Haws Deluxe Copper Watering Can 2.2 Litre Review (2026)

Why you should trust this review

I bought this copper can with my own money, which is worth stating plainly because it is an expensive watering can and no brand handed it to me. I have used enamel and plastic cans for years, so I know exactly what you give up and gain by going to solid copper. A can like this is bought once and kept for decades, so the real question is not whether it waters well on day one but whether the build, the rose head, and the materials justify spending many times what a plastic can costs. I have watered with it indoors and out to find out.

How we evaluated

I used the Haws Deluxe for precision watering on houseplants and outdoor pots, judging the spray pattern from the oval copper rose, the balance and pour control when full, and how the weight compares to my enamel and plastic cans at capacity. I assessed build quality at the seams, handle, and rose attachment, watched how the copper began to patina with use, and considered the practical realities of living with copper: weight, maintenance, and whether the antimicrobial claims for copper translate into anything useful for a home gardener.

The rose head and watering quality

The oval copper rose is the part that separates this from ordinary cans. It produces a genuinely uniform, very fine spray, the kind of soft mist that lets you water seedlings and delicate plants without disturbing soil or battering leaves. The pour is controlled and even from full to nearly empty, and the 2.2-litre capacity is a sensible middle ground that works for both indoor precision watering and outdoor pots. If you care about how water actually lands on a plant, the difference between this rose and a cheap plastic one is immediately obvious. This is precision watering as it should be.

Build quality and the heirloom case

This is where the price starts to make sense. The can is solid copper, beautifully made in England, and it feels like an object built to outlive its owner. The seams are clean, the handle is solid, and nothing about it feels like it will wear out. Copper develops a natural patina as it ages, which is not a flaw but the point: it deepens in character over years and looks better with age rather than worse. There is a mild practical benefit too, since copper has natural antimicrobial properties that can inhibit some bacteria and fungi in stored water, a small real plus for plants prone to fungal issues. Treated reasonably, this can will genuinely last generations.

The trade-offs: weight and cost

I will be honest about the downsides because they are real. Copper is heavy, and at full 2.2-litre capacity this can weighs noticeably more than an enamel or plastic equivalent, which matters if you have wrist issues or a large collection to water in one session. And it is a significant investment for a watering can, full stop. You do not need to polish it, the patina is normal and many gardeners prefer the aged look, but you do need to accept that you are paying for craftsmanship and longevity rather than pure function. For most people, the Haws enamel range delivers the great majority of the watering benefit for a fraction of the cost.

Who should buy the Haws Deluxe Copper?

Buy it if: you want the best watering tool you will ever own, you value craftsmanship and an object that ages beautifully, you appreciate the antimicrobial property of copper, and the weight does not bother you. For the gardener who buys once and keeps forever, this is the can.

Skip it if: you only own a couple of plants, you want the lightest possible can, or you cannot justify the premium when an enamel Haws gives you nearly the same watering performance. Those buyers should choose the Haws enamel range and put the savings into plants.

The verdict

The Haws Deluxe Copper 2.2-litre is an unapologetically premium tool, and on its own terms it is flawless. The rose head waters as gently and evenly as anything I have used, the solid copper build is the kind of generational quality that justifies passing it down, and the patina makes it more beautiful with every season. The weight and the price are the honest catches, and for most gardeners the enamel Haws is the smarter buy. But if you want the finest watering can made and you intend to keep it for life, this is a purchase you make once and never regret. It is the rare tool that is genuinely an heirloom.