The 10 Best Sprinkler Heads for Lawn in 2024

Sprinkler might seem like not a big deal, but choosing the wrong one will show you why it’s one. On the other hand, choosing the right one will make you forget about it.

I hope you already knew that, and maybe that’s why you’re on this page trying to find the best sprinkler head for your lawn or garden.

Well, sprinklers might seem like a very straightforward machine, but sometimes they’re not. There are tricky things about sprinklers that could fool you. Listen to my words – choosing the best sprinkler head is not the easiest job out there.

There are catchy and feature-packed products on the market that works like shit- like the BESTRY-US Lawn Sprinkler, and then there are simple looking products that are gem-like the Rain Bird PJDAC Brass impact sprinkler.

It’s not easy for a newcomer to differentiate between the catchy shit ones and the subtle good ones. That’s why here’s the list of sprinkler heads for lawn, with a short review of each.

Pick any of these according to your watering requirements and you won’t lose.

PRODUCTFEATURES
Melnor XT Turbo

Melnor XT Turbo

• Oscillating sprinkler type
• Waters up to 4,500 sq.ft.
• Dimension: 6.65 x 17.32 x 3.46"
Price Please
Rain Bird 25PJDAC

Rain Bird 25PJDAC

• Impact sprinkler type
• 20' - 41' Spray distance.
• Dimension: 2 x 6 x 8 inches
Price Please
Hunter PGP Ultra

Hunter PGP Ultra

• Rotor sprinkler heads type
• 20' - 25' Spray distance.
• Dimension: 13.5 x 3 x 8 inches
Price Please
No products found.

Rainbird Part/Full Circle

• Rotor pop-up sprinkler
• Good coverage
• Dimension: 2.5 x 2.5 x 9.3 inches
No products found.
Orbit 62100

Orbit 62100

• Oscillating sprinkler type
• 1600 square feet of protective coverage from a single unit.
• Dimension: 10 x 5 x 24.5 inches
Price Please
Orbit 56667N

Orbit 56667N

• Impact sprinkler type
• Waters up to 5670 sq.ft.
• Dimension: 4.5 x 4.6 x 16.75 inches
Price Please
Melnor 3900H

Melnor Impact Lawn

• Impact sprinkler type
• Waters up to 5600 sq.ft.
• Dimension: 8 x 10 x 9 inches
Price Please
Buyplus Lawn Sprinkler

Buyplus Lawn Sprinkler

• Automatic 360 Rotating
• Waters up to 3600 sq.ft.
• Dimension: 9.5 x 8.5 x
4.5 inches
Price Please
Orbit 55662 Voyager II

Orbit 55662 Voyager II

• Rotor Sprinkler Spray
• 40-360 degree spray
• Dimension: 20 x 12 x 8 inches
Price Please
Hunter PGP Ultra 4 pack

Hunter PGP Ultra 4 pack

• Rotor sprinkler heads
• 50-360 degree spray
• Dimension: 10.5 x 3 x 8 inches
Price Please

Best Sprinkler Heads, 2022

Here are the reviews of the top 10 sprinkler heads which we have chosen after analyzing the best in the market.

01. Melnor XT4200M XT Metal Oscillating Lawn Sprinkler

Melnor XT4200M

 

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The first place of the list is occupied by the Melnor XT4200M XT metal oscillating lawn sprinkler which probably is the best in its class of best oscillating sprinklers. This one has an amazing innovative design that gives you the world of control over adjustment.

Coverage & Adjustability

This metal oscillating sprinkler with flow control offers an adjustable coverage of up to 4,500 sq. ft. So whether your yard is small, large, or somewhere in the middle…this sprinkler has you covered!

There are other goods too about this sprinkler but the best thing about this sprinkler is the adjustability it offers which we all need to some extent.

And the credit for that goes to the design of it. The sprinkler is an awesome design, hands down. I have to confess that  I loved the way the sprinkler adjusted easily and I think I can’t find anything that looks like it would work better.

So basically with the help of TwinTouch controls, you can adjust the range and width of the watering pattern to cover a narrow flower bed or the whole yard. So you make sure to water in the exact pattern you need and keep the water off the driveway.

Zoom Control

Another adjustability feature you get is the zoom control that adjusts the overall watering area. You can shrink down to a small section of a garden, maybe of a newly seeded lawn, or expand it out to cover the front lawn.

A little Concern

However, though the sprinkler offers a various range of adjustability, the process of doing so is not the smoothest all the time. When it comes to oscillation, it kinda lags at near end strokes leaving slight heavier watered areas, which many oscillating sprinklers do.

It’s kind of a “jerky” transition when it comes to rotation of gears to the return pattern.

Also, when adjusting the width of the spray, it does require some effort even when you’re doing it right. And those levers or arms that are used to adjust the width, must be treated with kid gloves as they could be prone to breaking sometimes…

However, these did not feel like any major issue to me given that the benefit I’m enjoying in return for this little effort and care. They’re not a deal-breaker for me, but I thought I should let you judge for yourself, so mentioned.

Nozzles & Infinity Turbo Drive

So for other features, the sprinkler has 20 precision nozzles that provide maximum coverage of large lawns or gardens up to 4,200 sq. ft.

