Rain chimes are a simple way to bring the relaxing sound of rain indoors. Made up of hollow, bamboo or metal tubes that have small balls or pebbles inside them, these chimes are hung outside and tapped by falling droplets to create a tranquil melody.
When shopping for a rain chime, look for one that has a sound you find soothing. Some are designed with multiple tubes joined together in various ways so that more than one drop can strike at once to create an even richer sound. Other options include bells and other instruments as well as shells or maracas rather than just the traditional tube shape. Additionally, you can purchase indoor versions of these musical garden decorations if you want the calming sounds without any mess from real rain.
If you're ready to receive your relaxation now, shop our selection of the best rain chimes below!
How We Choose
We looked at a variety of factors when choosing the best rain chimes, including tone quality, durability, customer satisfaction ratings and price. Tone quality is important because you don't want your chime sounding tinny or harsh—you want it to be pleasant to listen to as you're relaxing in the garden. Durability is also key since you don't want something that will break after a couple uses. customer satisfaction ratings and price matter too—we only considered brands that had good reviews and were reasonably priced. In total, we ended up with nine quality options for you to choose from!
Jemeni Teapot & Cups Rain Chime with Bell
The Jemeni Rain Chime is a beautiful and unique piece that will add charm to any outdoor space. The chime features a green patina finish that gives it an aged look, making it perfect for vintage lovers.
The metal material used in its construction makes it durable and sturdy, ensuring years of enjoyment. It measures approximately 40" long including the hook, which allows you to place it wherever you desire. It's also easy to hang as the chain includes an attached hook, on your porch, patio, gazebo or garden shed.
Adding charm to your yard or around your garden, this rain chain can be hanged from trees or other structures for added visual appeal. The sound of rain trickling down the chime adds a peaceful and calming element to any outdoor setting - making it a great addition to any home!
Marrgon Copper Rain Chain
The Marrgon Copper Rain Chain is a functional and eco-friendly water feature that can be used to divert rainwater away from your home. This pot-style chime features four charming cups that are designed to sit in the gutter, allowing water to flow down and divert away from your house.
The product comes with multiple cups optimally spaced for maximum water diversion, which makes this a great choice for large gardens or yards. The chains are made of 100% copper and feature a beautiful patina that improves with age and exposure. This sustainable material is naturally safe and clean harvesting of rainwater, making it an environmentally friendly option as well.
This product is easy to install, requiring only a few hours of labor time to hang the chimes on your downspout system. And because they're flexible links, you can easily remove links or adjust cup placement if you want to move them around during installation.
Contempo Rain Chain
The Rain Chains Direct Contempo Rain Chain is an elegant and functional replacement for a gutter downspout. Made from high-quality aluminum, this rain chain is both sturdy and stylish.
The cup/link shape allows water to flow smoothly, while the black powder coating gives it a sophisticated look that complements any home exterior décor. This product comes with its own hanging hook so you can easily install it on your gutter without the need for tools or experience.
It's also designed to last for years of heavy use, making it a great investment whether you're replacing just one downspout or upgrading your entire downspouting system.
Jemeni Hanging Rain Chime with Bell
The Jemeni Hanging Rain Chime with Bell, Watering Can and Buckets Accents is a great addition to any garden or patio. This water chime features three metal buckets, a watering can and an antique-style bell.
Each piece is handcrafted by artisans in Vietnam, making this a truly unique item. The metal buckets are sturdy enough to hold water without leaking, while the watering can adds a touch of charm to your backyard decor. The bell at the bottom of the chime also has a hole that allows you to add your own personal touch by adding water or other small items.
This hanging rain chime is perfect for adding some farmhouse charm to your outdoor space. Whether you're hanging it from a tree or pergola or placing it on guttering - this will make an impactful statement!
Tulip Rain Chains Downspout Garden Decoration
Rainwater harvesting is a great way to help the environment and save money. This product from CT Discount Store is easy to set up and works like a charm.
The buckets are made of plastic, which makes them lightweight and easy to move around. The water will flow through the holes in the top of each cup, creating a beautiful display that's perfect for any garden or overhang. The sound it makes while it rains adds to the aesthetic appeal of this piece, making it an attractive alternative for downspouts.
It's also possible to attach this rain chain directly into your home's gutters so you can have water flowing right away without waiting for it to fill up buckets first.
Rain Chimes FAQs
Chimes can be a great addition to your home, but with all the different kinds out there it can be tough to figure out which one is best for you.
There are so many factors to consider when choosing the perfect chime to hang on your patio or front porch. Do you want a simple and elegant design? Or maybe something more complex that will add some depth and interest to your yard?
It can be hard knowing where to start looking for answers, especially when there are so many different types of chimes available! Fortunately, we've done most of the heavy lifting for you by gathering our top questions about rain chimes and crafting them into this handy guide. We've included Frequently Asked Questions below, as well as links to our favorite products in each category.
Do Rain Chimes Make Noise?
Rain chimes don't actually make any noise. The sound is produced by the rain hitting either the windcatcher at the base of the chime or, more commonly, a series of hanging beads. The rain in a rain chime acts as a sort of hammer that strikes each bead and causes it to vibrate. As each bead vibrates, it creates its own unique note that blends with all the other sounds being made by other beads. This blend of sounds is what we hear as “rain chimes.”
