This list has the 7 best drip irrigation kits on the market right now. Additionally this is a complete buyers guide which breaks down the pros and cons of drip irrigation, has a variety of tips for both new and experience irrigators and a section with some common questions.
If you’re in a hurry, here are our top 2 picks:
| Product | Best for |
| Hiraliy 131.2 foot Drip Irrigation Watering system | Overall Best |
| Jayee 130 ft Drip Irrigation Kit | Best Bang For Your Buck |
‘Drip irrigation’ is a term that you’ve probably heard bandied about, especially in this fine information age that we live in. The concept behind it is simple – a targeted approach to watering your plants, where drippers can deliver water directly to each plant and various emitters can deliver other sorts of spray as-needed.
The end result is that you only use as much water as your plants need, and your plants, soil, and bank account are all the better for it! In today’s article, we’re going to talk a little about the pros and cons of drip irrigation, as well as introduce you to some excellent kits that will help you to get started on your own.
We’ll tell you a little about each, including both good review information and some of the ‘sour’ variety to keep things fair and balanced. After that, we’ll talk about newbie tips to help you with your own setup and buying tips for expanding your drip irrigation supplies in the future.
Let’s talk about the best drip irrigation kits and what you need to know to create successful drip irrigation strategies!
Table of Contents
Why use drip irrigation? A quick look at the pros and cons
Drip irrigation is one of the most efficient watering and fertilizing schemes around. By means of plastic tubing, as well as emitters that can create mist, spray, or seeping drips, you can customize a watering solution that gives each plant exactly what they need and can save yourself up to 70% off of your water bill.
Since we will be sharing some fantastic drip irrigation kits and tips with you today, we thought we’d briefly touch on the pros and cons of drip irrigation for those who are just getting started.
Let’s take a look!
Pros of drip irrigation
There really are enormous advantages with this irrigation method that are well-worth mentioning. While this list is by no means complete, we’ve gathered some of the highlights to give you a quick overview:
Drip irrigation is very targeted, so that water is delivered directly to individual plants, rather than scattered everywhere and directly on the foliage like you would be doing with a sprinkler. This means there is no extra water for weeds and fungus is also discouraged.
This irrigation method is easy on the soil, so you won’t have to worry about erosion
Targeted water use means that you won’t be wasting it (or paying for that excess, either)
Drip irrigation loses less water to evaporation than conventional watering methods
Liquid fertilizer may be included in the water for your plants, which allows it to be delivered with an almost surgical precision – this means you won’t have to worry about runoff or contaminating your ground water.
It’s a low-maintenance solution that is inexpensive to run and maintain.
Cons of drip irrigation
Every system has its faults, and drip irrigation has its own particular caveats that you should be aware of. Here are some examples:
- Small lines mean that you’ll need to use and change out the occasional filter to avoid clogs.
- There is a bit of a learning curve in the beginning, although lots of training videos are out there to help you.
- As it is a low-pressure solution, you’ll need to get in the habit of checking efficacy to quickly identify when there are clogs or insufficient pressure towards the ‘end of the line’ in your setup.
All in all, it’s a pretty amazingly efficient way to water your plants, reduce your environmental footprint, and to bank a little on the savings that you’ll get by such a significant reduction in your water bill. With that in mind, how do you go about selecting a startup kit?
We’re glad that you asked!
The best drip irrigation kits to customize your own watering solutions
In the sections below, you’ll find some excellent examples of ready-made drip irrigation kits that will give you all that you need to get started. With each entry, we’ll include review information so that you know how they were rated, and we’ll include some of the bad reviews with the good ones to keep things fair and balanced. Later in the article we will also share our favorite, just in case you aren’t sure which one will be the best fit for you.
Without further ado, here are the best drip irrigation kits for you to review!
1. Hiraliy 131.2 foot Drip Irrigation Watering system
Our first entry is this Hiraliy 131.2 foot drip irrigation watering system and it’s got everything that you need to get a solid start on efficient, money-saving drip irrigation. This kit includes the following items to set up in your garden:
- 2 Two-way connectors
- 4 on/off switches to control flow
- 28 emitters
- 131.2 foot of black tubing
Your drip emitters with this kit are adjustable, so that you can stop them, set them to spray, or adjust them to a convenient, constant drip, and round emitters have the 3 settings of stop, drip, or spray. Once you’ve got it set up, just turn on the faucet and your drip system does the rest, and this system touts up to 50% in water savings (not to mention the savings in your time).
