How to Calculate the Cost of Sprinkler Installation

Co-authored by Grant Wallace and Danielle Blinka, MA, MPA

Last Updated: February 6, 2023 References

A sprinkler system keeps your lawn or landscaping lush without the headache of watering every day. Although sprinklers can seem pricey, they may help save you money on your water bill and landscaping costs. You can install your sprinklers yourself to save some cash, and we'll walk you through the typical expenses. Most sprinkler installers give free estimates, but we’ll help you estimate the cost of professional installation, as well.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Installing Sprinklers Yourself

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Average total cost: up to $1,500. The final cost depends on the size of your yard and the brand of materials you use. Small DIY projects can be really inexpensive, as low as a few hundred dollars.^{[1]
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- Include a little padding in your budget to cover unexpected expenses.
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Permits: up to $200. Local governments often require permits for home improvement projects, which can include sprinkler systems. Check with your county clerk’s office to find out if you need one. In general, permits could cost as much as $200.^{[2]
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- If you have a Homeowners Association (HOA), they may have their own permitting system. Always check with them when estimating the cost of home improvement projects.
- When you get your permit, ask if you’ll need to get your sprinkler system inspected after it’s installed. Some governing bodies require you to have a city inspector check the system at no extra cost.
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Valves: $25 to $35 per set. The valves connect your sprinkler heads to the automatic controller. You'll need 1 set of valves for each sprinkler zone in your yard. You can save money here by buying the least expensive brand.^{[3]
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- Here’s how you calculate how many zones you need: Time in seconds how long it takes to fill a 5 US gal (19 L) bucket. Then, divide 300 by the number of seconds it took to fill the bucket to find your water supply flow rate. Next, check the flow rate in gallons-per-minute on the sprinkler heads you chose and multiply it by the number of sprinkler heads you plan to buy. Divide the sprinkler head flow rate by the water supply flow rate to find out how many zones you need.^{[4]
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Valve box: $20 to $25 each. A valve box houses your valves, so buy 1 box for each set of valves you install. In general, the cost of valve boxes doesn't vary much. However, you might need to buy a lot of them if you have several zones, since you'll need multiple boxes.^{[5]
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- For example, if you buy 4 sets of valves, you’ll need 4 valve boxes.
- It's a good idea to buy the same brand of valve box as the brand of valves you're using so you know the valves will fit inside the box.
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PVC pipes: $0.25 to $1.00 per linear foot. You can use either rigid or flexible PVC pipe. While flexible pipe costs more, it’s also easier to install and fits better into uneven trenches.^{[6]
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Research source} To find out how much pipe you'll need, map out where you plan to install sprinkler lines on your property. Then, add up the total length of pipe.
- For rigid PVC pipe, you’ll pay $0.25 per lineal foot of ³⁄₄ in (1.9 cm) pipe.
- For flexible PVC pipe, expect to pay $1.00 per lineal foot of ³⁄₄ in (1.9 cm) pipe.
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Automatic controller: from $10 to $325. Chances are, the automatic controller is what drew you to sprinkler systems in the first place. It’s the tiny computer that turns your sprinklers on and off so you don’t have to worry about it. You can choose to invest in a controller with lots of functions, or you save money with a basic model.^{[7]
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- Generally, more expensive models have a lot more features. You might go with a cheaper model if you just want it to turn your sprinkler on and off.
- A higher-end model can adjust your watering schedule to match local weather patterns or soil moisture levels. Not only can this save you money on your water bill, it also provides the best growing conditions for your landscaping.^{[8]
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Sprinkler heads: a minimum of $15 to $150. This is where you can really save some money if you want to keep costs down. You’ll need 5-10 sprinkler heads per “zone” in your yard. Good quality sprinkler heads often cost around $20 to $30 each for rotor heads or $10 to $15 each for spray heads. However, you can get lower-quality sprinkler heads for a few dollars a head. To make your project more budget-friendly, choose less expensive brands.^{[9]
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- For instance, if you plan to have 3 sprinkler zones, you’d need 15 to 30 sprinkler heads. This could cost as low as $150 or as high as $900, depending on the brand of sprinkler head you choose.
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Trenching equipment for an in-ground system: $100 to $160 per day. The main reason why in-ground systems are so pricey is that you have to dig 1 to 2 ft (0.30 to 0.61 m) trenches to lay the sprinkler pipes. It’s a ton of work to dig a network of trenches throughout your yard. You can keep costs low by using a shovel, but you might prefer to rent a gas-powered trenching tool to make the job faster and easier.^{[10]
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- Going with an above-ground system can save you time and money because you won’t have to dig trenches.
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Electrician: $180 to $330. You can do a lot of the work yourself, but some jobs are best left to a professional. Unless you’re trained to do electrical work, hiring a professional ensures a safe installation. You’ll need an electrician to extend a circuit to the automatic controller.^{[11]
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- This usually takes 2 to 3 hours at $90 to $110 per hour, so budget around $180 to $330.
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Plumber: $200 to $300. Like with the electrical work, it's best to leave the plumbing to the professionals unless you have some experience. You’ll need a plumber to hook your sprinkler up to your home’s water system. For the best price, get several estimates from plumbers in your area.^{[12]
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- Improperly hooking up your sprinkler can lead to leaks. Not only will this cost you money, but it could also result in water pooling around your property.

