It offers easy setup, adjustable tripod legs, effective coverage with pulsating action, and a sturdy construction with metal parts.
For more information, please visit gardepot.
You may need more than one unit for a large yard.
The Melnor Deluxe Metal Pulsating Sprinkler with Tripod impressed us in more ways than one, which is why it nabbed the top spot on our list of the best lawn sprinklers. To start, we like that aside from setting the turning range and connecting the hose, no assembly was required.
The sprinkler comes with adjustable tripod legs that were initially set to the shortest height. However, these can be extended to allow the sprinkler to sit higher in the air for a longer watering range. Plus, adjusting the height was quite intuitive.
Unlike other models, this pulsating sprinkler doesn’t need to be staked into the ground. During testing, we found this tripod sprinkler to be very effective and easy to use across the yard in various positions.
The sprinkler base has handy tabs that set the range of the side-to-side oscillations and allow you to control the coverage area. These are easy to adjust, but note that to avoid getting wet, the hose must be turned off when you do so.
The radius of the water spray reaches about 30 feet. However, it can be set to a stream, which will reach a touch further. Overall, the pulsating action of the sprinkler blankets the lawn effectively when spraying from the tripod’s maximum height. The water intensity can’t be adjusted directly from the sprinkler, but can be swiftly controlled by the hose bib.
This lawn sprinkler has a supportive base that is not easily tipped over, even when it’s extended all the way in fairly strong winds. For larger yards, you might want to opt for more than one of these units, but you can cover the whole lawn with one because it’s light enough to move around.
Product Details: Type: Pulsating | Spray Coverage: 5,600 square feet | Coverage Pattern: Circular | Hose Size: Compatible with ⅝-inch standard garden hose | Water Pressure: 120 PSI | Material: Metal
It has a weighted base to keep it in place, a wide spray coverage, and is fun for pets and kids to play in.
There’s only one spray pattern.
The GrowGreen Sprinkler is a powerful unit that’s less expensive than other options we tested. We found it to be efficient and easy to use, and it’s ideal for medium-sized yards.
During testing, the lawn sprinkler provided wide coverage without us having to move it around frequently. This sprinkler was simple to set up—it came in two pieces and all we had to do was screw the top on.
We were pleased to note that there were no drips, leaks, or clogs. While it only has one spray pattern that some may find limiting, it has an impressively wide spray, reaching almost all of the lawn without us having to manually reposition it.
This unit is made from a lightweight ABS plastic and has weights attached to the bottom, so it won’t blow away in the wind. While it seems durable enough, we recommend storing it between uses to increase longevity. Luckily, it’s compact size means it won’t take up much storage space either.
Product Details: Type: Rotating | Spray Coverage: 3,600 square feet | Coverage Pattern: Circular | Hose Size: Compatible with ⅝-inch standard garden hose | Water Pressure: 80 PSI | Material: ABS plastic, polymer
Why You Should Get ItIt has nine different spray patterns, customizable coverage, and a durable build.
It has a lower water pressure than other sprinklers.
If you have a small yard, the best lawn sprinkler is the Dramm Premium Turret Sprinkler. The unit was easy to set up and we found that it was very efficient during testing.
We liked that this model features nine spray patterns, so you can choose which suits your needs best. While the distance is not specifically adjustable, selecting a different pattern can result in a wider or smaller spray area.
We tested this sprinkler on an irregular-sized yard and were able to set it to spray only the specific areas that required watering. The sprinkler fit into the water source perfectly, and we did not notice any leaks, drips, or clogs. This pick has a lower water pressure than other picks and there’s no water pressure setting, so to adjust this, we simply turned the faucet to the desired flow.
This heavy sprinkler is made from metal and designed to withstand outdoor conditions and regular use. We also like that it also comes in six colors, allowing you to choose between either a vibrant or muted hue.
Product Details: Type: Pulsating | Spray Coverage: Up to 1,200 square feet | Coverage Pattern: Square, rounded square, half square, small circle, large circle, half circle, rectangle, narrow rectangle, and outer ring | Hose Size: Compatible with ⅝-inch standard garden hose | Water Pressure: 90 PSI | Material: Plastic, metal
Why You Should Get ItIt offers great range, has adjustable height and hose spray settings, and a sturdy metal construction.
It can’t be staked in the ground, so would likely not withstand inclement weather.
The Orbit Impact Sprinkler on Tripod Base is a great option for those with larger yards. We tested this sprinkler out on a quarter-acre lot with new sod and found that it provided great coverage of around 80 feet in diameter.
