10 Best Lawn Sprinkler Heads 2024 – Keeping your Lawn Watered and Mowed

You want a lovely green lawn. That means keeping it watered and mowed. Watering your lawn with a hose, or watering can, is always too difficult.

You should then look for the right sprinkler heads for both big and small lawns. It’ll do all the watering for you, that way. It’s a time saver and can help save money, too.

In this article, we look at the top 10 sprinkler heads. So, you have a lot of options to choose from and you can make the right decision.

Different Types of Lawn Sprinkler Heads

Four common types of lawn sprinkler heads are worth considering. These include hidden, rotating (impact or gear driven), and irrigation at the spot.

Concealed Sprinklers

The head of the hidden sprinkler is often called a pop-up sprinkler. It is often used in an irrigation system on the permanent underground. They feature a spring-driven head above the grass to pop out from the ground.

As the spray nozzle emerges it will begin to pass in a circle. That can be a total, quarterly, or half circle. Once the water is turned on, the head comes up from the ground and re-enters the ground once turned off.

Sometimes you can change the spray pattern of the sprinkler head to a range of 45 feet. These systems generally output one to two-and-a-half inches of water for the coverage area every hour.

Rotary Sprinklers

Sprinklers of these types feature a mechanical nozzle to shoot a stream of water. The spray pattern is usually adjustable. Residential models also distribute water over the coverage area up to 40 feet out from the head and between 1/4- and 1/2-inch of water per hour.

There are two common rotary types, including models with gear and impact drive. The impact edition makes use of a spring-loaded arm that spins the nozzle. A stream of water then hit a metal plate, turn the head, and spray.

Models powered by gears use water pressure to turn a host of gears. This makes the nozzle rotate while spraying water. Both options work in a similar fashion, although gear-driven options may be quieter.

Spot Irrigation

Sometimes the mini-sprays, spinners, or bubblers are called micro-irrigation sprinklers. Those heads provide different plants with direct irrigation. They fit well for rows of landscaped plants or small root systems in gardens.

They are also located at the plant foundation. You can space them three to five feet apart, too, though. Usually, they’re placed on an unburied drip line.

The 10 Best Sprinkler Heads for Small & Large Lawn

1. Melnor XT Turbo Oscillating Sprinkler

If you have struggled to keep your lawn looking its best, it may be time to get ahead sprinkler. The Melnor XT Turbo Oscillating Sprinkler with its control dial provides greater adjustability. This gives the water changes more precision.

You will find this product has coverage of 4,000 square feet. The coverage range can be reduced from 75 feet down to 15 feet, too. All you need to do is slide the-sided control levers.

You may of course also adjust the pattern with the same control levers to the right, middle, or left. It is beneficial to have the width and length of the water pattern adjustable. This ensures that people will profit from the big and small yards.

Plus, it incorporates the flow control knob. That allows you to keep the pattern overall, but just change it a bit. In a way, it’s like an instruction to Expand or Shrink.

Its 20 different precision nozzles allow you to customize the water flow and pattern exactly as you need it to be. You can use it for flowers and more, that way.

2. Rain Bird 25PJDAC Brass Impact Sprinkler

All that want it to last and make it reliable should like the Rain Bird 25PJDAC Brass Impact Sprinkler. This is made of brass, copper, and stainless steel. It is also expected to last longer than products made from zinc.

This item was modeled following Rain Bird’s original sprinkler made in 1933. It now has all the latest technological advances and modern engineering.

You’ll find installation is relatively straightforward. Adjustments are fast, too. Plus, you can choose between a complete 360-degree coverage or a 20 to 340 degree part circle.

Its straight-through design of the water flow is ideal for performance in dirty water. It won’t rust or get clogged if you get the water from ponds, irrigation canals, or anywhere with high mineral content.

You will note, of course, that the diffuser screw helps break up the water into tiny droplets. This makes watering increasingly uniform. It also decreases up to 25 percent of the radius.

Additionally, the spray arm is designed to avoid splashing walkways and houses. Keep more of your lawn water on.

3. Rain Bird P5R Plastic Impact Sprinkler

Homeowners who are not willing to move to the head of a metal sprinkler might like the Rain Bird P5R Plastic Impact Sprinkler. It’s designed to be solid and durable but made of plastic. Therefore, it could operate with well water where one does not have metal.

