Rainwater Harvesting Calculator
Estimate how much rainwater your roof can collect from one storm, a month or a whole year. Pick your roof surface and losses, then see if your rain barrel or tank will fill and how many days the water lasts.
Measure the outside of the walls plus eaves, seen from above
Horizontal (plan) area, not the sloped roof area
Runoff coefficient: share of rain that runs off
First-flush diverter, gutter overflow, filters
How to use the Rainwater Harvesting Calculator
- Pick units and enter the roof footprint (length × width seen from above) or a known area.
- Enter the rainfall and whether it is one storm, a month or a year.
- Choose the roof surface and system losses.
- Optionally add a tank size and daily use to check fills and days of supply.
- Read the water collected and compare other rainfall amounts in the table.
Rainwater harvesting formula
- US units: gallons = catchment area (sq ft) × rainfall (in) × 0.6234 × runoff coefficient × (1 − losses)
- Metric: liters = catchment area (m²) × rainfall (mm) × runoff coefficient × (1 − losses)
The constant 0.6234 comes from 1 sq ft × 1 in = 144 in³, and one US gallon is 231 in³ (144 ÷ 231 = 0.6234).
Runoff coefficients for roof surfaces
| Roof surface | Typical runoff coefficient |
|---|---|
| Metal (standing seam, corrugated) | 0.90–0.95 |
| Asphalt shingles | 0.85–0.90 |
| Concrete or clay tiles | 0.80–0.90 |
| Flat roof with gravel | 0.60–0.70 |
| Green (planted) roof | 0.30–0.50 |
Gallons collected per inch of rain
| Roof footprint | Raw rainfall | At 95% runoff, 10% losses |
|---|---|---|
| 500 sq ft | 312 gal | 266 gal |
| 1,000 sq ft | 623 gal | 533 gal |
| 1,500 sq ft | 935 gal | 799 gal |
| 2,000 sq ft | 1,247 gal | 1,066 gal |
| 3,000 sq ft | 1,870 gal | 1,599 gal |
Frequently asked questions
How much rainwater can I collect from my roof?
Multiply the roof's footprint in square feet by the rainfall in inches and by 0.623, then by the share that actually reaches the tank. A 1,500 sq ft metal roof in a 1 inch storm gives 1,500 × 1 × 0.623 = 935 gallons of rain, about 799 gallons after 95% runoff and 10% losses.
How many gallons is one inch of rain per square foot?
One inch of rain on one square foot is 144 cubic inches, which is 0.6234 US gallons. On 1,000 sq ft that is 623 gallons, which is why even small roofs fill rain barrels quickly.
How do I calculate rainwater in liters?
In metric it is simple: 1 mm of rain on 1 m² is exactly 1 liter. So liters = roof area (m²) × rainfall (mm) × runoff coefficient. A 100 m² roof with 800 mm a year collects up to 80,000 liters before losses.
Should I use the sloped roof area?
No. Rain falls vertically, so use the horizontal footprint of the roof (length × width as seen from above, including overhangs). A steep roof does not catch more rain than a flat roof with the same footprint.
What is a runoff coefficient?
It is the share of rain that runs off a surface instead of soaking in, splashing or evaporating. Smooth metal roofs shed about 95%, asphalt shingles about 90%, tile 80–90%, gravel roofs around 70% and green roofs much less.
What size rainwater tank do I need?
Compare one typical heavy storm's collection with your space and budget, then check your monthly use. A tank that holds one or two large storms is a common starting point; the table shows how much each rainfall amount produces from your roof.
Is it legal to collect rainwater?
Rain barrels are allowed in most places, but some states and countries limit volumes or require permits, and drinking rainwater usually needs treatment. Check local rules before installing a large system.