Another highlighting feature of this sprinkler is the Infinity Turbo Drive that does two things at once – provides a smooth movement for even watering which ensures an extended lifespan as a result of even pressure everywhere.

Build Quality is Good, But…

Alright, the sprinkler isn’t flawless, despite offering such features. One thing I regret about this one is the build quality. After spending so much on a sprinkler and seeing such awesome features you must think this one is one sturdy of a machine, but I warn you to not think so.

Before explaining its problems, I’m telling you the solution for that – Do not go by the features or price of this sprinkler, rather treat the levers or arms like cheap plastic so you’ll handle them with care, and you won’t have any issue with this.

Otherwise, the levers that are used to adjust the width of the spray, is quite prone to breaking as I already mentioned. These are the plastic pieces you can see in the middle of the black sprinkler tube.

If you accidentally break it, it’ll still stay functional, but you won’t enjoy the width adjustment feature anymore. Rather it’ll stay stuck to whatever adjustment you made the time before the plastic pieces broke.

So reminder again – treat the adjusters like cheap brittle plastic and it’s not a bad little sprinkler.

Save It From Dust

However, this sprinkler could be a little vulnerable to dust too so I recommend disconnect the sprinkler and bring it inside anytime when it’s not in use, which will protect it from sun, dust, and freezing. Many got longer service life from the sprinkler head in this way.

So for the bottom line on the Melnor XT4200M sprinkler, I’ll say that great idea and design has been put into it, with a bad choice of material for the adjusters only, not the body though – it’s metal there. I think I’d be ready to pay double for an ALL METAL version of it, considering the convenience it provides.

Pros
  • TwinTouch control for width and length adjustment
  • Unique zoom control from shrinking down or widening up
  • Powerful and steady, Operates quietly
  • Infinity Turbo Drive ensures smooth watering
  • Covers a large area of 4200 sq. ft
Cons
  • Plastic construction of the adjuster
  • Price could seem on the higher side for a sprinkler head

02. Rain Bird 25PJDAC Brass Impact Sprinkler

Rain Bird 25PJDAC

 

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If you’re picky about the material of your sprinkler, you might not be very happy with the Melnor XT4200, but I can guarantee that you’d be more than happy with the Rain Bird 25PDJAC brass impact sprinkler.

Being made of brass, bronze, and stainless steel, it lasts and looks elegant at the same time. It’s also a traditional favorite with the classic impact sound it emits which assures you that your yard is getting the water it needs for healthy growth.

Coverage & Adjustability

The sprinkler covers up to 5200 square feet area which is quite a big number. It also features infinite pattern adjustment that lets you water a full circle of 360 degrees or part circle 20 to 340 degrees pattern.

There’s an adjustable deflector flap on it that allows you to adjust the stream length from 20 to 41′ radius. So you can use this piece to water the smallest to the biggest lands.

The white bronze, heavy-duty die-cast spray arm felt quite easy to adjust to me and it produces a controlled stream that prevents side splash onto walkways and buildings. With such a mechanism, you can assure minimal water wastage.

And what’s more is just do a simple twist of the diffuser screw to break up the sprinkler stream, which makes the watering process uniform and creates larger or smaller water droplets depending on preference.

Handles Dirty Water Well

The sprinkler features a straight-through water flow design. It was great it handling dirty water too. So in scarcity, you can take the chance to use water from irrigation canals, ponds, or even use water with high mineral content.

And as I said earlier, I kind of love the classical impact sound that the sprinkler emits which assures me that my yard is getting the water it needs for healthy growth.

Best in Class Build

If we have to talk about the build quality, I’d say it one of the best in its class, if not the best. This for me is the best sprinkler head for handling water pressure, and the credit goes to the high-quality material it’s built from.

The brass, bronze, and stainless steel build not only makes it more durable than almost any other sprinkler head but also makes it look the most elegant of ‘em all.

Usually, the non-plastic sprinkler is made of Zinc which is a so-so material for a sprinkler head. Yes, it’ll deliver decent performance to last for quite a few days but this elegant build of this particular model outperforms it by quite a margin.

So if you’re not fond of shopping too often or replacing sprinkler systems now and then, this is the go-to sprinkler head for ya.

Don’t Go by the Looks

Now, if you’re setting up a new irrigation system at home, there’s a good chance that you might get scared of the grunge-looking design of this piece. Don’t worry, it’s fooling you.

It was quite easy for me to set this up for two main reasons – First, you get a pre-assembled unit when you order one, so you do not have to go through the assembly of complex parts for the sprinkler to work properly.

Second, thanks to high gallonage output 1/2″ male pipe thread outlet connection that makes for easy installation of risers. The threaded connector on its inlet is also quite great because it fits snugly on all hoses or irrigation tubes.

Pros
  • Durable build of steel, bronze, and brass
  • Threaded water connections
  • Adjustable spray distance
  • Easy installation
  • Infinite pattern adjustments
Cons
  • Doesn’t perform great with lower water pressure.
  • Could leak sometimes which you have to fix

03. Hunter PGP Ultra Rotor Sprinkler Heads

Hunter PGP Ultra

 

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Reliable, quite easily adjustable, and easy to install – that’s what I’d say to start with the Hunter PGP ultra rotor sprinkler heads. They’re one of the best in the business when it comes to rotor sprinkler heads.

