Based on our testing, the best water storage container is the Scepter Water Container. It simply works and performed well during all of our testing. While it may be a bit more expensive than other options, storing our water reliably is worth the extra cost.
Water is life. Without it, humans can only survive for a few days. As a nutrient, water is the most important thing on earth.
But, let’s be honest, water is pretty boring. Google searches for “water storage” are around 46 inquiries a day, while searches for “food storage” are almost double that at 81. Food (and practically anything else emergency preparedness related) is much more exciting than water.
When people start preparing, they often want to jump straight to the cool stuff: emergency food, bug-out bags, firearms, and overpriced tools advertised on TikTok.
Despite this, ensuring access to clean water is essential for survival; selecting the right storage container is the first step in safeguarding this lifeline. Most of us can get clean water from the faucet, so finding clean water to store isn’t the challenging part. It’s finding something to store it in.
Luckily, most water storage containers aren’t particularly great. Many are overpriced, and several we tested easily didn’t make the cut. In fact, we recommend only three.
Keep reading to find out what they are. Consider checking out our Prepping Checklist for everything else you need to know to be prepared.
Table of Contents
- Best Water Storage Containers
- Scepter Water Container – Best Overall
- Aqua-Tainer 7 Gallon Rigid Water Container – Best Budget Container
- Sagan Life AquaBrick 3 Gallon Water Container – Best Storage Solution
- How We Test Water Storage Containers
- Water Storage Containers We Don't Recommend
- How to Choose the Best Water Storage Container for You
- How Often Should You Replace a Water Storage Container?
- Bottom Line
Best Water Storage Containers
Sagan Life AquaBrick 3 Gal Water Container
Stackable
Easy to Store
Lightweight
MSRP: $74.95 for 2
Save 10% off at Sagan Life with code “Water10”
Scepter Water Container – Best Overall
- Storage Capacity: 5 gallons
- Weight when Full: 46 pounds
- Stackable: Yes
- MSRP: $48.99
The Scepter 5 Gallon Water Container is by far our favorite. It’s perfect for emergency preparedness or camping. Either way, it makes storing and using water straightforward and easy. It’s much more durable than other options, setting it apart as an easy top pick.
Sometimes, we have trouble picking a top product in these reviews, but this was not one of those times.
I’ve been testing the Scepter 5 Gallon Water Container for over a year now, and I’m impressed with its quality. The first thing I noticed is how tough this thing is. I’ve dropped it, bumped it against rocks, and even used it as a makeshift seat, and it hasn’t shown any signs of wear and tear. It’s clear that Scepter built this container with durability in mind.
The walls even feel thicker than the other containers I have. Despite this, it is lighter than many others. I can fill it with water and still move it around without needing to grab a friend. I have taken it on camping trips without it becoming a burden. The integrated handle is actually comfortable, which isn’t something I can say for most containers.
Of course, the most important thing about a water container is its ability to keep water safe and clean. I’ve used this container to store water for over a year at a time, and I’ve noticed only minimal taste changes. Our army veteran, who also taste-tested the water that was stored for 18 months in this container, said it tasted exactly like what he drank while in the military.
I also love that the Scepter water container has a large lid that I can remove and clean the inside of the container. It also has an integrated spout built into the lid and it is surprisingly easy to pour from. Other water containers have separate spouts, which is good but not ideal.
Some other containers might be a bit cheaper, but they often sacrifice the durability of the Scepter. The Scepter is definitely worth the investment if you’re looking for a reliable water storage solution.
For our full test and review, see our Scepter Water Container Review.
Recommended for:
The Scepter 5 Gallon Water Container is easily the best on the market. If you’re looking for a water container that just works, I highly recommend trying this one.
PROS
Incredibly tough
Easy to Carry
Large Lid
Built in Spout
CONS
Some taste change over time
Aqua-Tainer 7 Gallon Rigid Water Container – Best Budget Container
- Storage Capacity: 7 gallons
- Weight when Full: 59 pounds
- Stackable: No
- MSRP: $19.99
The Aqua-Tainer 7 Gallon Rigid Water Container isn’t necessarily my favorite. However, it is half the price of other water storage containers and has a large capacity. If you just need to store lots of water cheaply, it’s a great choice.
I’ve been using the Aqua-Tainer for a few months now, and it’s a great option for the price. It isn’t nearly as durable as other options and doesn’t stack. But the 7 gallon capacity is hard to beat for the price. Plus, it is safe for long-term storage, which I can’t say about regular water and milk jugs!
While it’s not as rugged as some of the more expensive options, the Aqua-Tainer has held up well to normal use. I’ve filled it, emptied it, and moved it around quite a bit, and it hasn’t shown any signs of damage.