Method 2

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Hiring a Sprinkler Installation Professional

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Average total cost: $1,714 to $2,538. The final cost depends on the size and slope of your yard, your soil conditions, and the brand of materials you choose. Small yards may be really inexpensive, running as low as $400. However, you could spend upwards of $5,000 if you have a big property.^{[13]
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- If your yard has a lot of slopes, the cost of sprinkler installation will increase.
- You’ll pay more if your soil is rocky or hard because it’s harder to dig the trenches, which adds to the labor costs. Expect to pay $0.40 per linear foot more for harder soils.^{[14]
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- Always include a little padding in your budget to cover unexpected expenses.
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Labor: $50 to $100 per hour. Paying a professional isn’t cheap, but it can be worth it in the end.^{[15]
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Research source} Since the size of the job determines how many hours it’ll take, you’ll have to talk to a professional to estimate how many hours of labor they’ll charge you.
- In general, installing the sprinkler system yourself will save you around 40% on the total cost.^{[16]
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Supplies for each zone: from $500 to $1,000 per zone. Professional sprinkler installers calculate costs by zone. Each zone of your yard will have its own valve set, valve box, sprinkler heads, and piping. Ask your sprinkler installer how many zones they plan to create in your yard. Here’s how to estimate your costs for supplies:^{[17]
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- For 1 zone, expect to pay $500 to $1000.
- For 2 zones, you’ll pay $1,000 to $2,000.
- For 4 zones, you’ll pay $2,000 to $4,000.
- For 6 zones, expect to pay $3,000 to $6,000.
- For 7 zones, you’ll likely pay $3,500 to $7,000.
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Estimate from a professional sprinkler installer: free! Fortunately, you can see if professional installation is within your budget without any cost or obligation. For the best deal, contact several local installers so you can compare their rates. Get quotes for both above-ground and in-ground sprinkler systems so you can choose the best option for your needs and budget. Generally, above-ground systems are much cheaper.^{[18]
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- Most sprinkler installers will give you a quote for sprinkler installation for free. However, double-check when you schedule the appointment to be on the safe side.

Expert Q&A

Question

How can I save money on my sprinklers?

Grant Wallace
Landscaper
Grant Wallace is a Landscaper and Owner of Grantlanta Lawn in Atlanta, Georgia. With over seven years of experience, he specializes in lawn maintenance and landscape installation. In 2012, he earned his BA from the University of West Georgia. Grant has been profiled in Shoutout Atlanta, Canvas Rebel, and Voyage ATL.

Grant Wallace

Landscaper

Expert Answer

Try using sprinklers with flow meters that monitor the amount of water that comes out (similar to an eco-friendly shower head). On top of that, you can also get a sprinkler timer—that way, you can set it for 10-20 minutes and it will automatically shut off afterward.

Warnings

Make sure you get any permits required by your local government or HOA. If you don’t, they may make you remove the entire sprinkler system at an added cost.^{[21]
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