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. 

   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. 

   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

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3. 

   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. 

   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 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

   Check price on Amazon
6. 

   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

   Check price on Amazon
7. 

   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