It features a weight arm with double brass. This enables greater coverage of the water and smoother rotations. Additionally, the diffuser screw creates smaller drops of water to give you a more even coverage.

There’s also a Water Saver guide arm in the package. Control of the water’s stream is brass weighted. That way, the water will not splash onto walkways or buildings.

The bayonet nozzle of course is removable. You can easily clean it out that way.

You will find that the design has a straight-through-flow function. This allows for better efficiency, even if the water is ‘dirty.’ Dirty can mean water from a pond or other source which has not been chemically treated.

Many who search out a variety of ways to customize will like this product. It has an infinite modification of the pattern with a component circle of up to 340 degrees or full circle.

4. Rain Bird 1804VAN Professional Pop-Up Sprinkler

The Rain Bird 1804VAN Professional Pop-Up Sprinkler is right for you if you are interested in a sprinkler head that pops up and then retracts back into the ground. It features a height that came up from four inches.

Plus, you can adjust it to a 0-degree spray rotation all the way up to 360 degrees. That means that it can be stationary and will not move, or it can go in a complete circle. This allows you to water any place, even when it’s oddly shaped.

The gap from the spray can also be changed to 15 feet from 8 feet down. It features a stainless steel spring. This is a heavy-duty material and will not break but every time it also ensures flush retraction.

Rain Bird patented its co-molded wiper seals, which are activated by pressure. You will find this can prevent leakage and wastage of water. Plus it’s going to last a long time.

You don’t have to worry about debris getting into the head and clogging it with the tapered pop-up neck. This means that each time you use it, you’ll have the spray pattern you have selected.

5. Orbit 55662 Adjustable Pop-Up Gear Drive Rotor Sprinkler

Those looking to replace an outdated or inefficient sprinkler system will like the Voyager II Professional Sprinkler Spray Head Orbit 55662. It’s compatible with almost any system that fails or is old. Plus it works for gear-driven rotary sprinklers for all big brands.

If you have a small or broad lawn, this product will work fantastically and cover the entire field. The spray can be adjusted up to 52 feet from 25 meters.

You’ll also be given a variety of nozzles to choose from. Each sprinkler on your yard can be customized to give you full saturation. It comes with a pre-installed three-gallon-a-minute nozzle but you can switch it out as needed.

If you want to spray a partial area of your lawn or want full 360-degree watering, this can be easily adjusted. It does, however, require the included key to do so.

6. Toro 53814 4-Inch Pop-Up Fixed-Spray

If you’re looking for something simple to use and setup, then the Toro 53814 Fixed-Spray Pop-Up is perfect. It comes in a 3- or 4-inch pop-up. This means that either height can be the part that elevates out of the ground.

You will also find that a 15-foot spray radius features at this product. For medium-sized lawns this is ideal. The fixed-spray method also works fine for medium-length grass.

Although it is a fixed-spray, it can spray a full 360-degrees anywhere you need it to go. You can’t adjust the droplet size or how it sprays so it can remain in place or go in a full circle.

Cleaning is, of course, very simple too. In reality, you can do it while the system works. That allows for the use of water pressure to flush everything out.

For those that don’t want to fiddle with hard-to-read instructions, the plug-and-play feature is fine. Just dig the hole, put the sprinkler in, and make sure that the spray goes where you need it.

7. Orbit 55025 Satellite 2 Impact Sprinkler

Are you keen to take control of your lawn? If so, the Orbit 55025 Impact Canister Spray Head Sprinkler may be right for you. It features a pin with a diffuser that helps you customize it from up to 45 feet away.

All you need to do is extend or shorten your impact sprinkler span. To do so, screw the diffuser pinout or into the stream of water.

The aim of this spray head is to tailor it to the needs of your lawn. So you can adjust the pattern to a full circle or part circle. It will also be sitting flush with the grass, making mowing easier without fear of damaging the product.

While it’s watering the grass, it will stand three inches above the ground. This doesn’t necessarily mean three inches above the grass.

The spray pattern can also be adjusted from between 20 degrees and 360 degrees. To do this, just slide the friction collars on the sprinkler to get the optimal spray.

