roasted, cracked, or ground so that they don’t germinate in borders or lawns.

Berries

Birds and berries have a symbiotic relationship; berries give birds vital nutrients and vitamins, and birds excrete berry seeds so new shrubs and trees can grow. In areas without shrubbery or hedgerows, birds can miss out on this crucial part of their diet, so berries should be a mainstay of a good bird food. Mixed bird foods that include dried berries particularly suits robins, sparrows, and thrushes in late summer and autumn.

A less direct way to feed birds is in your gardening itself. Plants offer a fantastic opportunity to provide natural wild bird food as part of your wider garden design. Sunflowers and their seeds are a great source of protein, and holly and blackthorn provide invaluable berries year-round.

Where should I put bird food?

It’s best to put your feeder or bird table somewhere quiet, out of the reach of predators like cats or bigger birds. Bird food needs to be sheltered by greenery, both to protect birds from the weather and to give them a place to scout your feeder and check that they’re safe to feed. Read more tips on deterring cats from your garden.

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When should I feed the birds?

It’s good to leave food out for birds year-round, but their needs do change with the seasons:

In Winter and Spring – the best bird food for winter and spring is heavy, protein-rich food like suet. In the colder seasons it’s crucial that birds find high-energy snacks to feed themselves and their chicks.

In Summer and Autumn – lighter food like oats and millet are great for summer, when food is more plentiful and chicks are grown.

What shouldn’t I feed wild birds?

Although some food from our kitchens is fine to give to birds, some should definitely be avoided:

• Don’t feed birds big chunks of anything, because they can choke on the pieces. This is true for whole peanuts, desiccated coconut, and dry pieces of bread. Chop up your bird food to make it easier for them to eat.
• Junk food like crisps or biscuit crumbs are also a choking hazard, as well as containing dangerous additives with little nutritional value. Salty food like bacon rinds are also potentially hazardous, because birds can’t process the high levels of salt in human food. So while birds love peanuts, use plain, unseasoned ones.
• Milk causes gut problems in birds and although some can eat fermented dairy – robins love mild grated cheddar – it’s best to err on the side of caution and avoid dairy products.
• Just as it does to humans, mouldy food can make birds ill. Make sure to store your bird food somewhere dry and clean out your bird feeder every few days to make sure food hasn’t gone off. This is especially important if you live in a city, or near water, as this food could attract rats .

 

This Product Guide was last updated in February 2025. We apologise if anything has changed in price or availability. 

A bird box provides a safe place for birds to build their nests and a specialist bird box camera can give you a closer look at the birds raising their families in your garden without causing disruption.

The cameras are small, relatively affordable and easy to set up – there’s no need to pay for professional installation. There are a variety of bird box cameras to choose from including wired and wireless, HD, cameras with audio and those with night vision. 

Once you’ve chosen a bird box camera from the list below, take a look at our guide on how to install a bird box camera. If you are looking for a new DIY project, we also have instructions on how to make a bird box and how to put one up (part 1 and part 2). 

For more ways to encourage wildlife into your garden, we suggest checking out our selection of the best bird feeders, bat boxes and hedgehog houses, or be inspired by our guide to wildlife gifts.

Types of bird box camera

Before you choose the type of bird box camera you need, think about how much you want to spend, if you would prefer a wireless bird box camera and whether you want to capture audio. 

If you would like to hear, as well as see what’s going on inside the bird box, then you need to choose a bird box camera with a microphone. Some models have the microphone in-built, while others require you to buy one separately. 

The second consideration is choosing between a wired and wireless bird box camera. A wired camera is typically cheaper and has a cable running from the bird box to a Digital Video Recorder or to a TV. 

Wireless bird box cameras may be more expensive but they offer more flexibility. Without the need for cables, a wireless camera connects to your Wi-Fi network and streams the footage straight to a smartphone or tablet. 

If you’re willing to pay a little more, consider investing in an HD bird box camera. The video footage from an HD camera will be clearer and better quality and allows you to see smaller details you might otherwise have missed.

To capture footage at night, the bird box camera will also need IR LED lights to ensure the camera keeps recording without disrupting the birds. Most of the best bird box cameras now have this capability.

The best bird box cameras

This compact wireless camera is designed to work with most styles of bird box and provides HD 1080p footage of birds nesting and feeding. The wide-angle lens should capture all corners of the bird box and it has an accompanying app so you can still access footage on a smartphone or tablet when you’re away from the house.

There’s also a MicroSD slot to provide additional storage space on the device and a microphone to capture audio. If you don’t already have a nest box, Green Feathers also sells the camera with a large, FSC certified timber bird box.

This Camera Ready Nest Box does not include a camera but has the appropriate fittings to house a Gardennature bird box camera kit or nest box IP Camera kit.

With 30m of cable to connect the camera to your TV or computer, this bird box doesn’t need to be positioned next to a outdoor power source. The camera produces full colour images during the day, has LEDs for night vision and a microphone to record any sound made by the birds.

The accompanying nest box is made in the UK from FSC certified timber and is suitable for a number of species including blue tits, grey tits and sparrows. It can also be converted into an open front bird box  for robins and wrens, if you prefer.

For a less expensive bird box camera this model comes in at the lower end of the market and includes everything you need to make your own bird box. The camera’s best feature is its HDMI receiver, which means you can hook this camera up to your TV and watch birds live.

A traditional pitched-roof bird box will suit every style of garden. However, this roof hides a high-definition wide-angle camera that streams footage to a phone. It also offers motion detection, and picks up clear sound thanks to a sensitive microphone.

This product guide was last updated in February 2025. We apologise if anything has changed in price or availability.

When it comes to caring for your plants there are some tools that are essential for saving you both time and effort. A plant mister is one of these. The simple sprayer can help you regulate the humidity of plants and create a microclimate that allows moisture-loving greenery to flourish.

Particularly beneficial for helping tropical plants, orchids, ferns, and other house plants that love a humid atmosphere, plant misters also double up as useful devices for foliar feeding, plant cleaning and overall aesthetics enhancers.

And, whilst it’s important every mister can create the humid atmosphere your plants need, it’s also crucial they look good on the shelf as they’re used on indoor plants and often stored inside.

With that in mind, we’ve curated this list of the eight best plant misters on the market. Each one has been chosen for their misting ability as well as their appearance. If you’re new to plant misting we’ve also got some tips to assist you in starting out.

If you’re looking for more products and accessories to help with watering then check out our guides to the best watering cans and our reviews of the best garden hose spray guns and the best garden hoses. For hassle-free watering see our guide to the best self-watering planters and plant pots and if you’re looking for the best water storage options we also have a guide to the best water butts.
For help with watering see our guide on how to water house plants.

Browse our pick of plants misters below:

The best plant misters in 2025

Ziuheoa Plant Mister

Price: £8.99

Available from Amazon

The pattern on this mister gives it a vintage, almost Edwardian feel. The bottle is glass with the mister pump made from plastic, offering quality while keeping it affordable. It’s also available in eight colours.

Haws Mist Sprayer 300ml

Price: £30

Available from Farrar & Tanner

This attractive brass mister is handmade in Smethwick in the West Midlands. It looks great on a shelf, and, if you’re giving it as a gift, can be engraved with your choice of text for an extra £5.

Kikkerland Brass Plant Mister

Price: £31.16

Available from Amazon.

This metal plant mister is on the luxury end and made of 100% brass. The delicate mister is not only good for misting plants but also doubles up as a great ornament that won’t look out of place on your shelf when not in use.

T4U Plastic Plant Mister

Price: £13.99

Buy the T4U Plastic Plant Mister from Amazon

This super simple plant mister comes in four colour ways and has an adjustable nozzle to control the release of mist. It is lightweight, operated with a trigger spray system and promises to be leakproof.

