The Best Lawn Sprinkler, According to 73,640+ Customer Reviews

Lauraine Velez

Welcome to the Thomas guide to the best lawn sprinkler 2023. Thomas has been connecting North American industrial buyers and suppliers for more than 120 years. When you purchase products through our independent recommendations, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Lawn sprinklers make our lives easier by keeping lawns and gardens hydrated and healthy. These tools are essential in hot and dry climates to maintain a beautiful garden. They require little effort to set up, except for the in-ground system types, which often need professional installation. Most sprinklers simply require good water pressure and easy access to an outdoor faucet.

Image credit: Shutterstock/Arne Beruldsen

Finding the right lawn sprinkler system can save water and the headache of manual watering. Shoppers searching for a lawn sprinkler that can leave their lawn looking lush while providing customizable features will find a good variety on our list of the best below.

Here is a list of the best lawn sprinklers, followed by a buying guide to help you select the best lawn sprinkler.

Thomas’ Top Picks for the Best Lawn Sprinklers 2023

For a healthy lawn and thriving yard, see our list of top-rated sprinkler systems available to buy now.

Best Oscillating Lawn Sprinkler: Melnor 65055-AMZ XT Oscillating Sprinkler System | Buy Now

Best Above-Ground Lawn Sprinklers: Melnor 95548-IN Above Ground Sprinkler System | Buy Now

Best In-Ground Sprinkler System: Rain Bird In-Ground Lawn Sprinkler System | Buy Now

Best Lawn Sprinkler for a Vegetable Garden: Blisstime Lawn Sprinkler System | Buy Now

Best Sprinkler System with Spray Pattern Options: Dramm ColorStorm 9-Pattern Turret Garden Sprinkler System | Buy Now

Best Gentle Spray System: Aqua Joe Garden Oscillating Sprinkler System | Buy Now

Best System for Tall Plants: Kadaon Rotating Sprinkler | Buy Now

Best for Small Lawns: Melnor 65003-AMZ MiniMax Turbo Oscillating Sprinkler | Buy Now

Best for Medium Lawns: Orbit Impact Lawn Sprinkler System | Buy Now

Best for Large Lawns: Nelson 1865 Rain Train Traveling Sprinkler System | Buy Now

Ensuring a healthy and thriving lawn requires a reliable sprinkler system. Shop the below highly-rated sprinklers for all lawn types.

*Prices listed in this article were as shown in US$ on amazon.com (USA) as of March 2023

1. Best Above-Ground Lawn Sprinklers—Melnor Garden Sprinkler System

Homeowners with smaller yards, vegetable gardens, landscaped flowers, or blooming plants will appreciate this Melnor above-ground sprinkler system. The kit comes with two 15-foot garden hoses and three adjustable sprinkler heads that can cover up to 1,800 square feet of lawn with an easy setup. Shoppers noted that measuring the area to be watered before setting it up helped maximize watering and reduced water waste.

While it is designed for use on gardens up to 4,500 square foot, one customer who used this for their 7,500 square foot lawn wrote, “It has simple, quick fingertip adjustments for width of coverage, back and forth limits, a removable nozzle cleaner built into it and even a quick disconnect adapter if you choose to use it. And, it looks cool with its black and yellow exterior.”

BUY NOW: US$79.99, Amazon

Also Available at: The Home Depot

2. Best In-Ground Sprinkler System—Rain Bird Garden Sprinkler System

Customers planning for a long-term permanent solution to watering their garden will find this Rain Bird a good option. It’s imperative to correctly measure and plan where this system will go to guarantee maximum water coverage. This system also requires a minimum of 45 PSI to reach the maximum square feet advertised.

“Rain Bird provides everything you need in one box,” reported one consumer. “The parts all work nicely together, and you don't have to scratch your head wondering what to buy at the big box store. The hose hookup is a super convenient feature too.”

BUY NOW: US$145, Amazon

Also Available at: Walmart

3. Best Oscillating Sprinklers—Melnor Garden Oscillating Sprinkler System

The features and versatility of this best-oscillating lawn sprinkler system by Melnor received consistently high reviews from Amazon customers. A favorite feature of this oscillating sprinkler system includes the ability to customize the watering range for small to large lawns and water a specific area to avoid watering sidewalks or driveways. For proper functioning, this model requires between 20 and 80 PSI.

