Sprinkler nozzles

Which sprinkler nozzle do I need?

Read the radius and arc off the old nozzle, match the thread on the spray body, and keep every head on the zone in the same nozzle family. Fixed and adjustable spray nozzles want about 30 psi. MP Rotators want 40 psi and put water down far slower.

  • Radius in feet + arc
  • Female thread fits standard stems
  • One family per zone
  • 30 psi spray / 40 psi MP
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Checked against manufacturer specifications and our live catalog · Updated October 2026

Hunter Pro-Spray head watering a lawn
Spray nozzle on a pop-up
Hunter Pro-Spray fan showing radius and arc
Match radius and arc

Short answer

Copy the radius and arc stamped on the old nozzle (for example 15H = 15 feet, half circle). Standard female-thread nozzles screw onto the male-thread stems of common pop-up spray bodies. Do not mix fixed spray nozzles with MP Rotators on one zone: Hunter rates MP Rotators at about 0.4 in./hr, while fixed spray nozzles apply water several times faster.

1

Read the old nozzle

Most nozzles are stamped with radius and arc: 15Q is 15 feet, quarter circle. A is adjustable arc. No stamp: measure the throw and the arc.

2

Match thread and pressure

Female-thread nozzles fit standard male-thread spray stems. MP Rotator “HT” models are male thread. Regulate to 30 psi for spray nozzles and 40 psi for MP Rotators.

3

Keep one family per zone

Every head on the zone should apply water at the same rate. Swap the whole zone when you change from spray to MP Rotator or R-VAN.

Nozzle chart

Nozzle families we stock

FamilyRadiusPressureUse it for
Hunter Pro fixed spray (Q, T, H, F)5–17 ft30 psi bodyStandard quarter, third, half, and full patterns
Hunter Pro adjustable (A)4–17 ft, 0–360°30 psi bodyOdd angles and curved edges
Rain Bird MPR fixed spray5–15 ft30 psi bodyStandard patterns on Rain Bird zones
Rain Bird VAN / HE-VAN4–18 ft30 psi bodyAdjustable arc spray
Hunter MP Rotator MP1000 / 2000 / 3000 / 35008–15 / 13–21 / 22–30 / 31–35 ft40 psi bodySlopes, clay, runoff; about 0.4 in./hr
Hunter MP800 seriesShort radius40 psi bodyAbout 0.8 in./hr; keep on its own zone
Rain Bird R-VAN rotary8–14 / 13–18 / 17–24 ft45 psi bodyRotary stream on spray bodies
Strip nozzles (SS, ES, CS, LCS, RCS, MP-SS)Fixed rectanglesPer familyNarrow parkways and side strips
Bubblers (PCN, PCB, MSBN, 1400)Rated in GPMPressure compensatingTree wells and shrub basins

Radius, precipitation, and pressure figures come from Hunter’s MP Rotator specifications and the radius in each listing’s model name. Reduce MP Rotator radius up to about 25% with the adjustment screw.

Parts we ship

Pick the family, then the radius and arc

Spray nozzles ship in 25-packs. MP Rotator and R-VAN ship in 10-packs.

Match the symptom

What you see on the lawn

What you seeWhat to doStart here
Heads mist or fogPressure is too high for the nozzle. Use a regulated body: 30 psi for spray, 40 psi for MP Rotator.PRS30 body · PRS40 body
Dry spots between headsEach head’s spray should reach the next head. Use the next radius up, or check for low pressure.Nozzles by radius
Water on the sidewalk or the houseWrong arc or radius. Use an adjustable or strip nozzle, or turn the radius screw down.Adjustable 15A · Side strip
Runoff on a slope or clayWater is going down faster than the soil takes it. Convert the whole zone to MP Rotator and split the run time into cycles.MP2000
Patchy color after replacing a few nozzlesMixed families on one zone. Put the same nozzle family on every head.Nozzles
New nozzle will not thread onThread mismatch. Standard nozzles are female; MP Rotator HT models are male for female-thread stems and adapters.MP1000 HT (male)
Tree well or shrub basinUse a bubbler sized in GPM, not a spray nozzle.PCN bubbler

The steps people skip

Before you order a box of nozzles

  1. Read the whole zone, not one head. Count every head and its arc before ordering, so the zone stays one family.
  2. Check the pressure. Mist means too much. A regulated body is cheaper than replacing nozzles that will keep misting.
  3. Clean the filter screen. Most spray heads have a small screen under the nozzle. A clogged screen looks like a bad nozzle.
  4. Keep heads head-to-head. Spray from each head should reach the next head. A shorter nozzle leaves a dry ring.
  5. Change run times after an MP Rotator conversion. At about 0.4 in./hr, the zone needs much longer run times than spray.
  6. Flush the head before the new nozzle goes on. Run the zone with the nozzle off for a few seconds so grit does not lodge in the new one.

Common questions

How do I know which sprinkler nozzle I have?

Most nozzles are stamped on top with radius and arc, such as 12H or 15Q, or with a model like MP2000. If there is no stamp, measure how far the water throws and what arc it covers, then match the brand of the spray body.

What do Q, T, H, F, and A mean on a nozzle?

Q is a quarter circle (90°), T is a third (120°), H is a half (180°), and F is full circle (360°). A means adjustable arc.

Can I mix MP Rotators and spray nozzles on the same zone?

No. Hunter rates standard MP Rotators at about 0.4 in./hr; fixed spray nozzles apply water several times faster. On one zone, the spray areas flood while the MP areas stay dry.

Do Hunter nozzles fit Rain Bird spray heads?

Standard female-thread nozzles screw onto the male-thread stems used by common pop-up spray bodies, including Hunter Pro-Spray and Rain Bird 1800. Hunter states MP Rotators fit any conventional spray body or shrub adapter; use the HT (male thread) version on female-thread stems.

What pressure do sprinkler nozzles need?

Fixed and adjustable spray nozzles are matched to 30 psi bodies. Hunter recommends 40 psi for MP Rotators. Rain Bird sells 45 psi PRS bodies for rotary nozzles such as R-VAN.

How far apart should spray heads be?

Head-to-head: the spray from each head should reach the neighboring heads. Pick the nozzle radius from that spacing.

Can I shorten the throw of a nozzle?

Yes. Turn the radius adjustment screw. Hunter lists radius reduction of up to about 25% on MP Rotators. Going further hurts the pattern; choose a shorter nozzle instead.

Sources

Send a photo of the head and the area it waters

Tell us the brand on the spray body and how far it needs to throw. We will match the nozzle family and pack size. Free US shipping.

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