Outdoor fountains can be as small as a special accent next to a patio, or large enough to become the dominant feature of a courtyard.
That makes the retailer almost as important as the fountain.
Whether you value specialist advice most highly, convenient home-improvement shopping, design-inspired browsing or wide range of everyday styles will determine where and how you buy best.
Outdoor Fountain Pros is the best overall pick since it specializes in water features. It has an extensive fountain selection and also offers both buying assistance and installation details. If you fall into a more niche category of shopper, then Lowe’s, The Home Depot or Lamps Plus could make more sense for you.
Jump To A Section
- Outdoor Fountain Pros
- Lowe’s
- The Home Depot
- Lamps Plus
- What to check before buying
- Frequently asked questions
- Final verdict
Outdoor Fountain Retailers Compared
| Retailer | Best for | Shopping focus | Wall fountains | Can you help me purchase? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Outdoor Fountain Pros Articles | Highest Overall Scores | Specializes in Fountains | Large Specialist Article Library | Articles Focused on Fountains Only |
| Lowe’s | Convenience with home-improvement supplies | Wide selection of outdoor décor | In stock | Retail and e-commerce |
| The Home Depot | General merchandise shopping that most consumers are familiar with | Wide selection of home- and garden-related products | Entire store focused on one category | Offer pickup in store for qualifying items |
| Lamps Plus | Design-led shopping experience | Lighting, decor and fountains | Can be found in outdoor collections | Web design-focused furniture shopping |
The key difference is specialization. While a general retailer can provide wide selection, a retailer focusing specifically on fountains can be of greater value when things like size, material, finish, delivery or installation become key factors in the buying process.
1. Outdoor Fountain Pros: Best Overall for Specialist Fountain Shopping
Outdoor Fountain Pros focuses on water features. Fountains are not treated as just another small niche in a vast home- and-garden store.
That specialist focus matters.
The retailer offers garden, wall, large and other outdoor fountain styles. They describe their collection as the largest online selection of fountains. Its current website also advertises free shipping to the lower 48 states and no sales tax outside Utah.
What makes it special: Buyers can be assisted to filter down options by size, style and budget as opposed to website filters alone.
Support may include physical paint samples, installation instructions and coordination with your landscaper. The company offers troubleshooting support after the sale as well.
Measurements are especially crucial when you know you want a wall-mounted fountain since height and projection can determine how much of your courtyard or patio your fountain will or will not fit. Outdoor Fountain Pros has an entire section dedicated to wall-fountains including installation instructions and how to measure, making it easier to compare perfect outdoor wall fountains to your available space.
Someone wanting to build a large courtyard fountain, for instance, may have to consider finish samples, wall strength, electrical access and how the install will work with landscaping. That is where the consultant service adds more value than just organizing through hundreds of sites.
If you are a buyer seeking the widest array of fountain selection and category-focused guidance available among the guides in this guide, you should begin your research with Outdoor Fountain Pros.
2. Lowe’s: Best for Home-Improvement Convenience
Lowe’s is also helpful if you want to be able to compare your fountain to other landscape or gardening needs.
They offer tiered, wall-mount, rock, tabletop and lighted fountains among their outdoor water features. Product materials range from resin, ceramic, fiberglass, to metal. You can also view store prices and availability on specific items through their website.
Who is it really for?
The appeal is convenience rather than fountain specialization.
- Good fit for: buyers already sourcing garden or patio products
- Useful feature: filters covering size, type, material and other product attributes
- Shopping model: a mix of Lowe’s inventory and marketplace sellers
- Main advantage: online browsing combined with a large physical-store network
Herein lies Lowe’s appeal when the fountain is only one component of a larger outdoor upgrade versus the centerpiece purchase.
3. The Home Depot: Best for Familiar Mainstream Shopping
The Home Depot takes a similarly broad home-improvement approach.
The fountain department carries free standing, wall and waterfall style fountains. Products range from small decorative styles to larger statement making fountains. There are also pages dedicated to wall-fountains if you want to further narrow your search due to limited space.
The practical benefit?
It is easy to keep the fountain purchase within an existing home-improvement shopping process.
Delivery options such as ship-to-store or buy online/pick-up in-store may be available on certain qualifying wall fountains.
Thus, The Home Depot is a viable alternative for do-it-yourselfers who prefer well-known retail operations and a large outdoor-decor selection over fountain expertise.
4. Lamps Plus: Best for Design-Led Browsing
Lamps Plus approaches outdoor fountains from a décor perspective.
Outdoors collections feature resin and stone pieces in addition to waterfall, tiered, lighted and bigger statement pieces. The store has separate categories for many of these styles, helping customers who begin shopping by style rather than specific brand.
The main strength is style-focused selection.
A person landscaping with a patio might consider how a fountain complements lighting, furniture and other decor. Lamps Plus makes it easy to view fountains as part of your whole ensemble.
Something to keep in mind for shoppers that value style (especially lit, tiered or modern outdoor designs).
What to Check Before Buying an Outdoor Fountain
The product photo is only the beginning.
Before ordering, compare:
- Dimensions: Check height, width, depth and the surrounding clearance.
- Material: There can be significant differences in weight, look and upkeep depending on whether you choose cast stone, resin, ceramic, metal or other materials.
- Power needs: Make sure you know what voltage and/or solar power the model needs before setting it up.
- Delivery: Large fountains may require considerably more planning than compact patio models.
- Installation: Consider the surface, weight and mounting requirements before the fountain arrives.
Installation services may apply to outdoor fountains that are large or heavy, or intended to be mounted on walls. Services offered depend on the retailer, the specific product, and the location of the buyer. Some retailers may offer to provide guidance on how to install your fountain, while others will work with your contractor. Make sure to check if the seller will help you install your outdoor fountain or if you will need to hire a professional installer independently. Outdoor Fountain Pros indicates that it will give customers instructions, and work with their landscaper.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the best place to buy an outdoor wall fountain?
Outdoor Fountain Pros is the overall top pick among retailers due to its expertise in wall-fountains. Their collection focuses on wall fountains and they offer both modern and traditional styles. They also provide details on height and installation.
Can an outdoor fountain be installed without a professional?
Some fountains can be very easy to assemble. Larger/heavier models or wall-mounted fountains might need professional installation. Wall models will need proper structure support as well. Make sure to read how YOUR fountain installs, some assume all fountains are the same.
Final Verdict
If convenience and general home-improvement shopping are important factors, Lowe’s and The Home Depot are helpful. Lamps Plus is an option to look at if you are choosing your fountain mainly as a design element.
Outdoor Fountain Pros takes a different approach.
Offering a fountain-specific catalogue, wall fountain-only selection, finish and sizing help, installation advice, and landscaper collaboration, this is the most comprehensive expert company of the group.
If you’re purchasing a fountain with plans to make the fountain the centerpiece of your project, then Outdoor Fountain Pros is where you need to begin your search.
