Having a large water jug or drink dispenser is a great solution for keeping everyone hydrated at your work place, your parties or the local sports game.
But which of the different options out there is the best water jug and worth you investing your money into?
Should you go for the budget option and buy something that is cheap but isn’t as durable or should you go for a more expensive option that will keep drinks cooler longer and be almost indestructible.
This list of the best drink dispensers has a mixture of budget, expensive and middle ground options. I’ll highlight some of the key features of each as well as anything important I feel you should know about them (both positive and negative).
Where I’ve done individual reviews I’ll link to them if you want to read further and I’ll also link to these products on Amazon/Walmart using my affiliate links. So if you use those links to buy your water cooler I thank you 🙂
So here are the 10 best water jugs:
1. Yeti Silo 6G: The Best Water Jug Money Can Buy
After reviewing the majority of these water jugs in immense detail the Yeti Silo 6G stands out from the pack as the absolutely best option money can buy.
Yeti is known for making superior products in build quality, ice retention and usability and this product is no different.
The cooler is made from roto-molded plastic and is basically indestructible. You can throw it around, drop it or do whatever you want to it and it’s almost impossible to break it.
This is a cooler that will last you a lifetime.
It has 1.5-2 inches on insulation in the walls and 2-3 inches of insulation in the lid meaning it can keep water ice cold for days.
The freezer grade rubber gasket in the lid and the pull down rubber latches help to make the cooler spill proof and the molded in handles in the side are strong and great for carrying the water cooler around.
The spigot is a fast flowing tap, allowing people to fill up their cups or bottles extremely quickly and it is protected with plastic bumpers so it won’t break easily.
It has non-slip and non-marking rubber feet that combined with the metal steady hold handle means it won’t slide around and it won’t mark your table or floor.
It’s also the only square drink dispenser on this list. Square coolers take up less room for the volume they offer and they are easier to store and to stack.
So overall this is the best option money can buy, but in saying that it is the most expensive option out there by far.
It’s more than twice as expensive as any other water jug on this list and it’s ten times more expensive than the cheaper option.
If you have the money and can afford it then get the Yeti Silo 6G, you won’t regret it…it’s amazing. But if the price is too much for you then some of the other options on this list may suit you better.
Click here to see my full Yeti Silo review
To see the Yeti Silo 6G on Amazon simply click the price link below:
Yeti Silo 6G (6-Gallon):
2. Ozark Trail 20-Quart: The Value For Money Option
The Ozark Trail 20-Quart Round Cooler is the best value for money option because it roto-molded and tough like the Yeti and also heavily insulated and can keep water ice cold for days, but it sells for a fraction of the price of the Yeti.
The build quality isn’t quite as good as the Yeti and it doesn’t perform quite as well with ice retention but for how cheap this product is I truly believe it offers great value for someone who wants something a step up from the budget option but doesn’t want to spend an arm and a leg on the Yeti.
It is a round cooler with a 5-gallon capacity. It has a fully recessed spigot to give it some protection from being knocked and broken and the insulated lid has a rubber gasket and pull down rubber handle to stop most spills.
The lid is hinged, but can be completely removed to turn it into a drinks tub for parties or a BBQ and it has nylon and plastic rope handles for easy carrying.
Read my full Ozark Trail Round Cooler review
See the latest price of the Ozark Trail Round Cooler at Walmart.com
3. Igloo Seat Top Jug: The Budget Option
If you’re looking for the budget option and want to spend as little money as possible then the Igloo Seat Top Jug is going to be the drink dispenser for you.
It’s made in USA and sells for around $30-$50 depending on where you buy it from.
It’s made from thinner plastic than the Yeti/Ozark Trail and has less insulation. This means it isn’t as durable and it won’t keep ice as long as those coolers. I would expect it to keep iced water for 4-8 hours depending on the weather and how much ice is in the water.
It has screwed in plastic handles and a push down lid that is held on by friction and doesn’t have a rubber gasket, hinges or latches.
The spigot has a front push and the tap is angled to pour water out and away from the cooler.
If you’re looking for something cheap then this will do the job just fine and should last you a couple of years if you take good care of it.
