It doesn’t matter whether you love your garden or not, you cannot deny the positive effects consistent watering has on its appearance. However, between balancing work, school, kids, a relationship and a social life, it may seem as if there is time to do little else.
If you love your garden, but barely have time to take care of it, then you may benefit from installing water hose timers that basically get started with watering without you. Doesn’t matter whether you are home or a thousand miles away, they work like clockwork once set.
All the products available on the market may overwhelm you, and that’s why we’re narrowing down to 10 of the best water hose timers you can buy today.
List of the Best Water Hose Timers of 2023
10. Nelson Water Mechanical Timer
Number 10 on our list of water hose timers is this unique, yet simple, one from Nelson. Instead of programming a cycle which would need you to let it run until you decide to have it changed, this product lets you set the timer each time you want to use the hose. Once it’s complete, it shuts itself off.
In as much as you have control over watering, there is no need for you to remember to come back and switch it off. This is particularly helpful because you won’t have to worry about forgetting to turn it off and accidentally flooding your garden. Another advantage this product has over electronic ones is that it doesn’t require any batteries to run. Dying batteries is one less thing you have to worry about.
In cases where you’d prefer to not use the timer function, and instead would rather water your garden manually, you can do this easily. Make the switch and enjoy watering your garden the old-fashioned way.
Pros
- Shut-off feature
- Easy to use
- Does not require batteries
Cons
- Does not offer flexibility in programming
9. Gilmour Mechanical Water Timer
This may not win the fanciest water hose timers of the year award, but it does get the job done in the simplest way possible. It is a manual timer which allows you to program the duration you want the hose to be on for, after which it shuts itself off. This is a nifty feature to have especially if you’re forgetful or have a ton of things to worry about in addition to watering your garden. Eventually, the shut-off feature will help prevent a lot of water wastage.
The timer features a small dial that you can turn to set the frequency that you’d like. It really is as simple as that, and you can have the product installed and running in a matter of minutes.
You may like that it comes with a 2-year warranty. If it has a warranty then it’s a plus for you because not many water product companies think it necessary to offer warranties. In case you develop an issue or a part is faulty, then you can easily get it replaced.
Pros
- 2-year warranty
- Simple to use
- Automatically shuts off after a completed cycle
Cons
- Made from poor quality materials
8. Orbit B-hyve Smart Hose with Wi-Fi Hub
In keeping up with today’s technological advancements, Orbit offers a “Smart Hose” that techies will instantly love. This timer comes with a Wi-Fi hub that, once connected, allows you to control the water hose from anywhere. To run it, you will need to connect the hub to the current from the house, while the hose itself will need 2AA batteries to power through.
It doesn’t matter what operating system you use as these water hose timers from Orbit are compatible with Android, iOS and web devices. Go on a trip, go to work, meet up with friends or drop your kids off at school. It doesn’t matter what you are doing as you will have full control of the system wherever you are. It includes a Weather Sense technology which is able to adjust the water flow depending on conditions. The unit includes a built-in water tracker that shows you how much water you’ve been using.
Your unit is built to last and endure all sorts of weather conditions. It also guarantees to save you water
Pros
- Smart watering
- Compatible with Android, iOS and web devices
- Water tracking feature
Cons
- It is costly
7. Rain Bird Indoor 4-Station Sprinkler
So far this is the only indoor unit we’ve reviewed, and the fact that it can only be used indoors does not take away from its performance. It is a great choice if you are looking to give your old sprinkler system an upgrade. The feature that stands out the most is that it can control 4 different zones separately! Say you have one part of your garden that is well shaded and gets enough water, while another part is constantly in the sun and is dried out, with this system you are able to program the timer to cater to parts of your lawn that need more or less water, depending on their needs.
The unit also comes with a rain delay feature as there’s no point in having the sprinkler on while it’s raining. It is only a waste of water and energy. This unit relies on power from the house and hence doesn’t need batteries. There are also 6 and 9 zone variants available from the same company.
Pros
- Controls up to 4 stations
- Rain delay
- Easy to program
Cons
- Only for indoor use
6. Raindrip Analog 3-Dial Water Timer
As far as setting up and using water hose timers can go, this is the simplest. We could not believe how easy it was to set everything up and have it working. You won’t even need a user manual to use this timer.
The water hose timer has three dials and one of them controls the frequency. You can choose anywhere from an hour up to one week. The second dial lets you choose how long the watering should last for. The maximum you can set the Raindrip to water is 120 minutes. Like other water hose timers, this one also has a rain delay setting. In the event that it begins to rain, or it is forecast to rain, you can simply set the delay and choose the duration you want it to delay for.