How to use a plant mister

If you haven’t used a plant mister before then don’t worry, we’ve got a few simple steps to help you out. Following these can help you keep your plants healthy and provide them with the right amount of humidity to flourish. Here’s how to use a plant mister and some key things to think about when misting:

1. Fill the plant mister up

It may seem like we’re stating the obvious but the first step, whatever the style of your plant mister, is to fill it with water. Simply unscrew or pry open the reservoir cap and fill it up. If possible, use distilled or filtered water to prevent mineral build-up on the leaves.

2. Adjust the nozzle

Some misters come with adjustable nozzles which you can toggle to control how dense the mist will be. Set it to your preferred level according to your plant’s needs and the environmental conditions. If your mister doesn’t have a nozzle, skip this step.

3. Spray

Next, it’s time to use your mister to spray your plants. Gently squeeze the trigger or push down with your thumb to release the mist from the bottle. Hold the mister a few inches away from the plants and begin misting from the top of the plant, moving downwards making sure you cover all of the leaves.

4. Monitor when your plant next needs misting

How often you mist your plants depends on their personal requirements and the conditions in your home. For example, tropical plants and those in dry climates might benefit from misting a few times a day, while other plants might thrive whilst dry so could be misted only once a week.

5. Picking the right time of day

The best times to mist are in the morning or early afternoon. This helps moisture to evaporate before the evening. If plants are too moist come night-time, they may be at risk of growing fungi or mould.

6. Adjust misting based on the season and clean your mister

During winter or in cooler months, you might need to mist less frequently as the air naturally holds more moisture. You should also clean your mister regularly to prevent mould or bacterial growth. Empty any remaining water from the reservoir after misting and clean the nozzle with mild soap and water.

This product guide was last updated in February 2025. We apologise if anything has changed in price or availability.

Not every gardening task needs to take place in the open air, and jobs such as potting are much easier to complete at worktop height. A potting bench can be a practical addition to your shed or workshop, providing a surface to work from as well as additional storage. If you have limited space, a simple potting tray can also be a useful choice to help you contain any mess while potting.

Below, we have sourced some of the best potting benches and trays available. There are a range of options included, covering various sizes from full benches with incorporated storage to manoeuvrable table-top trays. The products are also constructed from a range of materials including galvanised steel for durability and FSC-certified (Forest Stewardship Council) wood which is sustainably sourced.

If you usually work from a shed or outdoor workshop, you may find our shed storage ideas useful, as well as our guide to the best garden sheds.

10 of the best potting benches and trays

Browse our list of some of the best potting benches and trays.

This potting bench has a storage shelf below and a lip around the sides and the back to contain the compost as you work. It’s made from FSC-certified wood, which is sustainably sourced and has been pressure treated for durability. It comes with a 15 year anti-rot guarantee.  The bench arrives flatpack to be assembled at home.

Dimensions: H108 x W92 x D52cm

Ideal for those who could do with a little extra storage, this potting bench from Not On The High Street has two drawers, designed especially for storing loose soil. There are also handy hooks for hanging tools along the side, plus a shelf for tubs, watering cans or extra trays. This bench is part of a wider Moreton range, so you can coordinate it with other pieces for your shed or workshop if you choose.

Dimensions: H91 x W89 x D40cm

The Aldsworth potting table is made from sustainably sourced, untreated Spruce wood. There’s is a sheet metal worktop which is galvanised for durability plus three drawers and a slatted shelf for versatile storage. The muted grey wood frame makes it a stylish and understated choice which wouldn’t look out of a place in a kitchen.

Dimensions: H82 x W110 x D40.5cm

This potting bench features a zinc coated steel worktop to provide a hard-wearing surface for potting, planting and other gardening tasks. The frame is constructed from FSC timber and has large upper and lower shelving offering useful space for all your gardening essentials, plus additional hooks.

Dimensions: H162 x W103 x D53cm

This traditional wooden potting bench has handy wheels so it’s effortless to move when needed. There’s a flat, plastic work surface, which is easy to clean, as well as a removable potting tray – a useful feature that keeps the area tidy when filling pots. Two shelves and a drawer are a welcome solution for storage. It comes flatpack, ready to be assembled.

Dimensions: H120 x W97 x D48cm

The Florenity Grigio Potting Table is made from 100 per cent FSC Eucalyptus wood which should be robust and durable for outdoor use. It’s compact with two levels; one for working from with a raised back and sides to prevent spillage and another beneath for storage. It’s guaranteed for one year.

Dimensions: H112 x W70 x D41cm

This practical work bench is made from rust proof, galvanised steel. The lower shelf is adjustable and can allow a generous amount of headroom for storing larger items such as tall plant pots and watering cans if needed and the bench has a raised lip around the sides to keep compost contained.

Dimensions: H80 x W50 x D114cm

This stylish design is slightly narrower than others on the market, which is useful for tight spaces, yet its work surface still offers plenty of room for potting plants, as well as including an integrated sink to keep things clean and tidy. The back is divided into two: one half is a trellis, which can be used for hanging tools or decorating with LED lights; the other is a chalk board – ideal for writing lists or making notes.

Dimensions: H119.5 x W92 x 42.5cm

This tray is designed to sit on top of an existing bench, garden table or other work surface. The wide base gives plenty of  space to work in while the sloped sides, high back panel and raised front lip help prevent spillage, keeping the surrounding surface clear. The tray arrives ready to be assembled at home.

Dimensions: H28 x W61 x D53cm

This lightweight tidy tray by Tierra Garden is a handy accessory for your existing gardening bench or workspace. You can even use it to bring your gardening tasks indoors with limited mess. A high back and raised sides and front help to keep everything inside the tray

Dimensions: H20 x W61 x D56cm

This Product Guide was last updated in February 2025 and we apologise if anything has changed in price or availability.

A water feature is a wonderful addition to the garden, bringing life, movement and relaxing sounds into your space. A solar water feature has the added benefits of being cable free, needing no outside power source, plus they’re better for the environment than their mains-powered counterparts, using clean energy that won’t cost – or harm – the earth.

Solar power is one of the greenest sources of energy available, transforming light from the sun into electricity. It’s also much cheaper than other powered water features – not only are solar powered water features free-standing and need no electrical installation but solar power is free. A solar water feature won’t add to your electricity bills, simply put it in a sunny part of the garden and enjoy it for years, without additional cost.

Solar water features are safer than an electric unit and you don’t need any technical know-how to set one up. And once it’s up and running they just need a regular clean. Solar pumps can last between two and four years, dependent on the amount of care it gets as well as how much sun and the material it’s made of. And although solar water features will run through the winter, if only for a shorter amount of time, most people choose to store them in a shed or garage away from the worst of the winter weather to help increase their lifespan.

Moving water features are helpful for you and your neighbours, too. As well as their relaxing sound, the constant water movement means mosquitoes won’t breed in it, reducing the chance of you getting bitten on warm summer nights.

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Looking for other solar garden features? Have a look at our review of the best solar lights. And for more watering reviews, check out our tests of the best hoses, the best spray guns and our guide to water butts.
For summer decor ideas to put the finishing touch to your garden, see our guides to the best parasols, and best garden deck chairs.

Chatsworth Water Feature

Price: £159.99

Available from Amazon and Primrose

For stately gardens, try this elegant water feature. Water trickles from the upper spout into a wide basin that will makes an excellent bird bath as well as a serene water feature.

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Smart Solar Pagoda Garden Fountain

Price: £179.99

Available from Amazon and B&Q

A pagoda-inspired feature, this polyresin garden fountain is great for Japanese or East Asian style spaces. It has a calming bubble and its wide basin allows birds to also use it as a bath.

