The best drip irrigation systems work by delivering just the right amount of water slowly and precisely to each plant, right where it is needed in the root zone.
“Drip irrigation systems offer a great alternative to conventional watering methods and work by gradually drip-feeding water directly next to the plant, which allows the water to penetrate the soil right down to the roots.
"This can save up to 70% water consumption compared to standard irrigation systems and promote plant health by leaving them less susceptible to disease,” says Huw Richards, gardening expert and GARDENA’s brand ambassador.
“The efficiency of these systems means that they have been, and continue to be, exempt from hosepipe bans due to their water-saving technology. Some systems have a pressure-equalizing unit and can be further enhanced with smart water controls and soil moisture sensors. This allows you to automate your watering by setting a bespoke and water-efficient schedule, giving you complete control over how much water is used.
“Micro-Drip kits, although unsuitable for an entire lawn, are perfect for potted plants, vegetable patches, flower beds, and rows of hedges and plants. They can be adapted and changed to suit your garden.
“Smart watering systems are a perfect solution for dedicated and passionate gardeners who want an easier and more sustainable way to keep their garden healthy, especially during hosepipe bans.”
We’ve rounded up some of the best drip irrigation systems available below, complete with key specs, pros and cons, and user reviews, to help you make an informed buying decision. And if you're a keen gardener, don't miss our guides to the best gas lawn mowers or electric lawn mowers.
The best drip irrigation systems we recommend in 2024
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The Rain Bird LNDDRIPKIT Landscape and Garden Drip Watering Kit is a flexible and comprehensive irrigation system ideal for medium-sized gardens. It can be used for shrubs, flowerbeds, pots, and trees, but you’ll need an outdoor faucet to make it work.
The Rain Bird LNDDRIPKIT scores 4.5 out of 5 on Amazon, with 70% of users giving the system five stars. Fans of the product say it is versatile and effective, with one reviewer saying: “One of the best purchases I have made in a long time.” Negative reviews, however, said it was hard to assemble, with one user saying: “While this system will likely be fine in use - the assembly is at times based on outdated brute strength application. Many of us who want to enjoy the ease of an automatic watering system are doing so because we wish to SAVE labor for other uses.”
This 180-piece kit includes all the parts and tools you need to create and expand a drip irrigation system.
It’s expensive, especially as it doesn’t come with a timer, but it has enough parts that you should be able to fix most issues yourself, like tubing breaks, replacing a clogged emitter, or simply adjusting the flow for growing plants.
Rain Bird is globally famous for creating high-quality drip irrigation systems, so while this pack is more pricey than its rivals, you are paying for the reputation and ‘pressure-compensating technology’ that ensures that all plants receive the same amount of water wherever they are in the tubing run.
The GE200 Drip & Micro Sprinkler Kit is a great value irrigation and micro sprinkler system that effectively waters plants with minimal wastage.
The DIG GE200 Drip and Micro Sprinkler Kit scores 4.3 out of 5 on Amazon, with 59% of users giving it the full five stars. The product is praised for its easy instructions, large number of parts, and " beautiful workings.” Negative reviews cited issues with the nozzles breaking after short use and taking a long time to set up.
It is one of DIG’s best-selling kits, and for good reason—it’s affordable, versatile, and eco-friendly. Once connected to a faucet or garden hose, the kit contains everything you need to get started.
It can cover up to 700 square feet - and more than 1,000 sq. ft. if you buy extra tubing, sprayers, and drip emitters.
This product combines irrigation with 11 micro sprinklers, effectively spraying water in the upper soil layers where roots develop at much lower rates than conventional sprinklers.
This gives more even coverage for roses, shrubs, flowerbeds, trees, and groundcovers without wasting water. This kit is also good for gardeners with uneven terrain, such as slopes and hillsides.
The Raindrip R560DP is an affordable automated watering system for all-round treatment of plants.
The Raindrip R560DP irrigation drip kit gets a high score on Amazon - 4.3 out of 5, with 64% of users scoring it 5/5. Positive reviews love how easy it is to set up and program. Negative feedback cited issues with the time being unreliable and some of the components being a bit flimsy. One user said the kit doesn’t work with normal house water pressure without the additional purchase of a screw-on 25 psi pressure regulator.
It is simple to set up, tool-free, and easy to program. Each kit contains all the bits you need for a basic installation, although some reviewers complained that they had to purchase an extra pressure regulator for the system to work.
It has a timer for automated watering but needs batteries, which aren’t included in the pack.
The Raindrip R560DP can water up to 20 plants, but it is customizable, so if you have a larger area to water, you can expand the system by buying extra feeder tubes and fittings.
Proven Winners waterwise drip irrigation system is ideal for small gardens and can accommodate up to 10 potted plants from a single faucet.
The Proven Winners WaterWise Drip Irrigation System scores highly on Amazon, with 77% of users giving it five stars (an average score of 4.5 out of 5). Positive reviews praise how easy it is to install and the price. Negative reviews cite issues with the connections popping off, and another user says it is “too complicated to use.”
If you have more plants to cover, you can use additional drippers to expand to 30 containers.
It’s a comprehensive kit that includes vinyl tubing, drippers, barbed tees and crosses, nail clamps, a faucet adapter, support stakes, and a backflow prevention valve.