The sprinkler comes fully set up and ready to go straight out of the box. It’s perched atop an adjustable tripod that can be set to various different heights based on individual needs—the higher the setting, the larger the radius coverage. The hose, which connects securely and doesn’t leak, has different spray settings that allow you to pick the most effective option for your yard.
During testing, we only had to move the sprinkler once to sufficiently cover every square inch of lawn. We were also able to cover the front yard in two positions; one on each side of the driveway.
There is a setting that can either limit the rotation, or allow it to go a full 360 degrees. The spray nozzle has various settings to turn the head or choose the spray pattern. Adjusting the height of the tripod will also increase or decrease the coverage.
Despite the sprinkler not being staked into the ground, it didn’t topple over in windy weather. However, we wouldn’t leave it out when not in use, in the event of stronger gales.
Product Details: Type: Rotating with tripod | Spray Coverage: 5,670 square feet | Coverage Pattern: Circular | Hose Size: Compatible with ¾-inch or ⅝-inch hose | Water Pressure: 80 PSI | Material: Zinc
Why You Should Get ItIt offers great coverage, has a sturdy build, and is light enough to move if needed but heavy enough to stay put.
There’s no on/off valve at the sprinkler and there’s limited spray adjustment.
The Aqua Joe Oscillating Sprinkler is a flat model with inline nozzles and an upwards spray to gently water your blooms, bushes, and vegetation. To set up this pick, all we had to do was attach the hose to it.
The lawn sprinkler offered great coverage thanks to its water-powered turbo drive motor. We liked that it has an adjustable head that changes the direction of the water. To modify the pressure, we had to do it at the water source, or move the sprinkler. We noted that it did not leak during the whole testing period.
We were impressed with the wide spray coverage but would have appreciated an on/off valve at the sprinkler. Instead, we had to return to the faucet each time we wanted to open and close the water supply.
This unit was lightweight yet suitably heavy to stay where we put it. It’s well-made, and we feel like it’s durable enough to be left outside in all types of weather.
We appreciated that this lawn sprinkler also comes with a built-in cleaning tool to clear out any clogs and keep the nozzles in their best shape, although we didn’t have to use this at all during testing.
Product Details: Type: Oscillating | Spray Coverage: 4,400 square feet | Coverage Pattern: Inline fan | Hose Size: Compatible with ⅝-inch standard garden hose | Water Pressure: 150 PSI | Material: Metal, plastic
Why You Should Get ItIt gives you great control over the watering area and speed, has a sturdy construction, and effective coverage.
It’s about 19 pounds, which may be difficult for some people to move on their own.
The Orbit Traveling Sprinkler might be more expensive than other options, but it will travel around the garden by itself thanks to its two spiked back wheels, and a front wheel that is designed to crawl along your hose. This lawn sprinkler comes in handy especially if you have irregular shaped gardens, as it can even go around bends.
This lawn sprinkler comes in three pieces: the metal tractor base, an attachment for the sprinkler arms, and the arms themselves. The instructions were straightforward, no special tools were needed, and the hose attached effortlessly. We tested this mini watering tractor on a large 2-acre yard, and it provided a thorough watering with minimal effort on our part to use it.
The tractor moves slowly to ensure proper watering and distribution, hydrating every inch of grass. We loved its hands-off approach, the ability to guide its direction and speed, and the fact that it didn’t leak at all.
At just under 20 pounds, this is quite a heavy machine, so it may be difficult for some people to move it. Having said that, its robust construction makes it quite durable; we left it out during a heavy rainstorm and it didn't budge.
Product Details: Type: Traveling, self-propelled | Spray Coverage: 13,500 square feet | Coverage Pattern: Rotating circular spray | Hose Size: Compatible with ⅝-inch standard garden hose | Water Pressure: 120 PSI | Material: Cast iron
Why You Should Get ItIt’s customizable, effective, and the black piping hides away in the soil.
Setup is a little complex, and the parts are mostly plastic.
The Flantor Drip Irrigation Kit is a versatile sprinkler set that has many setup options, and comes with more than enough accessories to cover all watering needs. As this is a whole irrigation system, it took a little studying of the instructions to understand the many different parts and accessories.
Once we figured assembly out, setup was surprisingly easy. We didn’t have to use any tools, other than a pair of scissors to cut the tubing into the exact sizes we needed. It doesn’t have any special features but it is completely customizable, which we liked.
This sprinkler comes with over 100 accessories, including 20 mist nozzles and 20 dripper nozzles, and 70 feet of irrigation tubing in total to water areas of up to 110 square feet. The spray from each sprinkler is intentionally tiny, making it great for flower beds and vegetable patches.
