Best Garden Hose Nozzles and Sprayers Image Watering & Irrigation

Best Garden Hose Nozzles & Sprayers: Guide & Recommendations

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If you’ve ever used a garden hose without a nozzle, you know how frustrating it can be to get the water to spray out gently (rather than rushing out in a jet) and how cold the water can be on your fingers as you try to adjust the water flow by placing your thumb over the hose end. You’d probably admit that a hose nozzle is not just a “nice to have” tool for the garden!

Then again, you’ve probably also had the unfortunate experience of having to buy multiple hose nozzles each year as they break, leak, stop spraying, fail to turn off, or otherwise fall apart. So how do you choose the best hose nozzles, the ones that actually work and won’t break down after only a few sprays?

>> Related Article: Best Garden Hoses – A detailed guide to buying a quality hose and our top recommendations.

Considerations in Buying Hose Nozzles

Garden hose nozzles come in hundreds of varieties, with a number of different styles, materials, sizes, costs, spray patterns, flow rates, and more to choose from. It can be overwhelming trying to choose the right one for your needs so here are the key things to consider when looking for a high quality hose nozzle.

Material

Garden hose nozzles have two major components – the sprayer and the handle – each of which can be made out of different material. Many spray nozzles are made completely of metal, but some are entirely made of plastic, while others are part plastic, part metal.

Metal Hose Nozzles

Metal is generally the best material for a garden nozzle. Look for solid brass, as well as construction die cast zinc or aluminum. Metal hose nozzles are typically heavier than plastic ones (especially brass nozzles) so be sure you’ll be comfortable holding it for an extended period of time.

Take a look at how smoothly the parts move and the precision with which any holes are drilled. Metal nozzles generally last longer than other options but they aren’t inherently better quality – make sure you buy a quality metal nozzle that’s well-made.

You’ll find many metal nozzles with colorful powder coating or anodized finishes to prevent rusting. Some are also covered in plastic or rubber (to protect the hose nozzle from damage and provide a non-slip grip) or have plastic or nylon insulation on the handle to keep your hand warm.

Metal & Plastic Hose Nozzles

Another good option is a metal nozzle with a plastic handle. It’s the working parts inside the nozzle that are most likely to fail so those are the parts that are most important to have in metal. Look for a hose nozzle with a metal connection point (where it attaches to the hose), sprayer (where the water comes out), and moving parts.

Plastic Hose Nozzles

Avoid all-plastic hose nozzles. Not only are they more likely to leak or break, but plastic breaks down when left exposed to sunlight. Plastic nozzles should be stored out of direct sun at all times, which usually means removing it from the end of the hose after each use and putting the nozzle in the shed or garage.

Our Recommendation

We recommend a quality, all-metal hose nozzle with a rubber or plastic wrapped grip.

Hose Nozzle Styles

There are seven major types of hose nozzles for gardening, each with its pros and cons.

Pistol Grip

pistol grip nozzleThis is exactly what it sounds like – a nozzle shaped somewhat like a pistol. Key features include:

  • a grip that’s held in your hand like a pistol
  • a lever or trigger to turn the water on or off and control the flow rate (this may be found on the front of the handle where it’s squeezed with your finger(s) or on the back where it’s depressed with the palm of your hand), and
  • a nozzle (which may or may not be adjustable) sticking out the front.

Simply point the nozzle in the direction you want to spray, and pull the trigger.

You can turn off the water by releasing the trigger and can control the flow rate based on how much you depress the trigger.

Pistol grip nozzles are usually made of aluminum or plastic (or sometimes both). Because they have many moving parts, they can easily be broken or worn out, so quality is especially important when choosing this kind of nozzle.

Dial or Turret

dial or turret nozzleThese types of hose nozzles come in a variety of styles (most typically, on pistol grip or watering wand styles), but the key feature is the ability to turn a dial to adjust the spray pattern. Nozzles will range from 2 to 8 or more available spray patterns, including jet, fan or flat, cone, shower, mist, center spray, and soak or flood.

