9 Best AcuRite Rain Gauges for the Yard (October 2026)
The best AcuRite rain gauges for backyard rainfall tracking include the AcuRite Iris for broad weather tracking, the AcuRite Wireless Digital Rain Gauge with Self-Emptying for indoor rain checks, and the AcuRite Iris Weather Station with Rain Gauge for indoor weather stations.
On this page (4 sections)
The best AcuRite rain gauge for most yards is the Wireless Digital Rain Gauge with Self-Emptying if you want to check rainfall indoors. Its outdoor collector sends totals to an indoor display, while the AcuRite Iris adds wind, temperature and humidity readings.
AcuRite's digital options suit people who want weather readings indoors or as part of a wider station. Manual gauges from other brands work for a visual check in the garden when you don't need a remote display.
For more options across styles, see rain gauges for home use.
This comparison covers the best wireless rain gauges alongside manual choices. If you want readings on your phone, compare models in our guide to wireless rain gauges with an app.
Our picks at a glance
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1
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2
Best for indoor rain checksAcuRite Wireless Digital Rain Gauge with Self-Emptying
9.2/10 our score
See it on Amazon -
3
Best for indoor weather stationsAcuRite Iris Weather Station with Rain Gauge
8.3/10 our score
See it on Amazon
- 4
Best for tall garden bedsCheck it - 5
Best for fence-side placementCheck it - 6
Check itLa Crosse 705-109 Waterfall Rain Gauge
Best for deck rail readings - 7
Check itHoldly Professional Rain Gauge Outdoor
Best for heavy storm totals - 8
Check itWorld's Coolest Rain Gauge Company WCRG Copper Rain
Best for decorative yard displays - 9
Check itTaylor Freeze Proof Silicone Rain Gauge
Best for freezing climates
Which rain gauges suit different yards?
The right yard rain gauge depends on how you want to read rainfall: from inside, at a garden stake or on a mounted collector. These picks span AcuRite systems and manual alternatives with different placement and reading styles.
If you prefer a glass tube, compare the best glass rain gauges.
AcuRite Iris: Best for broad weather tracking
- Measures rain, temperature, humidity, wind speed and wind direction
- Wireless readings every 36 seconds
- Up to 330 ft signal range
- Requires 4 AA batteries
This 5-in-1 sensor adds rainfall to a broader set of outdoor weather readings. It works with compatible AcuRite 5-in-1 weather station displays, which are sold separately.
Pros
- Combines five outdoor measurements
- Transmits readings every 36 seconds
- Includes mounting hardware
Cons
- Requires a compatible AcuRite display
- Batteries are not included
AcuRite Iris is a 5-in-1 wireless sensor for households that want rain data as part of a broader backyard weather picture. It also measures temperature, humidity, wind speed and wind direction, with readings transmitted every 36 seconds.
The sensor has a stated wireless range of up to 330 ft and uses 4 AA batteries. It works with compatible AcuRite 5-in-1 weather station displays, sold separately, so check your display model before choosing this sensor.
For other add-on options, compare rain sensors for weather stations.
This option makes the most sense when you already have a compatible display or want to build a broader weather setup. For a rain-only indoor readout, the separate AcuRite digital gauge is more focused.
Buy this sensor when you want more than rain totals and can pair it with a supported display. Skip it if you need a standalone rain gauge or don't want to buy a compatible display.
AcuRite Wireless Digital Rain Gauge with Self-Emptying: Best for indoor rain checks
- Wireless self-emptying collector
- Indoor LCD display
- Rainfall history and programmable alerts
- Outdoor totals sent every 60 seconds
A remote self-emptying collector sends rain totals to an indoor display, which also shows rainfall history and programmable alerts. It suits gardeners who want to check totals without walking to the gauge.
Pros
- Indoor display shows rainfall totals
- Tracks current and past rainfall
- Offers rain rate and flood watch alerts
Cons
- Requires batteries
- Indoor display needs a suitable place
The AcuRite Wireless Digital Rain Gauge with Self-Emptying sends rain totals to its LCD display every 60 seconds and tracks rainfall history. Its self-emptying outdoor collector and indoor display suit yard checks from inside.
Its programmable alerts include rain rate and flood watch settings. The self-emptying collector reduces the need to empty it by hand.
Choose this AcuRite digital rain gauge if you want a dedicated rainfall display and alerts. Skip it if you prefer reading a simple tube outdoors or do not need an indoor display.
The self-emptying rain gauge guide explains how that collector style differs from a manual tube.
