We just put up a window bird feeder this year and my cat is completely obsessed!
He’ll sit there for hours chirping at the birds and watching them fly around.
Having the bird feeder there made me think of other bird-friendly things I could add to our yard, so I started looking up bird baths.
I love how they look in beautiful front flower gardens but I wasn’t a huge fan of the price.
That’s when I came across DIY bird bath ideas that don’t cost much and look waaay more charming than store-bought.
If you’re looking for an affordable and bird-friendly upgrade, here are my absolute favorites that I found:
1. Terracotta Tower Bird Bath
This one is super easy and cheap to make!
Just grab two terracotta pots of the same size, flip them upside down, and stack on on top of the other.
Add a wide terracotta saucer or tray on top, fill with a few tones, and you’ve got an insta-bird bath!
By the way, you should always add little stones or flat rocks in your bird bath to help little birds perch.
I love the natural look of terracotta, but these would be a lot of fun to paint — especially with the kids.
2. Log-Top Garden Bath
If you have a leftover log from yard work or your firewood stash, you can use it as a pedestal for a bird bath in your corner garden.
Just top it with a terracotta plate or planter base — anything that’s easy to clean out and scrub (birds are picky little bathers and will turn their beaks at dirty water).
This one has such a natural and rustic look that it could easily blend in with garden beds.
3. Hanging Basket Bird Bath
If you’re short on ground space for a bird bath, you can always make one that hangs!
Just take a round-bottomed hanging planter and pop in a dish that fits snug inside (just make sure the dish is easy to remove for cleaning).
Hang it from a tree branch or a shepherd’s hook where birds can easily get to it.
You can even stuff the empty space in the basket with moss, which birds love to use for nesting.
So it’s a double win for your feathere friends.
4. Teacup Garden Stakes
I love the whimsical look of this one, and it’s perfect for little birds.
Glue some vintage teacups and saucers onto the tops of old table legs (or anyting sturdy).
I like the idea of having one for a bird bath and another for some bird seed.
For the bird bath cup, just make sure you fill it with little rocks so there’s only about an inch of water.
With these DIY bird baths, you’ll feel like you’re hosting a tea party for sparrows!
5. Vintage Lamp Bird Bath
Take a secondhand lamp base (one with some personality) and turn it into a pedestal.
Remove all the wiring, then glue or set a glass bowl or dish on top.
Clear glass dishes sparkle in the sun, but you could also use a colorful plate for more pop.
It’s a great way to reuse something that would’ve ended up at the thrift store forever.
6. Planter Bowl Oasis
I love how this one works double duty as a flower pot and bird spa!
Take a large metal planter or old metal wash basin and fill it with soil.
Tuck a shallow bowl right in the middle for the bird bath, then surround it with flowers, herbs, or succulents.
This bird bath is great for small spaces and balconies —not ideal, though, if you have outdoor cats.
7. Bundt Pan Bloom Bath
I thought this was a really cute idea!
Take a bundt pan and paint it pink with outdoor, non-toxic spray paint.
Attach it to a green plant stand, and you’ve got yourself a backyard flower bird bath.
Maybe it’s a little silly but it’s perfect if you already lean into garden whimsy.
As always, make sure to put some rocks in the pan so birds can perch and bathe.
8. Tripod Terracotta Bath
Grab three wooden garden stakes and lash them together at the top with twine or wire to make a tripod.
Then nestle a shallow terracotta dish into the triangle at the top.
I really love this natural and boho look. So simple!
You can tuck plants around the base to soften the look even more.
It’s surprisingly sturdy if you plant it into the soil a bit.
9. Fairy Garden Bird Bath
How adorable are little fairy gardens?
You can make one in any bird bath by adding little houses, rocks, moss, tiny fences, and low, water-loving plants.
Just make sure you leave enough room for the birds to have their bath!
And with plants like duckweed or water lettuce (yes, that’s a thing), you don’t have to scrub out the bird bath as often.
But you still need to maintain it, so make sure you at least do partial water changes once a week to keep mosquitos away and get rid of any decaying plants.
10. Tiered Garden Bath
If you like the look of a cascasing fountain but don’t want to deal with pumps, try this tiered bird bath.
Starts with a wide base that you can fill with rocks then add a smaller base.
Sit a bird bath in that base and fill it with water and rocks.
You can add other DIY bird baths around this one to give it that layered look (using different sizes and shapes).
This one would be perfect for a little corner of your yard or garden.
11. Rock Stack Basin
Here’s another DIY bird bath that’s easy, cheap, and charming!
Start by collecting some flattish rocks and stack them carefully to create a stable base (I would try to focus width instead of height).
Top the stacks with a metal dish or wide pan, using a rock to weigh it down and keep it sturdy.