The system hose fit securely on the hose end, and didn’t leak, drip, or clog during testing. There is a dial on each of the red sprinkler heads to adjust the pressure. It is recommended to dial down the pressure on the red irrigator caps at the beginning of the chain so that there is enough pressure to sustain the sprinkler at the end. The direction of the spray can only be adjusted by physically maneuvering it.
For the most part, the parts, which are all plastic with rubber tubing, felt well-made and sturdy. However, you’ll want to be careful around the red spray heads, as we think they may be prone to cracking if they stepped on.
Product Details: Type: Irrigation kit | Spray Coverage: 110 square feet | Coverage Pattern: Adjustable | Hose Size: Compatible with ⅝-inch fitting for standard garden hose | Water Pressure: 60 PSI | Material: Plastic, rubber
The Melnor Deluxe Metal Pulsating Sprinkler with Tripod is our top pick of the best lawn sprinkler thanks to its adjustable tripod legs, sturdy and durable metal construction, and pulsating action that provided effective coverage. Adjusting its height was intuitive, and moving it around the garden to reach other areas was a breeze.
To find the best lawn sprinklers, we spent 168 hours over a two-week period testing out 12 different models on our lawns. Each lawn sprinkler was evaluated on its setup, effectiveness, features, and durability.
We began by setting up each sprinkler according to the manufacturer’s instructions and connecting it to a water source (noting how easy it was to do so), if any special tools were required, and how clear and helpful the instructions were.
Next, we looked for and tried out any special features like pressure regulators, adjustable flow direction and intensity, range, and pattern options to accommodate different lawn sizes and shapes, and minimize water waste.
We paid special attention to whether the sprinklers leaked, dripped, or became clogged, and if so, whether we were easily able to solve the issues. For traveling sprinklers, we assessed how efficiently they moved around the yard, and whether they ever got stuck.
Finally, we evaluated each sprinkler’s construction (body and components), durability (whether they could withstand outdoor conditions and regular use), and overall value to determine if we’d recommend it.
According to Cosby, stationary sprinklers and self-propelled styles are the two main types of lawn sprinklers you’ll find while shopping. They can then be broken down into sub-types, like rotating, oscillating, and pulsating.
Depending on the sprinkler type and model, sprinklers can have a spray coverage of anywhere from 400 square feet all the way to 6,000 square feet, or more. The Orbit Traveling Sprinkler, for instance, has an impressive spray coverage of 13,500 square feet.
Although some traveling sprinklers might offer a smaller spray coverage than a stationary model, it can cover more area thanks to its ability to move around the yard.
“Impact sprinklers are good for long spray throws, while rotary sprinklers are more efficient and less affected by wind,” says Cosby. “For newly seeded lawns, consider oscillating or wobbler sprinklers, which throw a more gentle spray.”
You might find that just one sprinkler is enough if you have a small- to medium-sized lawn, whereas a larger lawn might need various sprinklers spread throughout the grass, or an irrigation kit with several sprinklers, like the Flantor Drip Irrigation Kit.
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As well as coverage, you may want to consider coverage patterns as well. “Stationary sprinklers will typically throw an adjustable circular pattern, oscillating sprinklers a rectangular fan-like pattern, while self-propelling models move in a circular pattern,” says Cosby.
Each sprinkler will state the suitable hose size needed to operate, but the typical size used for tasks requiring high water pressure (such as water sprinklers) is ⅝ inch.
“Always check the sprinkler hose connection size,” Cosby advises. “Most work with a standard ⅝-inch hose, but some may require ¾-inch.” Note that many of the thinner ½-inch hoses can't move enough water to keep the sprinklers working.
Water pressure is measured in PSI, or pounds per square inch. While most sprinklers are designed to be used with a minimum water pressure of approximately 30 PSI, you have to know the water pressure at your home before you buy the best lawn sprinkler for you.
According to Cosby, “Rotary and wobbler-type sprinklers require less water pressure, while impact sprinklers require the most.”
If you have good home water pressure and find that the sprinklers are not performing as they should be or that the water pressure is low, there are many things you can try. For starters, you can check the backflow preventer valve to make sure it's completely open. The same goes for the main water valves or shut-off valves.
You’ll also want to ensure that there isn't a water link break, a leak in the system, or some kind of obstruction in the head, such as dirt, that has caused the sprinkler to clog. If you still find that your sprinklers aren't putting out a lot of pressure, you might want to call in an irrigation specialist.
Sprinklers can come in many different materials, but the most common are metal, and plastic, which is typically less expensive. Sprinkler piping systems are often made from steel. Many sprinkler heads are constructed from hard-wearing and durable ABS plastic or metals such as brass or stainless steel.