Dial or turret garden hose nozzles are a good choice if you do a lot of close watering or need to frequently change the spray pattern. The mist setting is great for delicate plants and seedlings, and the soak pattern is helpful when watering large containers.

These nozzles tend to be made of plastic, although you can also find some made of aluminum or part aluminum, part plastic. If it’s made of plastic, be sure to bring it inside when not in use (and definitely don’t leave it outside over the winter!).

Watering Wand

watering wandA watering wand is a specialized nozzle that extends your reach so you can place water exactly where you want it. It’s often used for watering hanging baskets and deep garden beds.

Some watering wands extend or telescope for added length and versatility. Others come with adjustable nozzles (like a dial nozzle). The better ones come with a cut-off valve or trigger at the base that allows you to start and stop the water without having to turn the faucet off, and some have a foam or rubber insulated grip to keep your hand warm.

Our favorite watering wand is the Dramm OneTouch Rain Wand. >> READ THE REVIEW here.

Fan Nozzles

fan nozzleFan nozzles emit water in a fan-shaped pattern and are ideal for watering smaller gardens and outdoor plants.

There is no water control (although some have a shut-off valve) but they are good for completing watering tasks quickly. They generally dispense a lot of water but they do so fairly gently so can be used even for some of your more delicate watering tasks.

Fireman

Fireman nozzleYou’ll often find this kind of hose nozzle in the automotive care section of the hardware store because it can put out a lot of water at relatively high pressures – great for washing cars.

Fireman nozzles are extremely versatile, allowing you to emit everything from a light mist to a strong jet simply by twisting the nozzle.
Be aware that the spray may be too strong for tender plants and seedlings.

Most are made of metal and the better ones have a rubber coating to protect the nozzle from being dropped (or driven over by a car!) and to insulate the grip.

Our favorite fireman hose nozzle is the Ultimate Hose Nozzle. >> READ THE REVIEW here.

Traditional, Cylindrical, or Straight Nozzles

traditional or straight garden nozzleThis garden hose nozzle has a straight barrel that twists to control the amount of water flowing through. To change the spray pattern on a brass nozzle, you twist the end of it. One direction will give you a fine mist to hard stream; the other direction will turn off the flow completely. It works well for spraying water with force and directing water in a specific direction, but it’s generally not insulated so can be cold on your hands. On the other hand, brass cylindrical garden hose nozzles are very heavy, well made, and can last forever.

Soaker or Bubbler Nozzles

soaker nozzleThese aren’t the typical type of nozzle in that they don’t spray water – rather, water slowly drips or bubbles out of a device placed over the end of the hose. These types of soaker hose nozzles are perfect for watering more delicate plants, soaking newly planted trees, and minimizing water runoff.

Spray Patterns

Some hose nozzles allow gardeners to choose from a range of spray patterns, such as a fine mist, a steady shower, a focused jet or cone, or a slow soak. Look for a nozzle that has the spray patterns you’ll use most often. Typically, this would be the mist, soak, shower, and jet patterns, although you may find that you prefer other options.

Connection

Most hoses have a threaded metal fitting at the end (although some are plastic – those should be avoided). In the US, the thread standard for gardening hoses is GHT (garden hose thread), which has an outer diameter of 1 and 1/16 inches and a pitch of 11.5 TPI (threads per inch). Outside the US though, BSP (British standard pipe) is used, which has a diameter of 3/4 inch and 14 TPI. Note that BSP and GHT standards are not compatible so check the specs carefully, particularly if you’re buying a hose online.

Always Use Washers

We always recommend that you use a high quality rubber washer (such as this one from Gilmour) at the connection point between the hose fitting and the nozzle. This will help prevent leaks.

Quick Connect

Look for heavy-duty, solid brass construction or aluminum. Quick connectors made with plastic tend to crack or leak over time and should generally be avoided.

Flow Rate

Garden hose nozzles typically have flow rates of 2.5 to 5.0 gallons per minute, depending on style and water pressure. Although some manufacturers tout the flow rate of their nozzles, it’s generally not something you’ll need to consider (unless it’s important to put as much water as possible through the nozzle but, in that case, you’re probably better off without a nozzle at all).