So, how did it rate in the reviews? Well, 67% percent of reviewers gave this product 5 stars, with another 16% awarding it 4. Included in the praise, Use ‘J’ advised that the pressure throughout the lines stays great and user ‘Crystal’ said that it waters a small garden fairly well.
Moving on to the land of dissatisfaction, however, we see that 4% of reviewers gave this product 1 star, with ‘Keith Nagel’ stating that the misters throw spray only 3 feet, not the advertised 6, and that they felt the hose wasn’t up to maintaining any serious pressure when pushed. Overall, it was well received, but be advised to read the reviews for best results.
2. MIXC 226 ft Greenhouse Micro-Drip Irrigation Kit
Next up we have this MIXC 226 ft Greenhouse Micro-Drip irrigation kit and it’s packed full of all the gear that you need to customize a drip irrigation solution for your needs. Included in this kit are the following:
- 1 26 foot drip irrigation hose
- 1 200 foot irrigation hose
- 25 dripper tees
- 1 Main line end closure
- 20 standard end closures
- 10 fountain nozzles
- 10 drip emitter/sprayers
- 20 nozzles
- 20 nozzle tees
- 4 ½ to /4 inch barbed tees
- 10 single couplings
- 1 faucet connector
- 1 4/6 way faucet connector
- 1 roll Teflon tape
With this set, you should be able to properly water approximately 160 square feet of space and you can also ensure pressure down the line with your 4/6 connector, which will let you divide the water flow up to 16 tributaries. It comes with instructions, as well, so if you want a nice drip irrigation kit that definitely starts off strong, this is well-worth a closer look.
Checking into the reviews, we can see that the MIXC received 5 stars from 60% of reviewers and 4 stars from another 20%, with comments including ‘cute little system – and it works!’ as well as ‘easy to use and assemble’.
Peering into the 1 star reviews, however, we can see that 5% of reviewers did not like the MIXC, with reports that the ¼ tubing was hard to get over the connectors and in one complaint, the customer experienced a split hose. Still, with 82% of reviewers out of 2188 giving this 4 or 5 stars, we recommend checking the reviews on your own to see what you think – it’s a pretty robust kit for the price!
3. Bonviee 169 ft Drip Irrigation Kit
This Bonviee 169 ft Drip Irrigation Kit is a great way to get started with a drip irrigation system of your own. Perfect for a lawn, greenhouse, small garden, or to keep your backyard nice and green, this kit comes with the following:
- 1 19 ft ½ inch irrigation tubing
- 1 150 ft ¼ inch irrigation tubing
- 10 drip emitters
- 10 fan emitters
- 20 misting nozzles
- 1 4/6 way connector
- 1 Main line end closure
- 10 ½ inch barbed tees
- 25 dripper tees
- 20 nozzle tees
- 1 faucet connector
- 10 single couplings
- 10 zip ties
- 20 end closures
- 1 teflon tape
This should set you up with everything that you’ll need to water a 120 square foot area of your choice and the required water pressure is between 45 to 5 psi. With that said, let’s see how the reviewers felt about the Bonviee.
In the 5 star ratings we see 64% of the reviews, while another 15% of reviewers fell into the 4-star category. 79% customer satisfaction is nothing to sneeze at, and praise for the product included ‘I definitely recommend this’ from ‘Irma’, who felt it was a very complete kit, and ‘Roseanne’ who said she was overwhelmed at first glance of the kit but that it proved quite easy to set up!
Wandering on into the dark side, we have 1 star reviews from 6% of the 365 polled, and in these comments we hear from ‘Donny Rogoff’ that his hose cracked several times and user ‘Voytek’ advised he had to glue some nozzles to keep them from constantly popping off. These reviews were just a small portion of the overall reception, but we’d be amiss if we didn’t share them in the interest of fairness!