Plastic is less prone to rusting but could crack in too much direct sunlight. If you opt for a metal version and plan on having it for a long time, ensure that it's rust-proof, resistant to corrosion, and can withstand the elements. “I prefer metal sprinklers for the most part,” Cosby tells us. “They are much more durable than high-impact plastics.”
The Aqua Joe SJI-OMS16 Oscillating Sprinkler is a smaller version of our pick for the best sprinkler for flower beds, the Aqua Joe Oscillating Sprinkler. It’s easy to set up, with clear instructions, and offers adequate coverage, albeit with a limited range.
During testing, we found that this sprinkler would be better for use on specific areas or projects rather than the whole lawn as, in addition to its small range, there aren’t many spray adjustments. Other than the two levers that control how far left and right the sprinkler oscillates, there are no special features, and you cannot adjust the pattern or intensity of the spray.
The Melnor Traveling Sprinkler Lawn Rescue, is an easy-to-assemble unit with high-quality parts, including a brass fitting for the hose connection. Although far-reaching, the spray was hard to control. The arms can be somewhat adjusted, but the pressure has to be managed from the faucet. It also moved quite slowly (so much so that we wondered if it was actually working).
The Orbit 3-Arm High-Rise Sprinkler has a telescoping pole and three-arm sprinkler head that offers an even and wide coverage of about a 50-foot diameter. It’s well-made, with a sturdy metal construction, and brass arms.
The height is adjustable, but there are no settings for spray intensity or direction. We particularly liked the two specific hose slots on either side of the unit that allows you to daisy-chain more than one sprinkler together. While lacking in adjustable settings, it's a durable and effective option for medium-sized lawns and gardens.
Whether you’re a new homeowner or you’re new to lawn care, knowing how often to run your lawn sprinklers takes some practice. Typically, it depends on the time of year and your area’s climate.
On average, lawns should be watered around once a week unless there was a good amount of rain. However, in the summer, you should be watering your lawn two to three times per week. According to Cosby, lawns in areas with very hot and dry climates may need to be watered twice a day.
In addition to the climate where you live, Khandker says that how long you should be running the sprinklers for depends on "the type of grass you have, the type of sprinkler you have, and the size of your lawn."
For instance, warm-season grass needs less watering than cool-season grass, so check with your gardener or lawn specialist to make sure you know how much you should be watering your particular type of grass. As a reference point, the amount you should be watering your lawn usually averages 1 to 2 inches of water for most types of grass.
Lawn sprinklers are the best way to keep a large lawn watered. “For really big lawns, consider a sprinkler cart with an impact sprayer, or self-propelled sprinkler,” says Cosby. Impact sprayers, such as the Orbit Impact Sprinkler on Tripod Base, can reach more area quicker than other types thanks to the high water pressure. Traveling sprinklers can also access more of the yard than stationary types.
Many professionals suggest that the best way to efficiently water a lawn is to operate the sprinklers for half of the suggested watering time, wait about 20 to 30 minutes for the water to fully penetrate the surface, and then resume watering for the remaining amount of time. To further maximize watering efficiency and save water on a large lawn, Cosby advises watering your lawn “in the morning or evening to avoid fast evaporation in the midday sun.”
Most water sprinklers will save you time, energy, and water, making them a worthwhile purchase. “Rotary sprinklers will be the most water-efficient, while self-propelled sprinklers will often save the most time and effort,” says Cosby.
Again, the most efficient lawn watering system for you depends mainly on the size of your garden. To efficiently water a small garden, a stationary, rotating model, like the Dramm Premium Turret Sprinkler, will suffice, whereas larger gardens should opt for traveling or impact sprinklers. Flower beds need a gentler spray, so something like the Aqua Joe SJI-OMS20 Oscillating Sprinkler or the Flantor Drip Irrigation Kit would be best.
The way you mow your lawn in each season could also have an impact on how well it gets watered. Khandker advises that, in hot weather, you should leave your grass a little bit longer when you mow it. This encourages the grass to develop deeper roots to access more water and stay safe from the summer heat.
This article was written by Kat de Naoum, who has over 11 years of writing experience covering topics such as like homewares, gardening, home and leisure appliances, and beauty/skincare. She has been writing for Dotdash Meredith since , and at BHG since . Kat is also the editor-at-large at Thomas-Xometry, the leading U.S. online platform for supplier discovery and product sourcing.
