Garden Hose Length Calculator
| Route | Hose length | 5/8-in PSI loss | At the nozzle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50 ft | 50-75 ft | ~2-4 PSI | plenty for beds |
| 100 ft | 100-125 ft | ~4-8 PSI | fine for watering |
| 200 ft | 2×100 ft or 3/4-in | ~8-16 PSI | sprinklers starve |
Hose sizing is the route, not the crow fly: measure the path the hose actually walks - around the corner, along the fence, past the beds - add 10 feet of slack for the coil at each end, and the number that results is the hose to own, because every 50 feet of extra hose costs pressure the sprinklers were counting on.
Bottom line: a 5/8-inch hose loses usable pressure with every foot, and two coupled 50-foot hoses lose about twice as much as one 100-footer - the standard advice is one continuous hose to 100 feet, and beyond that, step up to a 3/4-inch hose or move the spigot, because a kinked 100-footer can starve a sprinkler entirely.
The honest part: the hose drawer where four partial hoses live is the reason nobody can water anything - each coupling is a leak and a pressure drop, and the connector set that joins them adds two more. One continuous hose of the right length outperforms the drawer, and the 5/8-inch diameter is the household default the nozzles assume.
How to use
- Walk the actual hose route from the spigot to the farthest point you water - around obstacles, along walls - and measure it on foot, not on the map.
- Add 10 feet of slack for the coil at the spigot and at the far end, then read the hose length and the pressure you will lose at that run.
- Past 100 feet, step up to 3/4-inch diameter to recover pressure, or split the yard into two zones watered from the spigot on different days.
Frequently asked questions
What length garden hose do I need?
The walked route plus 10 feet of slack: a spigot 60 walking-feet from the farthest bed wants a 75-foot hose, rounded to the standard 75. The route matters because hoses wrap obstacles, and the length beyond the route is the weight you drag, the kink you fight, and the pressure you never needed to lose.
How much water pressure do I lose per foot of hose?
A 5/8-inch hose flowing at typical household rates loses roughly 2 to 4 PSI per 50 feet, and the loss compounds with length and with every coupling - two 50-foot hoses lose about twice one continuous 100. At 200 feet the pressure that reaches the nozzle can be half the spigot's, which is when the 3/4-inch upgrade or the second spigot earns its price.
Is a 5/8 or 3/4 inch garden hose better?
5/8 inch is the household default every nozzle and sprinkler assumes, and it carries a normal yard fine to about 100 feet. The 3/4-inch hose carries measurably more water at the same pressure - the upgrade for long runs, big sprinklers and filling pools fast - and the half-inch hose is the light-duty choice that kinks if you look at it.
Why does my hose kink at the spigot?
The hose is too long for the run, and the extra length coils into the kink: a hose sized to the walked route plus 10 feet of slack lies straight enough to resist bending. Hose memory also pulls coiled storage into loops - storing the hose uncoiled in loose figure-eights, or buying the no-kink hybrid construction, is the cure for the spigot-end pretzel.