Spray-to-drip conversion

Convert a sprinkler zone to drip irrigation

Drip needs filtered water at low, steady pressure, on its own zone. Put a filter and regulator at the valve, or a retrofit kit on one spray body with the other heads capped. Then add up the emitters so the zone flow lands inside the kit’s range.

  • Whole zone, not one head
  • Filter + regulator
  • GPH ÷ 60 = GPM
  • Flush the ends
Shop drip irrigation See the parts Send a photo

Checked against manufacturer specifications and our live catalog · Updated October 2026

Netafim dripline laid on a mulched bed
Dripline in a planting bed
Hunter Pro-Spray head a drip retrofit replaces
Start from a spray body

Short answer

Convert the whole zone. Either install a drip control zone kit (valve, filter, and pressure regulator) at the valve, or put a retrofit kit such as Rain Bird 1800-RETRO on one spray body and cap the other heads. Use inline dripline for dense beds and point-source emitters for spaced shrubs. Total the emitter GPH, divide by 60 for GPM, and pick a kit whose flow range includes that number.

1

Pick dripline or emitters

Dense beds and groundcover take inline dripline at 12 or 18 inch spacing. Spaced shrubs and pots take 1/2 inch tubing with point-source emitters or bubblers.

2

Filter and regulate

Install a drip control zone kit at the valve, or a retrofit kit on one spray body and cap the other heads on that zone.

3

Check the flow, then flush

Add up emitter GPH and divide by 60 for GPM. Stay inside the kit’s flow range. Flush the lines before you cap the ends.

Do the math

Zone flow examples

LayoutEmittersZone flow
100 ft of 0.6 GPH dripline, 12 in. spacing100 × 0.6 GPH = 60 GPH1.0 GPM
250 ft of 0.9 GPH dripline, 18 in. spacing167 × 0.9 GPH ≈ 150 GPH2.5 GPM
30 shrubs, two 2 GPH emitters each60 × 2 GPH = 120 GPH2.0 GPM

Match the total to the kit: for example Hunter PCZ is 0.5–15 GPM, Rain Bird XCZ low flow is 0.2–10 GPM, and Rain Bird 1800-RETRO is 0.5–6 GPM. Maximum lateral length comes from the dripline maker’s chart for your inlet pressure.

Parts we ship

Kit, tubing, fittings, ends

Pick the kit by zone flow, then the dripline, then fittings that match the tubing size.

Match the situation

Is drip the right fix?

What you seeWhat to doStart here
Spray zone on a planter bed overspraying walls and walksConvert the whole zone. Retrofit kit on one head and cap the rest, or a control zone kit at the valve.1800-RETRO · Hunter PCZ
A few bed heads share a zone with lawnDrip cannot share a zone with spray; the run times are far apart. Give the bed its own valve or keep it on spray.Control zone kit
Bed on a slope; the low end stays wetUse check-valve dripline so the line holds water after the zone stops.HDL-CV dripline
Emitters clogFiltration and flushing. Clean the kit screen and add flush caps at the lateral ends.Flush cap
Tiny zone, regulator will not hold pressureFlow below the kit’s minimum. Pick a low-flow kit or add emitters.XCZ low flow 0.2–10 GPM
Trees in a lawnRoot-zone bubblers at the tree, on a zone that runs separately from the lawn.Hunter RZWS

The steps people skip

Why drip conversions fail

  1. Convert the whole zone. Drip runs in gallons per hour. Mixed with spray, either the beds drown or the lawn browns.
  2. Cap the unused heads. An open spray body on a drip zone dumps the water and drops the pressure.
  3. Match fittings to the tubing size. 17 mm dripline and 0.710 in. poly tubing use different fittings.
  4. Flush before you cap. Run water through the open ends until it runs clean.
  5. Stay inside the kit’s flow range. Below the minimum, the regulator cannot hold pressure. Above the maximum, it starves the far end.
  6. Stay inside the run-length chart. Each dripline lists a maximum lateral length at a given inlet pressure. Longer runs starve the far end.
  7. Ask your water provider about rebates. Many utilities offer rebates for spray-to-drip conversions. Check before you buy.

