Spray vs Rotor vs MP Rotator
The three sprinkler head types you'll see in any residential system — and when to pick which.
| Fixed Spray | MP Rotator | Rotor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Throw | 5–18 ft | 8–30 ft | 20–50 ft |
| Precip rate | 1.5 in/hr | 0.4 in/hr | 0.4 in/hr |
| Min PSI | 30 PSI | 25 PSI | 35+ PSI |
| Body price | $3–5 | $3–5 (+$5 nozzle) | $10–18 |
| Best for | Small yards, beds | Medium yards, low PSI | Large lawns, high PSI |
Fixed spray heads
The cheapest, most common, and least sophisticated. Pop up about 4 inches, throw a fixed fan-shaped spray of water 5–18 feet. Cover a small area quickly — perfect for shrub beds and small lawn patches.
- Good: $3 body + $2 nozzle. High flow means short run times. Easy to swap nozzles for different arcs.
- Bad: 1.5 in/hr precip rate causes runoff on clay soil. Misty at low pressure. Wastes water through evaporation in wind.
- Pick if: Your yard is under 1,500 sq ft of contiguous turf, or you're irrigating beds/borders.
MP Rotators (Hunter)
The modern hybrid. Looks like a spray head but throws multiple rotating streams of water. Patented by Hunter, designed for water efficiency — they apply water at a slow rate that matches typical soil infiltration, so no runoff even on clay.
- Good: Matched precip rate across all arcs (no over- or under-watering). Works at low pressure (25 PSI). Drift-resistant streams cut wind loss. EPA WaterSense certified.
- Bad: Longer run times (~40 min vs 12 min for sprays). Nozzles cost $5 each — more expensive than spray nozzles.
- Pick if: You have clay soil, modest water pressure (25–40 PSI), or want to minimize your water bill. Best all-around residential choice for most yards under 5,000 sq ft.
Rotors (gear-driven)
A single stream of water that rotates back and forth across the arc. Pop up 4–6 inches, throw 20–50 feet. The right choice for large, open lawn areas.
- Good: Long throw means fewer heads. Built-in nozzle tree (no separate nozzle to buy). Slow application rate matches soil infiltration.
- Bad: $10–18 per head — the most expensive option. Needs 35+ PSI to spin reliably. Overkill for small yards.
- Pick if: Your lawn has clear runs of 25+ ft of grass and you have decent water pressure (40+ PSI).
Our recommendation for 80% of homeowners
MP Rotators. The efficiency, the matched precip rates, and the wide pressure range make them the safe pick for any residential yard that isn't a tiny strip or a sprawling estate. Yes, the run times are longer — but you'll water less often and your water bill will be smaller.
That's why our designer defaults to MP Rotators when your yard's narrowest dimension is 10–25 ft, falling back to sprays for tiny areas and rotors for big open runs.
See what the designer picks for your yard
It chooses head types based on your dimensions, pressure, and soil — no guessing required.
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