How Much Water Does a Sprinkler Use per Hour?

The water usage of a sprinkler depends on size, water pressure, and runtime. A small 1,000 sq ft residential sprinkler can use 2 to 5 gallons per minute, equaling 120 to 300 gallons per hour. It’s essential to use water efficiently and avoid over-watering which causes wastage, higher bills, and environmental damage. Regular maintenance can identify leaks causing wastage.
A typical residential sprinkler with a 5/8" hose uses about 1,020 gallons per hour. Watering 3 times weekly totals 12,240 gallons monthly. Sprinklers have flow rates between 1.5-2.5 gallons per minute for spray types and 0.5-1.5 gallons per minute for rotor types. Rotor sprinklers use 30-90 gallons per hour while spray sprinklers use 90-150 gallons.

Water pressure impacts flow rate. At 35 PSI, a rotor with a 3.0 nozzle uses 3.11 gallons per minute. With a 10-gallon per minute home capacity, 3 rotor heads could run per zone. Overwatering causes runoff and wastes water.

To set sprinkler timers, check output. If output is 1/8" in 15 minutes, run 120 minutes for 1" of water. If output is 1/2" in 15 minutes, run 30 minutes for 1" of water. Compare calculated water needs to actual sprinkler water use. Adjust as needed for efficiency.