Do Rain Chains Work In Heavy Rain?
Rain chains are designed to divert water from the roof down the side of your house, not into a storm drain. However, they're also designed to handle intermittent rains and sudden storms. If you live in an area that gets heavy rainfalls, such as Seattle or Portland, you may want to consider buying a chain that can handle up to three inches of rain per hour.
We recommend measuring the rainfall in your area with a rain gauge for several years before deciding on which rain chain size is right for you. It's worth noting that many chains can be connected together if needed, so if your first choice is sold out or isn't large enough, you may be able to connect two together instead of just one.
Do Rain Gutter Chains Work?
The short answer is yes, gutter chains do work to some extent. They certainly won't solve all of your rain problems, but they can help reduce the strain on your gutters by distributing the water's weight across multiple lines.
The metal links are screwed into place at regular intervals along your downspout to form a chain, and this also helps divert debris away from the opening. The more links you use, the better job it does diverting rainwater from around your home's foundation.
While these simple devices don't have all of the capabilities of a custom-built rainwater system or gutter protection program, they are far less expensive and easier to install.
How Do You Make A Rain Chime?
Rain chimes are fairly simple to make and involve little more than connecting a chain of metal or plastic tubes to a handle. You can purchase ready-made rain chime components at most craft stores, but it's also possible to customize your rain chime by using colorful tubing or adding additional lengths of chain.
The first step in making a rain chime is connecting the end caps on each tube. These caps usually have small holes in them, so you'll need to stretch one end of the tube over a bowl of hot water (or use an electric hot plate) and wrap pliers around the other end to keep it submerged until the plastic softens enough for you to push it through the hole. Once all your tubes have end caps securely attached, connect them with chains or wire so that they hang down from your handle once it's suspended outdoors in high winds.
What Is The Disadvantage Of Rain Chain?
Rain chains are designed for decorative use only, not for capturing and diverting rainwater to a cistern or other useful location. They're intended to look good in your yard, but they don't serve any practical purpose. Rain chains will get occasional bursts of water from the downspout at the top of your gutter, but they won't capture the steady stream you'd see coming from a rain barrel or other rain collecting device.
Rain chains also have some drawbacks when compared with classic gutters and downspouts. Rain chains hang below the bottom of your roof, which means that if it's windy outside, they could get knocked around by high winds and shifted out of position. If it gets rough enough, even as far away as a category 1 hurricane (wind speeds of 74-95 miles per hour), this could become an issue.
Also consider that while these do look nice, they aren't cheap by any stretch of the imagination. Depending on what style you choose and how many branches you need to fill up all those tiers, a rain chain could cost several hundred dollars – far more than most rain barrels!
Do Rain Chains Attract Mosquitoes?
Rain chains do not attract mosquitoes as they are high up and the water is moving very quickly. Mosquitoes lay their eggs in stagnant water, so rain chains are much safer than ponds or bird baths for that reason. They also keep the water moving, which prevents mosquito larvae from hatching.
Rain chains can collect debris and insects if you don't clean them regularly, though. If you want to prevent mosquitoes from congregating around your rain chain, add a cup of apple cider vinegar halfway down the chain to keep them away.
What Type Of Rain Chain Works Best?
Rain chains are usually made from metal, but it's possible to find plastic ones that look like they're made of metal. You'd be surprised at how well plastic rain chains work though, and for the price you really can't go wrong.
Metal rain chains are durable and weatherproof though, so if you're willing to pay a little more then we recommend going with a metal chain if you live in a region with harsh winters. Most metal chains also feature larger links than their plastic counterparts (which is one reason they cost more), meaning water flows through them faster – which is ideal because it means your downpours don't turn into floods!
Are Rain Chains More Expensive Than Gutters?
Rain chains are more expensive than traditional gutters and downpipes, but you will offset that cost with the reduced need for repairs or replacements. You'll also get extra value from a rain chain's decorative appeal and sound reduction benefits. Bear in mind that you'll need to purchase the chain first and then have it installed, so factor in those costs as well if you plan to purchase one on an impulse after spotting one in your local store.
A rain chain can be heavy, especially if it is made of metal or cast iron, so include this into your budget as well when factoring up installation costs. It depends on where you live exactly how often snow and ice build up around your downpipes; if this is a regular problem then you may find they're worth the investment overall.
Should Rain Chains Be Taken Down In Winter?
Rain chains are made from materials that can withstand cold temperatures, so they don't need to be taken down for winter. Unless you live in an extremely cold area — like northern Alaska — there's no reason to take them down unless snow is actually sitting on top of them.
If you're worried about the chain getting too heavy with snow and ice on it, you can always just let it sit and not worry about the extra weight. As long as the chain is properly attached to your roof or gutter, it should hold up just fine.
What Do You Put Under Rain Chains?
Rain chains sit directly over the downspout and catch the water as it pours off your roof. You don't want to put these in place unless you've got a good gutter system that can handle the extra water, so make sure your rain chain is compatible with your current setup before purchasing one.
If you're looking to install rain chains but are unsure where to start, we recommend consulting a professional contractor who's familiar with rain chain installation.
Conclusion
The best rain chimes are those that offer a unique sound to customers. They should also have a stylish design, be durable enough to withstand the elements and come at an affordable price. With these criteria in mind, you'll be able to find the perfect fit for your home or office!
