20 Creative Solar Powered Water Fountain Designs for Your Outdoor Space

A water fountain is one of the most fascinating and pleasant additions you could make to any garden.

Any moving water feature brings so much enjoyment: the sound is meditative, the sight is beautiful, and the possibilities are endless. With the modern convenience of solar panel power, you can place a fountain virtually anywhere in your yard or garden, never having to worry about stringing cords across the lawn or using electricity.

We’ve scoured the internet for some of the most wildly fun and fresh ideas in the realm of solar-powered fountains, collecting the best examples right here. We want to share the inspiration and ideas that have piqued our interest, in the hopes that you too can enjoy this dynamic piece of garden zen.

Some of the fountains featured below are ready-made products you can purchase and have running right out of the box, with a bit of water added of course. Others are DIY projects that involve rigging a solar panel to a custom setup.

The best projects often combine a bit of both sides, letting you fully personalize a unique water feature for your garden with the help of off-the-shelf parts.

1. Ceramic Frog Fountain

We begin with one of the simpler creations, a ceramic frog pond fountain in miniature. This beautiful little piece can be placed virtually anywhere. Sink it into your garden soil or place on a high wall.

2. Koi Solar Water Fountain

3. Faux Log Fountain

Here’s a grand idea to slyly insert a fantastic fountain in your garden or patio. The realistic log-look water feature spills in a surprisingly natural way, perfect for those who want their garden accessories to blend in.

4. Ceramic Bowl Fountain

Here’s a simple design, a bird bath-like fountain crafted from a large ceramic bowl, standing on a minimalist frame. It’s portable and easy to set up any place. Also includes a Bird Bath Solar Fountain Pump placed in the middle of the bowl.

5. Wine Barrel Fountain

For the wine aficionado or anyone who enjoys the repurposing of old rustic objects, this idea is sublime. The barrels flow from one to another in a tiered progression, making this corner garden into an eye-popping display.

6. Terra Cotta Tippy Fountain

This fountain is pictured next to its accompanying solar panel, to illustrate the ease of setup. The discreet black panel and mount can be tucked into the garden while the fountain itself commands attention.

7. Tiered Box Planter Fountain

This fountain is particularly Zen-like in its repeated, simplistic box forms. With multiple tiers and spouts, it brings visual complexity and serenity to any garden, with a separate solar panel that can be hidden away.

8. Buddha Fountain

Speaking of Zen, this next product is a beautiful representation of the Buddha. It’s a miniature statue with water subtly bubbling outward, and it can add an aesthetic and spiritual edge to your garden or patio.

9. Bamboo Bucket Fountain

Going along with the prior Eastern styled fountains, this unique water feature spills from a bamboo spout into a rich natural wood bucket for an absolutely serene garden placement.

10. DIY Pond Fountain

Following the attached instructions, you too could have this brilliant sheet rock-defined pond and fountain as the centerpiece of your yard. While the pond itself requires some serious hands-and-knees time, the submerged fountain can be purchased with ease.

11. Whimsical Boy Fountain

This adorable miniature fountain is built out of a sculpture of a boy and his puppy using an old fashioned hand pump. Seen here next to a tree, this little fountain would look great standing alone or immersed in thick greenery.

12. Stone Planter Fountain

This unique fountain mixes a gorgeous stone sculpted water feature with space for planting your flowers. The discreet solar panel is built-in, allowing for effortless portability if you change your mind about where it should stand.

13. Wall Mounted Fountain

Garden fountains need not be confined to the ground! This little beauty is made to be mounted on walls or fences, creating an eye level water feature that can stand apart from the surrounding natural environment.

14. DIY Wheelbarrow Fountain

One of the most unique creations we stumbled upon, this wheelbarrow-based project involves a solar water pump, items you likely have lying around, and a bit of ingenuity. Water is funneled toward the watering can, while the basin is placed in a custom container garden, courtesy of an old wheelbarrow.

15. Cascading Cube Fountain

Mixing the classic tiered waterfall design with modern, sharp-edged styling, this cubic-shaped fountain is a hefty piece that can stand alone or loom over your garden. With built-in lighting, it’s meant to be enjoyed day and night.

16. Hand-Pump Fountain

This piece is a play on the classic hand pump fountain design, using a pair of tippy pots to create a whimsical design.

17. Modern Zen Fountain

With simple, elegant lines and a dark stone color, this fountain could fit in virtually any garden or patio. The classic bowl shape and clean design make for a timeless look.

18. “Cool Drink” Children Fountain

Here we have another playfully whimsical fountain. This sculpted, multicolored piece features a pair of children trying to reach a tall bird bath in a fun mise-en-scene.

19. Watering Can Cascade Fountain

This DIY project, similar to the wheelbarrow idea featured above, involves the use of old fashioned metal watering cans. With strategic placement and a good solar water pump, you can turn your outdoor staircase into a fantastic fountain.