Coverage

Rotor heads are more efficient when it comes to covering a large area, given that sufficient water pressure is there. So you can stay quite assured that these sprinkler heads will let you water a significant area at once when you use it.

Pack of Five

I tell “these sprinkler heads” because this comes as a pack of five hunter PGP ultra heads. Nobody, either way, gets the job done with one head.

Being a pack of five, it’s still quite cheaper than many single sprinkler heads out there, so it’s a great value to start with. The heads feature an adjustable arc and a 2.5 nozzle.

Along with great coverage, the heads offer full-circle adjustment from 50 to 360 degrees. So you have the freedom to choose which area to water.

Pre-Installed Nozzles

All the heads come with nozzle pre-installed on them so do not have to take a lot of time when it comes to setting up the sprinklers. This is not a very easy job, to be honest, so I’d thank Hunter for making our life easier, especially on behalf of the ‘non-machine-savvy” dudes.

You get an adjuster tool in each pack of five. The tool helps you change the spray length and shape quite easily. And the heads allow for easy change of nozzles, so you get the option to customize water flow based on location.

But the fact that whether it comes with interchangeable nozzles or not is debatable. I say debatable because when I purchased the pack, I got a set of interchangeable nozzles for each sprinkler head.

But in recent times I saw some people telling that they didn’t get any of those extra nozzles. So I suggest you do some research or reach out to the seller to know if they still provide those extra nozzles or not.

If they do, you’re in luck. But if they don’t, I suggest purchasing an extra pack by yourself as they’re not super expensive yet gives you the great freedom of customization.

Dirty Water Performance

All the heads are quite efficient when it comes to dealing with dirty water. They have an improved dirty-water tolerance mechanism on the gear drive.

So you have the opportunity to get away with watering with dirty water on a couple of occasions. It hopefully will not get jammed. And also, the trap in the bottom to collect/screen debris is also easy to remove and rinse.

Although there isn’t much when it comes to assembling or installing the heads, there’s still an instruction guide included in the pack. Though it wasn’t of much use for me, the ultra-machine-noobs will find it useful I guess lol.

Little Issues

Anyways, if I have to talk about any real issues about the heads, it’s the concern that whenever you want to max-out the range (which is one of its strengths), you may wind up with a solid stream that doesn’t ensure adequate coverage between the watering perimeter and the sprinkler.

Yeah, you can deal with that by adjusting the spray screw that adds coverage, but it eventually decreases range. So you’ll have to manage with it and find a sweet spot between long enough range and adequate coverage.

Pros
  • A complete package that is ready to use.
  • Good built, reliable!
  • Economical with water use.
  • Deals greatly with dirty water.
  • A set of interchangeable nozzles provide freedom of customization
  • Quite easy to change the spray shape and length
Cons
  • You need to find yourself the sweet spot between range and coverage

04. Rainbird Part/Full Circle Maxi-Paw Rotor Pop-Up Sprinkler

No products found.

 

No products found.

We all know, the more sugar you put, the sweeter it gets. Most of the sprinkler heads out there follow this principle too. The more water pressure you give them, the more coverage they give you.

But those guys who can’t afford that, what will they do?

Good Coverage at a Low Water Pressure

Alright, I think I’ve been dramatic enough the point is the next sprinkler on my list, The Rainbird maxi-paw rotor pop-up sprinkler is one that works great even with low pressure too. It provides far better coverage than most other sprinkler heads even with a lack of water pressure.

Rainbird has been quite a name in the irrigation industry. They’re known for building sturdy and effective and efficient tools and this sprinkler has all of it. They’re efficient with water, have an effective design, and they last – maybe for another 20 or more years after your purchase.

So, if I had to elaborate on the biggest advantage that this sprinkler offers is the functionality with low water pressure. This item has an effective and unique design which helps to gain this advantage. A good piece of engineering was put into it.

These heads work much better than the single stream units available out there. They provide far better coverage than any other type of sprinkler. People that can’t fancy high water pressure now have something to cheer about.

Adjustability

This unit offers good adjustability too. You can adjust the distance according to your needs by turning in the diffuser screw and also by playing with the size of nozzles. It adjusts easily and works perfectly.

Extra Nozzles You Can Buy

Talking of the nozzles, I wish this item came with a set of interchangeable nozzles, but they don’t. It’s good that they sell it separately at least, better than having to tweak the option at all.

You can purchase five interchangeable, color-coded (red, black, blue, yellow, and tan –  ordered smallest to largest) MPR nozzles with standard trajectory. The blue one comes preinstalled on the heads which are bigger than the other nozzles.

There are two interchangeable low angles (LA) nozzles available as well to purchase which are easy to adjust and service. When you need to achieve distance, you may use one of these nozzles which will spray water in a lower angle to get maximum distance.

You also don’t need any tool to change the nozzles. Just rotate the nozzle 1/4 turn and pull straight out to get it free from the head.

I recommend purchasing those extra sets of nozzles to enjoy the maximum adjustability features of this head. However, purchasing them are not good enough, you need to play around with those for a while to understand their game.