Shutoff Valve

Most hose nozzles allow you to shut off the flow of water by moving a valve, twisting or rotating the barrel, or releasing the trigger. This is often a point of failure; look for a valve that’s well-made, strongly attached, and fully stops the flow of water when in the “Off” position.

Hose Diameter

Hoses come in a variety of diameters, with the most common being ¾ inch, 3/8 inch, 1/2 inch, 5/8 inch and 1 inch. The water pressure at your nozzle (and, therefore, the flow rate) will depend in part on the water pressure at the spigot and in part on the diameter of the hose. Generally, a 5/8 inch hose will be appropriate for all your gardening tasks.

DID YOU KNOW?
Smearing petroleum jelly on the threads of a hose coupling helps prevent mineral deposits that make a nozzle tough to remove.

Where to Buy Hose Nozzles

You have three options here: hardware or home improvement stores, independent garden centers, or online stores (including Amazon).

The advantage of shopping offline is that you can feel the weight of the nozzle, which may help determine quality, and hold it in your hand to see how comfortable it’ll be to use. It’s also easier to return a hose nozzle promptly to a local store if it doesn’t perform as promised. The downside to bricks and mortar stores is that your choice may be limited and, often, stores stock mostly lower-quality models.

For reputable online stores that sell quality garden products, see our list of Best Sources to Buy Garden Tools Online

So Which Hose Nozzle is Right for You?

The best hose nozzle for you depends on what you’ll be using it for. If you need a hard, heavy spray for cleaning patios or washing cars, then a jet or fireman’s nozzle may be right for you. But if you mostly water plants, then the more gentle spray of a fan nozzle or rain wand would be best. And if you use your hose nozzle for a wide variety of tasks, you’d probably prefer an adjustable turret nozzle.

There are several brands that dominate the garden nozzle market, including Dramm, Gardena, Gilmour, Orbit, and Bon-Aire, although there are certainly other good nozzles available. Here’s what you need to know about the various brands.

Dramm

Dramm has some of the nicest hose nozzles (and sprinklers) available to home gardeners. The company started as designers and providers of commercial watering products. If you’ve ever seen nursery workers watering plants and containers at the garden center, they were probably using a Dramm nozzle. Most of their hose nozzles are made of brass or aluminum and have well-constructed parts that last a long time, including many with a handy on/off switch at the handle (look for hose nozzles with the One Touch system). They’re easily recognized by their bright powder coating that comes in yellow, orange, red, berry, green, or blue. Prices range from $12 to $25.

Dramm Rain WandDramm 14804 One Touch Rain Wand with One Touch Valve, 30-Inch
>> One of our highly recommended hose nozzles. >> READ OUR REVIEW here.

Dramm Fan NozzleDramm 12731 One Touch Fan Nozzle
>> Another good choice – creates a gentle flow and has a cut-off valve right by your thumb.

Dramm Shower & StreamDramm 12424 One Touch Shower and Stream
>> Part of the One Touch line, with an easy-to-reach on/off valve and two spray patterns (shower and stream).

Dramm turret nozzleDramm 12704 9-Pattern Revolver Spray Nozzle
>> An ergonomic, insulated pistol grip nozzle with 9 spray patterns (fan, cone, center, jet, mist, soaker, flat, angle, and shower).

Dramm brass nozzleDramm 12380 Heavy-Duty Brass Adjustable Hose Nozzle
>> Made in the U.S.A. from solid brass. Spray pattern adjusts from a fine, cone-shaped spray to a powerful stream.

Gardena

Gardena is one of the most common nozzle brands in the garden section of home improvement or hardware stores. You may have noticed the distinctive orange and grey colors of their products. Most of their nozzles come with a quick-connect system to attach to the hose, making it easy to remove or replace the nozzle as needed. Gardena also has a line of ergonomically-designed nozzles that make it easier on your wrists. However, the quick-connect is made of plastic, as is much of the nozzle, meaning that it probably won’t have the same lifespan in the garden as a nozzle made from brass or aluminum. And the parts only work with other items in the Gardena line (you can’t mix and match). But for general use, the Gardena nozzles are perfectly fine. Prices range from about $15 to $40.

