The best types of sprinklers for your lawn are oscillating, impact, rotary, stationary, bubbler, and traveling. Choosing the right kind is vital for a successful irrigation strategy.
When selecting a sprinkler, consider several key factors. For medium rectangular lawns, oscillating sprinklers provide even coverage, while stationary sprinklers work best for small circular areas. Soil type also matters — clay soils benefit from slower watering through bubblers, while sandy soils require more frequent, shorter waterings.
Proper sprinkler selection affects lawn health and water conservation. Mismatched systems cause dry patches, waste water, and increase utility bills. The right sprinkler guarantees uniform coverage, cuts water usage by up to 30%, and encourages deeper root growth for a drought-resistant, vibrant lawn that withstands seasonal stresses.
Sprinkler comparison
Use this chart, organized by cost, to narrow down your options.
| Sprinkler type | Cost | Yard size | Yard shape | Soil type | Climate |
| Bubbler | $3-9 | Spot irrigation | Any | Sandy, clay, and loam | Hot, windy, and dry |
| Impact | $5-33 | Large | Rectangle | Sandy | Hot, dry, and windy |
| Oscillating | $6-25 | Medium | Rectangle | Clay or loam | Rainy and humid |
| Rotary | $7-21 | Medium | Sloped | Clay or loam | Hot, windy, and dry |
| Stationary | $9-18 | Small | Irregular | Sandy | Rainy and humid |
| Traveling | $67-100+ | Large | Irregular, Rectangle | Sandy and loam | Hot, windy, and dry |
1. Bubbler sprinklers
- Coverage: 5 feet diameter
- Climate: Hot, windy, and dry
- Lawn size: Spot irrigation
- Lawn shape: Any
- Lawn age: Any
- Soil type: Sandy, clay, and loam
- Water pressure: 20 to 90 PSI
- Cost: $3-9
Bubbler sprinklers are small, low-lying units that flood a limited area, only about 5 feet in diameter, with water. Also known as flood sprinklers, they create mini waterfall-like flows that deeply soak the ground, with adjustable flow rates of up to 2 gallons per minute. These sprinklers excel at providing extra water to thirsty plants and work well in planters that have limited irrigation options beyond hand watering.
Their gentle water flow won’t displace newly planted landscapes. However, they are not practical for lawns as they produce too much water in too small an area, making complete lawn coverage time-consuming and inefficient.
Dustin Blakey, a master gardener at the University of California, explains that mature trees have extensive root systems with higher water needs, meaning they will need multiple bubblers. “You should be aiming to water the whole area under a tree, not just at the base,” he says.
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2. Impact sprinklers
- Coverage: Up to 6,000 sq. ft.
- Climate: Hot, dry, and windy
- Lawn size: Large
- Lawn shape: Rectangular
- Lawn age: Established
- Soil type: Sandy
- Water pressure: At least 50 PSI
- Cost: $5-33
When people think of sprinklers, many recall the distinct “click, click, click” noise of impact sprinklers. This sound occurs when high-pressure water pushes the spring-loaded arm, causing it to rotate. With just two or three units covering an average lawn, these sprinklers offer impressive reach.
Impact sprinklers excel in challenging conditions—resisting wind, minimizing evaporation during droughts, and satisfying sandy soil lawns. However, they require at least 50 PSI water pressure to rotate properly and should be avoided on young lawns that can’t handle their strong stream.
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3. Oscillating sprinklers
- Coverage: Up to 4,000 sq. ft.
- Climate: Rainy and humid
- Lawn size: Medium
- Lawn shape: Rectangular
- Lawn age: Newly seeded, young
- Soil type: Clay or loam
- Water pressure: 40 to 80 PSI
- Cost: $6-25
Oscillating sprinklers are long, tube-like portable attachments for garden hoses that create fan-like, rectangular water patterns. They cover up to 4,000 square feet with higher water pressure, moving back and forth across wide areas. Most have fixed spray patterns, making them unsuitable for irregularly-shaped lawns, though some offer adjustable width and speed.
These sprinklers deliver a gentle, non-continuous flow, making them ideal for young lawns that are easily damaged by strong water streams. However, their gentle spray is easily disrupted by wind and evaporates quickly in dry conditions.
Sarah Browning, an extension educator, cautions that this type of sprinkler is “one of the least efficient ways to water a landscape, due to the amount of water lost to evaporation.”
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4. Rotary sprinklers
- Coverage: Up to 3,000 sq. ft.
- Climate: Hot, windy, and dry
- Lawn size: Medium
- Lawn shape: Sloped, any shape
- Lawn stage: Established
- Soil type: Clay or loam
- Water pressure: 30 to 40 PSI, but up to 80 PSI
- Cost: $7-21
Rotary sprinklers feature multiple arms that emit rotating water streams as they spin. Also called rotating sprinklers, they can project water up to 30 feet with adequate pressure, making them effective for medium-sized areas.
These sprinklers distribute water more slowly and evenly than impact models, resulting in reduced runoff — particularly beneficial for sloped lawns and clay soils. While adjustment options are limited mainly to water flow (which affects coverage area), part-circle rotary models are available that can be set to throw water from 20 to 360 degrees.