When you’re watering different size areas, and you want to make sure one area doesn’t get watered twice by two heads, you need to put a smaller nozzle like the black or red one, on the head that is covering the bigger area. There are few other tweaks like this which you’ll understand by yourself once you step in the playground.

Built to Last

And as said earlier, this is a sturdy unit that to some people I know, gave more than 25 trouble-free years of service and still going strong. I haven’t had such a great lifespan but they were great nevertheless.

However, there are some wimpy joints out there that look a little vulnerable and should be handled with care. Otherwise, this item does not require much maintenance.

Also, this sprinkler has a straight-through flow mechanism for superior performance in dirty water.

And there’s nothing really to talk about the installation of this unit, it’s straight as an arrow. Very straightforward, very easy, maybe digging will feel to be the hardest part to you about installing the unit.

There’s no real downside of the sprinkler. But you need to stay careful with this unit in some concern. For example, if you damage, break or lose the lid, this sprinkler might die soon, or lose its rotating ability, to say the least.

The insides are going to be filled up with leaves, grass clippings, dirt, etc and it might cease to rotate, or on some occasions, the impact portion is gonna get jammed and it will just spray out without moving. The lid could be considered as the weak point of this sprinkler.

Pros
  • Works great even with low water pressure
  • Provides better coverage
  • Nozzles offer freedom of adjustability
  • A sprinkler that lasts
Cons
  • The lid needs to be handled with care
  • No interchangeable nozzle set comes included

05. Orbit 62100 Yard Enforcer Motion Activated Sprinkler

Orbit 62100

 

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If you’re a guy who likes to enjoy two benefits from one product, the Orbit 62100 Yard Enforcer motion-activated sprinkler is going to please you. This is more of a protective device for your garden, less of an actual sprinkler.

This device might seem to be a little bit out of context, but I thought gardeners who look to water their garden with the best sprinkler out there for better growth of plants, would like to protect those as well, which one of these sprinklers among the other regular sprinklers could do efficiently.

Motion-Activated Sprinkler

This is a  motion-activated sprinkler that combines water, sound, motion, and ingenuity as a defense to your landscape. They deter birds, cats, dogs, deer, opossums skunks, and other similar pests and animals without hurting them.

Now, though this is a protector-first device, it’s smart enough to get done with the watering job as well. It has a 30-minute watering cycle that enables it to function as a timed sprinkler. So you can avoid the hassle of switching out the enforcer for a sprinkler every time you have to water the lawn.

And this sprinkler sprays up to 70 feet in diameter, covering 3,840 square feet when it is set to a full circle.

You also have the option to increase the water enforcement area. All you have to do it connect an additional impact sprinkler that you can buy separately. This has a dual flow-through port mechanism which is controlled by the valve. You can also link the additional enforcer through the flow-through outlet to get more coverage.

Powerful Infrared Sensor

It’s equipped with a powerful infrared sensor that has a wide viewing angle of 120 degrees and can detect intruders from up to 40 feet away, which means you get 1600 square feet of protective coverage from one single unit.

The sensor is quite intelligent too. It does detect intruders equally efficiently at night too, and effectively learns the difference between tree limbs blowing in the wind versus animals, so your water will not activate every time the wind blows.

However, you need to position the sprinkler and the sensor smartly, towards the direction where the pest enters the yard so that you can chase them away before they reach the plants. The sensor unit can be positioned according to needs – angled up for larger animals and birds, or angled down for smaller animals.

The sprinkler is quite stable in the lawn too. Press the spike into the turf or soil to firmly hold the sprinkle in place.

Three Detection Modes

Another standout feature of this deterrent sprinkler that probably no other similar unit offers is the three detection modes. You can keep it functional for a specific period of time automatically.

You can use them only during daylight hours, or only during the nighttime, or 24 hours, the freedom to choose is in your hand. Keep it functional only when you need it. Looking to protect the garden only at night and don’t want it to spray on human visitors during the day? “Night only” mode is there for you to do exactly that.

However, there’s not any major downside to talk about. But I don’t like the manufacturing of plastic parts. They’re not greatly built. And also, the sensor is not quite as efficient as detecting small animals as larger ones.

Pros
  • Intelligent sensing
  • Three detection modes
  • Waters like a regular sprinkler in need
  • Expandable coverage option
  • The best sprinkler out there when it comes to deterrent ones
Cons
  • Plastic parts are not well built
  • Sensing concerning smaller animals could’ve been better

06. Orbit 56667N Zinc Impact Sprinkler on Tripod Base

Orbit 56667N

 

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The Orbit 56667N Zinc impact sprinkler is for them that we’re looking for something off the ground. Many are not huge fans of the sprinklers that are dug into the ground.

They’ll find this package quite handy that includes Orbit 56667 Zinc impact sprinkler that sits on a tripod base and is great for watering large areas.

Coverage & Adjustability

Talking of coverage area, this sprinkler can spray up to 85 to 90 feet in diameter and thus covers 5,670 square feet when set to a full circle. The sprinkler is powerful in the first place and added that with the tripod base, it can cover such area by one unit.

You can also adjust the coverage area like you can do with most other sprinkler heads out there. You can set it to water in a partial area only or the whole circle with 360° watering.

It offers the freedom to change the spray distance radius anywhere from 20 to 42 feet and also alter the stream. There’s the deflector shield and diffuser screw to that’ll let you do that.