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Budding Dahlia Solar Bird Bath

Price: £159.99

Available from Amazon and Primrose

Give birds a place to drink and wash with this bird bath solar water feature. Not only can you enjoy the gentle trickle and soft lighting of this water feature, but birds can too. What’s more, the constant motion of the water means it doesn’t need replacing, keeping birds clean and hygienic.  

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Garden Mile Ceramic Royal Blue Solar Powered Garden Water Feature

Price: £88.99

Available from B&Q and Amazon

This ceramic water feature with its cascading fountain is an Amazon bestseller. Bringing both colour and soothing sound, we think it’s best suited to smaller gardens or balconies.

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Solar Water Fountain 4-in-1 Nozzle

Price: £12.99

Available from Amazon

This clever floating solar pump can turn any pool of standing water into a fountain. Simply place it in sunlit water and it will spray a gentle jet upwards. It has four different modes, so you can choose the display. A quick, easy solar powered water feature for those on a budget.

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Solar Ceramic Terracotta Water Fountain Feature

Price: £89.99

Available from Amazon and Robert Dyas

This striking feature offers a bold splash of colour but still evokes tranquillity with its gentle bubble and flow of water. A simple way of introducing colour to paved or decked social areas.

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Blumfeldt Ocean Planet Solar Fountain

Price: £169.99

Available from Amazon and B&Q

This understated water feature is perfect for small gardens and patios and would look great combined  with a container display or in a herb garden. What’s more, this feature has four LEDs and can operate for up to 8 hours at night, for gentle evening lighting.

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Tipping Pail Water Feature

Price: £129.99

Available from Amazon and Primrose

More traditional gardeners may appreciate this decorative water feature. It’s more ornamental than many of the features on our list, with statues of two children collecting water from a pump.

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Fairy Clam Shell Solar Water Feature

Price: £74.99

Available from Amazon, B&Q and Debenhams

For woodland or fantasy gardens, try this fairy feature. Great for quiet corners, or adding a touch of magic to the bottom of the garden.

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Stainless steel sphere water feature

Price: £199.99

Available from Primrose

With a bright metallic body, this stainless steel water feature would suit gardens looking to emphasise a modern aesthetic. Measuring 75cm wide and 50cm tall, the sphere is large enough to be the centrepiece of the garden. This solar water feature is also very easy to install, and just needs filling with water and the panel placing in direct sunlight.

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This Product Guide was last updated in February 2025. We apologise if anything has changed in price or availability.

Turning wet weather into a windfall, water butts are a great way to conserve water while keeping your garden well-maintained and healthy. Coming in a wide range of materials and sizes, a water butt will help you harvest rainwater, and give your garden some extra drought-resistance. Some of the benefits of having a water butt include:

• Using rainwater instead of mains water for your watering needs is hugely beneficial for your garden, as well as for the environment.
• Whilst all plants will benefit from being watered with rainwater, it’s particularly beneficial to ericaceous plants such as rhododendrons, camelias and azaleas.
• Tap water contains calcium, which can leave white marks on leaves. Whilst not harmful to the plant, it can be unsightly.
• In a hot spell and during hosepipe bans, a personal supply of water comes in handy.
• A water butt will also save your money if using a water metre.

In this guide, we’ll give advice on the types of water butts available, standout water butts on the market, and how to choose the best water butt for you.

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If you’re interested in more watering accessories, browse our selection of the best watering cans and self-watering planters. Most water butts need to be set up with a drill, so if you’re looking for drilling advice consider our guides to the best cordless drills, best drill bits and best electric screwdrivers.

How to install a water butt 

1. Place your water butt next to the downpipe and cut through the downpipe a few centimetres below the top of your water butt. 
2. Attach a water diverter to the base of the cut in the upper downpipe. 
3. Attach the lower half of your downpipe to the diverter.
4. Many water butts already have one, but if not, drill a hole for the connector hose.
5. Attach the connector hose to the butt and the downpipe. 
6. Collect rainwater as and when you need it.

Jump to:

• The best water butts
• How to choose the best water butt
• Types of water butt

From galvanised steel to recycled plastic, browse our pick of water butts:

The best water butts

Elho green basics rain catcher

Price: £71.99

Available from Amazon and Elho

Ideal for balconies and small gardens this simple little, 35L rain barrel attaches easily to all standard, round drain pipes. There’s a tap at the bottom and if the barrel becomes full any surplus water is let out via an overflow. Made from 100% recycled plastic, with wind energy and fully recyclable, it’s available in ‘living concrete’ and black.

Buy the Elho green basics rain catcher from Amazon

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The Dipping Tank Company

Price: from £850

Available from The Dipping Tank Company

A contemporary take on the traditional water butt these stylish tanks offer a new way to store harvested rainwater. Crafted from powder coated aluminium and timber a tank can be a freestanding feature, connected to a downpipe or placed directly below one, and then planted with aquatics or filled with fish. They’re available in four widths, from 60cm to 2m, and tanks can also be linked together. Accessories such as planting shelves, watering trays and waterfalls allow you to customise your tank.

Buy a Dipping Tank from The Dipping Tank Company

Harcostar water butt 168L

Price: £69.99

Available from Original Organics, Amazon, Even Greener, and Water Butts Direct

For a simple, no-nonsense water butt, try the Harcostar Water Butt. Made in the UK from recycled plastic, it comes in the traditional barrel shape, and can be bought with a diverter, a child-safe lid and a hose connector tap.

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Black slimline space saver water butt 100L

Price: £64.99

Available from Water Butts Direct, Original Organics, Evengreener , You Garden

If you’re pushed for space but still want to reuse rainwater, try this slimline model. Manufactured in the UK from recycled plastic, it has all the features you need, but with a small patio footprint.

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Elho pure raindrop water butt 75L

Price: £375.99

Available from Waitrose and Partners

This award-winning water butt has a built-in five litre jug that fills automatically, ready for use. Any additional water will then fill the 75 litre teardrop container below it. It’s supplied with a five year guarantee and can be fitted directly onto your drainpipe.

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Rainwater terrace water butt 134L

Price: £177.50

Available from Evergreener and Water Butts Direct

This water butt comes supplied with a diverter for the down pipe, a stand and has integrated planters. With a capacity of 134 litres, it’s a good, mid-size option and each water storage box has a transparent drain tube to show the water level.

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Elho green basics rainbarrel plus

Price: £99.99

Available from Elho and Amazon

With a holding capacity of 110L, this easy to use water butt is made from 100% recycled plastic, in a wind powered factory and is fully recyclable. It comes with a tap, a sturdy stand for extra stability and so you can easily fit a watering can under the tap and there’s even space in the top for planting it up. Available in black only.

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Cloudburst water butt 200L

Price: £79.99

Available from Ever Greener and Amazon

Made from recycled plastic, the Cloudburst Water Butt has a child-safe lid, a tap and a diverter kit to attach to a down pipe. It has a capacity of 200 litres and comes with a stand.

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Madison rain barrel with fountain 185L

Price: £190

Available from Water Butts Direct

For a show-stopping water butt, check out this rain barrel. Fitted with a fountain, it collects 185l of rainwater as well as providing a stunning water feature. It comes fitted with a hose too, so you can directly water patio plants.

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Noblesse decorative water butt 270L

Price: £274.99

Available from Water Butts Direct

This understated water butt would suit contemporary gardens. Despite its simple design it holds a generous 270L and also doubles as a planter to soften the look. It’s also child-safe.

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Garantia stone 2-in-1 water butt 350L

Price: £449.99

Available from Water Butts Direct and Robert Dyas

This water butt from Garantia doubles up as a planter. With a capacity of 350 litres, it can collect a huge amount of rainwater and has a smooth, natural stone look.

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Rain catcher wall mounted water butt 160L

Price: £200

Available from  Water Butts Direct and Gardening Naturally

A mounted water butt is a good option for small gardens with limited patio space. This recycled plastic water butt has three outlet connections at the bottom that can be used for the tap supplied or for connecting to another water butt.

