Here we check out the best outdoor covers for drains that are currently available in the UK. The main purpose of these covers are to stop debris such as dirt and leaves from clogging up your drains.
At the front and rear of most homes in the United Kingdom, there will be drains located, usually just under where the overflow pipes run down from the guttering. These drains are usually 6" square and they should be fitted with a cover that sits neatly inside the drain.
These covers have small grills that prevent any debris that is carried through the guttering or drain pipes from going into the drain, also known as a gully. That includes things like moss from the roof, bird's nest building materials, etc. You may also hear these referred to as a gully grate.
What many home owners find that because these covers are set into the ground, they can get bunged up with other garden waste such as leaves, paper bags, and general dust and dirt. It is also a good idea to put on an additional cover that stops that from happening.
Below you can check out our list of the top 5 drain covers that are currently available on the UK market.
Top 5 Drain Outdoor Covers UK 2024
1. Greenhouse Warehouse Inside Outdoor Drain Cover
This is a typical inside drain cover with a low £2-3 price tag. The buyer rating is 90% so 90 out of 100 buyers happy with their purchase.
Please note this is an outdoor cover that sits inside the drain and will fit a 6" gulley (152mm)
Like most of these gulley covers, this one is made of a hard thermoplastic and doesn't corrode over time
Many of the older ones are made of cast iron, but the newer plastic ones are much better.
Just make sure to buy the right size for the gulley
Pros
Cons
Check Amazon UK - Price when reviewed £2.83 - 88% buyer satisfaction based on 4,500+ buyer reviews
2. Garden Drainage Outdoor Drain Cover
This is a popular option for many UK buyers with an average £6-7 price tag. The buyer rating sits around 86% so 86 out of 100 buyers happy with their purchase.
This is a 2 pack of covers and each cover measures 12" x 11" (32 x 28 cms)
These are designed to sit over the gulley drain and around any down pipes
This set has 2 screw hole fixings for attaching to the wall, and also have ventilated strips
Pros
Cons
Check Amazon UK - Price when reviewed £7.49 - 86% buyer satisfaction based on 3,000+ buyer reviews
3. Plastix Grid Drain Cover
These are also a popular option for many UK buyers with an average £5-6 price tag. The buyer rating sits around 86% so 86 out of 100 buyers happy with their purchase.
This is a 2 pack of covers and each cover measures 15.3" x 12.9 x 4.9" (39 x 32.79 x 12.4 cm)
These are designed to sit over the gulley drain and around any down pipes
This set has 2 screw hole fixings for attaching to the wall, and also have ventilated strips
Pros
Cons
Check Amazon UK - Price when reviewed £8.66 - 86% buyer satisfaction based on 3,000+ buyer reviews
4. Medipaq Square Stainless Steel Drain Covers
Some people prefer a rust proof stainless steel and these are a popular option for many UK buyers with an average £8 price tag. The buyer rating sits around 88% so 88 out of 100 buyers happy with their purchase.
This is a 2 pack of covers and each cover measures 6" x 6" (15 x 15 cm)
Each cover has 77 holes to allow water to drain but to block dirt and debris
These come with a set of gardening gloves
Pros
Cons
Check Amazon UK - Price when reviewed £7.25 - 86% buyer satisfaction based on 1,500+ buyer reviews
5. Simply Hardware® Round Drain Guard/Swirl Cover
These are mainly for round pipes or gullys and they have an average £8-9 price tag.
The buyer rating sits at 92% so 92 out of 100 buyers happy with their purchase.
They do come in different sizes so be sure to measure before buying, sizes include: 4, 5, 5.5, 6, 6.5 and 7 inch
These have a very neat appearance
Pros
Cons
Check Amazon UK - Price when reviewed £8.39 - 92% buyer satisfaction based on 600+ buyer reviews
Drain Cover Buying Guide
If you are unsure as to what you need to buy when it comes to outdoor drain covers, then this guide will really help you out.
Different homes will have different types of drainage. The vast majority of homes will have guttering at both the front and the rear of their homes. Attached to the guttering there will also be at least one down pipe. Some homes may have a lot more downpipes, and it really depends on the size of the house.
These downpipes take the rain water from the gutters and send it into the gully which is located at the bottom of the downpipe. These gullys are connected to the drainage system of your house and essentially takes the rain water away into the drains and eventually the street sewer pipes.
In addition to that, there will also be surface water and the surfaces of yards and driveways are usually slightly sloped to allow rain water to drain away in the direction of where this gully is located.
In addition to drainpipes, you will also have other pipes such as the pipe from the sink, bath or shower that comes outside and will also feed into the same gully. You most likely also have a washing machine waste pipe that will point into these gullys.
Downpipes, bathroom type pipes and washing machine drainage pipes are of course all slightly different sizes.
Gully or Drain Covers Explained
The gully size in most homes is around 6" square. In older houses this may be slightly bigger so always worth checking for the exact size by measuring it.
All gullys should have a cover fitted, which is usually a 5-7/8" x 5-7/8" grid like cover. In older homes it is likely to be made from a cast iron and these will rust over time. Any modern home will have a hard thermoplastic cover fitted. That is plastic that has been treated to deal with the varying cold and hot weather conditions.
If your gully doesn't have one of these then it is important to have a cover fitted. Typically most of these covers sit down on top of a gully trap and can be a few inches below the ground.
They are designed to capture anything that comes from the gutterings and down the drain pipes. Usually that is moss from the roof or material that birds may have gathered to build nests. It also gathers any waste coming out of the bath, shower, bathroom sink and washing machine pipes.
Without a cover, the drain could easily get blocked, so a cover is vital. These should also be regularly cleaned even though that is a horrible job. Think of gloves and Jeyes Fluid and you will know what we mean.
Other External Drain Covers Explained
Because these drain grid covers sit a few inches under the ground, these can quickly get blocked with yard debris, and things like leaves and any rubbish that may blow in.
Many home owners then use a cover that sits on top of the gully and on the actual surface of your yard or driveway. These wrap around the downpipes and the size of the cover then stops any debris getting into the smaller grid cover underneath.
These are made from plastic and most will have a drainpipe sized hole cut out to cater for the downpipe. You may have to cut additional holes for other pipes such as washing machine waste pipes.
Resources used to help write this article
Reporting a blocked drain - Gov.UK
Plumbing & Drainage Companies List - UK Directory