4. Carpathen 100 foot Drip Irrigation kit
Carpathen is a company from Romania that specializes in helping people to grow organic vegetables much more easily and efficiently, and this modest drip irrigation kit is fantastic for this. Inside the package you’ll find the following items for your own drip irrigation kit:
- 1 50 ft ¼ drip tubing
- 1 50 ft 5/16 drip tubing
- 20 drip emitters (stream)
- 10 drip emitters (vortex)
- 4 1-way couplers
- 6 2-way couplers
- 2 4-way couplers
- 5 ¼ tubing Tee splitters
- 5 End plugs
- Water connector
- Hard copy of instructions and a digital guide entitled ‘Grow Your Own Vegetables & Fruits’
While it certainly has fewer pieces this is a nice kit that will be easy to set up and get running – there’s even an instructional video on YouTube that will tell you how! The emitters for this kit will also work with just 15 to 20 psi, so if you have a modest garden to maintain, then this might just be the perfect solution!
Stepping into the reviews section for this product on Amazon, we can see that a solid 75% of people who purchased this kit gave it 5 stars, and another 15% gave it 4. ‘Susan Secora’ said that she loved this kit, as it functions perfectly and it was easy to assemble, and she also liked that it came with small, wooden stakes for labeling plants in her garden. It’s nice when companies go that extra mile, so what about the negative reviews?
Well, in the 1 star category, we find that 3% of the 621 reviewed were not as pleased with their Carpathen kit, and user ‘KimberReads’ said that she felt the Vortex emitters didn’t put out enough water and that the main hose line was of a non-standard size, and thus difficult to replace. She did say that the company was quick to respond with a list of vendors where she might obtain replacements (as the hose was not being sold separately), but overall this experience soured her on this set.
With 90% of the reviews being 4-5 stars, we’d recommend reading the reviews yourself to see what you think. The company seems very responsive and personable, and this can go a long way when it comes to a purchase such as a drip irrigation system for your garden at home.
5. Jayee 130 ft Drip Irrigation Kit
Our next listing is this Jayee 130 ft Drip Irrigation Kit that’s a great choice for flower beds, hanging baskets, a home greenhouse, and more! Easy to install, it’s got an impressive array of components to help you customize a serious home solution. Here’s what you get:
- 2 3/4″ Female Thread Coupler
- 33FT 5/16″ (8mm ID) Distribution Tubing
- 100FT 1/4″ (4mm ID) Distribution Tubing
- 10 Drip Emitter (Vortex)
- 12 Drip Emitter (Stream)
- 3 kinds of 5/16″ to 1/4″ Tubing Coupler (8 in total
- 20 Nozzles
- 20 Nozzle Tees
- 20 Barbed Tee
- 20 end plug
- 1 Teflon Tape
With its splitters and 3 spray settings on the emitters, you’ll have a lot of control over your setup and it will definitely help you to save a considerable amount on your water bills. So, how did the Jayee Rate?
Peeking into the reviews, it did pretty well, with 73% of reviewers giving it 5 stars, while another 16% were willing to part with 4 stars. User ‘Wasn’t that helpful?’ called it ‘solid’, stating that they set up 20 pieces for their herb garden and not a single piece was damaged in the process.
Checking further into the 1 star territory, 2% of reviewers were not as happy with their own Jayee kit. User ‘Dhang’ purchased the set for a Toro ½ clue stripe poly and advised that the couplers from this set leaked with it, and ‘Mike Blackaby’ felt that the flow of water was too restrictive.
This was out of a pool of 854 reviews, however, and with 89% falling into the 4 and 5 star category, we’d highly recommend that you read the reviews yourself to see what you think!
6. NyPots Solar Automatic Drip Irrigation Kit for Potted Plants
This neat little kit is the NyPots Solar Automatic Drip Irrigation kit for potted plants and it was just too neat not to share! This indoor watering system allows you to program watering intervals, so that your indoor potted plants are taken care of and all that you have to do is occasionally fertilize them and enjoy the view. The NyPots kits comes with the following components:
- 1 Solar Hoat unit
- 1 Ground Stake
- 45 feet Tubing
- 15 Drippers
- 15 T-joints
- 1 Filter
- 2 Screws
- 1 User Manual
Inside the unit is a 2200 mAh battery that will charge from the included solar panel and it has 6 timed modes, water filtration, and water-level sensing all built into the unit. With the sun keeping you charged, you’ve got a nice system running on your set schedule that will also reduce your water and even your electric bill to boot!