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Bamboo water butt 110L

Price: £139.99

Available from Two Wests & Elliott and Amazon

This water butt has a bamboo-effect finish and holds up to 110 litres of water. Made from UV stabilised materials, it’s supplied with a matching stand, lid, rain diverter and tap.

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Galvanised steel water butt 185L

Price: from £720

Available from Harrod Horticultural

Finished in a Georgian style complete with Tudor roses, this handmade water butt is made from galvanised steel. It has a decent capacity of 185 litres and there’s a hose-ready, brushed chrome tap set into the side of the water butt at watering can height.

Barrique oak wood effect water butt barrel 250L

Price: £220

Available from Water Butts Direct

To blend a water butt into more bohemian gardens, try this oak-effect design. In the style of a wooden beer barrel, it has a hefty lid and a ¾ inch brass tap, so you can easily connect a hose to tackle a hosepipe ban.

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Graf garden water storage tank aboveground amphora 250L

Price: £299.99

Available from Robert Dyas

This terracotta-effect Grecian urn offers and alternative to utilitarian plastic water butts. With a a big 250L volume., you can also plant up the top, making a useful piece of kit part of your garden design.

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Graf water storage wall tank water butt woody wall 350L

Price: £419.99

Available from Water Butts Direct

If you worry that a plastic water butt will compromise your garden design, this ingenious wooden water butt will seamlessly blend into almost any style of patio. It holds an enormous 350L and sits flush to a wall, so you can have a high volume of water without compromising on space.

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Ecosure city water butt planter 180L

Price: £235

Available from Ecosure

Stylish and elegant this dual purpose butt has a large collection capacity plus a planting space to help make it a focal point of your garden. Made from frostproof and UV stabilised plastic it comes with a brass tap and is available in a wide range of colours, from muted milstone and black to bright orange and purple.

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Arthur Jack water butt (small)

Price: from £595

Available from Arthur Jack

Durable, rust resistant, and capable of holding 180 litres of rainwater, the Arthur Jack Water Butt delivers on both practicality and on looks. This water butt’s water access tap can be placed in multiple locations, to suit the personal needs of the gardener.

Wall mounted water butt

Price: £162

Available from Etills

Holding 105 litres of rainwater, this robust, wall-mounted water butt is an ideal choice for gardeners who want the benefits of a good water butt, without having to give up precious floor space. Frost, weather, and impact-resistant, this water butt has a durability you might not expect for something with such a slim, unobtrusive design. However, this water butt is only suitable for unrendered brick walls, and should be affixed to brickwork, not the mortar.

Technik evergreen 475 litre trunk water butt tank

Price: £349.99

Buy the 475L Evergreen Tree Trunk Water Butt from Water Butts Direct

This charming oak log design masks a reliable and surprisingly practical 475 litre water
butt. Made from durable polyethylene, it includes a charming ¾ inch brass tap and has a childproof lid that sits firmly on top of the butt.

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How to choose the best water butt

There are three main considerations when it comes to choosing the best water butt for your garden: size, material and budget.

The size of your garden will influence the size and water capacity you’ll need. If space is limited, consider a smaller water butt with a capacity of under 200 litres. Those with small gardens may also benefit from having a water butt that mounts on the wall to reduce how much patio space it takes up. For a large garden, a capacity of 200 litres or more is suitable. In most cases, you’ll also need to buy a stand, so you can fit a watering can under the tap to fill it, a hose, and a diverter kit, to connect it to your down pipe.

When it comes to materials, water butts are typically made from plastic or steel. Both are extremely durable but plastic water butts are often cheaper, with recycled plastic water butts being an environmentally-friendly option.

Types of water butts

Most water butts are supplied with a stand and can be placed on the ground in the corner of the garden. However,  some water butts can be mounted on an external wall,  a good option for smaller gardens where ground space is precious. You can also run guttering from a shed roof into a water butt as an efficient way to harvest rainwater – if you don’t have one in your garden, you might find our comprehensive guide to the best garden sheds useful.

• Buy a downpipe rain trap from Garden Trading, Water Butts Direct and Amazon.

Mounted Water Butts

Perfect for gardens with minimal free floorspace, mounted water butts, like the Pure Raindrop Water Butt, are lightweight and designed to sit on external walls in the garden. This type provides more flexibility regarding the height of the tap because you have full control over where, and how high, it’s fixed to the wall.

Plastic Water Butts

Plastic is the most common water butt material, with a number of recycled plastic options available. Cheaper than their steel counterparts, plastic water butts come in both the mounted style or the traditional barrel with a stand such as the Cloudburst Water Butt.

Steel Water Butts

Steel water butts are durable and long-lasting. Typically heavier and more expensive than plastic, these water butts are designed to stand on the ground. Traditional barrel water butts also vary a lot more in capacity.

You can also run guttering from a shed roof into a water butt as an efficient way to harvest rainwater – if you don’t have one in your garden, you might find our comprehensive guide to the best garden sheds useful.

Need further inspiration? Buy water butts from Water Butts Direct, Drainage Superstore, and Crocus.

This Product Guide was last updated in February 2025. We apologise if anything has changed in price or availability.

Buying someone a bouquet of flowers is a sure way to bring a smile to their face, as well as brighten up an entire room. They make an ideal gift and it’s now easier than ever to give them, thanks to the numerous online flower delivery services that make it easier to send flowers from afar.

We’ve selected a range of the best services offering online flower delivery in the UK that send everything from flowers that will fit through the letterbox to premium, hand-crafted bouquets.

These online flower delivery services have been carefully chosen with consideration to the price, how and where the flowers are grown and picked, and what delivery options are available. To make sure the bouquet can be enjoyed for as long as possible, we’ve also included our top tips on how best to care for fresh cut flowers.

Browse our guides to the best gardening gifts and gardening subscription boxes for more ways to treat the gardeners in your life. Or brighten your own space with a selection of the best indoor plants.

Best UK flower delivery services and where to order flowers online

Take a look at our pick of some of the best online flower delivery services.

Arena Flowers

Arena Flowers pride themselves on being the UK’s top rated ethical florist. The company works directly with Fairtrade farms so the bouquets are sourced seasonally and arranged and hand-tied by florists. No single-use plastic is used in the products and for every bouquet purchased, a tree is planted in a country experiencing deforestation.

Price: From £28

Buy flowers from Arena Flowers

Bunches

Founded all the way back in 1989, Bunches offers affordable bouquets with free UK delivery. All gifts come with a personalised card, care instructions and flower food. The company places an emphasis on sustainability and also offers the option of a monthly gift subscription.

Price: From £21.50

Buy flowers from Bunches

Bloom and Wild

Bloom and Wild are the original letterbox flower delivery company, with many of their bouquets sent in unique slim packaging that makes it easy to post them straight onto the doormat. The flowers are hand-packed with protective covers over larger flowers to prevent damage. Next-day delivery is available, and the company also offers chocolates, scented candles and other treats.

Price: From £19 for a small bouquet

Buy flowers from Bloom and Wild

FlowerBe

This family-founded, artisan flower delivery service specialises in curated seasonal flower boxes. Flowers are grown on the family farm and each bouquet arrives in a box that will fit through your letterbox with a hand-illustrated instruction card.

Price: From £18

Buy flowers from FlowerBe

Appleyard Flowers

All the flowers from this luxury floral and gifting brand are either British or from Kenyan Fairtrade farms that put back into the community.  Appleyard design new ranges for each season and calendar occasion and their flowers are packed in recyclable cardboard and paper, and produce as little waste as possible.

Price: From £24.99

Buy flowers from Appleyard Flowers

Bloombox Club

If you prefer potted plants to flowers, then Bloombox Club could be the best online flower delivery service for you. They deliver plants across the UK and offer a plant subscription box gift card, perfect for anyone searching for gardening gift ideas. You can also choose whether to buy your plants with or without a decorative pot.