AcuRite Iris Weather Station with Rain Gauge: Best for indoor weather stations
- Rain, wind, temperature, humidity and barometric pressure readings
- HD display
- Rainfall history and customizable alarms
- 12-hour forecast
This weather station pairs a wireless outdoor sensor with an indoor HD display for rainfall and other weather conditions. It also includes rainfall history and customizable alarms.
Pros
- Combines rainfall with other weather readings
- Indoor display shows rainfall history
- Offers customizable alarms
Cons
- More equipment than a standalone rain gauge
- Requires space for the display
The AcuRite Iris Weather Station with Rain Gauge combines rainfall with indoor and outdoor weather readings on an HD display. It also provides wind speed and direction, temperature, humidity and barometric pressure, along with rainfall history and customizable alarms.
The station brings several kinds of local weather data to one indoor display. The outdoor sensor mounts to a pole or post, while the display stays indoors, so plan for both locations.
Choose it if you want an AcuRite rain gauge as part of a weather station rather than as a standalone rainfall tool. Skip it if rain is the only measurement you need, since a dedicated digital rain gauge is a more focused fit.
For troubleshooting after setup, use our guide to an AcuRite rain gauge not working.
JMBay Rain Gauge Outdoor: Best for tall garden beds
- Adjusts between 19 and 29 in
- Bold scale and red floating buoy
- Removable measuring tube
- H-shaped double-pronged base
Its adjustable stake and floating buoy help make a manual rainfall check easier from a standing position. The tube removes for emptying and checking.
Pros
- Two height options
- Large scale and colored buoy aid reading
- Removable tube
Cons
- Requires a visit to read rainfall
- Needs suitable soil for its stake
JMBay's adjustable manual gauge helps with a common yard problem: a short tube can disappear behind grass or flowers. This version can stand 19 or 29 inches tall, and its red floating buoy marks the collected water level.
The large scale is paired with a colored strip intended to make the water level easier to distinguish. Its inner tube removes for emptying and checking, while the H-shaped base stakes into soil.
Choose this gauge if you want a visible garden reading without relying on an indoor display. Skip it if you want totals sent to the house or cannot place a stable stake in soil.
Before setting it up, consider how you will empty it and record totals. Our explanation of what a rain gauge is and what to know covers the basic parts and uses.
JMBay Rain Gauge outdoor: Best for fence-side placement
- Adjusts to 18, 27 or 37 in
- Large scale with ten parts per inch
- Colored metal strip helps show water level
- Stake or fence hook mounting
The three height options suit yards where flowers or grass could block a shorter gauge. Its tube detaches for emptying and cleaning.
Pros
- Three height options
- Can hang from a fence
- Detachable measuring tube
Cons
- Manual readings require going outdoors
- Tallest setup needs a clear spot
This JMBay version offers three height choices: 18, 27 or 37 inches. The taller setup can help keep the tube visible above plants, while the fence hook offers another placement option if you don't want to stake it in soil.
Its scale has ten divisions per inch, and a colored metal strip is designed to make the water level easier to see. The tube detaches for emptying and cleaning, which is useful when you track rainfall after each storm.
Pick it if you want flexible height and the choice of fence or ground placement. Skip it if you'll rarely visit the yard to read and empty a manual gauge.
La Crosse 705-109 Waterfall Rain Gauge: Best for deck rail readings
- Measures up to 5 in
- Sliding collector and mounting bracket
- Red floating marker
- Mounts to a deck, patio or fence rail
The waterfall-style collector mounts to a deck rail, fence post or other flat surface. A red floating marker shows the collected level.
Pros
- Mounting hardware included
- Collector slides off for cleaning
- No batteries needed
Cons
- Must be emptied after each rain event for totals
- Requires a level mounting spot
The La Crosse Waterfall gauge suits a deck, patio or fence rail where a bracket can stay mounted. Its collector slides off the bracket for cleaning, and a red floating marker shows the water level against a capacity of up to 5 inches.
This is a manual gauge, so you read it outdoors and empty it after each rain event to keep a running total. La Crosse's setup guidance recommends an open location away from rooflines, trees and other structures, with the collector level.
Choose it when a mounted analog gauge fits your yard better than a tall stake. Skip it if you need a remote readout or want a gauge that can collect rainfall across multiple events without manual emptying.
For background on an electronic collection method, read how a tipping bucket rain gauge works.
Holdly Professional Rain Gauge Outdoor: Best for heavy storm totals
- 11 in total capacity
- 0.01 in graduations on inner tube
- Removable mounting bracket
- Polycarbonate construction
The inner tube measures the first inch, with additional rainfall collecting in the outer cylinder for staged readings up to 11 inches. The bracket lets you remove the gauge to read, empty and clean it.