There’s this anti backsplash arm in it that helps the sprinkler to spray water in the desired direction and inconsistent pattern.

Also, you can break up the water stream to create smaller or larger water droplets with just a simple twist of the diffuser screw. This can be very useful when you have to water newly born plants vs. matured plants.

Tripod Base

The tripod base of this package is the most redeeming feature of this model. It connects quite easily to a standard 5/8-inch garden hose by a gooseneck attachment.

Having the freedom to get the sprinkler up from the ground on the tripod base clears the bushes so they can be watered from above. And the height of the base is adjustable too. You can set it from 16 to 37 and a half inches as per your requirement.

If you think you need to reach the furthest corner, consider setting it in a higher position. Do the opposite when you have to water nearby areas. The good thing is it also retracts to a very small size when you need to store it.

Resilient to Dirty Water

This sprinkler offers quite great resilience to dirty water too. It’s not afraid of dirty or reclaimed water from ponds and canals passing through it and it still ensures a clog-resistant uninterrupted water flow.

Build Quality

Coming to the build quality of the package, the sprinkler head is made of Zinc while the tripod base is all metal, and they’re both good enough to serve you for seasons. The all-metal construction holds you up against typical wear and tear.

However, I suggest you do not just set-it-and-forget-it. Just have an eye on the sprinkler from time to time to ensure it’s doing okay. If not, consider that minor fix. I’ve heard complaints that people who didn’t take care of it had to face issues.

Pros
  • Great coverage
  • Offers good adjustability
  • The tripod base’s height can be adjusted
  • Good dirty water performance
Cons
  • Durability issue might show up if not well taken care of

07. Melnor Impact Lawn Sprinkler

Melnor Impact

 

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Have you heard of any sprinkler that promises to stay with you as long as you own your home? Well, Melnor promises similar – I know that might be a bit of an exaggeration but it is well built and stays with you- that true.

Melnor is a very reputable name when it comes to producing lawn and garden watering products in North America. They’ve built their brand value through their products, they’re not a fluke.

If you want the sprinkler to count on several years from now, this pulsating sprinkler from the Melnor heritage line is a good option to consider for you.

Coverage & Adjustability

The impact sprinkler has good coverage too. You can get a coverage of 5,600 square feet in a circular shape with the maximum radius being 42.5 feet. And there’s this adjustable deflector flap that adjusts spray distance from 40 to 85 diameters.

However, if that’s not enough and you need even more coverage, I’ve got some in house tricks for ya. But only if you’re familiar with machines, consider trying this, otherwise, you may damage your unit and might have to visit the local repair shop.

So carefully take off the nozzle tip, you’ll find a black plastic diffuser type thing there. That’s one kind of a water-saving device that usually stays in the bottom-most threaded part of other sprinkler heads.

Now rake in there, and get it out. But be careful not to mess up with the threads on the body. Successfully doing this will make your sprinkler throw the water to 50-60 feet which is a very big improvement for coverage.

You can choose a vast waterable area as this unit adjusts to water anywhere between 20 degrees to 360 degrees. For smaller watering jobs, you have the option to lower the stream to cut the spray radius down.

The diffuser pin on it allows you to customize the spray from a gentle mist to a powerful jet, as per the requirement of watering. With such capacity and versatility offered from the unit, you are likely to be able to cover most common yard sizes and different shapes in just a couple of passes.

If you own a large yard and you want to keep it green for a long time to come, this sprinkler head is one to consider for you…

Build Quality

Coming to the build quality, the sprinkler is built of durable, non-corrosive, and all-metal parts that last for quite some time. The base seemed to be constructed of durable metal to me that is heavily coated and sealed in black enamel to avoid rust.

The sprinkler apparatus and hose coupling are made of brass, which is a metal I very much cherish in sprinkler heads as they’re is known to hold up indefinitely to weather.

Melnor is quite confident of their sprinkler that’s why they’re backing up their product with a 7-year warranty, which is more than you’d expect.

Little Flaws

However, the unit is not flawless at all. The building issue with this unit is the metal where the hose connects is a bit vulnerable unlike other parts of the base. That part is prone to getting a crack over time. It’ll not break, but I’d prefer not to look it like broken as well.

Another issue is with the thumbscrew that holds and controls the water deflector. The inset of it could loosen up over time and makes it difficult to tighten it up. You might need the help of a little pair of pliers.

Pros
  • Well built
  • Great coverage by default, the tweak will get you even more
  • Value for money with the price tag
Cons
  • A little build issue in the base
  • Thumbscrew tightens up with time

08. Lawn Sprinkler, Automatic 360 Rotating Adjustable Garden Sprinkler

Buyplus Lawn Sprinkler

 

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The next best sprinkler in my list is Tomky’s automatic 360-degree rotating adjustable lawn sprinkler. You’d be quite surprised to know that it comes with a patented design – and that’s quite a thing for a “lawn sprinkler”.

Tomky has put good engineering behind it and they have belief in their produced little piece of machinery. And for good reason too. This item has special engineering to maintain a stable water pressure of 60 PSI. They want to have this unique feature reserved to themselves, and thus they’ve patented it.

