One rain barrel fills up fast under a decent-sized roof. Rather than stepping up to one large tank, linking several smaller barrels together is a cheap way to add storage incrementally — buy one, add another later, and connect them as the budget or the roof space allows.
How linking kits work
The Rain Barrel Linking Kit ($34.93) connects two barrels with 32mm (1 1/4") hose, so once the first barrel fills, the overflow feeds into the next one in the chain instead of running to waste. It's a gravity-fed connection between barrel overflow points — no pump needed to move water between linked barrels, provided they're positioned at a similar or stepped-down height so gravity does the work.
Linking more than two barrels
Each kit links one pair of barrels, so a daisy-chain of three barrels needs two kits (barrel 1 to 2, barrel 2 to 3), four barrels needs three kits, and so on. Check each barrel has a matching 32mm linking port before buying — not every rain barrel is set up for this out of the box.
Getting water out of a linked system
Linking kits only move overflow between barrels; they don't pump water out to the garden or the house. For drawing water out of a linked barrel setup under pressure, see our guide on choosing a pump for a rainwater tank, and for filtering what goes in before it reaches the barrels, see our guide to downpipe diverters.
Find linking kits and the rest of the range in our Downpipe Diverters & Outlets collection, part of the wider Blue Mountain Co rainwater harvesting range.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does linking barrels need a pump?
No. The linking kit connects barrel overflow points with a gravity-fed hose, so no pump is needed as long as the barrels are positioned at a similar or stepped-down height.
How many linking kits do I need for three or more barrels?
One kit per connection between barrels — three barrels in a chain need two kits, four barrels need three kits.
Will any rain barrel work with this kit?
It suits barrels with a 32mm (1 1/4") linking port. Check your barrel's fittings before ordering.
Can I use a linking kit to feed water to my garden instead of another barrel?
No, it's designed for barrel-to-barrel overflow linking, not pressurised delivery. For garden or household use, you'll need a pump — see our pump selection guide.