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The Best Sprinkler Heads of 2024
Last updated: Mar 18, 2024Whether you’re a gardener by profession or just enjoy taking care of your lawn as a hobby, you know that watering and mowing your grounds is essential. Adequate watering ensures your greenery stays hydrated and flourishing, and sprinkler heads can save you both time and money on the watering process by doing most of the work for you. To help you figure out which one you should purchase, we’ve reviewed the best sprinkler heads available in 2024. We like the adjustable features and large coverage area of the Orbit Gear Drive sprinkler, but our reviews and buying guide will help you select the ideal option for your lawn care needs.
Our Top Picks
- Best Overall: Orbit Gear Drive Sprinkler Head Shop Now ➔
- Runner Up: Rain-Bird Rotor Sprinkler Head Shop Now ➔
- Honorable Mention: Hunter Rotor Sprinkler Heads Shop Now ➔
- Contender: Gilmour Pulsating Sprinkler Head Shop Now ➔
- Bosch Garden Impulse Sprinkler Head Shop Now ➔
View all ContentsThe Best Sprinkler Heads
Best Overall
This sprinkler head is a great option due to its versatility and ease of use. The product boasts large-area coverage, spraying up to 80 feet in diameter and covering 5,026 square feet at its fullest setting. The coverage is also adjustable, with collar tabs attached to shift spray from partial to full coverage as needed. The most unique selling point of this product is its versatility, featuring 7 different spray patterns in a variety of showers and angles. This versatility, along with its wide coverage area, earned this sprinkler head the top spot on our list.
Pros
- Large-area coverage
- Adjustable collar tabs
- Features 7 different spray patterns
Cons
- Could be more durable
Runner Up
Different from other sprinkler heads available on the market, the Rain-Bird 5000 sprinkler head features a pop-up rotary irrigation system designed for even and consistent spray. This is a great option for those looking for a self-sufficient model that can water from up to 50 feet, perfect for medium to large-sized lawns. The product’s easy installation is also another plus, due to its slip-clutch mechanism.
Pros
- Very good lawn coverage
- Easy installation of sprinkler heads
- Long-lasting and durable
Cons
- Difficult to prop upright for adjustments
Honorable Mention
These rotor sprinkler heads by Hunter are a great choice for those looking for a product that is long-lasting and well-built. The set comes with 4 sprinkler heads with a #7 nozzle pre-installed, which saves time as there is no added assembly required. In addition, the heads are full-circle adjustable and easy to replace. Each piece is made with high-quality materials and will easily last a decade before wearing down.
Pros
- Made with high-quality materials
- No assembly required
- Full-circle adjustable nozzles
Cons
- Preset flow rate can be limiting
Contender
If you’re searching for a larger high-pressure sprinkler head that is easy to operate, then the Gilmour pulsating sprinkler head is your best choice. It has a water coverage of up to 5,800 square feet and has the option of both partial and full coverage. It features a water-saving impulse arm which reduces back and side splash as well as a diffuser screw for easy water stream adjustment. This sprinkler head is well made and well built, with exceptional performance over long distances.
Pros
- Provides high pressure watering
- Water coverage ideal for longer distances
- Easy water stream adjustment
Cons
- On the pricier side compared to other products
The Bosch Garden impulse sprinkler head is a good buy for those looking for a product with more spray strength and longevity. Made of metal, it provides up to 5,800 square feet of coverage. It measures about ½ inch tall and does a full circle spray which is great for large areas.
Pros
- Good spray strength
- High coverage radius
- Made with durable materials
Cons
- Can be difficult to adjust the spray
A Buying Guide: Sprinkler Heads
A picture-perfect green lawn is every homeowner’s dream, but the lawn care that comes along with making this a reality can be a real challenge. To keep the inner gardening enthusiast in you satisfied, we’re here to help you choose the best sprinkler heads you can find in 2024. They’re a useful gardening gadget that helps save both time and money.
An essential part of any automated watering system, sprinkler heads come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and versions, each design performing its task differently. However, figuring out which sprinkler head to invest in can be a confusing task- which is why we have prepared this buying guide to help you make your decision with confidence.
Benefits of Sprinkler Heads
There are many benefits to installing sprinkler heads, all of which provide more reason to invest in them. Firstly, it saves time and money. With a sprinkler system installed, the sprinkler heads will do the watering for you regardless of how large your lawn is. These systems are often timed which will also reduce your water bill as the watering will only be done when necessary.
Another benefit of sprinkler heads is the safety they provide. Alternative options like garden hoses can carry the risk of small children tripping over them and facing injury. Sprinkler heads are both safe and discreet, especially if they are pop-up ones that disappear back into the ground. Lastly, sprinkler heads have the benefit of being automated, so they water your grounds even in your absence. This saves both time and personal effort.