8. Gilmour 167H Pulsating Sprinkler Head

The Gilmour 167H Pulsating Sprinkler Head provides water cover with a 43-foot radius of up to 5,800 square feet. Depending on your requirements you can receive either partial or full coverage.

This product is made from metal, so it’s built to withstand the elements. Of course, an excellent addition to that is the impulse arm. You can save water, as you don’t have to deal with the issue of side and back-plash.

This sprinkler head comes primarily with a diffuser screw. That allows you to easily adjust your fingertips to the water stream. This also allows you to have coverage over the whole lawn.

With it made of zinc and brass you know it’s going to last a long time. It’ll fit just sprinkler bases with a regular 1/2-inch link, though.

You can also set it to reverse-full circle, meaning it can spray water in the counterclockwise direction. That is a better choice in some cases.

9. Hunter PGP Ultra Rotor Sprinkler Heads – 5 Pack

Homeowners who want something other with added features will like the Heads of Hunter PGP Ultra Rotor Sprinkler. It is a product of the pop-up arc rotor that raises up to four inches from the ground.

This product has been around for a while but over the years it has been growing. Now, it features a return automatic arc and a non-strippable drive.

These features are important for turning the turret without doing any damage to it. Plus, no matter how it was set you can return to the original arc.

There are additional advanced features, too. You have 34 different nozzle options, for example, and also a lot of radius choices. You’ll also get a screw package and a slot with a rim.

Adjustment to the full circle goes from 50 degrees to 360 degrees. So you can have that turn slightly or all the way around. You’ll also note that inside the internal gear drive there’s an increased tolerance for dirty water.

10. Rain Bird CPRSDBEX Wired Rain Sensor

Are you tired of getting your sprinkler system on when it’s raining? Most people hate water wasted and the lawn overwatered. You needn’t think about the Rain Bird CPRSDBEX Wired Rain Sensor.

Almost every irrigation system can work with that. So it can connect to a standard sensor-ready 24VAC timer.

The rainfall settings can be easily changed, too. All you need to do is rotate the dial from 1/8 “to 3/4” Plus, turning the vent ring will increase and decrease delay times.

You may also need to have that adjustable side vent to help the sensor dry out. Often it can gather water as it is cold.

The body is made of a material that is resistant to UV. You will find the brackets made of aluminum are designed to withstand almost any environment. Plus, over time it’s less likely to rust.

You get 25 feet of wire to make setup easy. To withstand the elements this is also UV-resistant.

How Does a Lawn Sprinkler Head Work?

There are usually two parts to a sprinkler head: the nozzle and the body. They can be sometimes complex or simple.

Upstairs devices can be turned and straight into a garden hose. You have the body with a platform, and when the hose is turned on the nozzle will distribute the water.

In-ground systems can sometimes be just as easy but usually, involve more. The shape of the body will depend on the type of head sprinkler. Pop-up sprinklers also have a wider base which allows the upper part to retract.

So when it’s not being used it sits underground. The nozzles are often shaped according to the pattern of the spray and the amount of water that it produces at one time.

How to Replace a Lawn Sprinkler Head?

You’ll need a small shovel, a pair of pliers and a new head to replace your broken lawn sprinkler head. The first step is to use the shovel to clean around the sprinkler, removing excess dirt.

Take your pliers and grab the head from the riser to loosen it. That can take a while, so be patient. Remove from the riser the old cap, and make sure you have the canister and the handle.

Now, take the new head, and put it in the riser. Make sure no dirt or debris got inside before you do this. Then, just tighten your fingers on the new head into the system.

Use the pliers once it is finger-tight to give it a couple more turns. Just ensure it’s not too tight.

Final Thoughts

There were lots of choices when it comes to the best lawn sprinkler head. We decided the Rain Bird brand would be one of the best options. But we got two champions.

One of our favorites was the Rain Bird 25PJDAC Brass Impact Sprinkler since it was made of metal and simple to mount. Plus, the distance from the spray could be changed in many ways.

We liked the Rain Bird 1804VAN Professional Pop-Up Sprinkler a lot too, though. That is perfect if you have a pop-up sprinkler system. Plus, it is also made of stainless steel.

Also, See The Best 10 Garden Sprinkler – Buying Guide

Have a look at these models: