What size are most sprinkler lines?

Author: Annie Hoeger  |  Last update: Monday, December 29, 2025

Depending on available water pressure, these sprinkler supply lines are typically three-quarters to one inch in diameter. However, you need to put the pipe far enough underground that it is insulated from frost or a light freeze. You also want to ensure it isn't easily disturbed or affected by activity above ground.

What size is a standard sprinkler line?

Sprinkler pipes typically range in size from 1/2 inch to 6 inches in diameter. The most common sizes used in residential and small commercial irrigation systems are 3/4 inch and 1 inch.

Should I use 3/4 or 1 inch sprinkler pipe?

Go with 3/4``. This have less friction loss as the water is moving slower. Ideally you would go back to the meter but since you are only using two of the 3500 series head it should be fine. But check your low first at the faucet.

What size hose is best for a sprinkler?

As you have probably guessed already, the smaller the diameter of a hose is, the less water it can deliver. With this being said, 1/2 inch hoses are ideal for hand-watering and tasks that do not require much flow rate. 5/8 inch hoses are ideal for home-based applications. They can deliver about twice as much water per.

How many sprinkler heads are on 3/4 pipe?

We recommend that you use 40 psi when designing your system. Example: if your sprinkler heads use 2.5 gpm @ 40 psi, then a ¾” service (20 gpm) could operate approximately 8 heads at one time. Based on this example calculation, you would not have more than 8 heads on at one time.

Sprinkler System Design - How Many Heads on a Line?

What size are most sprinkler heads?

A 4-inch pop-up sprinkler head is standard for lawns. Placed underground, it rises up when the water turns on and waters your lawn.

How many sprinklers can I run off one hose?

This will primarily be determined by the total flow rate and pressure you have available at your source. For example, you generally have a flow rate of 10 gpm from a ¾-inch spigot where you connect your hose. With your 10 gpm flow rate at your spigot, you could run two sprinklers at 5 gpm each.

Is a standard garden hose 5 8 or 3/4?

Hose diameters range from 3/8-inch, 1/2-inch to 3/4-inch. In the United States, most standard garden hoses are 5/8-inch in diameter. The bigger the diameter, the more water is delivered.

How deep to bury sprinkler hose?

A: My recommendation is to bury sprinkler lines 8-12 inches. I usually try to keep a standard depth of 10" because it provides more safety if I need to do some type of ground work so I don't have to worry about hitting lines. A walk-behind rototiller generally won't go deeper than 8".

What is typical sprinkler pipe?

Irrigation will typically use either PVC or poly pipe. Poly is essentially the same as the flexible line you would run for gas, except for lower pound test rating (the pipe wall is thinner).

How many sprinkler heads per zone?

The number of sprinkler heads per zone depends on the water pressure and flow rate of a system's water source. A traditional system may have a dozen rotors and 8 to 10 spray heads. An Irrigreen system only needs one sprinkler head per zone.

How far down should sprinkler lines be?

Dig for Your Sprinkler System

The trenches will be relatively shallow, usually 6 to 12 inches deep, depending on your area's freeze cycles and frost severity. The trench must also be deep enough to allow the sprinklers to retract underground to prevent breakage from lawn machines.

What is the best pipe for a sprinkler system?

Polyethylene pipes are mainly used in sprinkler systems because of their high-pressure rating. The rating system is basically a measurement of pressure-bearing load. Some particular environmental conditions require flexible pipes that can adjust to any changes. For example, in cold climates, the soil becomes frozen.

What size should my water lines be?

Water Line Size Chart

The standard size for well water lines typically ranges from 3/4 inch to 1 inch in diameter.

What gauge is sprinkler pipe?

Note: Most common wire sizes used for a sprinkler system are 16-gauge wire and 18-Gauge Wire. Waterproof connectors are filled with a silicone substance.

What size hose for sprinkler?

Hoses come in multiple sizes; the most typical sizes are ½”, ⅝” and ¾” in diameter. We recommend hoses that are ½” in diameter. This size allows for a decent flow of water without making the hose too heavy to move around the yard.

Does a bigger hose increase water pressure?

Does hose diameter affect water pressure? A Larger diameter hose helps maintain the current water pressure as there is less resistance to the natural flow. A smaller diameter restricts the water flow, and in turn reduces the water pressure, but it increases the velocity (speed) the water travels.

Is 3/4 NPT the same as garden hose?

Garden Hose Threads (GHT)

A typical garden hose may be 5/8" or 3/4" inside diameter but the fitting on the ends will be GHT. GHT is not compatible with NPT. For example, 3/4" GHT is not the same as 3/4" NPT.

What is the maximum distance between two sprinklers?

1 of NFPA 13, which states that the distance from the sprinkler to the wall can be no more than one-half the allowable distance between sprinklers. The max distance between standard spray sprinklers in light hazard settings is 15 ft. (4.6 m) (with exceptions for light-hazard, combustible concealed spaces).

How much water does a sprinkler use in 30 minutes?

The average system uses approximately 15-16 gallons per minute, per station. Here is an easy formula to help you calculate the approximate amount of water you are using each month.

How far apart should lawn sprinklers be?

Distribution uniformity is increased by head-to-head spacing. This occurs when sprinkler heads are located a distance of 50% of the nozzle throw diameter from the adjacent head. In other words, a sprinkler head with a 10-foot throw should be spaced 10 feet from the adjacent head.

What is the 3x rule for sprinklers?

This requires sprinklers to be positioned away from obstructions a minimum or three times the maximum dimension of the obstruction.

What is the most common sprinkler pipe size?

One of the most commonly used sizes of PVC pipe for irrigation systems are 13mm, 19mm, and 25mm. For irrigation laterals, PVC pipes that are at least ¾” thick (19.05mm) are preferred since those that are ½” thick (12.7mm) clog much faster and often.

How long does a sprinkler need to be on for 1 inch of water?

Generally, most lawns need about 1 inch of water per week, including rainfall. This typically means running your irrigation system for about 1–2 hours per week, depending on its type and delivery rate.

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