Different Ways to Use a 5 Gallon Bucket

Five gallon buckets are utilized across many industries, providing durability for versatile applications. From carrying food products like flavorings and sauces, to chemicals like cleaning products and hazardous materials, there are many practical uses for 5 gallon buckets. However, these sturdy containers are also excellent for creative uses around the home and beyond! 

Please note: Buckets used for food applications must be identified as food-grade by the manufacturer. Used buckets considered for food applications should not have been previously used for toxic products that could have leached into the container.

1. Practical 5 Gallon Bucket Uses
2. Creative 5 Gallon Bucket Projects
3. Benefits of Alternative Uses for 5 Gallon Buckets
4. 5 Gallon Bucket Safety Considerations & Precautions
5. Experience 5 Gallon Bucket Projects for Yourself!

Practical 5 Gallon Bucket Uses

Five gallon buckets are popular in industries such as food, construction, agriculture, manufacturing, landscaping, chemical, and more! Their spacious interior easily stores liquid and solid products. They are available in many colors, allowing for color-coded organization and limiting cross-contamination.

Bucket handles make lifting and transporting easier. Due to their tapered design, most 5 gallon buckets are nestable, meaning they fit together in a space-efficient way when empty. When full and lidded, buckets can be stacked within reason.

There are many practical 5 gallon bucket uses around the home and workplace which take advantage of the container’s features.

Food Uses

• Dry ingredient storage for grains, flour, & sugar

• Fermenting kimchi & pickles

• Homebrewing wine and beer

• Apple picking & fruit gathering

• Emergency food supply

Storage Uses

• Athletic equipment storage for baseballs, golf balls, etc.

• Hardware tool storage for hammers, shovels, hoses, etc.

• Art supplies like aprons, brushes, or clay

• Toy storage 

Yard Uses

• Plant seed storage

• Decorative planter

• Compost bin

• Mixing or storing soil, concrete, or fertilizer

• Collecting rainwater

• Gardening tool storage

Cleaning Uses

• Soap bucket for car washes, home cleaning, etc.

• Mop buckets

• Laundry basins for small hand-washed loads

• Trash or recycling bin

Animal Uses

• Pet food & animal feed storage

• Litter storage

• Chicken nesting beds

• Bird feeder

• Birdhouse

• Pet bathing basin

Other Uses

• Fishing storage for bait, etc.

• Ice storage

• Drums

• Flotation devices or buoys

• Emergency toilets

Creative 5 Gallon Bucket Projects

With the rise in popularity of DIY (Do It Yourself) projects, here are 5 uses of buckets that explore the creative potential of 5 gallon buckets.

This DIY water filter project uses stacked 5 gallon buckets to establish a top-to-bottom flow of water. Contaminated water at the top travels through filtration media as gravity pulls in down, then comes out clean via a spigot near the bottom drum’s base.

This project can be done with two or three 5 gallon buckets. The top bucket(s) will include your filtration media-- like gravel, sand, and charcoal-- while the bottom will collect clean water.

The buckets will need to have lids in order to stack, but water must be able to flow between the buckets. Create aligning holes in the lid of the bottom bucket and base of the top bucket. You can: 1) create a singular hole with a diameter of about two inches, then cover it with a thin layer of netting or fabric, or 2) create multiple holes, then cover with a layer of gravel. 

Five gallon buckets are durable enough to be transformed into fashionable stools and ottomons.

When creating 5 gallon bucket stools, you can either keep the bucket upright and lidded or flip it over. Using foam, fashion a cushion the size of the side you will sit on. You can cover both the bucket and cushion with fabric to your aesthetic taste.

To make your stool an ottoman, keep the cushioned lid of the bucket removable. The inside of the bucket can serve as storage.

These carnival game-inspired uses for 5 gallon buckets are engaging for kids and adults alike! Explore your own variations of ball-in-bucket games with unique themes, bucket placements, or point systems.

• Bucket Pong: Imagine a giant version of cup pong! Two teams face each other with a distance of about 10 feet between them. The buckets are arranged in triangle formations on both sides. Teams take turns throwing a ball into the buckets; first team to get a ball in each bucket wins!

• Bozo Buckets: Arrange your buckets in a straight line. Players stand at the beginning of the line and attempt to throw a ball into each bucket, with each bucket being further than the last. Further buckets have higher point values.

• Knock Down: Create a 5-gallon bucket pyramid or simple vertical stack. The goal of the game is to throw an object at the buckets and knock them all over.

There are many holiday-related uses for 5 gallon buckets, especially for Halloween! With their strong handles, 5 gallon buckets make for excellent trick-or-treating containers. Kids can have fun decorating the buckets beforehand.

Buckets can be used for spooky decorations since they are durable enough to withstand the outdoors. Orange buckets are easily transformed into jack-o-lanterns using a black marker or jigsaw. Other common decorations include lanterns, glow-in-the-dark toxic waste containers, and witch’s cauldrons. 

Halloween bucket uses include costumes! Bucket lids make for excellent shields. Buckets themselves can be transformed into toddler-sized costumes, such as robots, potted plants, popcorn buckets, or popular snacks.

Five gallon buckets can be used to create above-ground mobile gardens. Rather than being planted in the ground, the plants in a bucket garden grow in soil-filled 5 gallon buckets, optimized for drainage. There are many arrangements for bucket gardens whcih can accomodate a variety of fruits and vegetables such as tomatoes, carrots, radishes, spinach, and beets.

Explore our article about 5 Gallon Bucket Garden Ideas to start your own bucket garden today!

Benefits of Alternative Uses for 5 Gallon Buckets

Repurposing 5 gallon buckets is an eco-friendly practice that decreases plastic waste. Some 5 gallon bucket projects can also be money-savers, allowing users to “Do-It-Yourself” instead of making a new purchase. Additionally, save yourself the time it would take to find dependable materials and trust in the durability and versatility of buckets!

Most plastic five gallon buckets are made out of strong high density polyethylene (HDPE). This plastic type has great impact and abrasion resistance, maintaining a good exterior surface in harsh environments. It is resistant to weather and UV rays, excellent for outdoor use. 

HDPE also has high chemical resistance, with some buckets available with UN ratings to store and transport hazardous materials. HDPE can also be FDA Approved material, making it great for food products.

Five gallon buckets make it easy to move and transport various liquids and solids from one location to another. They also have storing benefits. Users can organize items in 5 gallon buckets, freeing up more room in a garage or warehouse.

As explored in the beginning of this article, there are also many practical uses for 5 gallon buckets and creative 5 gallon bucket projects.

5 Gallon Bucket Safety Considerations & Precautions

Creative uses for 5 gallon buckets are exciting, but safety comes first. If a bucket is being reused or repurposed, it is important to consider what substances it previously held. 

Buckets that stored harsh chemicals should not be used for food applications, garden uses, or any projects that will result in regular human or animal contact. Chemicals may have leached into the plastic bucket.

Check for cracks, tears, or holes in the buckets to avoid potential spills, injuries, or damage. Thoroughly clean your bucket before repurposing it. Be aware of 5 gallon buckets’ drowning warning for small children.

We have a wide selection of 5 gallon buckets to suit your various storage needs, from food and dry goods to chemicals and more. You can also find the perfect bucket for your DIY project by shopping for various colors – wholesale and bulk pricing!

Have any questions? Contact one of our product specialists available to answer any questions and recommend products for you. Give us a call at 630-629-6600 or email us at sales@thecarycompany.com.