Nozzles are the heart of any irrigation system. The right choice determines watering uniformity, water consumption, and system longevity. The SmartPluvia catalog includes 202 nozzle models from 6 brands (including Netafim), and this guide will help you pick the perfect match for your property.

Nozzle types

1. Fixed spray nozzles

Spray water in a fan pattern at a fixed arc. Best for small areas.

  • Radius: 1.5–5 m (5–16 ft)
  • Arcs: 90°, 180°, 270°, 360°
  • Precipitation rate: 40–50 mm/h (high)
  • Pressure: 1.5–2.0 bar (20–30 PSI)
  • Best for: narrow strips, flower beds, small lawns

2. Strip nozzles

Specialized nozzles for narrow zones 1–1.5 m (3–5 ft) wide: pathways, lawn strips along fences, borders. Models come in various strip lengths from 1.5 to 9 m (5–30 ft).

3. MP Rotator

Multi-stream rotary nozzles. The sweet spot between spray heads and rotors.

  • Radius: 2.5–10.7 m (8–35 ft)
  • Arcs: 90°–360° (adjustable)
  • Precipitation rate: 10 mm/h (low, uniform)
  • Pressure: 1.7–3.8 bar (25–55 PSI)
  • Best for: lawns of any size, slopes, clay soils

4. Rotary nozzles (rotors)

Rotating sprinklers for large open areas.

  • Radius: 6–20+ m (20–65+ ft)
  • Arcs: 40°–360°
  • Precipitation rate: 10–15 mm/h
  • Pressure: 2.5–4.5 bar (35–65 PSI)
  • Best for: large lawns, sports fields, parks

5. Bubblers

Low-flow nozzles for targeted watering: tree wells, large pots, individual shrubs. Flow rate: 0.5–4 L/min (0.1–1 GPM). Water flows gently with no spray drift.

6. Drip emitters

For flower beds, vegetable gardens, hedgerows. Flow per emitter: 2–8 L/h (0.5–2 GPH). Ideal for mixed plantings where overhead watering is undesirable. Netafim — world leader in drip systems: UniRam and DripNet PC models with pressure compensation. See also our MP Rotator vs Fixed Spray comparison.

Matching precipitation rates

Why does this matter? If nozzles with different precipitation rates share a zone, some areas will be flooded while others stay dry. Reference values:

  • Fixed spray: ~40 mm/h
  • MP Rotator: ~10 mm/h
  • Rotors: ~12 mm/h
  • Drip: varies by emitter spacing

Golden rule: never mix nozzle types within one zone. MP Rotators and rotors have similar rates and can coexist, but fixed spray nozzles must always be on their own zone.

Pressure requirements

Each nozzle type needs a specific operating pressure. Low pressure = reduced radius and poor distribution uniformity.

  • Fixed spray: 1.5–2.0 bar (20–30 PSI)
  • MP Rotator: 1.7–3.8 bar (25–55 PSI)
  • Rotors: 2.5–4.5 bar (35–65 PSI)

If you have low pressure (under 2 bar / 30 PSI), choose fixed spray or MP Rotator — they work from as low as 1.5 bar (20 PSI).

How to choose: decision tree

  1. Area under 5 m (16 ft) (narrow strip, flower bed) → fixed spray or strip nozzles
  2. Area 5–10 m (16–33 ft) (medium lawn) → MP Rotator
  3. Area over 10 m (33 ft) (large lawn, park) → rotors
  4. Narrow strip 1–1.5 m (3–5 ft) (lawn along fence) → strip nozzles
  5. Flower bed or vegetable garden → drip irrigation
  6. Windy site → MP Rotator (less sensitive to wind than fixed spray)

Popular models by brand

  • Hunter: PS Ultra (fixed spray), MP Rotator (rotary), PGP Ultra (rotor)
  • Rain Bird: US Series (fixed spray), R-VAN (rotary), 5000 Plus (rotor)
  • Gardena: T100 / T200 (pop-up sprinklers)
  • Toro: 570Z (fixed spray), T5 RapidSet (rotor)
  • Netafim: UniRam (inline drip tape), DripNet PC (pressure-compensating dripline)
  • Generic: PE/PVC pipes, fittings, basic installation tools

Our planner includes a catalog of 202 nozzle models from 6 brands (including Netafim). Coverage circles update in real time as you place them — you'll instantly see any blind spots. Read also: zone design guide.