One satisfied consumer wrote, “You can set them to spray exactly where you want them to, and also set the amount of spray you want for each head. I set the spray to full and the sprinkler heads to around 50 percent coverage. Didn't have any water going into the street, and the three sprinklers covered a nice large area of my yard.”

BUY NOW: US$74.58, Amazon

Also Available at: Walmart

4. Best Sprinkler System for Vegetable Gardens—Blisstime Garden Sprinkler

Gardeners with a medium vegetable garden or any edible plants will find this Blisstime system ideal for their needs. With the right water pressure, this lawn sprinkler system can cover up to 845 square feet with its three nozzles, twelve adjustable angles, and circular rotating motion. The base is made of durable, non-toxic ABS that is also leak-proof.

One of the many five-star reviews reads, “This sprinkler is great. It has two different attachments, and you can rotate the arms to get the range and angle you want for the water flow. It was easy to connect to the hose and no leaking.”

BUY NOW: US$11.99 (Was US$19.99), Amazon

5. Best Watering System with Spray Patterns—Dramm Premium Turret Garden Sprinkler

The nine different spray designs that come with this Dramm premium watering system provide a variety of options for different watering needs. Just place this unit in one location of a small lawn, set the desired pattern, and watch it cover from 250–575 square feet, depending on which pattern is selected. This lawn sprinkler system requires strong water pressure that reaches up to 90 PSI to work correctly.

One purchaser wrote about the price and versatility of the spraying patterns, “We have a small yard with new plantings, and the ability to change spray patterns is critical for us. We use the half-circle to get our plantings next to the front of the house, then switch it to the pop-up spinner and pull the lawn sprinkler more onto the front lawn to get the rest of the grass.”

BUY NOW: US$29.99, Amazon

Also Available at: Sears

6. Best Gentle Lawn Sprinkler—Aqua Joe Garden Sprinkler

This compact little sprinkler from Aqua Joe is a good choice to water up to 3,600 square feet of lawn. To set it up, simply connect a hose to the sprinkler head, customize the range and spraying patterns, and turn the water on. Buyers who live in hard water areas will appreciate the handy nozzle cleaning tool that is included in the kit to unclog nozzles.

One happy buyer expressed, “I have a small lawn that needs watering, and I like the ability to adjust the angle at which the water will be spraying (left/right). It feels very durable and has a sturdy metal base. It even comes with a little contraption to clean out the nozzles if you have hard water build-up.”

BUY NOW: US$19.97 (Was US$23), Amazon

Also Available at: Walmart, Snow Joe, Lowe’s, and The Home Depot

7. Best System for Tall Plants—Kadaon Lawn Sprinkler

Landscaped gardens with many tall plants are excellent for this rotary sprinkler system from Kadaon. Although it states it can cover up to 3,000 square feet, it will work better for smaller lawns, and it even works well with low water pressure. The three nozzles can be changed to different angles, providing maximum coverage.

To preserve it in good condition, it should be stored out of direct sunlight when not in use. “For such an inexpensive little thing, it’s a powerhouse,” raved one customer. “And we have well water. The pressure is very, very low. Usually, we have a problem with sprinklers not putting out. This thing is awesome. I'm getting a couple more so I don't have to keep moving it around.”

BUY NOW: US$12.99 (Was US$16.99), Amazon

8. Best Lawn Sprinkler for Small Lawns—Melnor MiniMax Turbo Garden Sprinkler System

Melnor’s MiniMax Turbo watering sprinkler system is compact yet powerful enough to cover a small lawn with its infinity turbo drive. This lawn sprinkler is particularly useful for watering small yards that are close to driveways or sidewalks with its entirely customizable water flow. The hose is connected to the base, and with proper water pressure, it can cover up to 4,000 square feet.

“Perfect for my small 20x40-foot grass patch,” wrote one buyer. “I have tried a handful of different sprinklers in an attempt to water just the 20x40-foot section without watering my cement, chairs, patio, etc. It worked perfectly for the couple [of] weeks I was out of town. Grass looks better than when I was watering it daily by hand and got even (and not wasteful) coverage.”