The system is easy to use and durable, but it’s lacking a timer, which is recommended on the packaging (but not included). Also, the narrow ¼” tube is slightly limiting. You can extend it with a second kit, but still won’t get much water through a small tube, says David Jordan, Senior Irrigation Engineer at Waterwise Solutions.
The Instapark automatic watering system is best suited to anyone who doesn't have access to a garden faucet, making it ideal for balconies and indoor plants.
The Instapark Automatic Watering System scores 4 out of 5 on Amazon, with 55% of users giving it the full five stars. Positive reviews praise the easy setup and useful timer. One user said, “For the price, I expected cheaper materials and manufacturing, but everything seems to be of very high quality. I appreciate the analog controls because they're simple and seem quite durable." Negative reviews complain that the unit needed recharging weekly.
It's easy to use, and while some components look flimsy, they are more durable than they look. The watering system charges via a micro-USB port, and a USB-to-USB cord is included.
To charge it from a wall socket, you can use your USB-to-wall socket converter (or an old microUSB phone charger).
The product uses a vacuum pump, which has more potential for failure, and if you have a larger garden, you'll need more connections and stakes to expand the network. Overall, this is a decent and affordable starter kit for anyone new to irrigation systems.
How to choose the best drip irrigation system for you
“Drip irrigation is a gentle, slow, and water-efficient way of watering your plot. In its simplest form, it works with a perforated ‘soaker’ hose connected to your tap. When the water is turned on, it ‘leaks’ water very slowly along its length, providing moisture to your plants,” says Morris Hankinson, founder and managing director at Hopes Grove Nurseries.
“The holes are microscopic, and so water does not spray out; it just leaks very slowly—almost like beads of sweat along its length. They certainly make a great solution for watering a new hedge. The biggest disadvantage is that they’re not suited to containers, window boxes, and hanging baskets—the things that need the most watering when the weather is warm.
“This is where the more refined types of drip irrigation come in. There are many different types of spaghetti leads, emitters, and sprayers. Different types, such as hanging baskets or flower borders, are suited to different situations. They are all connected to a ‘main’ (usually hose-pipe sized) that joins up all the areas you need to water and terminates in a tap fitting to turn the system on.
“The next natural progression would be an automatic timer so you don’t need to remember to water (or if you are on vacation). And the level after that would be a small weather station that monitors sunshine, temperature, and humidity and adjusts the amount and frequency of water applied.”
Why do you need a drip irrigation system?
There are a few different reasons why you need a drip irrigation system, says Hankinson:
Time-saving
“Our busy lives don’t always allow us to water the garden every day in the summer. Combined with an automatic timer, it is a regular and mundane job saved!
Water saving
“Drip irrigation dramatically reduces the water needed to keep your plants flourishing. Hardly anything is lost to evaporation.”
Great for more inaccessible plants
“High-level hanging baskets and window boxes would be a prime example of when a drip irrigation system is most useful.
Flexibility
“You can water when it suits, even in the middle of the hottest day, without the danger of scorching foliage. Water is delivered directly to the root system.”
But not all drip irrigation systems are created equal, warns Hankinson. “It’s important to buy good-quality fittings, as poorly made ones can fail or leak early on or even break when you are setting your system up.
“Drain your system down if hard frost is forecast. Like domestic plumbing, the pipes will burst if ice forms inside, and it’s a real bind to replace them all! This is normally as easy as disconnecting from the water source and removing the bung at the other end so that any water in the system is released.
“Keep your system as simple as possible, as unnecessarily complicated things often break. And don’t water plants in the ground daily—it will cause your plant roots to develop close to the soil surface for their daily hydration fix. If the system fails, the plants will not be drought-resilient. Give them a good soak, but only once a week.
“Also, don’t forget to turn it off. If you don’t use a timer on your tap, please don’t forget to turn it off. If it's on for the whole week because you forget, it could turn your garden into a swamp (in a slow and controlled way you may not notice for a while) and add $40-$100 a week to your water bill!”
“I am a big fan of drip irrigation systems, but there are times when they might not be useful - particularly if you have a lot of small plants or seedlings, as it makes it too fiddly to connect them all to drippers. You would certainly be faster grabbing the watering can! And while much water is saved using drip irrigation because evaporation is reduced, some plants (such as Fuchsias and Hosta) appreciate a misting over their leaves.”
Drip irrigation system FAQs
How much water does a drip irrigation system use?
The amount of water used depends on various factors. You need to consider the size of the land you cover, the type of plants you have and their water needs, the water pressure, and which type of emitters you opt for. The average flow rate can vary between 2L to 20L per hour, depending on size and scale. Also known as a trickle system, it works by releasing the water in droplets at a slow rate. Many systems come with a different flow rate, with the most popular options being 2, 4, and 8 liters per hour (LPH). You need to look for the LPH measurement on any listing before making your purchase to be sure it meets your needs.
Should a drip irrigation system be buried?
It is recommended to bury the system in the soil or under a layer of mulch. Doing so prevents a lot of water from being wasted as it goes directly into the earth. It is worth checking whether there are rodents in the area you are working in – as it is a common problem for them to dig and damage buried systems. Most manufacturers recommend a depth of around 4” for optimum uptake in the soil.
Can a drip irrigation system go uphill?
If you have a high-pressure system, yes. It is advised to run your irrigation system downhill instead of up so that gravity assists with water distribution. Many experts run lines horizontally across an incline instead of vertically to slow the progress due to gravity and ensure an even spread of the water rather than racing to the bottom and soaking there.
