Buying task · Drip emitters
Drip emitters: flow, pressure range and inlet
Choose drip emitters by GPH per plant, the maker's pressure range and PC status, the inlet that fits your tubing and the filter mesh the maker asks for.
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Picks that fit
- Raindrip PC8010B 2 GPH pressure-compensating dripper (10‑pack)Check price on Amazon
- Rain Bird SW10‑30PS 1.0 GPH pressure-compensating spot watering emitter (30‑pack)Check price on Amazon
- Rain Bird SW10/10PS 1.0 GPH pressure-compensating spot watering emitter (10‑pack)Check price on Amazon
Short answer
Pick drip emitters by three numbers: the flow per plant in GPH, the pressure range the maker gives (and whether it is pressure-compensating), and the inlet that matches your tubing. If your line runs long or up and down slopes, a pressure-compensating emitter whose range covers your pressure keeps flow steadier. Then fit the filter mesh the emitter maker asks for.
Picks that fitAll picks and how to choose
What an emitter does
An emitter lets a set flow of water out at one plant. Makers rate it in gallons per hour (GPH) at a stated pressure, and the rating only holds inside that maker's range.
Standard emitters change flow with pressure. DIG rates its inline emitters at 0.5 and 1 GPH at 15 psi and says flow depends on the inlet pressure.[1] DIG's standard button emitters come in .5, 1 and 2 GPH and are rated for 15 to 25 psi.[2]
Pressure-compensating (PC) emitters hold their flow across a range. DIG's PC button emitters come in .5, 1, 2 and 4 GPH and compensate between 7.25 and 58 psi.[3] Rain Bird's PC on-line emitters come in nine flows from 0.5 to 24 GPH and compensate from 15 to 50 psi.[4] A 2019 lab study's abstract describes PC emitters as giving constant flow above the lower limit of their range and acting like a plain orifice below it.[5] So a PC emitter only compensates if your pressure is inside its range.
The decisions, in order
- What you water. A pot, a bed, a shrub or a tree. For containers, DIG suggests one or two 0.5 GPH drippers per pot as a starting point.[6] The containers guide and the trees and shrubs guide go further.
- Flow per plant. Choose a GPH and how many emitters per plant. The GPH, colors and inlets guide explains the ratings.
- PC or not, and its range against your pressure. The PC vs non-PC guide covers what studies found.
- Inlet. Rain Bird's Xeri-Bug comes with a barb inlet, a 10-32 thread inlet, or a 1/2 in FPT inlet (in 1.0 and 2.0 GPH only), all rated 15 to 50 psi with 150-200 mesh.[7] Most others use a 1/4 in barb.
- The mesh the maker asks for. DIG asks for at least 150 mesh for its PC dripper on stake[8] and for its inline emitters.[1] See the filter mesh guide.
- Placement. DIG recommends keeping drippers above ground or under mulch to prevent clogging, rather than burying them.[6]
Colors are per maker. Raindrip codes its drippers red for 0.5 GPH, black for 1, green for 2 and yellow for 4.[9] DIG's standard button emitters use brown for .5 GPH, black for 1 and green for 2.[2] So read the flow on the package, not the color.
When emitters stop dripping
Start with the filter and the pressure, then look for clogged or buried emitters and long 1/4 in runs. The not dripping or uneven guide lists the checks in order.
How to choose
For mixed plantings on a line whose pressure you do not know exactly, a PC button emitter with a wide stated range is the safer pick. DIG's PC button emitters compensate from 7.25 to 58 psi in .5, 1, 2 and 4 GPH, on a 1/4 in barb inlet.[3] Choose the flow per plant you planned in step 2, then check the soil and plants and adjust, as DIG advises.[6]
Picks that fit3 products
DIG PC button emitter: the 2 GPH green bag of 100, or B224B, the 4 GPH red 10-pack. Both need at least 150 mesh filtration upstream.
More on choosing
Raindrip PC8010B: a 2 GPH pressure-compensating dripper, 10-pack, for 1/4 in tubing or punched into the supply line; Raindrip states no pressure range. On Amazon, check that 'Ships from / Sold by' shows Amazon.com or the brand.
2 GPH pressure-compensating button
4 GPH pressure-compensating button
2 GPH pressure-compensating dripper, 10-pack
Raindrip PC8010B 2 GPH pressure-compensating dripper (10‑pack)
To push emitters straight into a 1/2 in line, Rain Bird's spot watering emitters are pressure-compensating from 15 to 50 psi with a self-piercing barb and ask for 150 to 200 mesh filtration, at 1.0 GPH[10] or 2.0 GPH.[11] Raindrip's PC4010B is a 1 GPH pressure-compensating dripper for 1/4 in tubing or a 0.170 in hole in 1/2 in, 5/8 in or 0.710 in tubing, but Raindrip states no pressure range or mesh for it.[12] Raindrip's PC8050B (2 GPH, 50-pack) is also approved; confirm its pressure range and inlet on the listing before ordering.
Picks that fit5 products
Rain Bird SW10-30PS: 1.0 GPH, bag of 30. SW10/10PS: the same 1.0 GPH emitter, bag of 10. SW20-30PS: 2.0 GPH, bag of 30.
More on choosing
Raindrip PC4010B: 1 GPH, 10-pack. Raindrip PC8050B: 2 GPH, 50-pack. Keep the Rain Bird emitters within 15 to 50 psi. On Amazon, check that 'Ships from / Sold by' shows Amazon.com or the brand.