Price: £12.95

Buy plants from Bloombox

Blossoming Gifts

Offering a range of affordable fresh flowers, letterbox flowers as well hampers and personalised gifts, flowers are sourced from British growers with packaging designed to produce as little waste as possible. All bouquets are hand tied and all paper used is from the UK.

Price: £22.99

Buy plants from Blossoming Gifts

Freddie’s Flowers

If you’re after more than a one-off bouquet, Freddie’s Flowers offer a weekly subscription of seasonal flowers. Each delivery comes with an arrangement guide and flower food and background information on the flowers is also included.

Price: £26 per box

Buy flowers from Freddie’s Flowers

Floom

Floom is dedicated to helping you order from local, independent florists online. Each bouquet will be unique to the individual florist so there’s a good selection of traditional and artisanal styles. Wine, cheese and chocolate hampers are also available as gift options.

Price: from £25

Buy flowers from Floom

Prestige Flowers

Whether you’re sending a floral arrangement for a birthday, wedding, anniversary or any other occasion, Prestige Flowers has got you covered. Their online ordering system allows you to customise your bouquet, and their gift sets include treats like chocolate and teddy bears alongside their beautiful flowers – order before 10pm for next-day delivery.

Price: from £24.99

Buy flowers from Prestige Flowers

How to care for fresh-cut flowers

The best flower delivery services come with advice on how to care for your flowers. This should include how best to prepare the bouquet and what to do once the flowers are in water. A sachet of plant food is also often included, but this can also be bought online. To prolong the life of your cut flowers follow these tips:

• Cut the stems of your flowers with garden scissors or sharp secateurs to ensure you don’t crush them and prevent water and nutrient uptake.
• Cut to length at an angle, which increases the cut surface area and allows the stem to absorb more water. Leaves from the bottom half of the stem should be removed to prevent any rotting in the water.
• Always use a clean vase and check the water level every other day, topping up as needed.
• Every two or three days change the water and recut stems.
• Keep your arrangement looking fresh by removing any dead or dying flowers
• Try to place the flowers in a cooler spot away from radiators, fires and direct sunlight.

How to grow your own cut flowers

Whilst a bouquet arriving at your door is a real treat, there’s something so satisfying about being able to grow your own cut flowers. It’s also much cheaper and an eco-friendly way of having cut flowers.
You only need a few square meetings to have blooms for many months of the year! Just make sure you pick a site that has lots of sun, and shelter. Strong winds might damage your plants and means they’ll need watering more often.
When choosing which plants to grow for cut flowers, it’s best to grow a mix of annuals, half-hardy annuals and biennials for the longest flowering season.
Find out more about growing cut flowers throughout the year with our useful guide to growing cut flowers from seed 

This Product Guide was last updated in February 2025. We apologise if anything has changed in price or availability.

Well-stocked bird feeders help to supplement birds’ food when it’s in short supply. Throughout the winter months, high-fat foods and water are in short supply but even through the spring and summer, a bird feeder will help to increase the number of birds you’ll see and help them raise their chicks successfully. Plus, if you’re regularly topping up your bird feeder, the same birds will continue to return as they learn your garden is a good source of food.
Specialist bird cakes, seeds and food like mealworms and flaked maize are all good options and supplying a variety of foods is a good way of attracting a wider range of bird species to your garden.

There’s a wide range of bird feeders on the market in a host of different styles and designs. Some offer additional features such as squirrel proofing and such as a larger cage around the central feeder to stop squirrels and larger birds reaching the bird food. Other garden bird feeders can be attached to windows to allow you to get closer to the birds; a great way to start teaching children about nature around our homes. 

For other ways to look after the birds in your garden, read our guides to bird seed,  bird tables and bird baths. If you’d like to watch birds, check out our guides on wildlife cameras and bird box cameras.

And if you want to encourage more wildlife to visit your garden, take a look at our selection of bat boxes and hedgehog houses, or be inspired by our guide to wildlife gifts.

Jump to:

• How to choose a bird feeder
• Where to put a bird feeder

Browse our pick of bird feeders, below:

The best bird feeders

Peckish 100% recycled woodland feast multi feeder

Available from Pennells Garden Centres

Part of a new collection of wild bird feeders made from 100% recycled materials and sustainably sourced wood, this holds around 500g of seed plus two suet cake.s The slate effect roof and sturdy mesh to hold the suet are made using approximately 125 recycled food and drink cartons. It’s easy to clean and comes in plastic free packaging.

Price: £30.00

Buy Peckish 100% recycled woodland feast multi feeder from Pennells Garden Centres

Eco-Blu bird feeder

Available from Wildlife Community

Crafted from recycled ocean plastic that also protects against harmful bacteria, fungi and microbes, this lantern style feeder has a transparent hopper so you can easily see when it needs refilling. With a simple locking system it’s easy to take apart for cleaning and is suitable for sunflower hearts, seeds and kibbled nuts  to attract a range of wild birds toyour garden.

Price: £9.99

Buy Eco-Blu bird feeder from the Wildlife Community

Finches Friend Cleaner Feeder 1

Available from Finches Friend

Created to help prevent the spread of avian diseases such as Trichomonosis, responsible for the decline in Chaffinch and Greenfinch, this easy clean feeder is simple to take apart, robust and fully recyclable. It holds 1.79l of food, more than a standard feeder, and it always stays clean and dry.  Three sizes and a window feeder are also available.

Price: £44.99

Buy Finches Friend cleaner feeder from Finches Friend

Roamwild Pest Off Squirrel Proof Bird Feeder

Available from Roamwild and Amazon

Roamwild Pest Off Squirrel Proof Bird FeederTo stop squirrels and large birds eating the food, the hatch automatically moves down blocking it off when they land on the perch. Once they leave, the perch returns to normal. The 1.5 litre feeder from Roamwild also has a built-in rain guard to prevent seeds clogging.

Price: £31.99

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Ch-eco recycled bird feeder

Available from the Wildlife community

Crafted in the UK in six cheerful colours these eco-friendly feeders are made from recycled plastics and upcycled chewing gum. All plastics can be fully recycled and a bag of bird food is included.

Price: £6.99

Buy Ch-eco recycled bird feeder from the Wildlife community

RSPB Suet Feeder and Guardian

Available from RSPB

The guardian on this suet feeder ensures that only small birds get to enjoy up to 10 suet balls. Measuring 30cm tall and 24cm wide, this feeder is small enough to find a place in any garden.

Price: £28

Buy RSPB Suet Feeder and Guardian at RSPB

Smart bird feeder with solar powered camera

Available from QVC

This natty feeder doesn’t only provide birds with an ideal feeding spot but allows you to watch their visits, so you can identify who’s visiting your garden. The integrated video camera features AI recognition to capture and record visiting birds and allows you to share this with up to 5o people so you can all watch at the same time. With colour and night vision options it’s available in sage or grey.

Price: £171

Buy the Smart bird feeder with solar powered camera from QVC

Cleaner Peanut feeder

Available from Finches Friend

Also from the Finches Friend team comes a peanut feeder, a covered, sealed container to keep the nuts dry that’s designed to ensure they’re moved to the feeding area rather than staying stuck in the centre of the feeder. The hopper is removable for easy cleaning and it’s made from recyclable, UV-stabilised polycarbonate so it won’t weaken in the sun. Remember to only use Aflatoxin tested peanuts in your feeder.

Price: £34.99

Buy the Cleaner Peanut feeder from Finches Friend

Jacobi Jayne I love Robins Pearl Feeder

Available from Garden Wildlife Direct and Amazon

Jacobi Jayne I love Robins Pearl FeederThe dome shape of the I Love Robins feeder protects the food and birds from snow and rain. The height can be adjusted to dissuade larger birds and the feeding tray has draining holes to prevent the seeds from becoming waterlogged.

