20 Genius DIY Ideas For Repurposing Five-Gallon Buckets (2024)

I love a good repurposing project and I am always looking for new ways to use old things.

Recently, I noticed that I had several five-gallon buckets sitting in my garage, so I started looking for ways to use them.

I found 20 amazing and inspiring ideas for repurposing those five gallon buckets into wonderful new things.

Whether you have one or ten or more buckets, you can turn them into the most spectacular things for your home and garden.

From a new baby swing for your toddler to an irrigation system for your garden, whatever it is that you need, you can likely make it from a five gallon bucket.

1. Repurposed Bucket Swing

How adorable is this toddler swing that you can make from a five gallon bucket? If you have a little one, this is perfect for giving them some outside play time. You can use this on your regular swing set if you don’t have a toddler swing on it or just hang it from a tree limb.

You just need a five gallon bucket and some heavy rope to make it.

Tutorial: instructables

2. Easy DIY Birdhouse

Turn that empty five gallon bucket into this adorable little birdhouse! This looks like a lighthouse, which I love and it is really easy to make.

Your birds are going to love all of the space that they have in their new birdhouse and you will love how decorative this is when it’s finished. You can of course, do any design or theme that you want. You could even paint it to look like a lighthouse to add a nice coastal look to your outdoors.

Tutorial: blueroofcabin

3. Repurposed Bucket Chicken Feeder

If you are planning to raise chickens in your backyard, you are definitely going to want to take a look at this DIY chicken feeder and waterer that you can make from an empty five gallon bucket.

You will want to add this one to your DIY chicken coop to keep your chickens fed and watered, without having to spend a small fortune at the livestock supply store for a store bought chicken feeder.

Tutorial: blessthismessplease

4. DIY Bucket Seats

If you have a couple of five gallon buckets, you can turn them into additional seating with just some fabric and a mattress pad for cushion. These are really easy and won’t take you long at all to make.

You can use these for outdoor or indoor seating and they are perfect for little ones. Plus, you can use the inside of the bucket for storage, so they are really great for kids’ rooms for keeping art supplies or smaller toys put neatly away.

Tutorial: pinterest

5. DIY Upcycled Bucket Rocket Stove

A rocket stove is great for cooking outdoors and you burn twigs in these so you don’t have to worry about having a lot of firewood around.

You can cook outdoors at home or take this with you when you go camping. It’s super easy to make from an empty five gallon metal bucket and it is a really efficient way to cook your meals outdoors.

Tutorial: rootsimple

6. DIY Aquaponic System

You can turn that five gallon bucket into an easy to make DIY aquaponic system. These systems combine aquaculture or raising aquatic animals like fish or snails with hydroponics or raising plants in water.

This is a very useful system, particularly if you are looking to live off the grid and this is a super simple system to set up. Plus, it uses mostly upcycled materials so it is really good for the environment all the way around.

Tutorial: instructables

7. Upcycled Five Gallon Bucket Drip Irrigation System

Making and installing a DIY irrigation system is not as difficult as it sounds and it can be really helpful for growing a nice little garden this summer. You can make this drip irrigation system by upcycling those five gallon buckets. This is such an easy system to build and it is really beneficial when it comes to keeping your plants perfectly watered.

Tutorial:

8. DIY Bucket Compost Tea Brewer

If you want to create a DIY compost bin, a five gallon bucket can be really useful. This compost tea brewer is the easiest thing to make and it helps you to keep compost on hand that will help your plants to grow healthier.

If you have never made your own compost, this is a good place to start. This is a great start to those DIY compost bins.

Tutorial: finegardening

9. DIY Five Gallon Bucket Garden Protector

You want to help your garden plants to thrive in all types of situations, right? Well, a five gallon bucket can be repurposed into a great little protector for those plants.

Using your five gallon buckets, you create protection for your garden plants from rabbits, deer and other animals that could otherwise eat or destroy them. The device fits right over the top of your plants and allows them to get plenty of rain and sunlight.

Tutorial:

10. Upcycled Bucket Rice Planter

Have you ever thought of growing your own rice? Did you know that you can use a five gallon bucket to create the perfect rice growing platform? This is the simplest thing ever and it gives you fresh rice! Imagine having rice at your disposal and the process of growing rice is a really easy one. If you have a couple of empty buckets, you can create your own little rice farm to share with friends and family.

Tutorial: onegreenplanet

11. DIY Rainwater Harvester

Harvesting your own rainwater is an excellent way to conserve water. You can use rainwater for your own drinking or you could use it to water your gardens by creating a DIY irrigation system.

