Five Feet From the Foundation: Best Downspout Extension and Splash Block Choices

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The best downspout extension carries roof water far enough from your house that it soaks into the yard instead of the soil against your basement wall. A downspout that dumps at the base of the foundation concentrates every storm’s runoff in one spot, and that’s a common setup for wet basements and washed-out beds.

We compared six options sold by Amazon.com or the brand’s own store: two flexible, extendable pipes, a roll-out sleeve and three splash blocks in plastic, resin and recycled rubber. For each, we quote what the listing says about length, fit for 2×3 and 3×4 downspouts, material and pack count, and we flag fields that are blank or don’t add up.

How far is far enough? The Department of Energy’s Building America Solution Center, citing EPA guidance, says downspouts should end at least 5 feet from the foundation. Use that as the yardstick as you read.

Our Top Downspout Extension Picks at a Glance

Price key: $ under $50 · $$ $50–$100 · $$$ $100–$175 · $$$$ $175+. Prices change often; check Amazon for today’s price.

1. plusgutter Flexible Extension, 2-Pack: Best Overall

plusgutter’s flexible downspout extension is a corrugated, accordion-style pipe that slips onto the bottom of a downspout and stretches out across the yard. Each pipe extends from 21 to 68 inches, and the pack includes two, so you can treat two downspouts or two corners of the house.

Fit is handled with adapters. Each extension comes with two different adapter sizes, which plusgutter says suit 2 x 3, 3 x 3 and 3 x 4 inch downspouts, and a split design lets you use the parts in different setups. The box holds two pipes, four adapters and eight screws; the screws fasten the adapter to the downspout so a hard rain doesn’t wash the extension off.

Day to day, you stretch the pipe to the length you need and bend it to steer water around a flower bed, a patio or a walkway. plusgutter says the pipe is made of thickened PE, bends easily and returns to shape without creases or cracks, and can even be buried. The brand also claims it has withstood at least 10 pounds without deforming in its load tests and calls it antifreeze and explosion proof for snow and sun. The listing cites several US design and utility patents.

It suits most homeowners with standard residential downspouts who want a neat, adjustable fix they can install without tools beyond a screwdriver, and who want to move water several feet out from the wall.

Why we like it

• Fits three common downspout sizes
• Bends around obstacles
• Screws included to stop wash-off

Watch out for

At its full 68 inches, one pipe reaches just under 6 feet by our math, so measure from the downspout to where you want the water to land.

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2. FEILAYDUN Flexible Extension, 2-Pack: Best Flexible Extension for a Longer Run

FEILAYDUN’s flexible downspout extension is a two-pack of stretchable pipes with screw-on adapters. Each pipe extends from 20 to 66 inches. Its twist is a mini connector: join the two pipes end to end, and the listing says the run reaches up to 127 inches, which the title rounds to 10 feet.

Materials are spelled out. FEILAYDUN says the adapter is made of upgraded ABS injection molding for strength and crack resistance, and the pipe is PE, described as having no creases, holes or cracks. The extension fits most residential downspouts, with the listing naming 2 x 3, 3 x 3 and 3 x 4 inch sizes, and extra screws are included so you can fix the adapter to the downspout and keep rain from washing it away.

Installation needs no cutting or trimming. You stretch the pipe, rotate and tighten it onto the adapter, then set the length and shape you want. Reserved holes in the adapter are meant to make mounting easier. Like the other flexible picks, it can be bent around landscaping or buried, according to the listing. FEILAYDUN states a one-year warranty period in the bullets.

It suits a home where one downspout drains toward a patio, a basement window or a low corner, and a single 5-foot pipe would still leave the water too close to the wall.

Why we like it

• Two pipes join for a longer run
• Stated one-year warranty
• Screws and connector included

Watch out for

Joining the pipes uses both pieces on one downspout, so you’d need a second pack to treat another corner.

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3. Frost King DE300 Drain Away Extender: Best Roll-Out Extension

Frost King’s DE300 Drain Away is a flat, green plastic sleeve that attaches to the end of a downspout and lies rolled up near the wall. The listing says it unrolls automatically when it rains, carrying water away from the foundation, and that you roll it back up manually once it’s dry.

Reach is the reason to buy it. The listing gives its measurements as 12 feet by 7 inches, so a single piece lays a long path for water across the lawn without joints or connectors. Installation is described as easy, with no tools needed. The sleeve is plastic, and the green color is meant to blend with grass when it’s unrolled.

Day to day, the roll-out design means the sleeve sits out of the way between storms, so it is less of an obstacle when you mow or walk past. During rain, it fills and stretches across the yard. Because it is a thin sleeve rather than a rigid pipe, it’s best laid where nobody needs to walk, and you will want to check after storms that it unrolled fully and didn’t kink or blow sideways.