Gardena watering wandGardena 9123 Classic Gentle Watering Garden Spray Wand
>> Non-slip plastic handle, adjustable flow rate, and a 1 year warranty.

Gardena 7 spray nozzleGARDENA Metal Multi-Purpose 7-in-1 Spray Gun with Built in Flow Control
>> This pistol grip nozzle has 7 spray patterns, a water flow control knob, and a locking trigger.

Gardena 8153 Premium Ergonomic Garden Hose Spray Jet Nozzle With Quick ConnectGardena 8153 Premium Ergonomic Garden Hose Spray Jet Nozzle With Quick Connect
>> Gardena’s premium spray nozzle, with adjustable flow rate and a spray pattern that ranges from a hard jet to a fine mist.

Bon-Aire

This is a company you’ve probably never heard of. They make one hose nozzle and they make it incredibly well. The Ultimate Hose Nozzle is a fireman style nozzle that’s practically indestructible. It comes in aluminum (in a variety of colors) or stainless steel. It’s hard to find in stores (check the automotive aisle) but you’ll often see it at home and garden shows – and, of course, you can buy it online for roughly $18 to $28. READ OUR REVIEW here.

Ultimate hose nozzle aluminumBon-Aire Original Ultimate Aluminum Hose Nozzle ( Colors may vary )
>> Fireman nozzle with a rubberized grip, 5 spray settings (from mist to jet), and virtually indestructible.

Ultimate hose nozzle - stainlessBon-Aire HN-10C Original Ultimate Hose Nozzle (Stainless Steel)
>> Rust-proof, leak-proof stainless steel with a 1 year warranty.

 

Gilmour

Gilmour hose nozzles are easy to find in garden centers and home improvement/hardware stores. They’re reasonably priced (mostly in the $5 to $15 range) and will typically last through a season.

Gilmour-zinc-pistolgripGilmour Full Size Zinc Pistol Grip Nozzle with Threaded Front 573TF
>> This heavy-duty, full size, die cast zinc nozzle has a rust-resistant stainless steel spring and a hold-open clip for continuous spraying.

Gilmour Select-a-Spray nozzleGilmour Select-A-Spray Comfort Grip Nozzle 594 Black/Teal
>> Seven spray patterns (cone, sharp stream, full flow, gentle shower, jet, flood, and mist) in a pistol grip nozzle.

Gilmour barrel nozzleGilmour 528T Solid Brass Twist Nozzle
>> Heavy-duty solid brass construction, all-brass valve stem, and easy twist motion to provide fine spray through strong jet.

Orbit

This is probably the most common low-priced hose nozzle available in garden and hardware stores. Prices range from about $7 to $25 for the premium nozzle.

Orbit Seven Spray pistol grip nozzleOrbit 58228N Lawn & Garden 7-Pattern Plastic Pistol Hose Spray Nozzle
>> This nozzle has an insulated hand grip and plastic-wrapped turret. Seven spray patterns.

Orbit watering wandOrbit 18-Inch 9-Pattern Turret Wand Spray Nozzle 58291
>> This nozzle has a cushioned grip, metal shut-off with flow control knob, and 9 spray patterns (jet, mist, flood, flat, angle, shower, fan, cone, and center).

Orbit turret nozzle, front triggerOrbit 56252 Front Trigger Turret Hose Nozzle
>> The front trigger locks in place, 7 spray patterns.

 

Orbit fireman nozzleOrbit XL-Stream Fire Hose Spray Nozzle 56130
>> Metal body, insulated grip, and large on/off handle.

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15 Comments on Best Garden Hose Nozzles & Sprayers: Guide & Recommendations

  1. Linda Aaron

    is it safe to drink from the hose nozzles? I have replaced all my hoses to potable lead free hoses and want to make sure I don’t get hose nozzles that also have lead.