Common questions

Can I convert just one sprinkler head to drip?

Only if the whole zone becomes drip. Put the retrofit kit on one spray body and cap the other heads on that zone. Drip and spray cannot share a zone.

What pressure does drip irrigation need?

Drip control zone kits regulate to a fixed pressure, commonly 25, 30, or 40 psi. Check the operating range on the dripline listing and choose the kit to match.

What filter mesh do I need for drip?

The kits we stock ship with 150 to 200 mesh screens. Follow the dripline maker’s minimum; Toro lists 120 mesh for its DL2000 dripline.

How do I calculate drip zone flow?

Count the emitters, multiply by GPH per emitter, and divide by 60 for GPM. For example, 100 emitters at 0.6 GPH is 60 GPH, or 1.0 GPM.

Dripline or 1/4-inch tubing and emitters?

Use inline dripline where plants are dense and the whole bed should be wet. Use point-source emitters on 1/4-inch tubing where plants are spaced out with bare ground between them.

How long can a dripline run be?

It depends on the dripline, emitter flow, spacing, and inlet pressure. Each maker publishes a chart; for example, Toro lists 515 ft at 25 psi for DL2000 RGP-218.

How long should I run drip irrigation?

Drip is rated in gallons per hour, so run times are much longer than spray. Start from the plants’ water needs and the emitter flow, then adjust by checking soil moisture.

Send a photo of the zone and the valve

Tell us how many heads are on the zone and what is planted. We will spec the kit, dripline, and fittings. Free US shipping.

Open Quote Center Shop drip irrigation
Review us on TrustpilotTrustpilot

Terms & Conditions of Sale

PLEASE READ THIS DOCUMENT CAREFULLY. IT CONTAINS VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING YOUR RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS, INCLUDING LIMITATIONS AND EXCLUSIONS THAT MIGHT APPLY TO YOU.1. Agreement Scope: When you order products from the Big Irrigation Supply website, you agree to these terms. The supplier can change these terms without notice, and the most current version will be on the website.2. Order Acceptance and Cancellation: The supplier may accept, decline, or limit your order for any reason after receiving it. If your order is canceled after your card is charged, you will be refunded. Minimum order amounts apply and can change without notice. Customer cancellations will incur a credit card charge up to 4%.3. Pricing: Prices are subject to change and do not include taxes. Any taxes applicable will be added to the price, and you must either pay them or provide a tax exemption certificate.4. Payment Terms: Full payment is required before shipping, and you can pay online via credit card.5. Shipping and Risk: Ownership of the products transfers to you either when the products leave the supplier’s location or when they are delivered to your address, depending on the delivery method. You are responsible for shipping costs and must inspect deliveries for damage or discrepancies upon receipt.6. Warranties and Returns: Products are generally covered by the manufacturer’s warranty, details of which are provided in the product description or manufacturer’s website. Returns require prior authorization and must be made within specific time frames. A restocking fee may apply of up to 35%. Non-returnable items from Big Irrigation Supply specifically include all landscape lighting fixtures and transformers, as well as irrigation commercial controllers like MC-E and ACC2 models. Additionally, any items that are not regularly stocked or are special order items cannot be returned.7. Intellectual Property: The supplier owns any content, inventions, or intellectual property developed during the term of your agreement with them.8. Advertising and Liability: The supplier is not responsible for inaccuracies in product descriptions provided by their suppliers, nor for typographical or pricing errors. They also disclaim all implied warranties and limit their liability for any damages arising from the use of their site to the amount you paid for the products.9. Indemnification: You must defend and indemnify the supplier against any claims or damages arising from your use of the products, or any breach of these terms.10. Legal: The agreement is governed by the laws of Texas, and any disputes will be handled in Collin County, Texas, without a jury trial.11. Force Majeure: The supplier is not liable for delays or failures in delivery caused by circumstances beyond their control, such as natural disasters or labor strikes.12. Miscellaneous: If part of these terms is found to be unenforceable, the rest still applies. Provisions that by their nature should survive the termination of the agreement will do so.