BUY NOW: US$43.39 (Was US$49.99), Amazon

9. Best Lawn Sprinkler for Medium Lawns—Orbit Impact Sprinkler System

Unlike flimsy sprinklers that tend to break easily, this Orbit sprinkler works just as well as expensive models. This impact sprinkler sits on top of a tripod and can reach up to an 85-foot diameter with a minimum coverage of 20 feet and a maximum of over 5,500 square feet. The tripod and watering sprinkler head are adjustable, along with the spray distance and patterns.

One customer described “each leg of the stand being adjustable with two locks, enabling you to arch the water stream higher to throw it farther or use on a hill/incline to make level. Set mine on a timer at the faucet, so all the work is done for me during the day in order to keep the new seed wet.”

BUY NOW: US$32.70, Amazon

Also Available at: Walmart, Lowe’s

10. Best Lawn Sprinkler for Large Lawns—Nelson Rain Train Garden Sprinkler

Capable of watering up to 13,500 square foot, this Nelsont raveling hose sprinkler can be used on a farm, large edible garden, or estate. The sprinkler travels along the hose and stops watering once it reaches the end of the hose. It also has a convenient setting that allows users to adjust the water diameter.

On the highest setting, this watering sprinkler covers 37 feet per hour, and on the low setting, 21 feet per hour. “This sprinkler is sturdy,” reported one shopper. “I have always seen old people with these sprinklers… No wonder! They'll last a lifetime. I really like the fact that there are two speeds. The best part is that when the sprinkler works its way to the stopper, it turns all the way off.”

BUY NOW: US$82.17, Amazon

Also Available at: Walmart, Ace Hardware

The Best Lawn Sprinklers—Summary

Customers with small to medium lawns that want the versatility of the changeable range and watering distance will appreciate the Melnor oscillating lawn sprinkler system (US$74.58, Amazon). Gardeners with extensive vegetable gardens or homeowners with large lawns in perhaps a location that doesn’t see much rain will find the Nelson traveling watering system (US$82.17, Amazon) an excellent option.

Choosing the Best Lawn Sprinklers—Buying Guide

With all of the sprinkler hoses available on the market, it’s essential to know the square footage of a yard before deciding which to buy. The square footage that each sprinkler is typically written in the product description so you should pick one that is right for your yard size. This is especially important for in-ground systems that can’t be moved once installed.

Types of Lawn Sprinklers

While gardening hoses are a good way to get the yard watered, a good lawn sprinkler system can do the job for you. Below we’ve covered a variety of sprinklers and the type of yards they’re best for maintaining.

Above-ground sprinkler systems are placed on the surface of a lawn. In large yards, these must be moved in order to reach the whole coverage area.
In-ground sprinkler systems have all irrigation parts placed below ground and out of sight except while in action when the spigots of the in-ground system pop up to water the yard and recess when watering is complete. They are a permanent system for yard care and can cover a large swath of land. They also reduce water usage by maximizing coverage area to reduce dry spots.
Programmable sprinklers are placed on an automatic timer to go off at specific times for optimal watering day and night. They are especially useful in drier climates where frequent watering is needed. Some programmable sprinklers also have motion sensors to deter wildlife.
Manual sprinklers are systems that require the user to place the hose and sprinkler on the lawn and adjust the settings manually to maximize water coverage.
Stationary sprinklers are one sprinkler head that connects to a garden hose and are most useful for small areas. The sprinkler head does not move, and it usually comes with only one spraying pattern. Like most other sprinklers, it does not have good coverage and also has lower water pressure.
Traveling sprinklers use water pressure to travel along a garden hose to water a yard and plants. A traveling sprinkler system is ideal for a newly seeded lawn or for maintaining a large property.
Oscillating sprinklers water lawns by swinging from side to side on a tubular sprinkler with holes along the center. Optimal for homes that have good water pressure and smaller grounds, an oscillating sprinkler system is a good way to ensure no dry spots in the yard.
Rotating sprinklers, as the name suggests, rotate water in a circular motion and are ideal for medium to large lawns. To function correctly, they require 40 PSI water pressure. The higher the pressure, the further and faster it will water.
Impulse sprinklers, also called impact sprinklers, are primarily used on golf courses and have a mobile water spray pattern driven by water pressure.

We hope our review of the best lawn sprinklers has been helpful and you found the best one for your watering needs to ensure full coverage with no dry spots. For more suppliers of related products, including irrigation systems, sprinkler heads, garden sprayers, and watering cans, consult our additional guides, or visit the Thomas Supplier Discovery Platform.

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