    • That’s a good question, Linda. I think it will depend on the individual hose nozzle and what it’s made out of. Plastic ones shouldn’t have lead. But, to be safe, you should check with the manufacturer. Lead content (if there even is any) isn’t something that’s listed on the packaging….

    • Garden Girl

      There have been many articles recently on the dangers of chemicals that leach from most hoses – arsenic, lead, mercury among others. This is legit, no ‘urban legend’ scare story. PVC hoses are the worst.

      There are a few hoses made of 100% rubber that are better. However, I can’t find ANY nozzles that claim to be lead-free. This seems to be a common problem. What I am doing in the meantime is throwing away my old hoses, getting safer versions, and not using any nozzle at all on the faucet to fill my dogs’ water bowl.

  2. Henry

    “Another good option is a metal nozzle with a plastic handle. It’s the working parts inside the nozzle that are most likely to fail so those are the parts that are most important to have in metal.”

    Not my experience. I have had three nozzles snap their handles, or the hole at the handle top that pulls the water valve, just this season. I’ll never buy a plastic-handled pistol-grip nozzle again.

    To the previous commented who was worried about lead, if the product is sold in California and has any lead in it, it will be labeled.

  3. Bill Gruener

    Great reviews! Monica’s comments mirror my experience. Here are the comments that I like best.

    “DID YOU KNOW?
    Smearing petroleum jelly on the threads of a hose coupling helps prevent mineral deposits that make a nozzle tough to remove.” NO I DID NOT KNOW, AND I’M GLAD TO KNOW. TOUGH TO REMOVE HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE FOR ME FOR YEARS.

    “Avoid all-plastic hose nozzles.” YES! and YES! and Yes! Take that $3.99 and put in the local charity bucket. Otherwise, the hose goes directly to trash with maybe one stop in the garden. Even if you get several waterings, changes are you’ll expose the nozzle to sun and the nozzle will be worthless.

    We recommend a quality, all-metal hose nozzle with a rubber or plastic wrapped grip. DITTO.

    Thank you for the well-written, comprehensive review. I appreciate you’re willingness to review items that few review!

  4. Brian Wester

    Thank you for the write-up! I wanted to find a high quality American made hose nozzle that will last and be fully functional. I really appreciate the hard work on your write-up. You helped me find exactly what I was looking for!

    -Brian W.

  5. HHolmes

    None of the nozzles listed meet my standards. All leak. They break down after a season, and are cheaply made. I am disappointed with this review in that you simply touted the most commonly available in retail stores; not a good review of any exemplary products at all. Cheap products designed to fail or meet lowest cost point, and a poor review. Shame on ya’ll.

    • I’m sorry you feel that way H. Although I have to say that none of the nozzles we’ve tested and recommended here have failed or leaked after one season. Some are on their 4th or 5th year of constant use without any problems – that’s why we’ve recommended them.

      I’m curious to learn more about your standards for nozzles. What have we missed? And what would you consider to be an exemplary product? If it’s something that’s readily available to the typical consumer, then I’d love to test it and add it to the recommended products here if it holds up well.

      You’re right that we recommend products that are commonly available (although not all can be found in retail or big box stores). If the average reader can’t find or buy the recommended products then there’s not much point in recommending them…

  6. Darlene

    I use the Dramm 12704 9-Pattern Revolver Spray Nozzle, kind of expensive and will leak after a season or two. Hubby yells at me for wasting the money on them… But that said, they do hold up better than the cheaper ones and I like the spray pattern choices and the ergonomic fit. Plus I use it far more often than he does… I use a Clabber at my workplace and love it. However, I went through two at home and they didn’t hold up – guessing my husband tossed down onto the concrete and they leaked excessively after that.