If you’re worried about it toppling, you can always glue the rocks in place.
This bird bath has a real zen garden vibe, especially if you scatter some pebbles in the pans.
I love how it can really add texture to a garden!
12. Candle Holder Pedestal Bath
Okay, I’m definitely tempted to make this one.
It looks so easy!
All you need is two plates and a glass candle holder — glue a glass candle holder to the center of one plate then glue the other plate on top of it.
It’s a more shallow bird bath, but perfect for smaller spaces like decks and balconies.
I’d look for deeper plates that would hold more water or wide, shallow bowls.
Either way, all you need to do is add water and wait for your feathered friends to show up!
13. Succulent Ring Bird Bath
This one turns into a little ecosystem!
Flip a terracotta pot upside down and place a wide dish on top for water.
Then take a second saucer, plant it with succulents, and place it around the base.
Succulents are super easy to take care of so you won’t have to worry about maintaining a garden and a bird bath.
14. Milk Can Bird Bath
Old milk cans are heavy and perfect for keeping a bird bath from tipping.
Just top it with a shallow metal pan or vintage dish and fill with water and small rocks.
I love how it has that old-timey farmhouse look!
You can even stencil something onto the can if you want to dress it up, or leave it looking old and natural.
Some people have old milk cans laying around, but I’m sure you can find one at an antique shop or even at flea markets.
15. Tomato Cage Flower Bath
If you’re looking for the easiest and cheapest DIY bird bath, this is it!
All you have to do is stick a tomato cage into the ground and add a terracota sauce in the ring on top.
Just make sure the tomato cage is nice and sturdy!
It might look a bit basic, but you can add some fake flowers around the frame or grow some climbing plants to blend it in with your garden.
I like how it’s easy to move, in case you want to mix up your landscape layout.
16. Upcycled Bird Bath Chair
Old chairs have such a beautiful vintage look, and they’re perfect for quick and easy bird baths!
All you have to do is put a bowl or basin on the seat and add some rocks to weight it down.
It looks like the one in this picture has the rattan seat removed so the bowl nests in the space, so that’s an option as well.
If you have a wooden chair, you can paint it whatever color you want to match your vibe, or leave it for a natural and rustic look.
17. Concrete Leaf Bird Bath
If you’re super crafty or don’t mind getting your hands a little dirty, you can make a huge concrete leaf bird bath for your yard.
You’ll need a large fresh leaf (rhubarb, hosta or burdock work great), sand, and some quick-set concrete.
Dampen the sand and pour it onto into a tray, shape it into a bowl-shape, then cover it with plastic.
Lay the leaf face-down (veins up) on the plastic and gently press it into the curve—this is your mold.
Mix the concreate and pile it onto the leaf, pressing down and shaping evenly (you’ll want it about 3/4 to 1 inch thick).
Cover the whole thing in plastic and let it cure for 24-48 hours.
Once it’s cured, gently lift the concrete off the sand and peel off the leaf.
Yeah, it sounds like a lot of work, but look how beautiful it is!
18. Step Stool Garden Bath
Here’s another DIY bird bath that uses a vintage piece (or something you have laying around).
Take an old wooden step stool and place a terracotta tray of water and stones on top—that’s it!
You can use the steps for small potted plants.
This is amazing if you have a small space or a balcony, but also looks beautiful blended into a garden.
Either way, super easy to put together!
19. Beautiful Mosaic Bath
This is the one DIY bird bath I keep seeing and it’s actually not that hard to make.
Start with a shallow terracotta saucer and arrange your mosaic tiles in a pattern you like.
You can also use broken china, glass stones, or beach glass!
Use outdoor tile adhesive to secure the pieces in small sections, pressing them firmly into place.
Let everything dry overnight and then fill the gaps with weather-resistant grout.
Once that’s dry, seal everything with a waterproof sealant and your done.
20. Casserole Lid Dish Upcycle
This one is super clever!
Take some chains and wrap them around a glass casserole dish cover so you can hang it from a branch or shepherd’s hook.
Fill with water and some stones and that’s it
I love the minimalist look of this, but if you want to swap out the chains, you can always use some heavy-duty twine or paracord for a rustic look.
Make Your Garden a Little Wilder (In the Best Way)
Adding a DIY bird bath doesn’t just help the birds!
It makes your outdoor space feel more alive, more inviting, and a little more magical.
These ideas are low-cost, beginner-friendly, and fun to customize with whatever quirky, rustic, or cottagecore vibes you’re into.
And it doesn’t matter if you have a tiny balcony or a sprawling front garden, there’s something here that can fit right in.
And honestly?
Watching birds splash around while your cat chirps at the window might be the highlight of your whole summer!