One other feature the Raindrip has is that it has a battery life indicator which alerts you when the batteries need replacing.
Pros
- Easy to use
- Battery life indicator alerts
- The timer is compatible with most faucets and tubes
Cons
- Needs batteries to run
5. Gideon Single Valve Digital Hose Timer
This is a single valve all-inclusive hose timer with all the features you could need from one. What we especially like about this hose timer is that it is very intuitive to set up and use. Even though an instruction manual comes with the package, you won’t even need to refer to it. You will have your timer set to go in a matter of minutes.
The timer also comes with a rain delay feature that allows you to pause programming for a certain during until the rain has passed. Another handy feature we like that you do not get to see in many water hose timers is a backlit LCD. You can set it such that it is bright enough to read during the day and dark enough to read at night.
One thing you should note about these water hose timers from Gideon is that you cannot create your own program with them. You will need to use any of the preset sequences that come out of the box.
Pros
- Easy to install
- Backlit LCD
- Rain delay control
Cons
- You cannot create your own program
4. Gilmour Electronic Outlet Water Timer
We love hose timers that you can set up and use in a matter of minutes and this electronic one from Gilmour is no different. Even though the hose comes with a manual, you really won’t need one. What stands out the most about this is the dual outlets it has. This means that it can do what other water hose timers do but in half the time! This will help you conserve water and battery power. Speaking of batteries, 2AA batteries are enough to power this unit.
It features a bright and clear LCD screen that is visible even in sunlight. This hose has one big dial with all the settings you could need on it. You have settings for the frequency, the duration and the timer. You also get a rain delay feature which you can use whenever it rains or is about to. Once the rain stops, you can press the button again and it will revert to the previous programming.
Pros
- Water-saving
- Easy to use and to install
- Has and LCD
Cons
- Relatively expensive as compared to others.
3. Instapark Outdoor Digital Programmable Hose Timer
If you are on the market for simple yet effective water hose timers, then this one from Instapark is a great option. This is a single-outlet timer that offers a number of customizable options. You can choose the time, the duration and the frequency of your water cycles. We do like that the adjustable features allow you to truly finetune the watering to best suit your needs. With this hose timer, you can set the frequency to work as low as every 10 seconds and as high as seven days. You can also set the duration for the watering which can last as short as 10 seconds or as long as 6 hours (360 minutes).
Installing and using it is a breeze. In a matter of minutes, you can have your water programming all set. The unit is both waterproof and shockproof, powering through different kinds of weather conditions. One thoughtful feature it has that is lacking in mater water hose timers is a dust cap. This helps protect the unit from any accidental knocks.
Pros
- Long-lasting battery life
- Rain delay feature
- Waterproof durable design
Cons
- Not ideal for high water pressure
2. Orbit Mechanical Water Timer
Another product from Orbit makes its way onto our list of water hose timers. Thankfully, with this one, you won’t need any batteries giving it an advantage over other timers. The downside to this is you won’t have an LCD screen to read from. You also have a mechanical dial to control your watering settings. In many ways, the lack of technological features makes it a very simple to use timer.
When it comes to how long you can set this for, you can either anywhere from 15 minutes to two hours. That seems like a small range in comparison to other timers which offer up to three hours. However, this is still ideal especially if you’re watering a small garden or yard.
Because there are no batteries needed, you won’t have to worry about water damage. The unit is solidly built and can withstand harsh weather conditions. If features like an LCD screen or batteries are not important to you, then this is a good option for you.
Pros
- Made from durable materials
- No batteries needed
- Ideal for smaller gardens
Cons
- Manual hose timer
1. Orbit Programmable Hose Timer
If you are looking for a device that offers simplicity and functionality then this is the beck pick for you. Orbit designed a hose timer that offers you a wide range of customizable features. The hose features an LCD screen and a large dial. To set the timer, all you need to do is to turn the dial and enter the digits required. You’ll start with setting the time, then set what time you want it to start and the duration then lastly, you’ll set the frequency.
It gives you the option to choose how long you want it to water, and you can choose anywhere between one minute and 4 hours (240 minutes). You can also set the intervals at which you want the hose timer to work and you can choose intervals of hours or even days.
The rain delay feature lets you pause the hose and once it stops raining you can switch it back on again and it will continue with its regular programming.
Pros
- Features rain delay
- Run time of up to 4 hours
- Weatherproof
Cons
- Not suitable for high water pressure
Conclusion
Now that we’ve given you options of the best water hose timers to choose from, we hope you’ll have a better shopping experience. We’ve looked at digital and manual timers and other features that offer flexibility such as rain delay. With these timers, you won’t ever have to worry about not dedicating enough time to watering your garden.