Types of Sprinkler Heads
There are a number of different types of sprinkler heads available on the market, and it can be easy to get lost in the many features if you don’t know what you’re looking for. For the best experience, make sure your chosen sprinkler head fits all your necessary requirements.
Pop-up
One of the most popular choices when it comes to sprinkler heads, the pop-up feature can be very attractive for those who place great emphasis on lawn aesthetics. Pop-up models are designed in such a way that they pop up when in use and retract into the ground when dormant. This is useful in protecting the sprinkler head from any impact or damage.
Rotary sprinklers
Also known as rotary nozzles, rotary sprinklers have the unique feature of having a small rotor attached to the sprinkler. This allows for streams of water to rotate over the area to be irrigated. Usually operating at a higher pressure, these are great for those areas where a large space needs to be watered evenly.
Gear-driven sprinklers
Gear-driven sprinklers are the most common choice in most households, as they are affordable and low maintenance yet get the job done. These sprinkler heads come with adjustable gear drives which have a number of different spray patterns and pressures. If you are a homeowner looking for an easy first sprinkler head investment, then a gear-driven sprinkler head is your best choice.
Which Sprinkler Head Should I Install?
Every lawn area is different, and thus has a different ideal sprinkler head that is best suited for it. When searching for sprinkler heads, make sure to take into consideration the space that it will be watering, the type of terrain that is on the turf, and what kind of activities the space is often used for. All these factors will affect your ideal sprinkler head.
For smaller areas, pop-up sprinklers with spray patterns that are fixed are the best option. These sprinkler heads have limited spray distance, but that is fine for a small area. Pop-up sprinkler heads are more aesthetically pleasing, and with a fixed stream, they will function well in a small space. Pop-up sprinkler heads are also ideal for spaces that are used for recreational activities like sports, as they can be out of the way and allow for better utilization of space.
Larger areas should opt for gear-driven rotary sprinkler heads due to their large throw distance and multiple spray pattern functionality. Rotary sprinkler heads come in different forms according to yard shape as well, so make sure to keep that in mind when making your final purchase.
On the topic of installation, here’s a short yet informative video on how to replace your sprinkler head.
Parts of a Sprinkler Head
There are two main parts to a sprinkler head. One is the body and the other is the nozzle. Depending on the number of features the sprinkler head has, these parts are complex or simple. Often the sprinkler head body is adjusted onto a platform that is connected to the garden hose. In this way, once water passes through the hose, the nozzle will distribute the water as well.
Systems that are in-ground are built a bit differently but still function in a simple manner. For underground systems, the shape of the sprinkler head makes a difference in the overall construction. For example, pop-up sprinklers may require a wider base so that the head can easily retract and reappear. Other factors that may affect how a sprinkler head is built are water pressure, spray pattern versatility, and whether it has any rotary function.
People Also Asked
How high should my sprinkler head be?
Whenever you are installing any sprinkler head be sure to see what height the overall structure is at and if it is suitable both aesthetically and functionality-wise to your choosing. You should take notice of the soil level rather than the height of any vegetation. This will reduce the risk of people tripping over the sprinkler head as well as make it have a more even spray.
How many sprinkler heads do I need?
A well-watered lawn not only depends on the kind of sprinkler head it has installed but whether they are enough and evenly distributed throughout the area. To determine the number of sprinkler heads that will work best for you, you need to be aware of a few extra things. First, take note of your water supply. Over-installation of sprinkler heads can result in neither one functioning as it should, which will ultimately be detrimental to your garden’s health. Check your water supply’s pressure and through that make an assumption on your system’s gallons per minute. Then after installation check to see if head-to-head coverage is being achieved by the system and if all parts of the lawn are receiving even amounts of water.
How do I position my sprinkler heads?
For best coverage across your lawn area, make sure to place your sprinkler heads in a suitable pattern according to your area’s shape. For large rectangular spaces, placing sprinkler heads in squares is your best best. For smaller spaces, triangular positioning will also suffice. For any space, however, make sure the sprinkler heads are placed in all corners for even watering.
Are rotary sprinklers the better choice?
There is no particular sprinkler head that is the better choice than the other objectively. Whatever suits your lawn area is what you should focus on when making any purchase. As for rotary sprinklers, they are best for large wide areas that are mostly empty and require maximum coverage. A good estimate is that if your lawn is larger than 15 feet from one corner to the next and you have a decent water supply, then you should opt for rotary sprinklers. For spaces that are more curved or less conventionally shaped, then pop-up sprinkler heads are the better option.
Article Contributors
Read More About Garden Gate Review Team HereThe Garden Gate Review Team’s product reviews and in-depth guides are here to help you choose the best products for a beautiful and bountiful garden and backyard. The content is created by The Garden Gate Review Team. Garden Gate’s editorial staff is not involved. Garden Gate is reader-supported: When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. The Garden Gate Review Team is composed of authors, editors, and gardeners. Artificial Intelligence (large language models) may have been used in the research and creation of the content.
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