It suits homeowners who want the longest reach for very little money, renters who need a quick fix they can remove at move-out, and anyone testing whether more distance solves a damp-corner problem before buying something permanent.

Why we like it

• 12 feet of reach in one piece
• Very low cost
• Stays rolled up between storms

Watch out for

The listing doesn’t say which downspout sizes it fits, so measure the outlet before ordering.

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4. Suncast Downspout Splash Block: Best Budget Splash Block

Suncast’s Easy Assembly Downspout Splash Block is a molded poly composite tray that sits on the ground under a downspout. Water lands in the tray instead of digging a hole in the soil, and the tray’s slope sends it outward, away from the wall.

The listing is short and direct. Suncast says the block is highly durable, is made in the United States, needs no anchoring and is used to guard against foundation water damage. The specs give it as 21.25 x 10.5 x 2 inches and 1.12 pounds, and the light taupe color is meant to sit quietly next to siding, stone or mulch. The title lists a single splash block.

Day to day, a splash block is the lowest-effort option: set it under the outlet, check that it slopes away from the house, and leave it. It also works at the end of a longer pipe, where the water would otherwise scour the soil. Because it is light, check after big storms that it hasn’t shifted out from under the downspout.

It suits homeowners who already have reasonable grading away from the house and simply want to stop the splash and erosion at the base of a downspout, or who need a landing pad at the end of an extension.

Why we like it

• Made in USA
• Nothing to install
• Neutral color

Watch out for

About 21 inches long, it moves water less than 2 feet on its own, well short of the 5-foot guideline.

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5. EMSCO 24″ Granite Splash Block, 4-Pack: Best Decorative Splash Block

EMSCO Group’s 24-inch decorative splash block comes in a four-pack and has a natural stone texture in a granite finish. Each block sits under a downspout and channels the water away from the wall, and EMSCO says it helps prevent washouts and potential foundation or landscape damage from runoff.

Despite the look, the blocks are plastic. EMSCO describes a composite blend of premium polymers and a durable resin construction, and the listing says it is made from polyethylene with a realistic stone look. Because it isn’t concrete or stone, the brand points out that it is lightweight and easy to install. The specs give each block as 24.25 x 11.25 x 2 inches.

EMSCO also says the block speeds the removal of rainwater overflow and reduces the risk of standing water becoming a breeding ground for insects and mosquitoes. The listing calls it American made and describes EMSCO as the American manufacturer that invented the plastic snow shovel and has sold products since 1865. Those are the brand’s claims.

It suits homeowners with three or four downspouts along a visible side of the house, such as the front walk or a patio, who want the job done without bright plastic trays in view.

Why we like it

• Four blocks in one box
• Stone look
• Light to carry and place

Watch out for

Like any splash block, it moves water only about 2 feet; pair it with an extension where the ground slopes toward the house.

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6. Sekcen Rubber Splash Block, 2-Pack: Best Heavy-Duty Splash Block

Sekcen’s rubber downspout splash blocks are trays made from recycled tire rubber, sold in a two-pack. Each one sits under a downspout outlet and uses a slope to direct and spread water away from the foundation, which Sekcen says prevents soil erosion and mud splatter.

Material is the point. Sekcen says recycled tire rubber is designed to withstand extreme weather without cracking or decomposing, a different approach from the plastic and resin blocks most stores carry. The brand also says the slope design minimizes standing water on the tray itself. The specs give each block as 22 x 10 x 2 inches.

Installation is as simple as it gets: place the block under the downspout and let the water run off it. Sekcen says no stakes or anchoring are needed and describes it as durable but lightweight, so it is easy to move when you mow or edge. The gray finish is meant to blend with siding, concrete and gravel.

It suits homeowners who have had plastic splash blocks crack in freeze-thaw cycles, or who want a softer, heavier-feeling tray near a walkway or patio edge. Because each block is only 22 inches long, it also works well as the landing pad at the end of a flexible extension.

Why we like it

• Recycled rubber
• No stakes needed
• Two blocks per pack

Watch out for

The listing doesn’t give a weight, so “stays put” rests on the material, not a stated number.

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How We Chose the Best Downspout Extensions

We limited our picks to products in stock and sold by Amazon.com or the brand’s own store, one per brand, and compared what each listing actually states:

• Reach: extended length in inches or feet, and whether pieces can be joined.
• Fit: which downspout sizes (2×3, 3×3, 3×4) the adapters suit, and whether screws are included.
• Type and material: flexible PE pipe, roll-out plastic sleeve, or splash block in plastic, resin or rubber.
• Pack count and size: how many pieces come in the box and the listed dimensions.
• Seller, warranty and rank: who sells it, the warranty field and Amazon sales rank.

All six picks fall in our lowest price tier, so price wasn’t a deciding factor; reach and fit were.

