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Square, circular or pulsing — the shape is the choice

Lawn sprinklers, compared

A sprinkler is chosen by the shape of the lawn, not by the size of the box, and the shelf holds three shapes. An oscillating sprinkler waves a perforated bar back and forth and waters a rectangle — the standard choice for an ordinary rectangular lawn, and the type that dominates this corpus, with coverage figures from 90 to 350 m². A rotating or turbine sprinkler throws two or three arms in a circle, waters a disc, and suits an irregular lawn where overlapping circles cover more honestly than one rectangle. And a pulse or impact sprinkler on a spike throws a single jet in a set arc, reaches further than either, and is what waters a large open lawn from one position. The coverage figure is where this shelf needs reading carefully: it is quoted as a range — « 90-220 m² » — because it depends entirely on the water pressure at the sprinkler, which depends on the tap, the hose diameter and the length of the run. A sprinkler that states 250 m² on a 19 mm hose covers noticeably less on 13 mm, and no listing says so. The range in metres is the more honest figure because it is what the buyer can measure. The sectors column covers the adjustments: width of throw, length of throw, and on the better oscillating models a cam that skips the near edge so the terrace stays dry. The connection is a quick coupling on everything here, and the material decides whether the moving parts survive grit. We compare type, coverage, range, sectors, connection and material.

Every part here, laid out figure by figure

  1. Green three-arm rotating lawn sprinkler on a weighted base

    Amazon Basics AMZ622534EU

    A three-arm rotating sprinkler that states the pressure its coverage figure assumes — which four here do not.

    Type
    Rotating sprinkler — three spinning arms
    Coverage
    About 140 m², stated at more than 4 bar of water pressure
    Range
    Not published — no distance given; 140 m² is a circle of about 6.7 m radius
    Sectors
    Three arms adjustable from 45° to 90°; 12 nozzles at several angles
    Connection
    3/4 inch BSP thread; filter discs with a rubber seal
    Material
    Plastic base, weighted and non-slip, with thermoplastic rubber side grips
    Amazon reference
    B0F7NGMFCJ (one reference across 6 Amazon marketplaces)
    EAN
    0840324435559
    • States the pressure its coverage assumes, which most of this shelf does not
    • The only sprinkler here that publishes its own physical dimensions
    • "More than 4 bar" is above what many domestic taps deliver

    Best for: A medium lawn on a supply with real pressure, where a circular pattern is acceptable

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  2. Three-arm rotating garden sprinkler with quick connector

    Fmalra FM-HST-01

    The only sprinkler here that publishes its reach at two different pressures — 7.3 to 9.8 m, and up to 15 m.

    Type
    Rotating sprinkler — three spinning arms, 360°
    Coverage
    Not published as an area
    Range
    Diameter 7.3–9.8 m at 2.8 bar; up to 15 m at 4.1 bar
    Sectors
    Arms set to 45° for area or 15° for targeted watering
    Connection
    Quick connector supplied; US-standard thread, stated to fit common garden hoses
    Material
    Impact- and weather-resistant ABS
    Amazon reference
    B0GVFWLGLZ (one reference across 5 Amazon marketplaces)
    EAN
    0735167450756
    • Two pressures with two results — the only listing on this shelf to show how much pressure matters
    • Impact-resistant ABS, named
    • A US-standard thread on a European listing, with compatibility asserted rather than specified

    Best for: Working out what your own tap pressure will actually give you

    Check price on Amazon
  3. Green metal impulse sprinkler on a ground spike

    Relaxdays 10023169

    A metal impulse sprinkler on a spike whose two published figures reconcile only if 15 m is a radius.

    Type
    Impulse sprinkler — a single jet stepped round by a sprung arm
    Coverage
    Up to 700 m², which is a circle of 15 m radius
    Range
    Adjustable to 15 m — read as a radius, from the area figure
    Sectors
    Sector from 20° to 360°; range adjustable
    Connection
    1/2 inch; metal body; ground spike; 29 × 11 × 5 cm
    Material
    Metal
    Amazon reference
    B07CMDKB82 (one reference across 6 Amazon marketplaces)
    EAN
    4052025231699
    • The two published figures are internally consistent as radius and area
    • Metal, where most of this shelf is plastic
    • No pressure is stated for the 700 m² figure

    Best for: Large lawns and orchards, and any shape that needs a sector rather than a circle

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  4. Metal impulse lawn sprinkler

    Cellfast Lux 1706065100

    A metal impulse sprinkler whose single published feature describes a hand-held spray lance instead.

