Shortlist · Drip emitters
Drip emitters with a stated flow and pressure range
Drip emitters whose maker states flow, PC range, inlet and filter mesh: DIG PC buttons at 2 and 4 GPH and Rain Bird spot emitters at 1 and 2 GPH.
We may earn a commission if you buy through links on this page. How we make money
Short answer
Five approved emitters state their flow, a pressure-compensating range, the inlet and the filter they need. DIG's PC button emitters (2 GPH in a bag of 100, 4 GPH as B224B) compensate between 7.25 and 58 psi on a 1/4 in barb. Rain Bird's spot watering emitters (1.0 GPH in bags of 30 or 10, 2.0 GPH in a bag of 30) compensate from 15 to 50 psi and pierce straight into 1/2 in or 3/4 in tubing. Check that your regulator's outlet pressure sits in the range of the one you choose.
How we chose
An emitter is on this list only if its maker states:
- The flow at a stated pressure or across a compensating range. DIG's PC button emitters come in .5, 1, 2 and 4 GPH and compensate between 7.25 and 58 psi.[1] By contrast, DIG's standard buttons are rated for 15 to 25 psi and their flow rises with pressure.[2]
- The inlet. A 1/4 in barb, a 10-32 thread or a pipe thread. Rain Bird's Xeri-Bug, for example, comes in all three.[3]
- The filter mesh. DIG asks for 150 mesh for its PC buttons of 1 GPH and up[1] and at least 150 mesh for its PC dripper on stake.[4]
- It is in our approved catalog with a store listing.
Other emitters meet the first three points, such as Rain Bird's PC on-line emitters, which come in nine flows from 0.5 to 24 GPH and compensate from 15 to 50 psi,[5] but no listing for them is approved yet. Five emitters met the full bar on 2026-10-15.
2 GPH pressure-compensating button
DIG PC button drip emitter, 2 GPH green (bag of 100)
Pick it if: Shrubs, perennials and beds on lines with long runs or slopes, inside the stated range
- Why it's here
- DIG's PC button emitters come in .5, 1, 2 and 4 GPH, compensate between 7.25 and 58 psi and use a 1/4 in (4 mm) barb inlet; DIG asks for 150 mesh for 1 GPH and up.
- Watch out
- Compensation holds only inside 7.25 to 58 psi. Needs at least 150 mesh filtration upstream. On Amazon, check that 'Ships from / Sold by' shows Amazon.com or DIG.
- Tubing inside and outside diameter
- Not stated
- Nominal size family (1/2 in, 3/4 in, 1/4 in, metric 4/7 mm, 16 mm)
- Not stated
- Fitting connection type (compression, barbed insert, spin-lock, hose thread, pipe thread)
- Not stated
- Compression insert size or color code as the maker states it
- Not stated
2 GPH pressure-compensating dripper, 10-pack
Raindrip PC8010B 2 GPH pressure-compensating dripper (10‑pack)
Pick it if: A few 2 GPH emitters for shrubs or containers on a Raindrip or 0.170 in ID tubing system
- Why it's here
- Raindrip lists the PC8010B as a 2 GPH pressure-compensating dripper, 10 to a pack, that connects to 0.170 in ID 1/4 in tubing or attaches directly into 1/2 in, 5/8 in or 0.710 in supply tubing.
- Watch out
- Raindrip's page states no compensating pressure range or filter mesh, unlike the DIG and Rain Bird emitters here. On Amazon, check that 'Ships from / Sold by' shows Amazon.com or Raindrip.
- Tubing inside and outside diameter
- Not stated
- Nominal size family (1/2 in, 3/4 in, 1/4 in, metric 4/7 mm, 16 mm)
- Not stated
- Fitting connection type (compression, barbed insert, spin-lock, hose thread, pipe thread)
- Not stated
- Compression insert size or color code as the maker states it
- Not stated
4 GPH pressure-compensating button
DIG B224B PC button drip emitter, 4 GPH red (10‑pack)
Pick it if: Plants you plan to water from fewer, higher-flow points, inside the stated range
- Why it's here
- B224B is the 4 GPH model in the same DIG PC button line, compensating between 7.25 and 58 psi on a 1/4 in barb inlet.
- Watch out
- Same range and 150 mesh requirement as the 2 GPH model; sold in a smaller pack. On Amazon, check that 'Ships from / Sold by' shows Amazon.com or DIG.
- Tubing inside and outside diameter
- Not stated
- Nominal size family (1/2 in, 3/4 in, 1/4 in, metric 4/7 mm, 16 mm)
- Not stated
- Fitting connection type (compression, barbed insert, spin-lock, hose thread, pipe thread)
- Not stated
- Compression insert size or color code as the maker states it
- Not stated
1 GPH self-piercing spot emitter
Rain Bird SW10‑30PS 1.0 GPH pressure-compensating spot watering emitter (30‑pack)
Pick it if: Lower-flow plants on a 1/2 in line, pushed straight into the tubing
- Why it's here
- Rain Bird lists its 1.0 GPH spot watering emitter as pressure-compensating from 15 to 50 psi, with a self-piercing barb that goes into the side of 1/2 in or larger tubing or in-line on 1/4 in tubing, and asks for 150 to 200 mesh filtration.