For this article, she evaluated testing insights on lawn sprinklers we tried at home. Kat also spoke to Sean Khandker, the owner of InsideOut Gardening, Coleman Cosby, the in-house construction expert at Yardzen, and Wesley Stanton, the owner of Sierra Madre Landscape Co.
Next to all of the products on this list, you may have noticed our BHG Recommends seal of approval. Products that earn the seal have been put through rigorous testing to make sure they're worth a spot in your home. We buy most of the products we test ourselves, but occasionally we are provided samples by companies if buying isn't an option. In these cases, we use the same testing criteria we use to test the purchased products.
Do you have a lawn? Do you want it to keep it well-maintained, with thriving grass to show off to your friends, neighbors, and enemies alike? Are you only mildly embarrassed that you’re starting to understand that lawn-obsessed dad you used to laugh at as a kid? If the answer is “yes” to any of those questions, you probably need a sprinkler. Whether you need a portable hose-end sprinkler, like the kind we focus on in this guide, is a bit more complicated.
Some modern homes are built on lots with in-ground irrigation systems; you can even install your own if you don’t mind digging up whatever turf you already have in place. These systems can help reduce water waste (PDF), especially when paired with a smart sprinkler controller. If you have flowers or crops you want to care for, a soaker hose or drip irrigation system might come in handy as well. In these cases, you might not need a hose-end sprinkler, although one could work to supplement your watering system depending on the size, shape, and variety of your lawn.
But if you have less than half an acre of grass-covered property that you want to water sometimes so it stays fresh and green, a hose-end portable sprinkler will make your life easier. This kind of sprinkler is also a great alternative for watering a newly seeded area. “Hose-end sprinklers are especially popular with people that are looking for a simple and quick solution,” explained Heribert Wettels, a representative of Gardena, in an interview. Wettels added that these sprinklers are particularly useful in moderate climate conditions, where the lawn really needs to be watered only during the few weeks of the season when it’s hottest and/or driest.
Generally speaking, hose-end sprinklers aren’t efficient enough to rely on for year-round maintenance, but they do work well as an occasional or short-term option. If you’re conscientious about your water usage, the EPA has advice on water-smart landscaping, as well as a handy water budget tool so you can calculate how much water and money you’re using. Although it might be mildly inconvenient to have to drag your hose-attached sprinkler across the property and then reposition it once or twice or thrice depending on the area’s size and shape—and if you don’t mind the snakelike sight of a garden hose stretched across the grass—a portable sprinkler offers an easy, modular, and relatively cheap solution to your turfgrass woes.
These things are also fun for pool-less kids (or adults) to play with, but that’s less of a feature than a bonus.
Portable hose-end sprinklers come in at least three styles:
In this version of our guide, we focus exclusively on oscillating sprinklers. Rotary sprinklers, which are capable of sprinkling in curved corners and irregularly shaped lawns, may offer a wider range of coverage, but they have more moving parts, and their machine-gun sound is often frowned upon in denser suburban neighborhoods. Oscillating sprinklers, by contrast, are easier to use and generally more popular, even if they are usually limited to spraying over right-angled areas. They also issue a gentle spray that won’t knock things over or rock your plants from their roots. If you’re just getting into turfgrass care, or if you're looking for a low-tech, low-investment way to build on an existing irrigation system, an oscillating sprinkler is the way to go (plus, it’s more fun to play with).
We spent eight hours scouring listings of popular models on the sites of Amazon, Home Depot, and Lowe’s, reading through owner reviews and comparing construction materials, coverage, and other features. Durability was the most important thing we looked for—you can find many cheap and flimsy sprinklers, but no amount of fancy features will make up for a sprinkler that stops working after a few uses. Although you can buy a sprinkler for as low as $5, our research showed that durable sprinklers were more commonly available in the $20 to $30 range, but we also looked at some more expensive models. If you want something that will last for more than one season, we think $30 is a fair price to pay; it’s likely to save you money in the long run, too.
As for the features, we looked at adjustability, ease of use, and consistency of coverage. Not everyone needs a highly customizable spray range, but if a sprinkler allows you to control the width, length, and pressure of your spray at a good price, we think that’s worth the money. After speaking with representatives from Gardena, Gilmour, and Melnor, however, we decided not to limit our picks based on maximum spray range, because most companies offer different-size sprinklers with the same functionality for different-size lawns. As Heribert Wettels of Gardena told us, “It just depends on your lawn size. You should be able to cover the whole area with a minimum effort to place the sprinkler to different spots. Ideally, one sprinkler alone will do the job.” Most standard sprinklers we found claimed to cover around 3,000 square feet, so we used that as the basis for our testing.
