One of the best things you can do for your garden is to get into a regular watering routine. It’s actually pretty common to not give your plants enough water or to even forget altogether. This is why the genius of having a hose timer can make all the difference for the success of your garden.
With hose timers, you can pretty much set up your system and then let it run itself without installing a complex and expensive sprinkler system. To help you avoid forgetting to water your plants or standing outside for long periods of time, these devices connect between the spigot (your outdoor faucet) and a standard garden hose to create an automated water schedule. You’ll save yourself a lot of time and effort. Plus, you’ll be saving water! It’s truly one of the easiest ways you can help with water conservation right in your own garden.
Here are the best hose timers to consider adding to your garden supplies.
The Bearbro Automatic Water Timer is our top pick because it has a robust range of setting options and a long battery life. With three separate watering programs, you can fully customize your watering schedule with this timer. A smart rain sensor automatically pauses or starts your watering plan based on live weather conditions, so you won’t have a hose running during a storm.
Best Overall
Bearbro Automatic Water Timer
Display Type: Digital | Power Source: 2 AA batteries
It also has a child lock to stop your child or pet from accidentally turning on the hose. The top connector is made of reinforced nylon fiber material, making it much more impact-resistant and wear-resistant than other plastics.
This is an affordable, single-unit water timer that is perfect for any backyard, big or small. It’s simple to set up and only needs two batteries. Just hook up your hose, program it, and you’ll be good to go. With a rain delay function, you can easily delay watering for 25, 48, or 72 hours. You can also switch it to manual so you can water on your own. The unit has a two-year warranty, so you can feel good giving it a chance if you’ve never used a timer before.
Best Budget
Gilmore Single Outlet Electronic Water Timer
Price at time of publish: $35
This watering device is really top of the line with six different modes to choose from, including a 7-day schedule, intervals, a calendar schedule, or even an instant option where you can water on demand.
Best Splurge
LinkTap G2 Wireless Water Timer & Gateway & Flow Meter
Display Type: Digital | Power Source: 4 AA batteries
The entire thing will only take a couple of minutes to set up. Just download the app, and you’ll have a powerful watering system at your fingertips. You can also feel good about going on vacations because you can easily make adjustments to your schedule whether you’re near or far. Considering how much you could save on water, it’s definitely a good one to splurge on.
Price at time of publish: $189
Reduce your environmental footprint even further with this solar watering timer. Through the app, you can view weather forecasts and historical climate data, so you can better customize your watering. Even when traveling, you can adjust your watering schedule with its wifi connection. The system comes with a removable and rechargeable 1400 mAh battery and cable.
Best Solar Powered
Netro Pixie Smart Hose Faucet Timer
Display Type: Digital | Power Source: Solar
Price at time of publish: $120
Maybe you’re not in for a solar or battery-operated system with extra bells and whistles, yet you’d still like to improve your traditional hose watering system. This mechanical timer is perfect. Just hook it up to your base faucet. Then much like a kitchen timer, set the dial to the appropriate time needed and walk away. This will help you conserve water, and you won’t have to worry about forgetting what you’re doing. (Yes, it happens to everyone.)
Best Mechanical
Orbit Mechanical Water Timer
Display Type: Mechanical | Power Source: None
Price at time of publish: $15
This system has lots of options to help you get exactly what you need for your specific garden or yard. It has two water flow options—irrigation and mist. It also allows you to customize up to three separate watering programs, both on frequency and duration. If you get really geeky about your exact watering needs, then consider buying the add-on soil sensor for an extra fee. This will give you a reading of your soil so you can align it with this smart device. Both work through the power of wifi, allowing you to read your levels and make adjustments at the touch of an app.
Best Smart Device
RainPoint Sprinkler Timer with Wi-Fi Hub
Price at time of publish: $69
This reliable watering device is available in one, two, or three outlets. The large dial system is simple to use and easy to read. It allows you to set the timer to water every day or every 6 to 12 hours. You can also just turn it to manual mode if you’re going through a particularly dry spell or need to make adjustments on the spot. Once you set this up, you’ll never want to go back to the old way of watering ever again.
Best with Multiple Outlets
Orbit 56082 3-Outlet Hose Watering Timer
Price at time of publish: $95
What to Consider When Shopping for a Hose Timer
Power Source
Many hose timers run on AA batteries that typically last at least a year. However, if you don’t want to change batteries every year or two, you may want a mechanical or solar option.
Our top pick is the Bearbro Automatic Water Timer for its range of setting options and long battery life. If you prefer a solar hose timer that you can control with your phone, check out Netro 4 Output Port Digital Hose End Timer, which also has a companion app.
No matter what power source you opt for, it’s a good idea to take your time and hose inside when the temperature drops near or below freezing.
Number of Hose Outlets
Some hose timers can be set up to control multiple hoses. This can be a nice feature for people with larger gardens.
Additional Features
If you love smart tech, then you may want to consider a hose timer that can connect to Wi-Fi and an app. These devices allow you to control the watering system remotely. Other timers have rain sensors, which automatically shut off your pre-scheduled water when Mother Nature is taking care of that for you.
Why Trust Treehugger?
Treehugger wants to guide our readers in finding quality products that help them to conserve water in their own homes and backyards. To make this list, we researched the market to find timers with the best combinations of value, features, and user ratings.
The author, Stacy Tornio, is a gardening expert who is always looking for ways to conserve water, from using self-watering containers to focusing on drought-tolerant plants. She is the author of 15 books about nature and gardening, and has over a decade of experience covering the topic.