Price: £12.99

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Ring Pull Large Bird Feeder

Available from Thompson & Morgan and Amazon

Able to hold 800g of seeds, this Ring-Pull bird feeder has six feeding ports so that multiple birds can perch at the same time. The base can be removed for easy cleaning and for a deep clean, a pin inside the feeder can be pulled to separate all the individual components.

Price: £17.49

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RSPB Easy-clean Seed Feeder

Available from RSPB

Made from a combination of durable zinc alloy and a polycarbonate tube, the RSPB guarantee it will not crack or discolour in the sun. Available in three sizes, with the largest able to hold 1.5 litres of feed.

Price: £13.00

Buy RSPB Ultimate Easy-clean Seed Feeder at RSPB

Wildlife World Ceramic Bird Feeder

Available from Amazon 

This small bird feeder comes in the sweet design of a ceramic robin. Suitable for seeds, nuts and mealworms, this Wildlife World feeder is frost resistant and is hung with a strong steel wire.

Price: £27.87

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How to choose a bird feeder

Choosing a bird feeder largely depends on two elements; what birds you are looking to attract and the size and layout of your garden. 

There are four main types of garden feeders you can buy. 

• Seed feeders: A hanging seed feeder can attract a range of small birds including sparrows, tits and finches. These can come in a variety of sizes and are typically made of plastic or metal. 
• Ground feeders: A ground level feeder can be the preferred choice for birds such as blackbirds and wrens. Not ideal for a small garden as the table needs to be kept away from shrubbery where cats may be lurking. Read more tips on deterring cats from your garden.
• Nut feeders: Known to attract tits and woodpeckers, nut feeders are made from metal mesh. This mesh needs to be a specific size (approximately 6mm) to be safe. If it is too small, it can damage birds’ beaks but it needs to be small enough to stop birds removing large peanut chunks. 
• Suet feeders: Popular with tits and starlings, suet feeders are made from wide metal mesh to give the birds purchase while they eat. Available in a range of sizes, the feeders will hold either suet cakes or balls. 

If you’re in need of more advice on how or what to feed the birds in your garden, head to the RSPB website or take a look at more of our bird feeding content. 

Where to put a bird feeder

Keeping away predators will be your main consideration when hanging your feeder in the garden. Bird feeders need to be kept out of reach from squirrels and cats for birds to feel safe. 

Aim for a quiet and sheltered area and away from any tree, fence or shrub that could be used as a jumping point for either animal. At eye level, or a little above, is best. 

Grey squirrels are not only known for eating the food, but can also damage feeders by chewing through the plastic. Some feeders now claim to be squirrel proof as they are either covered in a metal casing the animals cannot chew through or surrounded by a large cage, which is placed around the central feeder.

This Product Guide was last updated in February 2025 and we apologise if anything has changed in price or availability.

Make the most of your garden space with our useful garden storage ideas, including small garden storage ideas for those short on space.
Whether you’re looking for a lockable garden storage box, a rack to hang your spade on or enough space to line up the wheelie bins side by side, there will be something to suit your needs.

If it’s more substantial storage you’re considering for larger items such as lawn mowers, then you may prefer to look over our best garden sheds guide and recommendations.For smaller tools, wellington boots and watering cans (plus other furnishings like garden hammocks and garden parasols), the storage solutions we have curated below should be exactly what you need.
If you’re looking to keep your storage in tip top condition, our experts have tested the best pressure washers so you can buy in confidence.

The best garden storage ideas

Trimetals Large Patio Box

Watertight and robust these metal storage boxes are made from PVC-coated galvanised steel and guaranteed for 25 years against corrosion. Ideal for keeping furniture cushions, garden tools, and outdoor toys secure and dry, they’re available in two sizes and a range of colours.

Price: £769

Buy Trimetals Large Patio Box from Robert Dyas

Chatsworth Outdoor Storage Unit

This durable wood and galvanised metal storage unit is practical but stylish. This large version of the box is ideal for storing items such as wellies and garden tools. The vintage feel and natural finish also mean the model should blend in well to most garden spaces and also shouldn’t look out of place in a porch. Simply use a wood treatment on the box once a year to keep it in top condition.

Price: from £395

Buy Chatsworth Outdoor Storage Unit at Cox and Cox

Chambersville Storage Bench

This raised storage bench is ideal for storing wood in particular, as the rubber feet prevent the timber from resting on wet surfaces. Made from solid wood, the storage bench is resistant to both water and rust and provides additional garden seating. It also arrives ready assembled, so the hard work is done for you.

Price: £266.99

Buy Chambersville Storage Bench at Wayfair

Aldsworth Welly Store

Designed specifically for storing wellies, this neat garden storage idea will keep your muddy boots in line and away from the carpets. It’s also suitable for wood and even postal packages as the slanted roof allows moisture to run off the edge, protecting the contents of the store from getting damp. Depending on shoe size, the store should fit three to four pairs of wellington boots.

Price: £250

Buy Aldsworth Welly Store at Garden Trading

Keter Store It Out Midi 845L Garden Storage Shed

For more heavy duty outdoor storage, this all-purpose box should be ideal. The lockable storage box should provide added peace of mind and the two opening doors allow easier access for large items, as it can be opened from the top as well as front. The box can be used for tools and furniture as well as being large enough to accommodate two 120-litre wheelie bins. Made of polypropylene it should also be durable and weather resistant. Plus, there’s a two year guarantee and one person should be able to assemble it alone.

Price: £138

Buy Keter Store It Out Midi 845L Garden Storage Shed at Amazon

Trimetals Stowaway Outdoor Storage Unit

Useful in small garden spaces or as an addition to a traditional shed, the up-and-over concertina door of this unit provides full and easy access without needing extra space for swing doors. Made from PVC-coated galvanised steel, it’s secure, watertight and guaranteed for 25 years against corrosion. There’s a choice of two sizes and three colours and accessories including shelving and a plywood floor are also available.

Price: £529

Buy Trimetals Stowaway Outdoor Storage Unit from Buy Sheds Direct

This Product Guide was last updated in February 2025 and we apologise if anything has changed in price or availability.

Sheds are an invaluable addition to any garden, providing storage, protection and even a space to relax. However, it’s worth making sure you match the right shed to your garden and your gardening needs. If you simply want a low-maintenance, durable garden space for storage, a metal shed may be all you need, but depending on the tools and other kit you have you might need a large apex shed, or just a garden chest.
We’ve rounded up a selection of a range of different types of shed, all made from either wood or metal. In the interest of reducing plastic usage in the garden, we haven’t recommended any plastic sheds here, although they are widely available. Please note, the measurements featured below are a guide and list the widest, highest or deepest measurements of each shed’s dimensions. Further details such as exact door widths and heights at different points of the roof can be found on the sellers’ websites.

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To keep your new shed tidy, browse our guide to the best shed storage ideas and garden storage ideas. We also have handy roundups of the best shed paints and tips on how to improve your shed, and DIY tool guides such as best hammers, best multi-tools and best cordless drills.

Already know the type of shed you’re after? Jump to the style of shed you’re considering:

Jump to:

• Apex sheds
• Pent sheds
• Lean-to sheds
• Sentry Style Box sheds
• Corner sheds
• Potting sheds
• How to choose a shed

The best garden sheds

Apex sheds

BillyOh Keeper Overlap Apex Shed

Available from Amazon (£257), Garden Buildings Direct (£245), BillyOh (£245), B&Q (£284.89)

A practical shed with double-door access, this shed makes life easy when it comes to storing larger tools and equipment. While the standard 11mm tongue and groove flooring and roof is included, we like the range of optional extras available, including shelving, windows and paint colour, to ensure you have the shed of your dreams.