Pros
- High total capacity
- Fine inner-tube graduations
- Gauge removes from bracket
Cons
- Manual readings require access to the gauge
- Additional water is measured in stages
Holdly's gauge has an 11-inch total capacity. The inner tube marks rainfall in 0.01-inch increments for the first inch, and additional water collects in the outer cylinder for staged measurement.
A removable bracket lets you take the gauge down to read, empty and clean it. Its clear polycarbonate construction supports outdoor use, and the bracket mounts vertically to a post or pole.
Choose it if you record storm totals and want more capacity than a short garden tube provides. Skip it if you want a simple one-step reading, since rainfall beyond the inner tube's first inch requires staged measurement.
For the basics behind collection and measurement, see how a rain gauge measures rainfall.
World's Coolest Rain Gauge Company WCRG Copper Rain: Best for decorative yard displays
- Copper finish and steel stake
- Floating tube
- Measures up to 5.5 in
- Displays inches and millimeters
A floating tube makes the rainfall level visible against a copper-finish stake. The tube is made of polycarbonate.
Pros
- Decorative stake design
- Shows inches and millimeters
- Floating tube rises with rainfall
Cons
- Requires an outdoor manual reading
- Stake placement needs open access
The WCRG Copper Rain Gauge combines a decorative stake with a floating measuring tube. It measures up to 5.5 inches and shows both inches and millimeters.
The gauge uses a 24-inch powder-coated steel stake and a polycarbonate floating tube. Its copper finish gives it a decorative look.
Choose it when appearance matters alongside manual rainfall tracking. Skip it if you want data delivered indoors or prefer a plain, utility-first gauge.
Taylor Freeze Proof Silicone Rain Gauge: Best for freezing climates
- Silicone construction
- 7 in capacity
- 1/10 in markings
- Ground stake and mounting bracket
Flexible silicone is designed to resist cracking if water freezes inside the tube. The removable stake and rear bracket offer ground or fence placement.
Pros
- Flexible silicone tube
- Two mounting options
- Markings show tenths of an inch
Cons
- Manual readings require outdoor access
- No wireless indoor display
Taylor's silicone gauge has a 7-inch capacity and markings in 1/10-inch steps. Its flexible silicone construction is designed to resist cracking if water freezes inside the tube.
A removable stake supports ground placement, and a rear bracket gives you a post or fence option. This choice suits a yard where freeze resistance is a priority and you are comfortable reading the gauge outdoors.
Buy it if cold-weather durability is a priority and a manual scale meets your needs. Skip it if you want a wireless display or remote rainfall history.
How should you choose the best AcuRite rain gauge?
Choose the best AcuRite rain gauge by deciding where you want to read rainfall and whether rain is the only data you need. Then check compatibility, mounting options, capacity and the routine the gauge requires after a storm.
Is an AcuRite rain sensor or a complete station right for you?
An AcuRite rain sensor is a good fit when you already own a compatible 5-in-1 display and want to add outdoor rainfall readings. If its totals seem off, learn how to calibrate an AcuRite rain gauge.
The Iris sensor also measures wind, temperature and humidity, so it suits a yard where those conditions matter too.
A complete station is a better choice when you want an indoor screen and several readings in one setup. The AcuRite Iris Weather Station includes its display, while the separate Iris sensor requires a compatible display bought separately.
Choose the dedicated wireless digital rain gauge if your goal is indoor rainfall totals, history and alerts without the broader range of station measurements. Skip a wireless system if you prefer a simple outdoor reading and don't want batteries or a screen.
Does a manual gauge fit your routine?
A manual gauge is a practical choice if you regularly walk through the yard and can read it after rain. You can see the collected water directly, and models with removable tubes are easier to empty and clean.
Think about access before you choose a stake or bracket. A gauge tucked behind plants may be hard to read, while one mounted beside a deck or fence can be easier to reach from a path.
Manual models are a poor fit if you need readings while away from home or cannot check after storms. In that case, an indoor display and self-emptying collector remove some of the recurring work.
How much capacity and scale detail do you need?
Capacity should match how much rain may collect between your checks. A 5-inch gauge can suit regular garden monitoring, while a higher-capacity model gives more room if you check less often or want to record a larger storm total.
The Holdly gauge holds up to 11 inches, but water beyond the inner tube's first inch is measured in stages. That design is useful for larger totals, though it adds a step when you record a heavy event.
Fine graduations help when you want to distinguish small changes in rainfall. A scale with larger marks may be easier to read from a distance, so consider both detail and visibility rather than choosing by capacity alone.
Where will you mount or place the collector?