After marking out measurement intervals in my backyard, I tested each sprinkler to find its minimum and maximum width (horizontal spread, parallel to the sprinkler heads) and length (distance from the stationary sprinkler). Several models also had a control for water flow—the pressure of the water going into the sprinkler, which you can adjust to vary the width and length of the water coverage. Most companies offer different sizes of sprinklers with the same functionality, so rather than focusing on which model covered the largest area, I used this opportunity to explore the dials, adjustability, and other features on each sprinkler model, taking notes on accuracy, sensitivity, and ease of use: Were any of the models easier or harder to adjust when they were actively sprinkling? Did they have clear indicators about what each dial did (if any), and did the settings stay in place after I moved the sprinkler? How fine was the control over the arc of the spray, and how did that change at different widths and water flows?
Next, I brought the sprinklers around to the front of the house and set them up on the curb facing the street. I turned them on one at a time, adjusting the width and length controls to create a spray that would touch the other end of the street without overshooting. As Dan Carter, marketing manager for Melnor, told us in an interview, “People are becoming more and more aware when they’re wasting water, and they don’t want to water the sidewalk,” so I used this test as a visual indicator to determine how well I could control each sprinkler. Once the settings were locked in, I let each sprinkler run for about a minute and took notes on the wetness of the asphalt: Was water distributed evenly, or did puddles or dry spots form? Was there a dry ring directly in front of the sprinkler? Did the water drift in the wind, or were the lines relatively straight and consistent?
At this point, I had already determined which sprinklers ranked among the best, and I continued to use them in various positions in my yard throughout the week, taking additional notes as I watched them in action.
With good range, adjustability, and a track record of durability, the metal-bottom Melnor XTM is a more reliable and easy-to-use oscillating sprinkler than its competitors.
If you want a sprinkler with plenty of efficient features that will last long enough for you to make good use of them, we think it’s worth spending $40 or so for the Melnor XTM, sometimes called the Melnor AMZ. Melnor stands out among sprinkler manufacturers for being an established, popular, easy-to-find brand that customers can actually contact if they have problems, even years later. In several years of seasonal testing of our picks from Melnor, we haven’t had any such issues yet.
Melnor makes more than a dozen different oscillating sprinklers, but of the four we tested, the XTM was the most impressive in every category. Like our runner-up, the XTM came with clearly marked controls for water flow, left and right width, and arc length. These plastic tabs are easy to switch and move even when the sprinkler is active, and the sprinkler can deliver a long rectangular spray range of up to 4,500 square feet. In our tests, its wave of water suffered from much less wind drift than those of any of the other Melnor models. Although the main body of the XTM is plastic, its rust-proof aluminum sled gives it a bit more weight, stability, and durability, particularly in comparison with our all-plastic runner-up. This design also means the XTM is more likely to hold up after bad weather and other everyday abuses (the Green Thumb MGT also boasts a metal base but has clunkier controls). The XTM has brass sprinkler nozzles as well, and a built-in metal sieve to filter out anything from the tap that could cause a clog.
In our tests, the spray from the XTM covered an approximate range of 8 square feet to 4,500 square feet, thanks in part to the built-in Zoom controls for water flow. While many other sprinklers come in a variety of sizes to cover different areas, the XTM comes in only one size—but it covers the second-largest area of the models in our test group, beaten only by its all-plastic cousin. We found the XTM to be highly adjustable within that range, too. It consistently soaked the 3 feet or so directly in front of it, even at the highest settings, unlike several other models we tested that somehow managed to miss the ground right in front of them. The Twin Touch tabs provide independent controls for the left and right width—each one controls half the sprinkler nozzles, which you can either point straight ahead or angle to cover up to 18 feet on either side. Although the controls don’t offer much sensitivity within that range, calibrating the coverage area with a combination of the Twin Touch, Zoom, and arc-length controls is easy enough. You can easily move these various switches while the sprinkler is in motion and still stay dry, too. Even the occasional wind-drift problem—which is almost unavoidable with any oscillating sprinkler—can be tempered within reason if you adjust the strength of the water output with the Zoom dial and then balance the arc length accordingly so you don’t accidentally water the sidewalk. The similar Zoom controls on the plastic Melnor XT and the Green Thumb model weren’t quite as sensitive.
Like the other Melnor models we tested, the XTM comes with a free-spinning nozzle connector that allows you to screw a hose in or out without having to turn and twist the hose or the sprinkler itself, a nice feature that’s also found on several other brands’ models, including those from Gilmour and Orbit. This design simplifies the setup and breakdown process enough that it could incentivize you to take better care of your sprinkler, which will help your sprinkler last longer.