Looking at the reviews, we can see that 88% of 114 reviewers gave this product 5 stars, while another 8% gave it 4. User ‘Kiana Rust’ said that it was great for their herb garden, and ‘Evan C.’ liked that they only needed to keep their reservoir filled and let this kit do the rest.
In the 1 star review territory, however, we did have 4% of reviewers that were less enchanted with the product, with ‘UserDB’ stating that they received 1 broken unit (out of 2 units ordered) and they had the other unit go out on them. They did receive a replacement one, which they advised was working well, so make of this review what you will. All in all, the product was well-received, and we think that most will have a very good experience with this.
7. Cestame 204 Pcs Barbed Connectors Irrigation Fittings Kit
We wanted to include a ‘replacement parts kit’ example with the drip irrigation systems we’ve shown you today and this Cestame is a nice one. One of the problems with kits is the occasional need to replace a part or two, and having spares on hand can save you a trip to the nursery and also help you to customize drip irrigation solution on the fly. This kit is designed for ¼ drip irrigation tubing and includes the following:
- 14 Spray emitters
- 12 Micro Drip emitters
- 50 Tees
- 18 Drip Emitter
- 10 Oblique Barbed 4-way Connector
- 20 Barbed Hose End Plug
- 20 Hose Elbows Fittings
- 20 Single barbs
- 40 Straight Barbs
As you can see, it’s a pretty extensive little collection, nicely housed in a plastic box for keeping them neat and tidy and also for easy access when you need them.
Checking into the reviews, we had about a 75% block of 5 and 4 star reviews, with 58% giving this product 5 stars and another 17% for 4. “Robert Schulz” found the kit ‘surprisingly good’ and user ‘My Review’ called it a ‘great starter kit’ that had all that they needed to replace parts of the drip irrigation system.
Flipping the review coin, we can see that 5% were not as pleased with this kit, with user ‘Joel Smith’ advising that the connectors were good, but that some of the droppers would only spray, rather than drip.
User ‘Steve’ said they didn’t fit their ¼ inch tubing, however, without knowing if the tubing was heated first we’ll have to reserve judgment on this. Overall, it did well, and it never hurts to have spare parts. Check the reviews and see what you think – we thought it was a nice little kit and the case is a nice touch.
Best newbie tips for drip irrigation systems
If you’re just getting started with drip irrigation, it can be a little overwhelming, but don’t worry – we’re here to help. We’ve compiled a few useful tips that can help you to keep the headaches to a minimum and help prepare for situations that may your way:
- One trick to help you in attaching your drip tubing is to get a cup of hot water that you can soak the tip of the tube in. This will make it more pliable so that you can attach it and it will tighten up securely as it quickly cools.
- Look for ‘perma-loc’ couplers online and invest in a few for your drip irrigation parts collection. In a pinch, you can use them to repair a severed line of tubing by cutting the tubing and attaching the coupler. It’s quick, convenient, and reliable.
- Don’t over tighten your pressure regulators. This is a common first-time mistake and easily avoidable. Tighten it lightly and test with the water first, as it may already be tightened perfectly the first time.
- You don’t need any special tools for cutting your tubing – so save your money. Sharp scissors will work just fine!
- A threaded end cap, installed at the lowest end of your drip irrigation setup, will allow you to drain your lines in preparation for winter by just removing a cap and then replacing it when it’s drained.
- Timers are nice, as it can set your system to run when you are at work or out for the weekend. You can also find solar models that are fairly inexpensive and will save you from adding to your electrical costs.
Buying information for drip irrigation systems
If you are shopping for drip irrigation kits and parts at your local nursery, then the aisle may be a bit of a maze at first. Here are some tips that can help you in selecting parts and kits:
If you already have an underground sprinkler system, check for conversion kits – many of these may be easily converted into a drip irrigation system and this can save you a lot of money.
Watering globes and drip irrigation kits that are equipped with reservoirs will allow you to take small vacations without worrying about watering your plants – this is worth investing in for peace of mind and to avoid having to always ask the neighbor.
