15 of the best solar water features for 2023

However, these features are often expensive and their fountains and pumps consume a lot of electricity. Solar water features aim to overcome these problems, offering water features that won't cost - or harm - the earth.

Solar power is one of the greenest sources of energy in the world, transforming the light from the sun into electricity. This means it's is much cheaper than other powered water features - not only are solar powered water features free-standing and don’t have to be installed, but solar power is free. A solar water feature won’t add to your electricity bills; simply put it in a sunny part of the garden and enjoy it for years, for free.

Moving water features are helpful for you and your neighbours, too. As well as their relaxing sound, the constant water movement means that mosquitoes won't breed in it, reducing the chance of you getting bitten on warm summer nights.

Below, we’ve curated a list of tasteful, understated solar water features to bring sound and movement to your garden.

Looking for other solar garden features? Have a look at our tests of the best solar lights.

For more watering reviews, check out our tests of the the best hoses, the best pressure washers, and our guide to the best water butts.

Browse our pick of solar water features below:

15 of the best solar water features

This feature is great for neatly organising herbs without your garden becoming too utilitarian. With four tiers, you can grow a wide variety of common kitchen herbs and introduce natural flavours to your food, all with the relaxing sound of trickling water.

Price: £149.99

Buy Solaray Perth 4-Tier Herb Planter Cascading Water Feature at Amazon

For stately gardens, try this elegant water feature. Water trickles from the upper spout into a wide basin that will makes an excellent bird bath as well as a serene water feature.

Price: £169.99

Buy the Chatsworth Water Feature from Crocus

A pagoda-inspired feature, this polyresin garden fountain is great for Japanese or East Asian style spaces. It has a calming bubble and its wide basin allows birds to also use it as a bath.

Price: £84.99

Buy the Smart Solar Pagoda Garden Fountain from Robert Dyas

Give birds a place to drink and wash with this bird bath solar water feature. Not only can you enjoy the gentle trickle and soft lighting of this water feature, but birds can too. What’s more, the constant motion of the water means it doesn’t need replacing, keeping birds clean and hygienic.

Price: £199.33

Buy Budding Dahlia Solar Bird Bath at Amazon

This ceramic water feature with its cascading fountain is an Amazon bestseller. Bringing both colour and soothing sound, we think it’s best suited to smaller gardens or balconies.

Price: £79.99

Buy the 4 Tier Blue Solar Powered Garden Water Feature from Amazon

This clever floating solar pump can turn any pool of standing water into a fountain. Simply place it in sunlit water and it will spray a gentle jet upwards. It has four different modes, so you can choose the display. A quick, easy solar powered water feature for those on a budget.

Price: £25.47

Buy OKMEE GD087B Solar Water Fountain 4-in-1 Nozzle on Amazon

This fountain has a subtle, rustic effect, cascading gently without an obvious three-tiered flow of water. This would work well nestled within a rock garden or woodland borders.

Price: £129.06

Buy the Smart Solar Wynchwood Falls Garden fountain from Amazon

This striking feature offers a bold splash of colour but still evokes tranquillity with its gentle bubble and flow of water. A simple way of introducing colour to paved or decked social areas.

Price: £89.99

Buy the Solar Ceramic Terracotta Water Fountain Feature from Amazon

This understated water feature is perfect for small gardens and patios and would look great combined with a container display or in a herb garden. What’s more, this feature has four LEDs and can operate for up to 8 hours at night, for gentle evening lighting.

Price: £149.99

Buy Blumfeldt Ocean Planet Solar Fountain at Amazon

More traditional gardeners may appreciate this decorative water feature. It's more ornamental than many of the features on our list, with statues of two children collecting water from a pump.

Price: £169.99

Buy the Tipping Pail Water Feature from Crocus

This rustic solar panel water feature is perfect for cottage or country gardens. Its faux-wood exterior make it perfect for hiding amongst trees and shrubs for a subtle, naturalistic effect. After dark, this solar water feature lights up, turning the homely brown vases into tiny pots of gold.

Price: £87.97

Buy Transcendence Solar-Powered Garden Water Feature at Amazon

Wildlife lovers will appreciate this understated solar water feature. Its wide bowl makes a good birdbath for smaller birds like robin, tits and finches, and because the water is always flowing, insects like mosquitoes can’t breed in it.

Price: £72.99

Buy the Dove Solar Ceramic Water Feature from Amazon

This fun frog water feature is a great way of bringing an extra burst of green to the front of a border. We think it would also look fantastic amongst wildlife features like bird boxes, bird tables, and hedgehog houses.

Price: £129.99

Buy the Frog Cascading Solar Water Feature from Amazon

For woodland or fantasy gardens, try this fairy feature. Great for quiet corners, or adding a touch of magic to the bottom of the garden.

Price: £173.34

Buy the Fairy Clam Shell Solar Water Feature from Amazon

We love the stone effect on this solar water feature, which is actually waterproof polyresin and won't be bleached by the sun. Three wide bowls offer a great perch for small birds like robins and tits to stop and have a drink while water flows through each tier. It has a generous 3m cable too, so once you’ve found a sunny spot for the panel you can place this water feature wherever you like.

Price: £149.99

Buy the Barnwell Ivory 3-Tier Cascading Solar Water Feature from Amazon

This Product Guide was last updated in July 2022. We apologise if anything has changed in price or availability.