  7. Surf Gramps

    There is one common thread that plagues ALL, non-brass heavy-duty metal, die cast hose nozzles: corrosion. I prefer squeeze or thumb-operated nozzles with the turret type selectable spray pattern, but the bodies/handles of EVERY one of these pistol-grip type nozzles are made from aluminum or zinc-alloy, and EVER one creates exfoliation corrosion on the inside of the body where the water flows; but it’s not the flowing water that causes this kind of corrosion, it’s the water itself, it’s the RESIDUAL water, i.e. the water that is trapped inside the body when the valve, and hose bib, is turned off. One could argue that to prevent this from happening, just turn off the hose bib, open the nozzle valve, it squeeze and lock it open, or twist the ball valve or thumb-operated valve open, and let the water drain out. (Right?) But that will not prevent this corrosion because during the time it’s still wet in there, the corrosion is starting/growing.

    So what’s the big deal about this corrosion, anyway? It is THAT exfoliation type of corrosion (little, white, grainy flakes) that breaks off and clogs those little, tiny holes in the “SHOWER” pattern of the turret pattern selector. Eventually, one day you turn on the water, drag the hose to where your going to water, squeeze, or thumb, your nozzle open, and what water DOES come out, sprays everywhere but where you’re aiming. You stop the water, look at the sprayer and you see little, white flakes poking out of those little, tiny holes.

    So what do we have to do to fix this? We have to remove the turret spray selector with a screwdriver, unwittingly drop the small O-ring, and drop the turret into a bowl on CLR to dissolve these little, white flakes; and even then that doesn’t totally clean out every little, tiny hole. Now, after a few hours of soaking, you take it out, rinse it and you STILL see some little, white flakes that ignored, or somehow escaped, the CLR. To finish the job, now you have to get a toothpick and back-poke each one of those 106 little, tiny holes to clear them out, and rinse again.

    Beautiful! A job well done. Now you reinstall the turret back on the nozzle. Feeling proud of about your mechanical accomplishment, you’re ready to do some serious watering. You reattach the nozzle to the hose, turn on the water, open the nozzle and now you not only have water coming out of the nice, clean and opened “SHOWER” pattern, it’s also coming out from around the edges of the turret. So you turn it all off again, remove the nozzle from the hose, remove the turret and eventually figure out the problem: “Now where could that small O-ring be?” After a 22-minute search, there it is. You put it all back together again, reattach it to the hose and you’re in business. Now you’re back to being a plant-watering machine… until it clogs up again…

    What I’m saying here is, these aluminum and zinc-alloy nozzle bodies are NOT the solution for a long-lasting spray nozzle. BRASS is, but NO ONE makes a squeeze, twist ball valve or thumb-operated, pistol grip type nozzle from BRASS. There are plenty of straight nozzles machined from solid brass that DO last forever, but so many people out here want to use the pistol grip type for convenience and ergonomics. Oh sure, we can put ourselves and our $12 – $29 spray nozzles through this rigorous cleaning process once every 2 months, OR buy a new $12 – $29 nozzle every 2 months, but WE DON’T WANT TO. (Am I right?) I sure don’t.

    So, the bottom line is, if there is a manufacturer out there who wants to make killing on garden hose nozzles that last forever without disassembly and cleaning, make the whole, damn thing out of BRASS and be done with it. Okay, it’s fine to save a few bucks by making the turret spray pattern selector out of plastic, but make the body out of brass.

    Thanks for listening.

  8. Woody

    I’m in agreement with SurfGramps. I am DONE with mixed metal or all (CHEAP) metal nozzles – Gilmore brand comes to mind, as it’s all I can find at Lowe’s. I prefer all brass – nozzles as well as quick-change attachments. Anything else is a waste of money and an investment in frustration. I use my nozzle to refill the pool as well as gardening and washing our vehicles, and the chemicals in the pool, combined with the hard water in our system, wreaks havoc on anything but brass, yet you still have to maintain it or it will develop deposits. If you own a brass nozzle(s), maintenance is relatively easy: when you see deposits begin to build, remove the nozzle, then discard the washer. Dunk the nozzle in vinegar for a little while; that’ll dissolve hard water deposits. Replace the washer and your done. The vinegar may impart a harmless very light copper toning on your brass – I like it. We use vinegar on our shower heads and faucet bibs. The vinegar does nothing to their appearance but it does dissolve the deposits.

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