1 GPH self-piercing spot emitter
Rain Bird SW10‑30PS 1.0 GPH pressure-compensating spot watering emitter (30‑pack)
1 GPH spot emitter, bag of 10
Rain Bird SW10/10PS 1.0 GPH pressure-compensating spot watering emitter (10‑pack)
2 GPH self-piercing spot emitter
Rain Bird SW20‑30PS 2.0 GPH pressure-compensating spot watering emitter (30‑pack)
Raindrip PC4010B 1 GPH pressure-compensating dripper (10‑pack)
Raindrip PC8050B 2 GPH pressure-compensating dripper (50‑pack)
Every page on drip emitters
Guides
- 0.5, 1, 2 or 4 GPH: drip emitter flow, color codes and inlets
- Pressure-compensating vs non-PC drip emitters
- Drip for pots and hanging baskets
- Drip emitters for trees and shrubs
- Drip emitters not dripping or watering unevenly
- Drip filter mesh: 150 vs 200
Connections and kits
- 1/4 in barbed connectors
- 10-32 thread on emission devices
- Raindrip R560DP container and hanging-basket kit
Key terms
Button emitter, inline emitter, non-pressure-compensating, compensation range, adjustable emitter, multi-outlet dripper, clogging and mesh rating.
Everything in this topic
Guides
- 0.5, 1, 2 or 4 GPH: drip emitter flow, color codes and inletsHelps you pick an emitter flow and inlet that match your plants, pressure and tubing.
- Drip emitters for trees and shrubs: placement, flow and bubblersHelps you place emitters around a tree or shrub and choose between drippers and bubblers.
- Drip emitters not dripping or uneven: what to checkHelps you find why emitters drip less or unevenly, in the order makers and extension services suggest.
- Drip for pots and hanging baskets: emitters, 1/4 in tubing and stakesHelps you plan a container drip layout with the right number of drippers and safe placement.
- Pressure-compensating vs non-PC drip emitters: what the ratings and studies sayHelps you decide whether a pressure-compensating emitter is worth it for your pressure and layout.
Shortlists
- Drip emitters with a stated flow and pressure rangeHelps you pick an emitter whose flow holds across a stated pressure range that covers your system.
Common questions
What GPH drip emitter should I use?
Start from the plant and soil, then check the pressure range. DIG suggests one or two 0.5 GPH drippers per pot, and Utah State University Extension suggests two emitters per perennial in sandy soil. More in 0.5, 1, 2 or 4 GPH: drip emitter flow, color codes and inlets
What do the colors on drip emitters mean?
Each maker uses its own code. Raindrip uses red for 0.5 GPH, black for 1, green for 2 and yellow for 4, but DIG's 0.5 GPH button is brown and its 0.5 GPH inline emitter is red, so read the maker's page for the model. More in 0.5, 1, 2 or 4 GPH: drip emitter flow, color codes and inlets
Is a 2 GPH emitter the same as two 1 GPH emitters?
The total flow is the same by arithmetic, but two emitters wet two spots. Utah State University Extension suggests two emitters per perennial in sandy soil, where water moves straight down. More in 0.5, 1, 2 or 4 GPH: drip emitter flow, color codes and inlets
What is a 10-32 thread emitter?
An emitter with a small threaded inlet that screws into a 10-32 riser or adapter instead of pushing onto a barb. Rain Bird sells its Xeri-Bug in barb, 10-32 and 1/2 in FPT inlet versions. More in 0.5, 1, 2 or 4 GPH: drip emitter flow, color codes and inlets
Does a 1 GPH emitter always put out 1 gallon per hour?
Only at the pressure the maker rates it at, unless it is pressure-compensating and your pressure is inside its range. DIG says the flow of its inline emitters depends on the inlet pressure. More in 0.5, 1, 2 or 4 GPH: drip emitter flow, color codes and inlets
How many drip emitters does a tree need?
No source gives a fixed number. Utah State University Extension says to spread emitters evenly within the drip line and to design for the mature tree in the hottest part of the year. More in Drip emitters for trees and shrubs: placement, flow and bubblers
Where do I put drip emitters around a tree?
Above ground, spread evenly within the tree's drip line, per Utah State University Extension. DIG also recommends keeping drippers above ground or under mulch. More in Drip emitters for trees and shrubs: placement, flow and bubblers
Bubbler or dripper for a tree?
A bubbler puts out much more water at one point; Rain Bird's 1300A-F is rated 1.0 to 2.3 GPM. Keep bubblers on their own line, since Raindrip says never to mix drippers and sprinklers on one line. More in Drip emitters for trees and shrubs: placement, flow and bubblers
Questions
What GPH emitter should I use?
It depends on the plant and how many emitters it gets. For containers, DIG suggests one or two 0.5 GPH drippers per pot as a starting point; check the soil and adjust. See emitter flow and inlets.[6]
Do I need pressure-compensating emitters?
They help on long runs and slopes, but only inside their range. A 2019 study's abstract says PC emitters give constant flow above the lower limit of their range and orifice-type flow below it. DIG's PC buttons compensate from 7.25 to 58 psi.[5][3]
Can I bury drip emitters?
DIG recommends keeping drippers above ground or under mulch to prevent clogging, rather than burying them.[6]
Why did my emitters stop dripping?
Check the filter and the pressure first, then look for clogged or buried emitters and long 1/4 in runs. The troubleshooting guide lists the checks.