Orlando, FL rainwater: 40,893 gallons off a roof
How much rain a roof in Orlando, FL collects
40,893gallons a year
That is a 1,500 sq ft asphalt roof under Orlando, FL's normal 51.5 inches of rain, about 795 gallons for every inch that falls.
In Orlando, FL a single barrel does most of the work. Storms come often enough that a small tank refills before it runs dry, and a bigger one would mostly sit full.
Rainfall: NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals, the Orlando Intl Ap station (2.7 mi away). Orlando, FL ranks 150th wettest of the 173 cities covered in Florida.
Month by month in Orlando
| Month | Rain (in) | Off the roof (gal) | Garden shortfall (gal) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 2.48 | 1,971 | |
| Feb | 2.04 | 1,621 | |
| Mar | 3.03 | 2,408 | |
| Apr | 2.58 | 2,051 | 221 |
| May | 4.02 | 3,195 | 41 |
| Jun | 8.05 | 6,398 | |
| Jul | 7.46 | 5,929 | |
| Aug | 7.69 | 6,112 | |
| Sep | 6.37 | 5,063 | |
| Oct | 3.46 | 2,750 | 111 |
| Nov | 1.79 | 1,423 | |
| Dec | 2.48 | 1,971 |
Jun is the wettest month (8.05 in, 6,398 gal off the roof); Nov the driest (1.79 in). Garden shortfall is what a 200 sq ft vegetable bed needs beyond the rain that lands on it, April to October.
Which tank size is worth it in Orlando
Best fit: one 55-gallon barrel, which delivers about 317 gallons to the garden in a normal year (85.0% of its need).
Before you buy, a 55-gallon barrel with a downspout diverter is the whole job. Check that the overflow points away from your foundation, because most of Orlando's roof water will pass straight through it.
| Tank | Water used (gal/yr) | Spills over (gal/yr) |
|---|---|---|
| 55 gal | 317 | 39,390 |
| 110 gal | 317 | 39,390 |
| 165 gal | 317 | 39,390 |
| 275 gal | 317 | 39,390 |
| 550 gal | 317 | 39,390 |
| 1,000 gal | 317 | 39,390 |
| 1,500 gal | 317 | 39,390 |
| 2,500 gal | 317 | 39,390 |
| 5,000 gal | 317 | 39,390 |
Simulated storm by storm through a normal year using the station's count of days with 0.1 in or more of rain each month.
Is rainwater collection legal in Florida?
Legal. Florida approves onsite non-potable use of rainwater for landscape irrigation, vehicle washing, filling pools and fountains and, in some local jurisdictions, toilet/urinal flushing (Florida Plumbing Code). No state storage cap or registration for non-potable collection.
Checked against the current source on 2026-11-06. Source