Why You Should Get It: This durable, lightweight watering can impressed us with its overall ease of use. Keep in Mind: The capacity on this watering can is quite small, so it wouldn’t work well for large plants or an entire garden.

Most plastic watering cans can be stored outside, but it’s best to put them under a covering to avoid rainwater and other debris from collecting inside it. Metal containers will have more longevity when stored indoors in a garage, shed, or on a shelf in your home since they are prone to corrosion. Watering cans should be cleaned and thoroughly dried before being stored to avoid any mold from developing. We also found it easy to use thanks to its two handles (including one with hinges), which made it easy to maneuver into multiple positions, reducing strain on our hands and wrists. "Personally, I like watering cans with multiple handles, so I get two spots to hold," says master gardener, interior designer, and home improvement expert Jen Stark, founder of Happy DIY Home. And at 2.6 gallons, this watering can has a sizable capacity, allowing you to water several plants without making multiple trips to the hose or sink. Plus, the lightweight plastic won't weigh you down.

Easily the most glamorous choice on our list, this watering can won points for its good looks on top of its effectiveness. We loved the subtle, hammered texture that made it look "extra luxe," and we'd happily show it off in one of our homes. This watering can would look nice sitting on a shelf by your houseplants and is a great design for people without a lot of storage who would need to keep it on display. According to Kristen Whitehead, designer and owner of Helios Landscape Design, outdoor plants in pots typically need to be watered once a day while indoor plants have varying water needs, depending on the type of plant.

Additionally, instead of lugging a full, large-capacity watering can up a stairwell or across a patio, you might be better off with a small watering can you refill more often. "Deciding how much you can comfortably carry is also a factor—if the can is too large, you may not be able to lift, carry, and tilt it as you need to use it," says Stark. Keep in Mind: The placement of the handle and the small mouth might make this hard to fill from a fixed faucet. Ceramic watering cans are heavy and prone to chipping and breaking, so they are not suitable for outdoor use. "Ceramic watering cans come in a huge range of shapes, sizes, and designs that allow you to also display them. Just remember that if you drop one, it's going to shatter," says Stark. In watering cans, attractive design, good balance, and grip do not always go hand in hand. A watering can needs good balance so it doesn't easily topple over. Generally, the longer and bulkier the spout, the poorer the balance. If the spout is fairly thin, it won't necessarily be prone to tipping. "A can with a slightly wider base can help balance out a heavier spout, and ones with heavier metal accents may also be more stable," says Stark.The best watering cans can be made from a variety of materials, such as steel, copper, plastic, or even ceramic. You should think about the type of environment you’ll be in when using the watering can, and what type of wear-and-tear it might be exposed to. If you are primarily using the watering can outdoors, a breakable material like ceramic might not be the best fit. If the person using the watering can is young, older, or may not be capable of lifting heavy items, a lightweight material (like plastic) might be a good choice. However, Whitehead cautions that some plastic watering cans are a bit flimsy. Of all the watering cans we tested, this model stood out to us thanks to multiple unique features. The double-handle design is ergonomic, and we found the handles were comfortable for both carrying and lifting up to reach hanging flower baskets. Although this watering can has a generous capacity, it stands at less than a foot high, so it's easily fillable in a standard kitchen sink. The rose can be removed, and the spout itself can swivel, offering you the option to either direct the sprinkle upwards (for a gentler effect) or downwards, depending on the watering style your plants need. Watering cans are used by gardeners for watering plants, by road workers to apply bitumen to asphalt, as ornaments, and regularly in symbolic art pieces. In terms of durability, the Beech Wood Handle Watering Can held up well functionally from being dropped, landing upright and denting only slightly, but the paint did chip and show the steel underneath. If you are in an environment where you expect to have a lot of wear and tear (hello, small children and pets), the painted exterior might show damage over time. In general, this is a good value for a smaller, good-looking indoor watering can.

There’s no doubt that this is a splurge item. If you look at this as an investment in home decor, it’s probably worth it, but if you’re choosing based on function, you can likely find a watering can that’s a better value. This watering can could also make a unique wedding or housewarming gift.We assembled a team of real-world gardeners, houseplant devotees, and green thumbs to test each of the best watering cans on our list. We were looking for a sleek yet ergonomic design, effective watering capabilities, easy use, and more. We filled each watering can to capacity in both a standard size sink and outside with a spigot or hose, then carried it a short distance. We then poured the water into a variety of different types and sizes of pots to ensure the can was easy to lift and tilt.

We loved the two-handle design, with one hinged handle that made carrying and pouring a breeze, and noted that the can was surprisingly easy to fill under a sink for its size. The clever design places the fill hole slightly off center so the handles don’t get in the way of a spigot or faucet. Another helpful feature is the adjustable spout that can go from light shower to heavy stream, depending on what you are watering. We thought the Bloomscape Large Watering Can was aesthetically-pleasing but ergonomically challenging and hard to handle when filled. We had to use two hands when carrying and pouring this product to avoid water sloshing out, which is why we didn’t include it on our list of the best watering cans. The small capacity means that it's also easy to lift overhead to water hanging plants or bookshelf vines, and the hole at the top is large enough that it can be filled from virtually any sink. Plus, we found it quite easy to carry and pour without spillage.Just like the other watering cans in this roundup, this model passed all of our drop tests except the round, where it was full and dropped on concrete. It dented and lost some paint, but this didn't affect usability. The price of this watering can is a little higher than some of the more basic cans on this list, but we think it's reasonable given the quality and unique design.