The Melnor XTM consistently maintains an overall rating of four out of five stars among Amazon and Home Depot customers. In the event of a defect, Melnor covers the XTM with a limited lifetime warranty.
This compact and effective sprinkler has more flexible coverage patterns than our pick, but it’s not as simple or affordable, and it offers more customization than the average yard needs.
A standard rectangular oscillating sprinkler works for most situations, but the Gardena Oscillating Sprinkler ZoomMaxx (our pick in a previous version of this guide) is a great alternative if you need to water unusually shaped lawns or want more precision, flexibility, and control. It’s more compact than the other sprinklers we tested, with a double row of rubber sprinkler nozzles to ensure a consistent delivery of water over a designated area without any dry spots. The version we tested came with a circular sled base, but it’s also available mounted on a metal step spike, and you can swap out the sprinkler head on either base as needed. You can even link multiple ZoomMaxx sprinklers together in a series using the same spigot, creating a low-budget DIY irrigation system that covers your entire lawn from a single, central controller. If you’re committed to carefully customized and even watering but not ready for an in-ground system, the Gardena ZoomMaxx is a better choice for you than the Melnor XTM.
In our earlier tests, the ZoomMaxx consistently sprayed the same amount of water within 0.1 cm throughout its entire range of 2,300 square feet. It covers an approximate area of 3 feet to 36 feet in length and 8 inches to 20 feet in width. Although its total coverage range was about in line with those of other models we tested, the ZoomMaxx allows for more fine control over the shape of that area: You can set a long, narrow spray, for example, or a wide but thin one, or even a right-angled pie slice that’s closer to what you’d get with a rotary sprinkler. These shapes aren’t necessarily better than (or even comparable to) other, quadrilateral coverage areas; it all depends on the needs of your specific outdoor space. Overall, the ZoomMaxx offers more adjustability, but that could also mean more time spent fine-tuning the spray, depending on how you use it.
The Gardena ZoomMaxx has three bright-orange adjustments that were among the most intuitive and easy to use of any of the sprinklers we tried. I found my hands instinctively setting them before I started wondering if I had broken something, only to realize that I had in fact done everything exactly right. The rectangular head has width-adjustment levers for the left and right side, although you can’t adjust the two rows of nozzles independently. The control levers for the length of the oscillating arc are beneath the head, and a small flow-control dial on the front lets you dial in an impressive degree of micro measurements for how far the water spray reaches. Although none of these controls have markers, they’re intuitively positioned, so figuring out the right settings is easy enough.
Typically about $55, the ZoomMaxx is more expensive than our top pick—and in spite of that price premium, it’s made entirely of plastic. However, many Amazon reviewers have remarked positively about its durability in spite of this, and the ability to swap out bases and O-rings could help to compensate for some wear and tear over time. If you live in the United States and are interested in the ZoomMaxx, make sure that the one you buy has an adapter for a hose connector; as we learned, most hose products available in Europe are sold without fittings, unlike in the United States. Gardena’s Quick Connect Product Adapter is included in the ZoomMaxx package as it’s sold on Amazon. Although this need for an adapter starts off as a mild inconvenience, I quickly came to appreciate the ability to click my hose on and off with an airtight O-ring.
Sun Joe, who manufactures some other plastic garden and snow gear that we like, has released two new sprinklers: the Aqua Joe SJI-OMS16 Indestructible Metal Base Oscillating Sprinkler, and the SJI-TLS18 3-Way Turbo Oscillation Lawn Sprinkler. Both look decent, and have garnered largely positive reviews so far; at around $20 each, they’re affordable, too. But the all-plastic construction doesn’t look as durable as our top pick (and the critical reviews reflect as much).
The Green Thumb MGT is similar to our top pick, the Melnor XTM, and our runner-up pick, the Melnor XT. Although it has a metal base like the XTM, its Twin Touch–style controls were harder to use than those of either of the Melnor-branded models we tested. According to Amazon reviewers, they’re also more prone to breaking. In our tests, the Green Thumb suffered from a bit more wind drift and slightly less even coverage than the XTM, but it was about on a par with the all-plastic XT in those respects. It’s a fine alternative to either of our Melnor picks but not quite as strong as either one.
The Gilmour Heavy Duty Rectangular Sprinkler stood out in our initial round of testing thanks in large part to its highly adjustable flow controls, which allow you to shut the water off completely at the sprinkler itself rather than going all the way back to the spigot. The range controls for length and width were a little tighter than we would have liked, but that also made the adjustments more sensitive and precise—at first, anyway. The Gilmour Heavy Duty made a great first impression, but after a few more days of testing and comparing it directly against the XTM, we noticed the range controls slipping more and more; in fact, they may have been so tight that they started moving along with the oscillating bar instead of stopping it. A concerning number of Amazon reviewers say they also experienced oscillation problems with the Gilmour Heavy Duty after just a few uses. We simply weren’t comfortable recommending a sprinkler if we couldn’t guarantee that its excellent features would last long enough to be of use.
