# Best Plastic Carboys for Homebrewing (2026) Source: https://homebrewcraft.com/best/plastic-carboys Updated: 2026-09-14 Publisher: Home Brew Craft. Our score is an editorial rating out of 10 (fit 35%, features 25%, build 20%, value 20%), not a customer rating. Method: https://homebrewcraft.com/how-we-research#our-score Plastic carboys, usually made from PET, offer the carboy shape with a fraction of the weight and none of the shatter risk of glass. That makes them easy to lift, carry, and store, which is a real advantage on a full fermenter. Look for food-grade, BPA-free construction and a shape that fits your carrier and cleaning brush. Because the surface can scratch more easily than glass, use soft cleaning tools and avoid abrasive scrubbing so the interior stays smooth and sanitary batch after batch. Plastic carboys suit brewers who want carboy-style fermentation without the weight and breakage worries, including those who move fermenters frequently. They are slightly more oxygen-permeable than glass, so they are excellent for primary fermentation and shorter conditioning rather than very long aging. Choose a size with headspace for active fermentation, and retire the vessel once it develops scratches that could harbor bacteria. Handled gently, a plastic carboy is a light, practical, and safe alternative to glass for everyday brewing. ## Picks ### 1. Northern Brewer Big Mouth Bubbler PET Plastic Carboy, 6.5 Gallon Ported Our score: 8.4/10 (Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10) Northern Brewer's Big Mouth Bubbler PET plastic carboy, 6.5 Gallon and ported for a spigot, for light, shatter-free fermentation. Pros: - PET plastic is shatterproof and much lighter than glass - Ported design accepts a spigot for easy transfers - 6.5 Gallon capacity suits primary fermentation with headspace Cons: - PET can scratch with abrasive brushes, so clean gently - Spigot may not be included with the ported carboy Details: https://homebrewcraft.com/product/B011VDMYAI ### 2. Fermonster PET Plastic 6 Gallon Wide Mouth Carboy with Extra Drilled Lid Our score: 8.4/10 (Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10) Fermonster's 6 Gallon wide mouth PET plastic carboy with an extra drilled lid for airlock or thermowell use. Pros: - Wide mouth opening is easy to clean by hand - Extra drilled lid adds flexibility for airlocks, thermowells or blow-off tubes - 6 Gallon PET body is light and shatterproof Cons: - Lid seal must be tightened properly to avoid slow leaks - Plastic should not be cleaned with abrasive pads Details: https://homebrewcraft.com/product/B07G3JJ9TK ### 3. Fermonster 6 Gallon Wide Mouth Plastic Carboy Our score: 8.1/10 (Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10) Fermonster's 6 Gallon wide mouth plastic carboy, a lightweight, easy-clean fermenter for five gallon batches. Pros: - Wide mouth lets you clean the inside by hand without a bent brush - 6 Gallon capacity handles primary fermentation with room for foam - Plastic body is shatterproof and far lighter than glass Cons: - Base listing has no spigot or airlock, so add those separately - Ribbed walls can trap residue in the grooves when cleaning Details: https://homebrewcraft.com/product/B01EXKHNWK ### 4. 3 Gallon Fermonster Wide Mouth Plastic Fermenter with Spigot and Airlock Our score: 8.0/10 (Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10) A 3 Gallon Fermonster wide mouth plastic fermenter with spigot and airlock for small batch beer, cider and mead. Pros: - 3 Gallon size is ideal for small batch recipes and experiments - Spigot and airlock included, so it is ready for fermenting and bottling - Wide mouth makes adding fruit and cleaning simple Cons: - Too small for standard five gallon beer batches - Spigot adds a part that needs careful sanitizing Details: https://homebrewcraft.com/product/B08MN3595N ### 5. Home Brew Ohio FerMonster 6 Gallon Fermenter Our score: 7.9/10 (Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 6/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10) Home Brew Ohio's FerMonster 6 Gallon fermenter, the popular wide mouth plastic carboy sold by a homebrew retailer. Pros: - FerMonster wide opening simplifies cleaning and dry hop additions - 6 Gallon volume gives headroom for vigorous primary fermentation - Sold by a homebrew shop, so accessory matching is straightforward Cons: - Check whether the lid and airlock are included before ordering - Plastic needs soft cloths, since scratches can hide bacteria Details: https://homebrewcraft.com/product/B01EXH5B3G ### 6. The Bubbler 6 Gallon PET Plastic Carboy Fermentor Our score: 7.3/10 (Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 6/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10) The Bubbler 6 Gallon PET plastic carboy fermentor, a lightweight alternative to glass for primary fermentation. Pros: - 6 Gallon PET carboy gives headspace for primary on five gallon batches - Lightweight plastic is safer to move than glass - PET is a good oxygen barrier compared with bucket fermenters Cons: - Cannot use hot water or harsh scrubbing without damaging it - Check whether an airlock and bung are included before ordering extras Details: https://homebrewcraft.com/product/B00HG64T4O ### 7. The Bubbler 5 Gallon PET Plastic Carboy Fermentor Our score: 7.0/10 (Fit for the job 7/10 · Features and specs 6/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10) The Bubbler 5 Gallon PET plastic carboy fermentor, a light secondary vessel with minimal headspace. Pros: - 5 Gallon size minimizes headspace for secondary conditioning - PET plastic will not shatter if it slips from wet hands - Light enough to carry to the fridge even when full of beer Cons: - Too small for primary on five gallon batches with active krausen - PET warps if exposed to hot cleaning water Details: https://homebrewcraft.com/product/B00HG64SLI As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.