Decent Coverage

This unit has decent coverage too. It can cover up to 3400 square feet and it has a spray distance of 26 to 32.8 feet.  And as I said it has the mechanism to maintain a stable water pressure of 60 PSI.

Therefore, it ensures that the area it covers, it covers well. The area you want to water with it will be watered properly ensuring that the plants get exactly that amount of water you intend to supply them – not more or less.

Rotating Spray Nozzles

The sprinkler has rotating spray nozzles that enable you to customize the area covered. You can set the watering angle at 45 degrees for watering large areas or at 90 degrees for a small lawn watering. So you have the freedom to water any lawn, no matter the size of it.

Great Water Saving

This is one of the best sprinklers when it comes to water saving. We have to thank Tomky’s engineering here too. Their patented design is not good only for maintaining water pressure, but also for saving water by ensuring minimal water wastage.

The sprinkler offers you the freedom to adjust the water density, size, and scope. So you can adjust the sprays according to your needs – for example breaking the water droplets, making them small or large, and so on – and you can be efficient at using water this way.

Build Quality

This unit is built of high-quality ABS plastic and a rustproof polymer. Now many may consider plastic as a cheap material for anything, but I say it’s a plus when it comes to material that has to stay by water all the time, as long as the plastic is good in quality.

No matter how good metal is, it’s always prone to rust, today or tomorrow. Plastic has no such issue, and that’s why if they don’t break, they last – they never wash away with time.

And Tomky’s lawn sprinkler is built with high-quality ABS plastic which can handle a good amount of pressure without breaking. So I have no complaints about the build of this unit, rather I’m happy that it won’t rust.

However, I should clear this out that by no means I’m saying that metal-build sprinklers are bad or something and they’ll get destroyed through rusting. Well, processed metal with enamel or other coating lasts a great deal of time, and they’re still my first choice as the build material of my sprinkler.

But I had to acknowledge these metals are riskier to rusting if it’s not protected well, which plastics are not. That’s why I said high-quality plastics are also great for sprinklers – as they could be a cheaper yet long-lasting alternative for metal.

All this said you’ve already understood that it wouldn’t be wise to look down upon this sprinkler just because of the word ‘plastic’ as the build material. It’s built to last if you take good care of it and it’ll give you years of service.

Versatile Sprinkler

Finally, this is a versatile sprinkler that you can use for lawn irrigation, garden watering, and for roof cooling, or you may set its a summertime sprinkler for kid’s playtime.

Pros
  • Lightweight thanks to the durable plastic design
  • Quite Sturdy, expected to last long
  • Supports automatic 360-degree rotation
  • Straightforward to use
  • Versatile sprinkle
Cons
  • Doesn’t come with different size adapter

09. Orbit 55662 Voyager II 4-Inch Adjustable Pop-Up Gear Drive

Orbit 55662 Voyager II

 

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The 55662 Voyager II, the successor of the 55461 Voyager, which itself was popular among its users, is even better this time. This is one of the best, if not the best Pop-Up gear drive that is compatible with all major brands (Toro, Rain Bird, Hunter) of gear-drive rotor sprinklers.

The Voyager II gear drive is a perfect fit for watering medium to large areas having the longest spray distance in its class. It could be the perfect replacement for old, inefficient, or failing sprinkler systems.

Spray Distance, Coverage, Adjustability

As I was saying, it has a spray distance of a maximum of 52-foot, which is the longest distance in its class. However, you can adjust the distance from a 25- to a 52-foot radius as per your requirement. And the sprays are quite as well so it won’t wake or bother your neighbors.

It was basically manufactured having medium to large lawns into consideration. It’s great at providing even and complete water coverage to medium and large lawns.

And not only is the spray diameter adjustable, but the swing arch can also be modified with adjustment tools that come included, and it’s a matter of seconds. The coverage can be adjusted in a part- to full-circle spray pattern – a swing of 40 top 360 degrees to be exact.

Bonus Nozzles

So these heads come with a 3-gallon per minute nozzle pre-installed, which you can replace in each sprinkler for equal yard saturation. Bonus nozzles is a thing I greatly love cause it gives you the freedom of customizability.

You can install different nozzles at every other sprinkler head to get the exact result and watering you want an area to get. There’ll be no over or under watering if you can choose nozzles smartly for each head in your lawn.

This head comes with 10 bonus nozzles which stand its position out. You’ll be enjoying the maximum freedom when it comes to watering as you want.

And even better, these heads come with an easy-to-remove filter to keep out debris and prevents clogging from dirty, non-potable water sources. This needs just a simple twist to remove and it’s cleanable is seconds.

One risk with these sprinkler heads I can mention is the stop of rotation in some units. I haven’t had such issues but some of the consumers mentioned that their few units would stop rotating back once it’s reached the furthest point.

But it’s a relief that very few units have this issue and Orbit seems to replace them with eagerness. I hope no such issues happen with you but even if it happens, Orbit probably has got you covered.

Pros
  • Longest spray distance, best in class
  • Good coverage
  • Adjustable arch
  • Comes with ten extra nozzles
  • Filter to prevent clogging
  • Great value for money
Cons
  • Some units may have a manufacturing defect

10. Hunter PGP Ultra Rotor Sprinkler Heads – 4 Pack

Hunter PGP Ultra 4 pack

 

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Reliable, quite easily adjustable, and easy to install – that’s what I’d say to start with the Hunter PGP ultra rotor sprinkler heads. They’re one of the best in the business when it comes to rotor sprinkler heads.