Different types of emitters are better for specific plants, so be sure to research the best types of emitters for what you are specifically growing. Your average kit set will usually be fine, but this will help you to choose the ideal setting and also for future drip irrigation planning.
Consider looking into controllers for the near future. Controllers that work with moisture sensors can check when individual plants need watering, further increasing your annual savings and helping to prevent accidental overwatering.
Product recommendations
If we had to pick just one product today, our favorite would be the Jayee 130 ft Drip Irrigation Kit. While all of the kits here are pretty extensive, this has the highest amount of customer satisfaction and enough components to really customize a small setup to perfection.
While it has everything that you need, you might consider getting spare parts kits to help you maintain your drip irrigation system in case of emergencies, and add in some perma-loc couples just in case a local critter nibbles on the line.
All in all, this was our favorite, but if any other set (like the Carpathen with their quick-response customer service) sounds more like what you need, then be sure to go with your gut – all of the products we have listed today are fantastic choices. Just be sure to take a little time to read the reviews before purchase – it’s not a race, and you’ll be happier with your choice once you’ve taken a deep-dive into those reviews.
FAQs
With a complex subject like drip irrigation, it can be easy to miss things along the way, and so we’ve compiled a list of frequently asked questions to help seal up any ‘holes’ that we may have missed on this topic. Let’s take a look!
Where can I use drip irrigation?
Drip irrigation is very customizable, and you can use it to water landscape features, vegetable or flower gardens, and it’s also great for sloping and other difficult terrains. If you have a greenhouse, they are also ideal, and there are even kits for using drip irrigation in your home such as the NyPots solar drip irrigation kit that we’ve described today.
Can I make a drip irrigation system for my indoor plants?
Yes, you can certainly cobble together your own indoor setup. If you have large containers, then misters will be a good fit for these, while individual drippers with a flow of 1-2.5 GPH are ideal for each pot. If you aren’t confident setting this up yet, you can always create a mockup with soil-filled pots and test your setup by sticking your index finger into the soil or simply go with a kit to ensure proper watering.
Can I use a drip irrigation system or micro sprinklers for a large lawn?
While some systems will support this, for large areas of lawn you might be better served with pop-up type sprinklers. The biggest problem is going to be the water pressure over large distances, so while you probably COULD cobble together something, it would be best to get an expert to assist you with a larger lawn to ensure complete coverage.
How do I know if my drip irrigation system is working correctly?
The quickest way to check that your drip irrigation system is working correctly is to use your finger to check the soil where you’ve set up your drippers and emitters. Start at the end of the line where the pressure will be weakest and then work your way across the entire setup, and this should let you physically confirm that it’s in working order.
Are there any downsides to using drip irrigation?
There are caveats to everything and drip irrigation is certainly no exception. For one thing, as it doesn’t work like a pop-up sprinkler, you can’t see much at all when it is working. This means you’ll need to check up on it from time to time to make sure it’s all in order.
Filters are also required to help avoid clogs and these will also need to be checked from time to time. Another caveat is the tubing itself – as it’s soft, it is susceptible to rodents and other animals that might find it and want to chew it, so if your neighbor has a dog then you might want to ask them to keep their pet out of your yard!
Beyond this, there is a bit of a learning curve at first, but as you get used to your drip irrigation system you will quickly learn the ropes!
In Conclusion
Today we’ve taken a deep-dive into the world of drip irrigation kits and shared some of the best on the market with you. While our favorite was the Jayee 130 ft Drip Irrigation Kit, all of the products that we’ve shared today are excellent kits to get you started with efficient and eco-friendly drip irrigation strategies.
Be sure to check the different types of drip irrigation that exists and look for videos with your specific chosen set so that you can learn how to set it up quickly and efficiently and don’t forget to put the tip of your drip line into a cup of hot water – it won’t fit if you don’t and if the reviews are any indication, this was a common complaint with new users of these systems.
Once you’ve set everything up, be sure to check your drip irrigation system weekly to make sure there are no clogs and that all of your plants are getting properly watered at the end and in time, you’ll quickly learn the ropes to this wonderful, water-saving method that will water your plants perfectly each and every time.
Until next time, we hope to see you again soon and we wish you the very best!
More gardening stuff