Read my full Igloo Seat Top Jug review
Depending on the day and the deals available it may be cheaper to buy this water jug from Amazon or Walmart. I’ll link up to both below using my affiliate links if you want to check the current prices and see what’s cheaper at the moment.
See the latest price of the Igloo Seat Top Jug at Amazon
See the latest price of the Igloo Seat Top Jug at Walmart.com
It also comes in smaller and larger sizes which I will link up to down below.
Seat Top Jug 10-Gallon:
Seat Top Jug 3-Gallon:
4. Cordova Hydro Jug
The Cordova Hydro is an octagonal shaped water jug that comes in a 5-Gallon as well as a 3.5-Gallon size.
It is roto-molded and heavily insulated and is proudly made in the USA.
There are 2-inches of insulation in the walls of the cooler and the lid is heavily insulated also so it can keep water ice cold for up to 4 times longer than a budget water jug.
It has a hinged lid that will never blow off and 2 pull up rubber latches to hold the lid tightly closed.
The side handed are just as strong as the cooler itself and are roto-molded with the cooler, not screwed on or attached at a later date. These handles are super strong and you can definitely trust they won’t break.
It’s a bit more expensive than the Ozark Trail, but it’s much cheaper than the Yeti Silo. It’s a great premium cooler that isn’t too expensive.
Hydro Jug 3.5-Gallon:
Hydro Jug 5-Gallon:
5. KULA Cooler 2.5-Gallon
The KULA Cooler makes the best round cooler on the market and their smaller sized 2.5-Gallon cooler comes with a tap on the bottom so you can use it either as a personal cooler or as a drink dispenser.
The KULA has all the features you could expect from a roto-molded cooler. It is durable and tough, has 1-1.5 inches of insulation in the walls and the smaller size can hold ice for 2-3 days.
It has a rubber gasket and pull down rubber latch to keep the lid on tight and to make it spill proof and it has a strong rotating stainless steel handle for easy carrying.
It has non-slip rubber feet on the bottom that won’t scratch or mark your table or floor as well as a drain plug in the bottom and a built in bottle opener on the front.
The trak pad on the lid also makes it more comfortable to use as a seat. It’s a great little personal cooler or drink dispenser for a day out fishing or paddle boarding.
Read my full KULA Cooler review
The downside of this cooler is the price. For such a small size cooler it is quite expensive.
To see the KULA 2.5-Gallon on Amazon simply click the price link below:
KULA 2.5-Gallon:
6. Igloo Sport Roller Beverage Cooler: The Only Wheeled Option
Another great budget option is the Igloo Sport Roller Beverage Cooler which is the only water jug I could find that has wheels.
It is a lot like the Seat Top Jug but has a bunch of improvements made to it to make it a better budget cooler.
It has wide plastic wheels and a pull up suitcase-style handle for pulling it along. The wheels work great on hard ground but they do struggle on soft grass, dirt and gravel.
It has a gasket, a cam latch to hold the lid down and rather than the handles being screwed onto the cooler they are molded into the body of the cooler making them less likely to break.
The push button spigot points out and away from the cooler and is raised up enough off the ground that it can be used easily even without lifting the cooler onto a table.
Read my full Igloo Sport Roller Beverage Cooler review
The downside of this cooler is that the lid is not leak proof so you can’t really fill it up and roll it or water will spill out. But otherwise it’s a really solid budget option.
Depending on the day and the deals available it may be cheaper to buy this water jug from Amazon or Walmart. I’ll link up to both below using my affiliate links if you want to check the current prices and see what’s cheaper at the moment.
See the latest price of the Igloo Seat Top Jug at Amazon
See the latest price of the Igloo Seat Top Jug at Walmart.com
7. Stanley Adventure Water Jug: Leak Proof Personal Size
The Stanley insulated water jug is an affordable but very high quality personal sized water jug.
It comes in a 1-gallon and 2-gallon size and has a lot of great features.
The biggest feature is that it is completely leak proof, which I cannot say for a lot of the other budget water jugs. You can fill this up and completely tip it upside down and it won’t leak water anywhere.
