Home & DIY

Rainwater Harvesting Calculator

Water you can collect from your roof.

Enter your values

Results update instantly as you type — no submit needed.

Results
Gallons per rainfall event
953
Annual harvest
24,147 gallons
Litres per event
3,608
Barrels needed (55 gal)
18
Monthly average
2,012 gallons

Quick answer

One inch of rain on 1000 square feet of roof yields about 600 gallons, before collection losses.

Gallons = area × inches × 0.623 × efficiency

How to use the Rainwater Harvesting Calculator

  1. 1Measure your roof footprint, not the sloped area.
  2. 2Enter the rainfall depth in inches.
  3. 3Set a realistic collection efficiency (80–90%).

Frequently asked questions

Is roof pitch relevant?

No — the horizontal footprint determines catchment.

Is rainwater safe to drink?

Not without treatment; use it for irrigation unless properly filtered.