- Watch out
- A narrower compensating range than the DIG buttons: keep the pressure at the emitter between 15 and 50 psi. On Amazon, check that 'Ships from / Sold by' shows Amazon.com or Rain Bird.
- Tubing inside and outside diameter
- Not stated
- Nominal size family (1/2 in, 3/4 in, 1/4 in, metric 4/7 mm, 16 mm)
- Not stated
- Fitting connection type (compression, barbed insert, spin-lock, hose thread, pipe thread)
- Not stated
- Compression insert size or color code as the maker states it
- Not stated
2 GPH self-piercing spot emitter
Rain Bird SW20‑30PS 2.0 GPH pressure-compensating spot watering emitter (30‑pack)
Pick it if: Shrubs and larger plants on a 1/2 in line that need more water per point
- Why it's here
- The 2.0 GPH model in the same Rain Bird spot watering line: pressure-compensating from 15 to 50 psi, a self-piercing barb for 1/2 in or 3/4 in tubing, an outlet that holds 1/4 in XQ tubing, and 150 to 200 mesh filtration.
- Watch out
- Same 15 to 50 psi range as the 1.0 GPH model. On Amazon, check that 'Ships from / Sold by' shows Amazon.com or Rain Bird.
- Tubing inside and outside diameter
- Not stated
- Nominal size family (1/2 in, 3/4 in, 1/4 in, metric 4/7 mm, 16 mm)
- Not stated
- Fitting connection type (compression, barbed insert, spin-lock, hose thread, pipe thread)
- Not stated
- Compression insert size or color code as the maker states it
- Not stated
1 GPH spot emitter, bag of 10
Rain Bird SW10/10PS 1.0 GPH pressure-compensating spot watering emitter (10‑pack)
Pick it if: Adding or replacing a few emitters on an existing line
- Why it's here
- The same 1.0 GPH spot watering emitter in a bag of 10, which Rain Bird lists with the same 15 to 50 psi range, self-piercing barb and 150 to 200 mesh requirement.
- Watch out
- Rain Bird's store calls the bag SW10/10PK; Amazon lists it as SW10/10PS. On Amazon, check that 'Ships from / Sold by' shows Amazon.com or Rain Bird.
- Tubing inside and outside diameter
- Not stated
- Nominal size family (1/2 in, 3/4 in, 1/4 in, metric 4/7 mm, 16 mm)
- Not stated
- Fitting connection type (compression, barbed insert, spin-lock, hose thread, pipe thread)
- Not stated
- Compression insert size or color code as the maker states it
- Not stated
Fit at a glance
| Emitter | Flow | Compensating range | Inlet | Mesh |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DIG PC button, 2 GPH (bag of 100) | 2 GPH | 7.25-58 psi | 1/4 in (4 mm) barb | 150 |
| DIG B224B (10-pack) | 4 GPH | 7.25-58 psi | 1/4 in (4 mm) barb | 150 |
| Rain Bird SW10-30PS (bag of 30) | 1.0 GPH | 15-50 psi | Self-piercing barb for 1/2 in or larger tubing | 150-200 |
| Rain Bird SW10/10PS (bag of 10) | 1.0 GPH | 15-50 psi | Self-piercing barb for 1/2 in or 3/4 in tubing | 150-200 |
| Rain Bird SW20-30PS (bag of 30) | 2.0 GPH | 15-50 psi | Self-piercing barb for 1/2 in or 3/4 in tubing | 150-200 |
Rain Bird's figures come from its store pages for SW10-30PK,[6] SW10/10PK[7] and SW20-30PS.[8] The SW10/10PK and SW20-30PS pages say the outlet holds 1/4 in XQ tubing, for a short branch to the plant.
What "pressure-compensating" buys you
A 2019 study's abstract describes PC emitters as giving constant flow above the lower limit of their compensating range and orifice-type flow below it.[9] So a PC emitter helps on long lines and slopes only while the pressure at each emitter stays inside the stated range. The PC vs non-PC guide covers what studies found.
Placement
DIG recommends keeping drippers above ground or under mulch to prevent clogging, rather than burying them.[10] For how many emitters per plant and what flow, see the emitter flow guide and the drip emitters hub.
Questions
What does the 7.25 to 58 psi range mean?
It is the pressure range over which DIG says these emitters compensate. A 2019 study's abstract describes PC emitters as giving constant flow above the lower limit of their range and orifice-type flow below it.[1][9]
Are DIG's standard button emitters the same?
No. DIG's standard buttons come in .5, 1 and 2 GPH and are rated for 15 to 25 psi, with flow that rises with pressure.[2]
Can I bury these emitters?
DIG recommends keeping drippers above ground or under mulch to prevent clogging, rather than burying them.[10]