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DIY Rain Gauge

DIY Rain Gauge

Min number of participants 1
Age 5+ yrs.
Safety support by adult Not required
Min duration 20 min.
Cost None (Free)
Environment Indoor / Outdoor

Cut a plastic bottle, mark a measurement scale with a ruler, and set it in the garden — then read it each morning after rain and log the results in a weather journal. A tiny science project with big results.

The Essentials

Steps

  • Cut the top third off a clean, straight-sided plastic bottle.
  • Turn the cut-off top upside down and place it inside the bottle like a funnel.
  • Tape a ruler or a printed measurement strip vertically along the outside so the zero line sits at the bottle's base.
  • Set the bottle in an open spot away from trees, walls, or roof overhangs that could block or redirect rain.
  • Anchor the base with a few stones or stakes so wind cannot tip it over.
  • Each morning, read the water level against the scale and record it in a weather journal.
  • Empty the bottle after each reading so the next day starts from zero.

Tips

  • Use a bottle with straight sides, not a tapered one, so the scale stays accurate.
  • Mark the scale in millimeters for finer readings on light rain days.
  • Compare your homemade readings with the local weather report to check accuracy.
  • Keep a simple log with date, rainfall amount, and weather notes to spot patterns over weeks.
  • Bring the gauge indoors before freezing temperatures so the plastic and any leftover water don't crack.
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