Measurements: Available in a range of sizes, from 4’x6 to 16’x8

Price: from £429.00

Buy the BillyOh Keeper Overlap Apex Shed from Garden Buildings Direct

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Trimetals Titan 600 metal garden sheds

Available from Robert Dyas and Buyshedsdirect

A range of four sheds made from PVC-coated galvanised steel. Each has a strong rigid design and comes with a key-operated lock, top and bottom bolts, a single door (upgradeable to double), and customisable acrylic window options. Simple and safe to put up accessories such as benching, shelving and wooden flooring are available and all come with a 25-year panel guarantee.

Measurements:(Internal)
630 – 2.08m (height) x 1.76 (width) x 1.01m (depth)
640 – 2.08m (height) x 1.76 (width) x 1.31m (depth)
660 – 2.08m (height) x 1.76 (width) x 1.76m  (depth)
680 – 2.08m (height) x 1.76 (width) x 2.52m (depth)

Price: From £1099.00 including delivery

Buy the Trimetals Titan 600 metal shed range from Buyshedsdirect

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Rowlinson Oxford 4ft x 3ft Wooden Apex Garden Shed with Lean-To

Available from Garden Chic (£295), Robert Dyas (£307.99), Ryman (£319.99), Amazon UK (£323.98), Wickes (£368)

A compact design to suit small gardens, with the added bonus of a built-in log store on the side, which features upright slats of wood to provide protection against the elements. Made using 12mm tongue and groove cladding, it comes with a solid, felt-clad roof and 10 year guarantee against rot.

Measurements: 200 (height) x 195 (width) x 94cm (depth)

Price: £504.99

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Buy the Rowlinson Oxford 4ft x 3ft Wooden Apex Garden Shed with Lean-To from Robert Dyas

8′ x 6′ Shed-Plus Champion Heavy Duty Apex Single Door Shed

This classic apex shed is crafted by hand from Nordic White Spruce, with a felt roof reinforced with high-grade polyester for additional protection. The tongue and groove cladding makes it more weatherproof than an overlap shed, so it’s a good choice if you want to store items that need to be kept dry, or if you’re planning to use it as a workshop. Installation is included and it comes with a 15 year guarantee.

Measurements: 2.184m (height) x 2.4m (width) x 1.82m (depth)

Price: £1,599

Buy the 8′ x 6′ Shed-Plus Champion Heavy Duty Apex Single Door Shed from Shedstore

For more apex sheds, browse Tiger Sheds, Garden Buildings Direct and Shedstore

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Pent Sheds

Tiger Garden Overlap Pent Garden Shed 7′ x 5′

Available from Tiger Sheds (£409.99), Wayfair (£449.99)

This overlap shed has a pent roof, offering extra headroom at the front. The two windows are made from unbreakable polycarbonate and are attached with security screws. The door comes with a latch you can secure with a padlock. It also has a 20 year warranty.

Measurements: 2.03m (height) x 2.09m (width) x 1.53m (depth)

Price: £409.99

Buy the Overlap Pent Garden Shed 7 x 5 from Tiger Sheds

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Trimetals Titan 900 metal garden shed range

Available from Robert Dyas

Made from durable PVC-coated galvanised steel, these three pent roof sheds are ideal for positioning against a wall or the side of the house. The wide double doors are key-lockable with top and bottom bolts and accessories such as shelving, benching, padlocks and an alarm are available. They’ll easily accommodate large garden equipment and ride-on machinery and come with a  25-year panel guarantee.

Measurements:
940 – 2.10m (height) x 1.31m (width) x 2.63m (depth)
950 – 2.10m (height) x 1.54m (width) x 2.63m (depth)
960 – 2.10m (height) x 1.76m (width) x 2.63m (depth)

Price: From £1399.00

Buy the Trimetals 900 metal sheds range from Robert Dyas

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7′ x 5′ Forest Timberdale 25yr Guarantee Tongue & Groove Pressure Treated Pent Shed

Available from Buy Sheds Direct (£879.99), ManoMano (£999.99), ShedStore (£999.99), B&Q (£1105)

This pent-roof shed features tongue and groove cladding and is made from pressure-treated European softwood, guaranteed against rot for at least 15 years. The door is set to the right-hand side and is wider and taller than the average single shed door, offering extra room to get bulky garden tools in and out.

Measurements: 2.108m (height) x 2.215m (width) x 1.6m (depth)

Price: £1,399

Buy the 7′ x 5′ Forest Timberdale Tongue & Groove Shed from Shedstore or Robert Dyas

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6′ x 4′ Yardmaster Pent Metal Shed

Available from Amazon UK (£149.99), Buy Sheds Direct (£189.99), Shedstore (£189.99) and Very.co.uk (£199.99)

This shed is made from galvanised steel and comes with a 10 year anti-rust guarantee. It has sliding doors, rather than hinged doors, which is a great space-saver, if you don’t have space in front of the shed for the doors to open outwards. The door handles are lockable and attached with anti-tamper bolts. Don’t forget to select the add-on flooring option before you buy.

Measurements: 1.74m (height) x 1.84m (width) x 1.19m (depth)

Price: £211.99

Buy the 6′ x 4′ Yardmaster Pent Metal Shed from Robert Dyas

Not quite the right style? Check out other pent sheds from Tiger Sheds, Garden Buildings Direct and Shedstore

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Lean-to Sheds

Tiger Pent Bike Store

Available from Wayfair (£323.99), Tiger Sheds (£319)

Promoted as a bike shed, this is a generously-sized lean-to shed, which will house plenty of garden tools and equipment while fitting into a tight spot. The double doors ensure easy access for larger items. Made from European softwood 12mm Shiplap tongue and groove cladding, with solid frame and flooring, it’s a solid and sturdy option for your garden. It comes with a 10 year guarantee against insect infection, rot and timber decay.

Measurements: 217.4 (height) x 20.5 (length) x 85cm (width)

Price: from £359

Buy the Tiger Pent Bike Store from Tiger Sheds

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Rowlinson 6x3ft Lean-To Midi Garden Tool Storage Shed

Available from One Garden (£214.99), Sheds (£219), Ryman (£226.99), Wickes (£270)

A neat, sentry style design that is ideal for a small garden. This lean-to is ideal for tools, wellies and general garden paraphernalia. Includes solid board floor, roof and shelf.

Measurements: 184.5 (height) x 93.5 (width) x 64cm (depth)

Price: £270

Buy the Rowlinson 6x3ft Lean-To Midi Garden Tool Storage Shed from Wickes

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Sentry Style Sheds

BillyOh Tongue and Groove Tall Sentry Box Grande

Available from Amazon (£230), Billy Oh (£219), Garden Buildings Direct (£219)

If space is limited, or you only need to store a few tools, then this simple sentry box shed could be the answer. With an apex roof, tongue and groove cladding, plus three interior corner shelves, it’s just the thing for storage in a small garden. For an additional fee, the shed can be delivered with a tin of paint or wood stain in the colour of your choice.

Measurements: 1.9m (height) x 1.13m (width) x 0.65m (depth)

Price: from £249.00

Buy BillyOh Tongue and Groove Tall Sentry Box Grande from Garden Buildings Direct

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Corner sheds

BillyOh Expert Tongue and Groove Corner Workshop Shed

Available from Billy Oh (£594), Garden Buildings Direct (£594), Amazon UK (£651)

A corner shed is a great way to maximise your storage if you’re tight for space. This corner shed has double doors to make it easy to stuff in and out. There’s a shatterproof window on one side, and it’s constructed from dip-treated shiplap cladding. It comes with a 20 year warranty.