Downspout Extension Buying Guide

Best Downspout Extender for Basement Protection: How Far to Go

The Department of Energy’s Building America Solution Center guide to gutters and downspouts, citing EPA Indoor airPLUS, says downspouts should terminate at least 5 feet from the foundation, or drain to an underground catchment system at least 10 feet away. It also warns against connecting gutter drain pipe to a perforated foundation drain, because that soaks the foundation. By our math, the plusgutter (68 inches) and FEILAYDUN (66 inches) each clear 5 feet at full stretch, the FEILAYDUN reaches about 10.6 feet with both pipes joined, and the Frost King reaches 12 feet.

Best Flexible Downspout Extension

Flexible pipes stretch, bend around beds and steps, and can be buried, according to both the plusgutter and FEILAYDUN listings. Both name 2 x 3, 3 x 3 and 3 x 4 inch downspouts, and both include screws to hold the adapter on. Measure your downspout before ordering: the outlet size, not the gutter size, decides the fit.

Best Roll Out Downspout Extension

A roll-out sleeve like the Frost King DE300 stays coiled near the wall and, per the listing, unrolls when it rains. It gives the most reach for the money but is a thin sleeve, so it belongs on lawn, not across a walkway, and needs rolling back up by hand.

Best Downspout Splash Block

A splash block stops the hole a downspout digs and nudges water outward, but none of the three here is longer than about 2 feet. The Building America guide describes a splash block placed at the end of the lateral pipe as a way to help control erosion at that spot. So a splash block works best under a downspout where the ground already slopes away, or as the landing pad at the end of an extension.

Heavy Duty Downspout Extension Materials

Material choices among our picks: PE pipe with ABS adapters (FEILAYDUN), thickened PE (plusgutter), a plastic sleeve (Frost King), poly composite (Suncast), polyethylene resin with a stone texture (EMSCO) and recycled tire rubber (Sekcen). Load and weather claims, such as plusgutter’s 10 pounds without deformation, are the brands’ own figures. Whatever you choose, check after storms that the extension is still attached and pointing downhill.

Gutters, Grading and the Rest of Your Water Plan

An extension only moves what the gutter delivers. Clogged gutters overflow before water ever reaches the downspout, so pair extensions with clean gutters or a gutter guard. In winter, ice dams can block gutters entirely; our roof de-icing cable guide covers that problem. Inside, a sump pump and a water leak detector are the backstops if water still finds the basement. For bigger storms, read preparing your Ohio home for flooding.

Seepage, Flooding and Your Insurance

Water that seeps through a basement wall after rain and water from a flood are often handled very differently by insurance, and standard homeowners policies and flood policies are separate products. Don’t assume either is covered: ask your agent how your policy treats surface water and seepage, and whether flood insurance makes sense for your address. Our guides to flood insurance in Portsmouth, Ohio and the Ohio homeowners insurance guide explain the basics.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best downspout extension for most homes?

The plusgutter flexible extension 2-pack is our top pick. It ranks #1 in Amazon’s Downspouts category, each pipe extends from 21 to 68 inches, and it includes two adapter sizes for 2×3, 3×3 and 3×4 downspouts plus screws to hold them on.

How far should a downspout extension reach from the foundation?

The DOE Building America Solution Center, citing EPA Indoor airPLUS, says downspouts should terminate at least 5 feet from the foundation, or drain to an underground catchment system at least 10 feet away. Check your local code too.

Is a splash block enough on its own?

Often not. The splash blocks here are about 21 to 24 inches long, so they move water roughly 2 feet. They help control erosion under a downspout or at the end of an extension, but they fall short of the 5-foot guideline alone.

What is the best roll out downspout extension?

The Frost King DE300 measures 12 feet by 7 inches, the longest single piece on our list. Its listing says it unrolls automatically when it rains and rolls back up by hand when dry, and it installs without tools.

Can a flexible downspout extension be buried?

Both flexible picks say so. plusgutter says “You can even bury it in the ground,” and FEILAYDUN says its extension “can be buried in the ground.” Keep the pipe sloping away from the house so water doesn’t sit in it.

The Bottom Line

For most homes, the plusgutter flexible extension is the best downspout extension to start with: it fits common downspout sizes and stretches to nearly 6 feet. The FEILAYDUN two-pack joins for a run over 10 feet, and the Frost King DE300 rolls out to 12 feet for very little money. For erosion control under the outlet, the Suncast block is the simple choice, the EMSCO four-pack adds a stone look, and the Sekcen rubber blocks suit anyone tired of cracked plastic. Aim for at least 5 feet of reach, then let a splash block catch the end.

Not sure how your policy treats basement seepage versus flooding? Call Jeff Smith’s State Farm office at (740) 354-7747 or request a free coverage review.