    Type
    Impulse sprinkler, from the title; metal
    Coverage
    Not published
    Range
    Not published
    Sectors
    The title names stepped regulation; the feature line describes a different product
    Connection
    Not published
    Material
    Metal, from the title
    Amazon reference
    B007MNV6A6 (one reference across 6 Amazon marketplaces)
    EAN
    5901828855313
    • Metal, which is the right construction for an impulse mechanism
    • Priced in all six markets this site reads
    • The only published feature describes an ergonomic hand spray, not a sprinkler

    Best for: Somebody re-ordering a sprinkler they already own by part number

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  5. Gardena Aqua S oscillating square sprinkler

    Gardena Aqua S 18700-20

    The only sprinkler here whose three published figures check out against each other — 7 to 17 m by 13 m.

    Type
    Oscillating sprinkler — a swinging tube of nozzles watering a rectangle
    Coverage
    90 to 220 m², square or rectangular
    Range
    Reach 7 to 17 m, continuously adjustable; maximum spray width 13 m
    Sectors
    Stepless range adjustment
    Connection
    Internal metal filter against grit; cleaning needle supplied
    Material
    Not published; an internal metal filter and a cleaning needle are stated
    Amazon reference
    B07YST254M (one reference across 6 Amazon marketplaces)
    EAN
    4078500047999
    • Its three figures reconcile exactly: 17 × 13 = 221 m², 7 × 13 = 91 m²
    • Waters a rectangle, which is the shape most lawns actually are
    • No pressure is stated for the coverage figures

    Best for: A rectangular lawn, where a circular pattern would leave dry corners

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  6. Impulse sprinkler on a folding telescopic tripod with ground spikes

    Gardebruk 102660

    A tripod-mounted impulse head, 63 to 97 cm high — whose figures only reconcile if 24 m is a diameter.

    Type
    Impulse sprinkler on a folding telescopic tripod with three ground spikes
    Coverage
    Up to 450 m², which is a circle of about 12 m radius
    Range
    Stated as up to 24 m — reconciles with the area only as a diameter
    Sectors
    Sector 30° to 360°, stepless; height 63 to 97 cm, stepless
    Connection
    Hose adapters supplied for common garden hoses
    Material
    Not published; folding tripod legs with three ground spikes
    Amazon reference
    B01J5ZBFJA (one reference across 5 Amazon marketplaces)
    EAN
    4250525321616
    • Three folding legs with three spikes — the only stable mount on this shelf
    • Height adjustable from 63 to 97 cm, which clears tall planting
    • Its distance figure and its area figure only agree if the 24 m is a diameter

    Best for: Orchards, vegetable plots and anywhere the water has to clear standing crops

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  7. GRÜNTEK oscillating sprinkler with seventeen nozzles

    GRÜNTEK 296.217.007

    Seventeen nozzles and a metal filter — with a coverage figure quoted at a pressure few gardens have.

    Type
    Oscillating sprinkler — a swinging tube of 17 nozzles watering a rectangle
    Coverage
    Up to 247 m², stated at 8 bar with a 3/4 inch hose
    Range
    Not published — no distance given
    Sectors
    Full, narrowed and half-side spray patterns
    Connection
    Universal click system; fine metal filter screen at the inlet; cleaning pin supplied
    Material
    Impact-resistant ABS throughout, including the spray tube and the feet
    Amazon reference
    B0HBQR19CS (one reference across 5 Amazon marketplaces)
    EAN
    4061349203404
    • States both the pressure and the hose bore its figure assumes — the most complete qualification on this shelf
    • A metal filter screen and a cleaning pin, which is what an oscillator needs
    • 8 bar is far above a typical domestic tap, so 247 m² is not a garden figure

    Best for: A rectangular lawn on a strong supply, or a pumped system

    Check price on Amazon