The Gardena Aquazoom is a solid sprinkler in every way. It’s adjustable and easy to use, and even though it’s made entirely of plastic, it mostly has a solid reputation for durability. The Aquazoom had the longest spray range of any model we tested—over 50 feet—and Gardena sells larger versions as well. Although the length and width controls are remarkably simple, this model lacks a water-flow adjustment. The Melnor XTM, our top pick, offers that feature, plus the improved durability of a metal base, for half the price of the Aquazoom . For about the same price as the Aquazoom , the Gardena ZoomMaxx, our also-great pick, gives you more options.
The Orbit is fine. For a decent price, it consistently delivers water and has a few metal parts that should give it some longevity. The controls aren’t very customizable, however, and in our tests it suffered from heavier wind drift than other models we tried, with a coverage pattern that looked like a Rorschach test. It does the bare minimum, but if you’re looking to save money, we think you’re better off spending the extra for the all-plastic Melnor XT.
In every respect, the Dramm was as good as or better than the comparable Orbit —but not enough to justify a nearly 300 percent markup. We did like that this model had a flow control, although it would have been better if that feature actually worked. This sprinkler is available in a variety of colors, however.
The Melnor is cheap—and cheaply constructed. It feels fragile just holding it, and in our tests the arc-length control dial felt like it was about to snap off with every turn. The base was so lightweight that the sprinkler danced around with the rhythms of the hose, a scene that makes for a fun Instagram story until the thing dances halfway across the yard.
There were many other oscillating sprinklers that we considered but ultimately dismissed without testing, either because they were too new to judge, they had mediocre reviews, or they simply didn’t stand out as much as the ones we called in. This group includes the Gardena Polo, Comfort; the Medium Duty Rectangular Sprinkler; the Melnor , as well as the XT and XT, the one- and two-way variants in the Melnor XT line; the Orbit Sq Ft Oscillator, and RW-.
Although we ultimately decided to focus this guide on oscillating sprinklers, we initially looked at some rotary/impulse sprinklers too. In this category, the Naan Irrigator Pro was our previous pick, and we also considered testing the Pattern Master -, the Melnor H Heritage Pulsating Sprinkler, the Orbit N Zinc Impact, and the Rain Bird P5RLSP Plastic Impact Sprinkler.
We also considered some other, unusual sprinkler styles before narrowing our picks down. Some of these sprinklers, such as the 360-degree GrowGreen Garden Sprinkler and Kadaon Lawn Sprinkler, offer innovative water-delivery systems that have so far garnered good reviews but aren’t quite comparable to oscillating sprinklers.
Sprinklers distribute water by spraying through the air; they have a hard time getting water to plants’ roots because the water lands on the leaves and can be lost to evaporation. Although sprinklers themselves are inexpensive, you can end up spending a lot of money on water that never reaches the ground, especially if some of that water is hitting pavement instead of soil.
Poorly controlled sprinklers also promote garden diseases. Water that sits on leaves can encourage fungal diseases and blights that can leave your landscape looking worse than it did when the soil was dry.
If you’re going to use a hose-end sprinkler, you need to spend some time establishing how much water your landscape requires in order to use the sprinkler efficiently and effectively. Most homeowners water their lawns shallowly and frequently. That approach weakens plants; since all the water stays at the surface, their roots grow at the surface and then dry out quickly in hot weather. It’s better to water less often and more deeply so that you soak at least 6 inches of soil; the roots will then grow down into moister, cooler soil.
The best time to water your lawn and landscape is around dawn. The air is cool enough then to minimize the amount of water lost to evaporation, but the sun will dry leaves off quickly, reducing the chance of fungal diseases. It’s a good idea to put your sprinkler on an automatic timer so that you don’t forget to turn it on, say, or accidentally leave it running when you get an unexpected call. However, you need to turn off those timers when rain is predicted, or you’ll just waste money and water (and look silly). There’s no suburban sight more pathetic than sprinklers watering the lawn in the middle of a thunderstorm.
Lawns with cool- and warm-weather grasses or clay, sandy, or loamy soils need varying amounts of water. Consult your local agricultural extension to get information about soil tests, soils, and plants in your community. To calculate how much water your sprinkler puts out, use this calculator.
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