It has a fast pouring spout and an air release valve on the lid to allow water to flow quickly. It is a strong and durable construction and ice retention is good.
It won’t keep ice as long as the roto-molded options like the Yeti Silo or the Cordova, but it has more insulation than the other budget options. All up it should keep water ice cold for 1-2+ days.
If you’re looking for a smaller drink dispenser that won’t break the bank this is a great product.
To see the Stanley Adventure Water Jug on Amazon simply click the price links below:
Stanley Adventure 1-Gallon:
Stanley Adventure 2-Gallon:
8. K2 Coolers Water Jug
K2 Coolers offers a roto-molded and heavily insulated water jug that comes in some bright colors and is backed by a 7-year warranty.
Rather than having a hinged lid it has a removable lid that locks into place with a stainless steel cam latch. It has a rubber gasket to help stop spills and then has a vacuum release plug in the lid to allow air in so that the water can flow faster out of the tap.
It can keep water ice cold for multiple days and is fairly durable. The downside of this water jug is the poor quality of it’s spigot as well as the price.
Many customers have complained about the spigot leaking and it seems to be a design flaw. Also in my opinion it’s more expensive than other coolers like the Ozark Trail or the Cordova which are similar quality if not better.
To see the K2 Water Jug on Amazon simply click the price link below:
K2 Water Jug 5-Gallon:
9. DeWalt Water Jug
If you’re looking for a water jug that will brighten up your day then the DeWalt Water Jug and it’s bright yellow appearance will do just that.
This thing is so bright it can’t be missed.
DeWalt is a fairly new player to the high-end cooler space and this cooler has mixed reviews.
Some customers are really happy with this cooler and it’s performance saying it can keep ice for 3-4 days, which is really good performance.
The biggest complaint with this cooler is that the lid, despite having a gasket and pull down rubber latches, isn’t leak proof. So if you fill it up with drink and are transporting it in your car it can get very messy.
To see the DeWalt Water Jug on Amazon simply click the price link below:
DeWalt Water Jug 5-Gallon:
10. Icey-Tek 5-Gallon Water Cooler
Ok I was mistaken earlier when I said the Yeti Silo was the only square shaped water cooler on the market because I just discovered the Icey-Tek 5-gallon water jug.
It is roto-molded like a bunch of other drink dispensers on this list and has a molded gasket in the lid and pull down rubber latches for a tight seal.
It has skid resistant pads on the cooler base, molded in handles and it also comes with a shoulder strap – which I don’t believe any other water jugs have.
It has multiple molded in tie-down features to secure it in place and can keep water ice cold for says.
To see the Icey-Tek Water Cooler on Amazon simply click the price link below:
Icey-Tek Water Cooler 5-Gallon:
Other Budget Options (Rubbermaid/Coleman etc)
Lastly I did want to mention that there are a bunch of other budget options very similar to the Igloo Seat Top Jug. The primary 2 brands you’re likely to see is the Rubbermaid and the Coleman.
These are both super similar to each other as well as the Igloo with minor differentiations.
The Rubbermaid cooler has a screw top instead of a push top and the spigot points directly down and has the push button on the top instead of the front.
Rubbermaid Jug 5-Gallon:
The Coleman also has a screw lid similar to the Rubbermaid but the spigot is more like the Igloo with a front push button. The Coleman also has swing up handles instead of fixed handles like the other two.
It’s really much of a muchness which ones you prefer but I thought I would include them in this list of the best water jugs just to give you the option if you want it.
Coleman Jug 5-Gallon:
Which Water Jug/Drink Dispenser Is Right For You?
I hope this list of the best drink dispensers has helped you narrow down your options and choose the option that is right for you.
Will you go with the best-in-class Yeti Silo and have the best product money can offer?
Will you save your money and get the Seat Top Jug or the Sport Roller even though they aren’t amazing products?
Or will you go the middle ground and get something like the Ozark Trail or the Cordova and spend a bit more money to get a high-quality product, but not have to spend as much as you would on the Yeti.
Ultimately what you do is up to you and I hope this list has helped you choose.
If you want to read about other cooler options check out my list of the best round coolers which features some of the coolers in this list, or check out my list of the best beach coolers with wheels.
