Typical throw radius and spacing
| Nozzle family | Typical flow | Typical throw radius | Head-to-head spacing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed spray nozzles | 1.5-3.5 GPM | 8-15 ft | 8-15 ft |
| MP / multi-stream rotators | 0.3-2.5 GPM | 13-30 ft | 13-28 ft |
| Gear-drive rotors | 0.5-8+ GPM | 25-55 ft | 25-50 ft |
| Drip line (emitters) | 0.5-1 GPH per emitter | 0.5-1 ft per emitter | 12-18 in line spacing |
Grid layouts
- Square grid - simplest to lay out; each head serves spacing × spacing square feet.
- Triangular grid - rows offset by half spacing; covers about 10% more area per head and handles odd shapes better.
- Windy sites - tighten spacing to about 90% of the throw radius; wind stretches patterns and widens dry gaps.
Turning spacing into a plan
Count heads for your area with the Sprinkler Head Calculator, check per-head coverage with the Sprinkler Coverage Calculator, then apply the resulting application rate in the Sprinkler Run Time Calculator.