It’s a Pack of Four

This comes as a pack of four hunter PGP ultra heads. Nobody, either way, gets the job done with one head.

Being a pack of four, it’s still quite cheaper than many single sprinkler heads out there, so it’s a great value to start with. The heads feature an adjustable arc and a 2.5 nozzle.

Along with great coverage, the heads offer full-circle adjustment from 50 to 360 degrees. So you have the freedom to choose which area to water.

Good Coverage

Rotor heads are more efficient when it comes to covering a large area, given that sufficient water pressure is there. So you can stay quite assured that these sprinkler heads will let you water a significant area at once when you use it.

Pre-Installed Nozzles

All the heads come with nozzle pre-installed on them so do not have to take a lot of time when it comes to setting up the sprinklers. This is not a very easy job, to be honest, so I’d thank Hunter for making our life easier, especially on behalf of the ‘non-machine-savvy” dudes.

You get an adjuster tool in each pack of four. The tool helps you change the spray length and shape quite easily. And the heads allow for easy change of nozzles, so you get the option to customize water flow based on location.

And by default, they come with #7 nozzle pre-installed.

Dirty Water Performance

All the heads are quite efficient when it comes to dealing with dirty water. They have an improved dirty-water tolerance mechanism on the gear drive.

So you have the opportunity to get away with watering with dirty water on a couple of occasions. It hopefully will not get jammed. And also, the trap in the bottom to collect/screen debris is also easy to remove and rinse.

Although there isn’t much when it comes to assembling or installing the heads, there’s still an instruction guide included in the pack. Though it wasn’t of much use for me, the ultra-machine-noobs will find it useful I guess lol.

Little Issues

Anyways, if I have to talk about any real issues about the heads, it’s the concern that whenever you want to max-out the range (which is one of its strengths), you may wind up with a solid stream that doesn’t ensure adequate coverage between the watering perimeter and the sprinkler.

Yeah, you can deal with that by adjusting the spray screw that adds coverage, but it eventually decreases range. So you’ll have to manage with it and find a sweet spot between long enough range and adequate coverage.

Pros
  • Economical with water use
  • Good built, reliable!
  • Deals greatly with dirty water
  • Quite easy to change the spray shape and length
Cons
  • You need to find yourself the sweet spot between range and coverage

How to Choose the Best Lawn Sprinkler For Lawn? Buying Guide

So, what are those things that you need to double-check before purchasing your next lawn sprinkler? What makes the best lawn sprinkler and what ruins it? Know it all from our buying guide for choosing the best lawn sprinkler.

Capacity

The first and foremost thing you want to see in a sprinkler is the coverage and adjustability it offers. There’s no point of buying an awesome sprinkler that has a great build and so on things but can not cover up to water your whole garden or the portions you’re buying it for.

Always check how much square feet of space can it water at max power or what the range of it is. Try to stay close to the coverage that you need when purchasing a sprinkler.

I suggest buying something will a little more coverage than you need because you might not always get the maximum coverage as it says due to lack of water pressure and so other reasons.

Then again, buying something overkill is not recommended as well. Why waste the extra buck for something that you actually won’t use? Buy a little more than you need, that’s all.

Adjustability

And you want to ensure that your sprinkler offers good adjustability features as well. Is the coverage area adjustable to your need? Does it rotate to water a certain portion as per your need? Can you break the water droplets and customize its size? Does it allow you to throw water to either gain distance or coverage?

The more adjustability your sprinkler offers, the more freedom you have.

Nozzle

sprinkler nozzle

Nozzles are quite a crucial element for sprinklers as well. So it’s a key thing that you need to watch out for before buying. Check what type of nozzle your sprinkler has – is that a  pull-up nozzle or an impact one? Pull-ups install directly on lawns, and they can stay hidden when not in use. So the risk of your kid or pet tripping on them is low.

On the other hand, impact nozzles are usually more durable than pull-up ones and they’re better at handling the pressure. So they do heavy-duty watering jobs better.

Another thing you want to see is the adjustability of the nozzles. Some heads offer to set up custom nozzles for different watering needs. You might have to buy those separately but having that freedom is good. Also, make sure that replacing the nozzles is easier.

Material

Last but definitely not least thing you need to consider is the material. Nobody likes to change their irrigation system every season, or multiple times in a season. You want to buy a sprinkler with a good build.

And the key to good build-quality is the material. The first choice for the material to build the best sprinkler is brass. They’re sturdy, elegant looking, and last a great deal. But they usually tend to be costly so the second-best choice would be metal with a protective coating.

Metal is good at handling water pressure and they last long as well. High-quality metal with a protective coating is a good alternative to brass or zinc or such material.

However, metal is prone to rusting so the risk factor is there. That’s why there should be a protective coating for metal to avoid rust.

Another useful yet cheap material for sprinklers could be plastic. But the plastic has to be of good quality so that it don’t break due to the good amount of pressure put by water. Plastics are free from the threat of rust, they’re cheap yet good ones are sturdy enough, and they’re lightweight. So good quality plastic can be a good choice of material for sprinklers.