5. Stationary sprinklers
- Coverage: Up to 1,800 sq. ft.
- Climate: Rainy and humid
- Lawn size: Small
- Lawn shape: Irregular
- Lawn stage: Established lawns
- Soil type: Sandy
- Water pressure: 30 PSI
- Cost: $9-18
Stationary sprinklers, also known as fixed or spot sprinklers, come in various shapes and sizes, but all lack moving parts. However, that enhances their durability. They deliver a lot of water quickly, making them ideal for sandy soils. Some feature sprinkler heads on elevated poles to reach over obstacles, while others have low-lying circular bases with large heads.
These sprinklers offer many spray patterns — squares, rectangles, circles, triangles, or narrow strips — with many models allowing fine-tuning via adjustment screws. Best suited for smaller lawn areas, the most powerful models cover up to 1,800 sq. ft. Their limited coverage area makes them effective even with lower residential water pressure of just 30 PSI.
6. Traveling sprinklers
- Coverage: Dependent on hose length
- Climate: Hot, dry, and windy
- Lawn size: Large
- Lawn shape: Irregular or rectangle, but has to be flat and obstacle-free
- Lawn stage: Established
- Soil type: Sandy and loam
- Water pressure: 30 to 100 PSI
- Cost: $67-100+
Like a tiny tractor functioning as a lawn Roomba, traveling sprinklers offer automatic watering without the expense of installed systems. These wheeled devices ride along garden hoses and are powered by water pressure. Setup involves snaking your hose around the lawn and placing the included ramp-like stopper where you want watering to end — the sprinkler automatically shuts off when it reaches this point.
A traveling sprinkler’s range is limited only by the length of your hose, making it ideal for irregularly shaped lawns when properly arranged. However, they perform best on flat surfaces, as slopes or obstacles can cause them to become stuck.
Brad Fresenberg, a turfgrass specialist at the University of Missouri Extension, cautions against using these on newly seeded lawns because “soft soil conditions” can trap wheels, and the device may disturb young grass or seeds.
Factors to consider when choosing a sprinkler
Sprinklers can have varying coverage areas, patterns, and preferred water pressures that may make them better suited for specific conditions. Choosing the wrong type of sprinkler can be costly, both monetarily and in terms of time and effort.
Yard size and shape
The most important factor when deciding on lawn sprinklers is the size of your yard. You can use multiple types of sprinklers to cover your entire lawn, or you can buy fewer, high-coverage sprinklers if your lawn has similar water needs throughout.
| Yard size | Best sprinklers |
| Large yards (4,000+ sq. ft.) | Impact, Traveling |
| Medium yards (1,000-4,000 sq. ft.) | Rotary, Oscillating |
| Small yards (under 1,000 sq. ft.) | Stationary, Bubbler |
Your yard shape should be taken into account. Some sprinklers have fixed spray patterns that may irrigate driveways and sidewalks. Slopes on your lawn can also increase runoff if water is applied too quickly.
| Yard shape | Best sprinklers |
| Rectangular | Oscillating, Impact, Bubbler, Traveling |
| Irregular shapes and curves | Stationary, Rotary, Traveling, Bubbler |
| Sloped areas | Rotary, Bubbler |
Water pressure
Most sprinklers require a water pressure of at least 30 PSI to function properly. Excessively high water pressure can cause sprinklers to spray outside their coverage area and waste water, which can also damage the sprinklers.
“When the pressure at a spray nozzle is too high, the water leaves the nozzle as a fine mist instead of large droplets,” says Kevin Moore and Justin Quetone Moss, extension experts. “Carried away by the wind, the fine mist evaporates before reaching the landscape.”
Water pressure that’s too low can cause uneven irrigation concentrated at the center of the sprinkler coverage area. “In some cases, there will be donut-shaped zones of brown grass around a sprinkler head,” says Moore and Moss.
| Water pressure | Best sprinklers |
| Low (15-40 PSI) | Bubbler, Stationary |
| Medium (40-60 PSI) | Rotary, Oscillating |
| High (60-80 PSI) | Impact, Traveling |
How to determine your water pressure: Attach a gauge to your outdoor faucet. Remember that you’re looking for somewhere between 40 and 60 PSI. For pressures below 25 PSI or above 125 PSI, consult your local utility department.
Soil type
Different soil types absorb and retain water differently, making it an important consideration when selecting the right type of sprinkler for your lawn. The three main types that homeowners will encounter are clay, sand, and loam. Let your soil’s infiltration rate – the rate at which water penetrates the soil – guide your sprinkler choice.
