The 7 Best Lawn Sprinklers, Tested by BHG

Best Overall

Melnor Sprinkler With Tripod

It offers easy setup, adjustable tripod legs, effective coverage with pulsating action, and a sturdy construction with metal parts.

It offers easy setup, adjustable tripod legs, effective coverage with pulsating action, and a sturdy construction with metal parts.

You may need more than one unit for a large yard.

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.

BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / ALAN SCHULTZ

BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / ALAN SCHULTZ

Key Terms to Know

Spray Coverage: A lawn sprinkler’s spray coverage refers to the total area that a sprinkler can effectively water.
Coverage Pattern: Coverage pattern is the shape and distribution of the water a sprinkler emits.
Water Pressure: The force at which the water comes out of a sprinkler, measured in PSI (pounds per square inch), which influences its range and coverage.

Best Budget

GrowGreen Rotating Lawn Sprinkler

It has a weighted base to keep it in place, a wide spray coverage, and is fun for pets and kids to play in.

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.

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.

BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / ALLI WAATAJA

BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / ALLI WAATAJA

Best for Small Yards

Dramm ColorStorm 9-Pattern Turret Sprinkler

It has nine different spray patterns, customizable coverage, and a durable build.

It has nine different spray patterns, customizable coverage, and a durable build.

It has a lower water pressure than other sprinklers.

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

BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / ALLI WAATAJA

BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / ALLI WAATAJA

Best for Large Yards

Orbit Impact Sprinkler

It offers great range, has adjustable height and hose spray settings, and a sturdy metal construction.

It 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.

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.

BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / MICHELLE EHRICH

BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / MICHELLE EHRICH

Best for Flower Beds

Aqua Joe Oscillating Sprinkler

It offers great coverage, has a sturdy build, and is light enough to move if needed but heavy enough to stay put.

It 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.

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.

BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / JOHN BEARD

BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / JOHN BEARD

Best Traveling

Orbit Traveling Sprinkler

It gives you great control over the watering area and speed, has a sturdy construction, and effective coverage.

It 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.

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.

BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / SARAH MARTENS

BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / SARAH MARTENS

Best Irrigation

Flantor Drip Irrigation Kit

It’s customizable, effective, and the black piping hides away in the soil.

It’s customizable, effective, and the black piping hides away in the soil.

Setup is a little complex, and the parts are mostly plastic.

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.

BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / JORDAN PROVOST

BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / JORDAN PROVOST