It isn’t a container you can move around easily while it is full, though. And I wouldn’t drop it from 6 feet, like I did with the Scepter water container above. I also wouldn’t want to haul it around camping.
It does come with a spout that is integrated into the cap. For storage it screws into the back of the cap, and when I need to dispense water I move it around to the outside of the cap. I like this since I don’t have to worry about storing a separate spout.
I did find some cheaper options than the Aqua-tainer, but they are very thin and I felt like they would not hold up. Several I tried did crack even with basic use.
Recommended for:
The Aqua-Tainer 7 Gallon Rigid Water Container offers great value without sacrificing functionality. If you’re on a tight budget but still need a reliable water storage solution, I recommend giving this container a try. It is our top budget pick in our Prepping on a Budget guide.
PROS
Affordable price point
Spout Included in Cap
BPA-free for long-term storage
CONS
Not particularly durable
Challenging to move when full
Sagan Life AquaBrick 3 Gallon Water Container – Best Storage Solution
Save 10% off at Sagan Life with code “Water10”
- Storage Capacity: 3 gallons
- Weight when Full: 20 pounds
- Stackable: Yes
- MSRP: $74.95 for 2
I was initially skeptical about the Sagan Life AquaBricks, but after trying them out, I’m a complete convert. The interlocking design is genius! Aquabricks are a true game-changer for those with limited space. They’re ideal for apartments, RVs, campers, or anyone who wants to maximize their storage space without sacrificing water access.
I managed to fit these bricks into a small corner of my closet without any issues. They’re very easy to stack, making them a great option when you don’t have much floor space. These bricks allow you to build upwards in a way you can’t with other storage containers.
The 3-gallon capacity isn’t much, but that’s the point! These bricks are easy to move around because they don’t weigh a ton when full. I can easily grab a brick and transport it to my kitchen for easy use. I’d much rather have many smaller containers than one huge container.
The BPA-free plastic gives me peace of mind, knowing that my water is safe to consume. Our taste-testing didn’t find a huge difference between AquaBricks and the Scepter water container.
Compared to traditional water containers, the AquaBricks offer much more flexibility. They can be arranged in any configuration to fit the space available, and they’re easy to move around as needed. I really like the dual carry handles.
They’re not the cheapest way to store lots of water though, as they’re quite a bit more expensive (and smaller) than other options out there.
These can be purchased in sets, and they come with a separate spout. The only thing I don’t like about the spout is it replaces the existing cap on the container. This means I have to store the spout separately since it doesn’t integrate into the container like the others.
I’ve been impressed with the durability of the AquaBricks. They’ve held up well to being filled, emptied, and stacked. The only downside is that you might need multiple sets to store a significant amount of water, and they aren’t cheap!
Recommended for:
Those in RVs or small apartments will appreciate the stackable nature of AquaBricks. If you’re dealing with limited space, these containers are exactly what you need.
PROS
Space-saving design
Versatile storage options
Dual Carry Handles
BPA-free for safe drinking
CONS
Smaller capacity
Separate Spout
How We Test Water Storage Containers
Okay, so you’re probably wondering how on earth we put these water containers through the ringer. I mean, it’s not exactly glamorous, but someone’s gotta do it. On top of really using the water containers, we also put them through several tests to help determine which ones we wanted to include in this guide.
Taste Test
It’s easy to think that water just tastes like water. However, when you store water in plastic for several months or years, the water tends to take on the taste of the container. We stored water for at least a week for each container and did a taste test.
For the containers that I actually use (like the Scepter water container), the water has been stored for longer (over a year, in many cases). I really don’t feel comfortable storing water for a long period in a container I know is leaky, so not all containers get this long-term treatment.
Leak Test
I live in an apartment. The last thing I want is for water to leak everywhere. So, I filled each container up to the brim and then treated it like the baggage handler at the airport. I laid it on its side, piled on some weight, and waited.
Some containers didn’t leak at all! Others leaked to the point that I didn’t feel safe keeping them full with water in my apartment. The risk was just too great.
Pour Test
Who would have thought that getting water out of the containers would be so challenging? For many containers, this is where I struggled. Many containers have separate spigots available for a reason. Without them, getting the water out results in a huge mess.
However, keeping up with a separate spigot is challenging if you’re anything like me. Therefore, I didn’t use them for the purpose of this test.
Some water containers were very easy to get water out of. Others required having and extra person and a towel on standby.
Drop Test
Finally, I dropped all the containers (that I had any hope would make it at all). Some containers were so flimsy or had already been damaged significantly during the other tests that I didn’t bother.
I dropped the containers on soft ground first and then onto concrete. As a result, most of them did take a beating. You can tell I dropped them. But a surprisingly small number busted.
Note: Some of the containers started leaking a few days after the drop, likely due to the drop, I’m assuming. I counted these as a fail, even though the fail was several days late.