If you don’t know what type of soil you have, conduct a soil test.
| Soil type | Best sprinkler | Watering strategy |
| Clay | Rotary, Oscillating, Bubbler | Longer irrigation sessions with water delivered slowly |
| Sandy | Impact, Stationary, Bubbler, Traveling | Frequent, quick irrigation sessions that deliver a lot of water |
| Loam | Rorary, Oscillating, Bubbler, Traveling | Deep, infrequent watering |
Climate
Your temperature, humidity, rainfall, and wind conditions affect how well your sprinklers deliver water and how much water gets absorbed. Some sprinklers are great for conserving water in hot, dry summers because of their strong streams. Meanwhile, gentler sprinklers are better in moderate and humid climates because they won’t evaporate easily.
| Climate type | Best sprinkler | Key considerations |
| Hot and dry | Impact, Traveling, Bubbler, Rotary | Streams of water are less likely to evaporate, while water needs are typically higher |
| Windy | Impact, Traveling, Bubbler, Rotary | Fine mist gets carried away and evaporates easily |
| Rainy and humid | Oscillating or Stationary | Humidity lowers the evaporation rate, and rain may bring enough water to irrigate your lawn for the week |
Moderate | Any | Moderate temperatures lower water needs |
Read more: What to Know About Outdoor Watering Restrictions
Lawn age
Young grass needs gentler watering than established turf, or else you risk damaging your new lawn. Newly planted grass doesn’t have the strong, extensive roots that established turf has. So, they can’t handle strong streams of water just yet. They’ll get displaced or uprooted, and you’ll end up with a patchy lawn you have to overseed again.
| Lawn stage | Best sprinklers | Sprinklers to avoid |
| New seed | Oscillating, Stationary | Impact, Traveling |
| New sod | Oscillating, Stationary | Impact, Traveling |
| Established | All types | None |
My tip: Gradually transition from gentle sprinklers to more efficient and powerful ones as your lawn establishes deeper roots.
Budget
Lastly, your sprinkler choice is also limited by cost. Budget constraints may dictate that you opt for a more affordable type of sprinkler, such as an oscillating sprinkler, over more expensive options like rotary sprinklers. You should also consider maintenance costs. Stationary sprinklers have no moving parts, so fewer things can break and require repair.
My tip: If you want a specific type of sprinkler, consider models made of less expensive materials, such as plastic, over those made of more expensive materials like metal. They’re not as durable, but you’ll save on the initial costs.
| Sprinkler type | Cost |
| Bubbler | $3 to $9 |
| Impact | $5 to $33 |
| Oscillating | $6 to $25 |
| Rotary | $7 to $21 |
| Stationary | $9 to $18 |
| Traveling | $67 to $100+ |
Read more:
- How Much Does it Cost to Install a Sprinkler System?
- How Much Does Sprinkler Repair Cost?
- How Much Does it Cost to Winterize a Sprinkler System?
- Sprinkler System Maintenance Checklist
FAQ about lawn sprinklers
It depends on what type of sprinkler system you’re installing. Hose-end sprinklers don’t require any DIY experience at all and are not installed – you just hook them up to your hose. There’s more work involved in installing above-ground and in-ground sprinkler systems.
While above-ground sprinkler systems are easy enough to DIY, I recommend consulting a pro for in-ground sprinkler installation. That type of project involves digging trenches, tapping into your home’s main water supply, and working with cement.
Read more:
How to Create a DIY Sprinkler System For Your Lawn
How to Install an In-Ground Lawn Sprinkler System
How Much Does it Cost to Install a Sprinkler System?
At minimum, your sprinklers should be at least 6 inches away from structures, like your fence or your house’s foundation. However, it’s best to keep a distance of 2 to 3 feet between your sprinklers and structures on your property.
Yes, it does impact how long you should water. Sprinklers have different rates of water flow. Some can deliver 13 gallons of water per minute, while others can only output 2 gallons per minute. Sprinklers that deliver a large amount of water quickly, such as impact sprinklers, should be run for a shorter period than those that do not.
Read more:
How Long Should You Water Your Lawn?
How Often Should I Water My Lawn with a Sprinkler System
Hire a lawn care professional
While choosing the right sprinkler for your lawn is vital to maintaining your lawn’s health, irrigation is not the only influencing factor. You will also need to cut your grass, stay on top of fertilizer applications, and fight off pests, weeds, and diseases.
Luckily, you can hire a Lawn Love pro who can handle the mowing, fertilizing, and weed control for you. Connect with one of our local pros today for a green lawn without the effort.
Sources:
- “Smart Summer Watering.” By Sarah Browning, extension educator. University of Nebraska–Lincoln Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
- “Five common mistakes with irrigation management in nurseries and greenhouses.” By Gerry Spinelli, production horticulture advisor. University of California, Davis.
- “Irrigation for Lawns and Gardens.” By Wesley Porter, associate professor, and Kerry A. Harrison, extension engineer. University of Georgia Extension.
- “Let’s Talk About Flood Bubblers.” By Dustin W. Blakey, county director and farm advisor. University of California and Natural Resources.
- “How To Set Up a Travelling Sprinkler.” By Holman Industries. YouTube.
- “Home Lawn Watering Guide.” Originally by Brad Fresenberg, state turfgrass specialist, and edited by Manoj Chhetri, assistant professor and former associate extension professional. University of Missouri Extension.
- “Managing Pressure in the Home Irrigation System.” By Kevin Moore, extension associate, and Justine Quetone Moss, research and extension specialist. Oklahoma State University Extension.
- “Soil type influences irrigation strategy.” Originally by Ron Goldy, senior educator emeritus. Michigan State University Extension.
Main Photo Credit: bluebudgie | Pixabay
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