Water · Gear Review
WaterBrick is our pick. The 3.5-gallon format stacks to four feet, fits under beds and in closets, and moves when you move. Know the two real-world quirks before you order.
The verdict
WaterBrick is the right choice for most households, particularly apartments, condos, and any space where a 55-gallon barrel is not practical. Two real-world issues are worth understanding before ordering: the handle requires a minor fix, and complete emptying is messy without a spigot.
Best overall
Made in the USA from food-grade BPA-free HDPE. Dimensions 9″W × 18″L × 6″H. Weighs 29 lbs full. Stacks to 4 feet high (8 units). Cross-stackable 2 per row for stable columns. Wide-mouth threaded opening accepts the WaterBrick spigot attachment (sold separately). Available in 6-pack and 10-pack configurations.
$110–$130 / 6-pack · $165–$190 / 10-pack
Also consider
Same brick format, 3-gallon capacity per unit vs. WaterBrick’s 3.5. BPA-free food-grade HDPE. Compatible with the Sagan Life AquaBrick spigot. Slightly lower capacity per unit; AquaBrick’s spigot ecosystem is separate from WaterBrick’s. For most households the WaterBrick is the better choice due to larger capacity per brick and a more established supply chain.
$90–$110 / 6-pack
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Why bricks instead of a barrel
An apartment may have no garage, no basement, and no utility room. WaterBricks stack in closets, under beds (the 6-inch height clears most bed frames), in the space under a kitchen island, or along an interior wall. Six bricks at 21 gallons take up roughly the floor space of a carry-on suitcase stacked to 18 inches. A 55-gallon barrel requires dedicated floor space and a stable surface capable of holding 480 lbs.
A renter who moves every year or two cannot leave a 480-lb filled barrel. WaterBricks are designed to be carried, transported, and redistributed. Each full brick weighs 29 lbs — manageable for most adults. They load into a vehicle, fit in a storage unit between apartments, and transfer to a new location without special equipment.
480 lbs in one spot is a structural concern on upper-floor apartments. 21 gallons across 6 bricks spread around different areas of an apartment distributes the weight across multiple joists. Individual bricks can also be staged in different locations — one in each room, one in a vehicle — rather than concentrated in a single storage spot.
What we looked at
The WaterBrick spec sheet looks clean. The owner reviews surface two consistent real-world issues worth knowing before purchase.
Known issue 1
The metal handle inserts into plastic holes that are not reinforced at the mount points. Over repeated use — particularly carrying full bricks — the handle loop can work loose. The fix is simple and should be done before first use: use pliers to squeeze the metal loop tighter so it does not play in the hole. Takes 30 seconds per brick. Do this when you unbox them, not when you need them.
This is a known manufacturing limitation, not a defect. The fix holds well. Most reviewers who addressed it before use reported no recurring issues.
Known issue 2
The threaded opening is recessed about an inch below the top surface of the brick. When tilting a full brick to pour, water pools in the recess and spills sideways. Complete draining without a spigot requires tipping at awkward angles and tends to make a mess. The WaterBrick spigot attachment screws into the threaded opening and allows gravity-fed dispensing from an upright brick. It is sold separately but should be considered a required accessory.
One spigot per household is sufficient — you swap it between bricks as you work through them. Budget $10–$15.
The picks
Best overall — larger capacity, made in USA
The WaterBrick is manufactured in the USA from food-grade BPA-free HDPE. Each brick measures 9 inches wide, 18 inches long, and 6 inches high — designed to cross-stack like large bricks, two per row, up to 4 feet high in a standard 8-unit column. Wider configurations can be stacked higher. The wide-diameter threaded opening accepts the WaterBrick spigot for gravity dispensing and is wide enough for a hand to reach inside for cleaning.
At 3.5 gallons per brick and 29 lbs when full, each brick provides approximately one day’s water supply for 3 people at 1 gallon per person per day. A 6-pack provides 21 gallons; a 10-pack provides 35 gallons. A household of four at two weeks of minimum water needs requires 16 bricks (56 gallons).
Before first use: tighten the handle loops with pliers. Add the spigot to your order. Fill with treated tap water or use Water Preserver Concentrate for extended storage. Stack in closets, under beds, or along interior walls away from direct sunlight.
At a glance
Also consider — 3-gallon alternative
The AquaBrick is the primary alternative to the WaterBrick. It uses the same brick format — stackable, food-grade BPA-free HDPE, portable — but holds 3 gallons per unit rather than 3.5. AquaBrick also markets the container as dual-use for food storage (up to 20 lbs of dry food) in addition to water.
The practical difference for most households is small: 3 gallons vs 3.5 per brick, with the AquaBrick typically priced slightly lower. The spigot ecosystems are separate — you need the Sagan Life AquaBrick spigot for AquaBricks rather than the WaterBrick spigot. Do not assume they are cross-compatible.
For households primarily focused on water storage, WaterBrick’s higher capacity per brick and more established supply chain make it the stronger choice. If dual water-and-food-storage flexibility matters, AquaBrick is worth considering.
At a glance
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How many do I need?
72-hour minimum
The FEMA/Red Cross baseline is 1 gallon per person per day. For 3 days that is 3 gallons per person.
Two-week target
Two weeks of minimum water covers the vast majority of emergencies. At 3.5 gallons per brick, plan 4 bricks per person.
Stack footprint
16 bricks in a 2-wide column: 18″ long × 18″ wide × 48″ tall. Fits in a closet corner or along a bedroom wall. Weighs 464 lbs full — distribute across 2–3 locations if needed.
Or: 8 bricks under a queen bed (6″ clearance) + 8 bricks in a closet.
Skip the 1.6-gallon mini
WaterBrick also makes a 1.6-gallon version. The smaller capacity (1.6 gal per brick) means you need twice as many bricks to store the same water, at higher cost per gallon. It is well suited for a vehicle emergency kit or grab-and-go bag where weight and form factor matter more than storage efficiency. For home storage, the standard 3.5-gallon brick is the better choice in almost every situation.
What not to buy
Several sellers on Amazon offer stackable rectangular 5-gallon jugs at lower cost per gallon than WaterBrick. The trade-off: they typically do not stack as precisely, the handles are less durable, and no spigot attachment is available. Pouring 5 gallons (41 lbs) without a spigot is difficult and leads to spills. If you are comparing only on price per gallon, you are missing the usability gap.
Collapsible containers (Platypus, MSR, various Amazon brands) are valuable for field use and go-bags where pack size matters. They are not appropriate for primary household water storage. The flexible walls degrade with UV exposure and physical stress over years, seals are less reliable under long-term storage conditions, and they cannot be stacked like rigid bricks. Reserve collapsible containers for portable use.
How this fits
For households with space for a barrel — how bricks and barrels work together in a tiered storage system.
See the barrel review →
How to extend the shelf life of water stored in bricks from 6 months to 5 years with a single treatment at fill time.
Read the guide →
The apartment complement to bricks — a WaterBOB-style bladder adds 65–100 gallons of surge capacity in minutes when a storm is approaching.
See the bladder review →