However you choose to use the rainwater, you first have to harvest it and that empty five gallon bucket is a great way to do this. You just have to make sure that the bucket is clean before you begin.

Tutorial: urbansurvivalsite

12. Easy DIY Patio Umbrella Stand

That empty five gallon bucket and a bit of concrete are about all you need to create your own DIY patio umbrella stand. If you don’t have a patio table that is designed to hold an umbrella, this is a great way to add one.

The entire project costs less than $5 if you have the empty bucket to use and you can even decorate your bucket to make it match your patio furniture.

Tutorial: hubpages

13. Upcycled Bucket Side Tables

A couple of five gallon buckets will give you what you need to make these amazing side tables. These are great for indoors or out on the patio.

Of course, you need a few additional materials, but overall this is one of the cheapest and easiest ways to get new furniture from an empty five gallon bucket. And the tables are really adorable when they’re finished.

Tutorial: ohohblog

14. DIY Five Gallon Bucket Patio Table

Turn that empty five gallon bucket into a beautiful new patio table with just a few boards and some decorative rocks or glass beads. I love this idea! It is so easy and makes such a gorgeous table when you’re finished.

Forget paying a couple hundred dollars for a new patio table. You can make this one for under $20 depending on what supplies you have on hand. This is great project to add to your DIY patio makeovers.

Tutorial: hometalk

15. Upcycled Bucket Art Studio Storage

If you’re like me, you always have a mess of things laying around in the craft room. I love the idea of turning an empty five gallon bucket into this great art studio storage.

This is perfect if you have little ones who just can’t seem to keep their craft supplies organized. There is so much room in here for everything and it won’t take long at all to finish this one.

Tutorial: 1orangegiraffe

16. DIY Portable Camping Toilet

If you love the outdoors and spend a lot of time in them, you definitely want to take a look at this DIY portable camping toilet that you can make from an empty five gallon bucket.

You use a bucket and some pool noodles to make this – the noodles give you a nice soft seat! This one is really easy and it is perfect if you are planning a camping trip with the little ones.

Tutorial: budget101

17. DIY Solar Powered Air Cooler

Forget about paying high electric bills in the summer or suffocating from the heat when you are outdoors.

You can make your own DIY solar powered air cooler from an empty five gallon bucket and really beat the heat.

This is super easy to make and it will cool any room in your home in a matter of minutes. Plus, it is perfect for camping – particularly during the hottest days of the summer.

Tutorial: survivallife

18. Upcycled Five Gallon Bucket Camping Shower

I love to go camping but I hate that there is not a shower in my favorite camping place. I mean, if there were showers then it wouldn’t really be roughing it, right?

If you love camping but hate missing out on a nice shower, this DIY camping shower is for you. It’s made from a five gallon bucket and a few other supplies and it is really easy to put together. This is also great to keep near the pool to wash off dirt and sand before you swim.

Tutorial:

19. DIY Plastic Bag Dispenser

If you are like me, you never throw out those plastic grocery bags. You can use those bags for so many things so it just makes sense to keep them. Of course, finding a place for them is another issue altogether.

Make your own plastic bag dispenser from an empty five gallon bucket and keep those bags perfectly organized. This is an easy project and it will help you to find a permanent home for those bags – one that doesn’t take up an entire kitchen drawer.

Tutorial:

20. DIY Upside Down Tomato Planter

If you love growing your own tomatoes but you just don’t have room in the yard for a traditional garden, why not turn those five-gallon buckets into tomato planters? What is so great about this project is your tomato planters hang from your deck or porch and they are upside down.

You simply have to pluck your tomatoes when they are ready.

This is also a great way to add some color and décor to an otherwise bland porch. Tomatoes are container friendly vegetables, and they will grow beautifully in this upside down bucket.

Tutorial: gardeningknowhow

Conclusion

There is a beautiful birdhouse, some wondering seating for your patio and even some great side tables to go along with your new seating.

You can do so many things by repurposing those five gallon buckets! If you love repurposing, you are going to love all of these projects.

They are so inspired and so very easy to do. And, if you really love repurposing, you are definitely going to want to see these 20 repurposing ideas for headboards and footboards.

Repurposing makes so much sense. Instead of throwing things out that you no longer use, you can just turn them into something that you do use.

These five gallon bucket repurposing ideas definitely give you something that you can use. If you love gardening, this project list is for you.

There are tons of ways that you can turn those old buckets into things that you can use for your garden, including a great protective device that keeps rabbits and other critters from eating your plants.

And, be sure to check out these 20 repurposing ideas for carpet. If you are planning to replace your flooring, you can turn that old carpet into some amazing things.