FAQs

It is quite obvious that you may still have a lot of questions about the sprinkler heads. We have answered some of the most frequently asked questions in this context below.

1. What Is the Most Efficient Sprinkler Head?

Choosing the sprinkler head depends on several aspects. There are different types of sprinkler heads to suit various lawn watering needs.

If you have a small garden, a fixed spray sprinkler head can work efficiently even in extremely low water pressure.

Likewise, for large gardens and commercial use, it is best to consider choosing gear driven or multi-stream sprinklers. They have the highest spray range of up to 120ft spreading the moisture evenly.

For properties receiving 40psi or higher water supply may install rotary spray nozzles.

Just in case you are in a hurry, our top pick for rotary sprinkler systems is GrowGreen garden sprinkler 360 degree rotating lawn sprinkler. It is good for medium to large grounds with a spray distance of more than 32ft creating a decent water pressure of up to 80psi.

2. Which Sprinkler Heads Are the Most Common Heads For Your Sprinkler Systems?

The most commonly used lawn sprinkler head for homeowners as well as commercial gardening is the pop-up spray sprinkler heads. These sprinkler heads are compatible with several types of nozzles. You can choose the nozzle based on your watering requirement in the garden.

They are fixed in one place except for the pop-up accessories. These sprinkler heads have a simple mechanism, require less maintenance, and budget-friendly accessories for your lawn sprinkler systems. The pop-up spray sprinkler heads release a constant stream of water suitable for landscape with ornate contours.

These adjustable lawn sprinkler heads with low trajectory nozzles can produce different precipitation rates. With some basic adjustments, you can set the needed spray distance. The low precipitation rate is also beneficial in preventing quick and unnecessary draining retaining water to improve the infiltration in clay and hard soil.

Pop-ups are preferable sprinkler heads to bestow an aesthetically pleasing appearance to your lawn. They are installed below the ground level and rise only at the time of watering. Once the job is done, they settle back and are almost invisible.

3. How High Should a Sprinkler Head be?

The height of the sprinkler head is measured from the top of the nozzle to the base of the rising hole. They are available in various sizes ranging 2-20 inches. Determining the exact sprinkler height depends on the type of landscape and plants in your garden.

If you trim the grass to 3 inches regularly, the 4 inches or higher sprinkler head can spread the water evenly on a flat surface ground.

For grounds with slopes, rock gardens, flower beds or shrubs consider choosing a taller head of about 8-12 inches to spread water beyond the high landscapes.

The garden with vegetables, plant ornaments, and hedges require even higher sprinklers.

Caution: Some sprinkler heads are prone to descending up to an inch or even more into the ground over the course of use. If you choose a 4-inch sprinkler head for a ground with 3 inches of grass, the subsided nozzle may no longer be efficient enough to throw water beyond the grass height. This is why choosing a taller head is always preferable for proper watering in your yard.

4. How Does a Lawn Sprinkler Head Work?

Watering the entire lawn with a single sprinkler head may not be possible if your yard is a large one. Hence the yard is divided into smaller zones. The number of sprinkler heads required in each zone can be determined by the water pressure at the property and the spray range model installed.

The amount of water consumed by the nozzle at a given time depends on the pressure. There is an automatic valve to control the flow of water from the main outlet to sprinklers in each zone.

The automatic valve is connected to the sprinkler timer/controller using the sprinkler wire. The sprinkler timer controls the opening, running, and closing of each automatic valve. Some timers are also equipped with rain sensors to stop the water flow whenever there is a shower.

The water from the automatic valve reaches the sprinkler heads through lateral line pipes. In impact sprinklers, the outgoing water force spins the head in a circular motion and extend the arms. There is also a spring to push back the sprinkler arms repeatedly into the water stream. The arm strikes the water stream to scatter and re-orient the flow to spread the water evenly in all directions.

5. How to Replace a Lawn Sprinkler Head?

Some sprinkler heads with advanced mechanisms require professional servicing for the replacement job. For the rest, you can do it yourself following some basic steps. Herein is a quick guide on how to replace a pop-up sprinkler head:

Essential Tools

  • Small shovel
  • Pair of pliers
  • Replacement head

Step 1: Remove the grass and soil around the sprinkler head with the help of the shovel.

Step 2: Open the screw on the sprinkler head using the pliers.

Step 3: Once you unscrew the head, the defective part is easy to remove with the hands by twisting.

Step 4: Put the new replacement head into the same hole of the sprinkler system by twisting it tightly. Do not make it too tight as the outer body of the sprinkler may develop scratches or cracks.

Step 5: Now remove the cap on the nozzle hole, insert the filter, and install the nozzle by twisting.

These steps should help you to replace a simple pop up sprinkler. For lawn sprinkler heads with complex mechanisms, you may need to call an expert.

Last words on Best Sprinkler Heads

If you’ve read this far to identify the best sprinkler for your requirements, take my virtual pat on your back as nobody these days tend to put effort to buy the best thing or get the best value of their money. Yes, they do want the best for them, but they’re lazy and won’t read words.

However, if you’ve made it this far I hope I could help you to find your best sprinkler for a lawn. If you have any more confusion, I encourage you to ask them in the comments below.