Measurements: 2.08m (height) x 1.89m (width) x 1.91m (depth)

Price: from £805

Buy The BillyOh Expert Tongue and Groove Corner Workshop Shed from Garden Buildings Direct

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Mercia Corner Summerhouse with Shed 7x11ft

Available from Robert Dyas (£999.99)

Unlike other corner sheds, this model features two separate areas, so you can choose how you use the spaces. The main corner shed features windows and glazed French doors, so there’s plenty of light, while the adjoining side storage has double doors for easy access. Made from FSC Certified 12mm Shiplap tongue and groove wood, it will require regular preserving treatment, but does come with a 10 years anti-rust guarantee. Planning permission and building regulations may be required.

Measurements: 201 (height) x 322 (width) x 207cm (depth)

Price: £1,199.99

Buy the Mercia Corner Summerhouse with Shed 7x11ft from Robert Dyas

Need further inspiration? Check out corners sheds from Garden Buildings Direct, Wayfair and Tiger Sheds

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Potting Sheds

BillyOh Planthouse Tongue and Groove Apex Potting Shed

Available from Garden Buildings Direct (£789), Billy Oh (£954)

The best of both worlds, the two-tier glazed side of this combination greenhouse and shed allows you to grow plants, while the shelving on the timber back wall provides space for storage. The European-sourced wood is pressure treated, and it comes with an 11m floor, roof, and roof felt and optional Ecobase fastfit full base, guttering and padlocks. You can also choose from 12 different paint colours.

Measurements: Available in a range of sizes, including 8×6; 12×6 and 16×6.

Price: from £1,105.00

Buy the BillyOh Planthouse Tongue and Groove Apex Potting Shed from Garden Buildings Direct

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Tiger Potting Shed

Available from Tiger Sheds (£635.99)

This shed gives you the chance to grow your own plants as well as store tools and equipment. The large side windows provide plenty of light, while the storage side of this shed features a useful shelf. Made with solid frames and 12mm tongue and groove timber this shed comes with 20 years’ guarantee for rot, decay and infestation.

Measurements: Available in two sizes, including 6×6 and 8×6

Price: from £639.99

Buy the Tiger Potting Shed from Tiger Sheds

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Shire Iceni 8′ x 6′ Pent Shiplap Wooden Shed

Available from Wilko (£725.00), Robert Dyas (£744.99), Ryman (£746.99) and Buy Sheds Direct (£759.99)

This shiplap shed is made from European, kiln dried, softwood. Large windows offer plenty of light for working inside or even to grow a few potted plants. The barn-style door is set to the right and the pent roof, sloping in the same direction, helps the shed to slot under any overhangs.

Measurements: 2.21m (height) x 2.39m (width) x 1.79m (depth)

Price: £850

Buy Shire Iceni 8×6 Pent Shiplap Wooden Shed from B&Q

Still looking for a potting shed? Try Waltons, Shed Store and Garden Buildings Direct

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8×6 Power Overlap Pent Double Door Shed

Available from Amazon (£639.00)

This shed’s appeal is twofold. Firstly, the shed itself is very robust, made from high grade, slow grown Scandinavian softwood. The second benefit this shed offers is that the windows and doors can be placed where the owner likes during assembly.

Measurements: 8 by 6 feet.
Price: from £639.99

Buy the 8×6 Power Overlap Pent Double Door Shed from Robert Dyas

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10′ x 12′ Yardmaster Shiplap Metal Shed (3.03m x 3.78m)

Available from B and Q (£699.99), Buy Sheds Direct (£599.99), Shedstore (£599.99) and Amazon UK (£759.94)

Rust-resistant, spacious, and UK-made, this shed would be a firm choice for gardeners looking for a tough, secure shed for workshop work, or storage. Coming fitted with guttering and translucent roof panels, gardeners can enjoy a bright interior space on sunny days, and practical water management when it’s rainy.
This shed also has the option of being delivered with a 10×12 supporting floor kit.

Measurements: 10′ x 12′
Price: £769.99

Buy the 10′ x 12′ Yardmaster Shiplap Metal Shed from Buy Sheds Direct

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How to choose your shed

Follow our guide to help you choose the right shed for you and your garden:

What size shed should you choose?

Apart from considering what you want to use your shed for, another important factor is how much space you have in your garden for a shed. To work this out, measure and mark out the space, making sure you allow room for the door to open and access in and out and make note of overhanging trees or other obstacles that might affect how tall the shed can be. Remember that shed dimensions refer to exterior measurements, so the interior footprint will be slightly less. Siting your shed close to a building, hedge or wall or fence will give it some protection from the elements and help it to last longer

Which is the best shape for a roof?

There are two main shapes of shed roof to choose from. How you plan to use the shed and how much space you have available will determine which shape is right for you.

• Apex: This is the traditional triangle-shaped roof, with two sloping sides meeting in a peak in the middle. Inside, the centre of the shed offers the most headroom, and space is lower at either side. With a reverse apex shed, the two sloping sides meet in the middle down the entire length.
• Pent: A pent roof slopes in just one direction. Usually the roof is higher at the front and slopes away to the back of the shed. Internally, the most headroom is at the front of the shed where the door is. Conversely, a reverse pent has the highest point at the back. Smaller and lean-to sheds often have pent roofs that slope to one side.

Which material should you choose?

Sheds can be made from wood, plastic or metal and each material has its own benefits and uses:

• Wood: The traditional material for a garden shed, wood is a popular choice with the most variety in style and shape available. It’s a natural material, so wooden sheds blend into their surroundings well and are reasonably durable. While wood may warp over time, there are a variety of treatments to help you maintain your garden shed.
  The roof is usually covered in felt, but some have tile-effect shingles. Wooden sheds are clad in a number of different styles:
  • Overlap: This type of cladding consists of individual strips of wood overlapped and nailed together. The angle of the panels lets rainwater drain away and gives the wood the space to expand and shrink with the weather. Overlap cladding can be a little draughty, so it’s not ideal if you’re planning on spending lots of time working inside. For storage alone, however, it’s a simple and effective choice.
  • Tongue and Groove: The cladding interlocks together to keep water and drafts out, so these sheds are sturdy with a neater, sleeker appearance.
  • Shiplap: Essentially an advanced version of tongue and groove cladding, shiplap has a scalloped appearance. It has all the benefits of tongue and groove plus the scalloping allows rain water to run off the shed more effectively.
• Metal: Metal sheds tend to be the most secure, so they’re a good option if you need to store valuable items. They’re also weatherproof and long lasting.
• Plastic: Plastic sheds won’t rot, they require almost no maintenance, and they tend to be lightweight, making them easy to assemble. However, non-recycled plastic isn’t a sustainable material.

Do you need to lay foundations for a garden shed?

Sheds often come with flooring included or with the option to add it as an extra, unless stated otherwise. If you don’t already have a solid base, such as concrete or paving slabs, you will need to lay one or you can buy a purpose-made shed base.

Do you need planning permission for a shed?

Although in most cases you wont need planning permission from your local authority to put up a shed, particularly if its a small to medium size, always check before you buy. However, there are exceptions when you should seek planning permission, including: If the shed is 4m or higher, is bigger than half the total area of your property, is in front of your house or you plan to use the shed for something other then domestic purposes.
Remember to inform your neighbours if you plan to install a shed on a boundary or need access to their garden for construction.

Where to buy garden sheds?

Your local DIY store or large garden centre is a good place to start, as you’ll be able to see examples of the sheds on offer and get a feel of the size and style that works best for you. However, trusted, specialist retailers, both brick-and-mortar and online, offer a wider choice and often have deals. Our roundup includes a selection of trusted retailers that appear most frequently in UK search terms for garden sheds.

• Argos
• Wickes
• B&Q
• Homebase
• Tiger Sheds
• Shedstore
• Garden Buildings Direct
• BillyOh
• Wayfair
• Amazon

This Product Guide was last updated in February 2025. We apologise if anything has changed in price or availability.