Start with a spot open to rain and away from rooflines, trees and other structures. Nearby objects can block or redirect drops, which can make the reading less representative of rainfall in the surrounding yard.
Use a firm stake location for a ground model, or a secure, level surface for a bracket-mounted gauge. A fence hook can help when soil placement is unsuitable, but check that the gauge hangs straight and remains easy to reach.
For an electronic setup, allow for both the outdoor sensor and indoor display. Check the sensor and display instructions for placement and compatibility before installation.
How do you set up and care for a rain gauge?
Set up a rain gauge where it can collect rainfall freely, stay secure and remain accessible for reading or cleaning. The right routine depends on whether the collector is manual or self-emptying.
What should you do before mounting it?
Pick a clear location first, then assemble the stake or bracket according to the gauge's instructions. For a manual tube, check that the scale faces a direction you can see and that the collector sits upright.
For a rail-mounted collector, use the included mounting hardware on a suitable flat surface and make sure the gauge is level. For a stake, press the base firmly into soil that can hold it steady.
For an AcuRite system, confirm display compatibility before setting up the sensor. Install the required batteries and allow the indoor display to receive readings from the outdoor unit before deciding the placement is complete.
How should you read and record rainfall?
Read the level at eye height against the scale, using the units and smallest divisions marked on the gauge. If you track watering or compare storms, write down the amount with the date and empty a manual collector after recording it.
Use the same routine each time so one reading does not combine separate rain events. A floating marker can make the water level easier to distinguish on some models, but still line it up with the scale.
How do you keep a manual gauge clear?
Remove the measuring tube when the design allows it, pour out old water and rinse away dirt or plant debris. Put the tube back securely and check that the gauge remains upright before the next rainfall.
Inspect the opening after windy weather, when leaves or other debris may collect there. Keep the collector accessible enough that routine cleaning does not become a reason to leave old water in the gauge.
What mistakes can distort a reading?
A gauge beneath a roof edge, tree canopy or nearby wall may collect a different amount from an open location. Move it away from those obstructions, then keep its placement consistent if you want to compare rainfall over time.
A tilted collector can also affect the reading, especially on a gauge that needs a level mount. Another common mistake is forgetting to empty a manual tube after recording a storm, which can mix separate events into one total.
For a wireless model, don't assume a missing reading means the collector itself has failed. Check power, display compatibility, setup and the signal path first; our guide to why an AcuRite rain gauge may not be working covers likely checks.
Which rain gauge should you choose for your yard?
Choose the AcuRite Wireless Digital Rain Gauge with Self-Emptying for indoor rain totals, history and alerts. Choose AcuRite Iris if you want rain alongside wind and other outdoor readings, and pick a manual gauge if a quick visit to the garden fits your routine.
For a garden where height and visibility matter, compare the adjustable JMBay gauges. If your priority is an all-in-one local weather display, see our guide to the best AcuRite weather stations.
Our top 3 picks at a glance
-
1
-
2
Best for indoor rain checks
AcuRite Wireless Digital Rain Gauge with Self-Emptying
9.2/10 our score
See it on Amazon -
3
Best for indoor weather stations
AcuRite Iris Weather Station with Rain Gauge
8.3/10 our score
See it on Amazon
Frequently asked questions
What is the best AcuRite rain gauge for a yard?
The AcuRite Wireless Digital Rain Gauge with Self-Emptying suits a yard where you want rainfall totals on an indoor display. The AcuRite Iris is a better fit if you also want wind, temperature and humidity data.
For a simple outdoor check without batteries, choose a manual gauge.
Does an AcuRite digital rain gauge need a display?
The AcuRite Wireless Digital Rain Gauge with Self-Emptying includes an indoor LCD display for receiving outdoor rain totals. The AcuRite Iris sensor requires a compatible AcuRite 5-in-1 weather station display, sold separately.
Check which system you already own before choosing a sensor.
How do manual and wireless rain gauges differ?
A manual rain gauge collects water for you to inspect outdoors. A wireless gauge sends measurements to an indoor display, which can save you a trip after rain.
A self-emptying collector also reduces the need to empty the outdoor gauge by hand.
How should I place a rain gauge?
Place a gauge in an open area away from rooflines, trees and other structures, and keep it level where its design requires a level mount. Nearby obstacles can affect how much rain reaches the collector.
Follow the gauge's mounting instructions and keep it accessible for reading and cleaning.
How do I read a manual rain gauge?
Read the water level against the scale at eye level, using the gauge's marked units and smallest divisions. A floating marker can make the level easier to see on some designs.
For more detail, see our guide on how to read a rain gauge.