Water Storage Containers We Don’t Recommend
Our goal was not to provide you with the longest list of available water storage containers known to man. If you want that, a quick search on Amazon can provide it! Instead, we included only the three water storage containers we really recommend above.
That means there are many water storage containers that we don’t recommend, such as:
Bathtub Water Savers
Storing water in your bathtub in an emergency might sound like a great idea. There are even tons of bathtub covers designed for this exact purpose. But let’s be real: there is no guarantee that you’ll have time to run your bathtub in an emergency.
In fact, the odds are higher that you won’t. It could already be contaminated, or simply just stop working because of a large scale power outage. When a tornado hits your neighborhood in the middle of the night, you aren’t going to be worried about filling up your bathtub.
Many water-based emergencies also have no warning. Just a few weeks ago, a water main broke, and I was stuck with dirty tap water for 24 hours. There was no warning and no time to fill up a bathtub.
DIY Options
You’ll find tons of preppers across TikTok and YouTube recommending milk cartons, plastic jugs, and even gas cans for water storage. However, the problem is that none of these are designed for long-term storage.
Plastics that aren’t made for long-term water storage will leach chemicals into your water. Plus, they’re much less durable and will weaken overtime. Most are clear, which is a no-no when storing water long term.
To test this I bought a gallon jug of drinking water. I put it on the shelf in my basement and after about 6 months it started leaking slowly. I noticed a little bit of water on the shelf but had forgotten about the water jug. After wondering where the water was coming from for a few days I found the jug was half empty and had not been opened.
Gas cans just aren’t safe, even when well-cleaned. They can release harmful fumes, even if they haven’t held gas for years.
Clear Containers
You can find tons of clear water containers at Wal-Mart and on Amazon. These are obviously made to store water for a short period. However, I wouldn’t recommend storing water in these for longer than a week or so. They’re very short-term solutions when you need to store a bunch of water once, like on a camping trip.
Clear containers allow sunlight to penetrate, which can encourage mold and bacteria to grow. Plus, most of the plastics used are of lower quality and will leach chemicals long-term.
This includes the INNO Stage brand, which is often advertised as a long-term water storage option.
How to Choose the Best Water Storage Container for You
Choosing the right water storage container is vital. After testing, our experts chose the Scepter water container as the best overall option. However, that doesn’t mean that it’s the best option for everyone. There may be a situation where you need a different container.
First and foremost, consider your needs. Are you looking for a compact option for camping, a bulk storage solution for your home, or something in between? How much water do you need to store for your whole family? You need to know where you’re going before you can figure out how to get there.
Material matters. Sadly, despite the advertising, not all water storage containers are safe for long-term storage. I’ve tested containers made from various materials, and I can confidently say that food-grade plastic is a popular choice for its durability and affordability. Technically, stainless steel is the best option, but it’s exorbitantly expensive.
Size is key. Bigger is not better! Even if you plan to leave the container sitting and never move it, that doesn’t mean it should be so large that you can’t move it. Consider how much you can reasonably lift. It’s much better to have several small containers that can be transported than one huge container you cannot even empty to clean.
Ease of use is important. Don’t forget that you’ll be using the water eventually, so it’s important that you can empty the water storage container without it spilling everywhere. Some water storage containers are surprisingly hard to use.
How Often Should You Replace a Water Storage Container?
If you purchase a quality container, it can easily last you ten years or more. Cheaper containers may save you money upfront, but you’ll need to replace them after six months to a year, as they’ll begin leaching chemicals into the water.
That said, you should aim to switch out the water inside the container every six months to a year. The chlorine used to purify water doesn’t completely purify the water and will decay in around six months. At that point, all the bacteria inside the water will begin multiplying again.
After a year or less, this bacteria can reach harmful levels. The inside of the container should be cleaned as well.
Just like all emergency supplies, you can’t just sit your water supply and leave it. You have to switch it out regularly.
Bottom Line
We recommend the Scepter 5-gallon water container thanks to its durability and size. It’s big enough to store lots of water without being so heavy that it’s unmovable.
If you’re on a strict budget, though, you may want to consider the Aqua-Tainer 7-gallon water container. It’s much cheaper than other options, but don’t plan on moving it much after filling it. You may also need to change it out more often, as it isn’t as durable as other containers.
For those with limited space, the Sagan Life AquaBricks are a game-changer. Their interlocking design and stackability make them perfect for apartments or RVs. Their innovative design seriously surprised me.
Choosing the right container is just the beginning. Visit our Emergency Water Hub to learn how to safely store, treat, and rotate your emergency water supply.
Now, be sure to read our other preparedness guides like How to Start Prepping and our Prepping Tips guide. They contain everything you need to know to be ready for the next inevitable emergency.
