The Best Hose Timers, Tested and Reviewed
A hose timer is a simple device that connects directly between a hose and a water spigot. The hose timer’s position allows it to control water flow to the hose and the sprinkler (if one is connected). However, it’s important to note that a hose timer is different than a sprinkler controller, which is an electronic device designed specifically to work with an automatic sprinkler system.
We wanted to know which of today’s top hose timers really deliver on their claims of simplifying watering, so we tested them ourselves. We selected the most popular and highest-rated models and tried them out in our yards and gardens. Our favorite was the Melnor AquaTimer, boasting a durable design and easy-to-program settings with a large digital display.
To be effective, a hose timer should be simple to use, allowing for quick and easy watering whenever and wherever necessary. Ahead, learn what to look for when shopping for a hose timer and find out why the following models earned a spot on this lineup of the best hose timers for most yards.
- BEST OVERALL: Melnor 63100 AquaTimer 2-Zone Digital Water Timer
Jump to Review - BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: RainPoint ITV105 1-Zone Mini Digital Sprinkler Timer
Jump to Review - BEST MECHANICAL: Gardena 31169 Mechanical Water Timer
Jump to Review - BEST EASE OF OPERATION: Orbit 62056 One Outlet Single-Dial Hose Faucet Timer
Jump to Review - BEST DUAL-HOSE: Gilmour 804014-1001 Electronic Water Timer
Jump to Review - BEST SMART: RainPoint Smart Wi-Fi 2-Zone Sprinkler Timer
Jump to Review - ALSO CONSIDER: Instapark PWT-07 Digital Programmable Water Timer
Jump to Review
How We Tested the Best Hose Timers
Before conducting hands-on testing of hose timers, we researched more than two dozen brands and models to identify the ones most highly rated and recommended by experts and consumers. We scoured online reviews and analyzed product specifications and features to decide which timers to include in our tests.
When testing hose timers, we started by attaching each one to a spigot and connecting it to a hose (or two, if applicable). Then, we reviewed the programming features, testing the timer’s ability to set watering schedules and adjust watering duration and frequency. We also tried additional features, such as rain delay or manual override, and assessed how easy the timer was to program and use.
We scored each timer using a rubric. The better a timer performed in each test, the more points it received. Overall, our goal was to comprehensively evaluate each timer’s performance and features to help you choose a hose timer for your own needs.
| Testing Stats | |
| Products tested | 7 |
| Time spent testing | Roughly 5 to 6 hours, plus monitoring |
| Tests performed | 8 to 10 |
| Price range | $30 to $100 |
Tips from a Pro Gardener
We also interviewed Troy Smothermon, a fellow gardener with 20 years of experience and founder of StartOrganic in California, who shared some advice.
He suggests using “flexible lines, ideally with metal connections, to connect the timer to the hose outlet. Adding the timer directly onto the end of a hose bibb can be a breaking point.”
He added that “flexible lines allow the timer to move, reducing accidental breaks and bumps when relocating the hose. Also, it’s not a bad idea to install a splitter or “Y” so you can still use your regular garden hose from the same hose bibb while your timer is installed.”
Our Top Picks
A good hose timer helps ensure lawns and gardens don’t dry out or accidentally flood. The following models vary in type, price, and standard functions, but each earned a spot on our lineup by performing well in our hands-on tests. We included the pros and cons of each model to help you determine which one will best suit your watering needs.
Best Overall
Melnor AquaTimer 2-Zone Digital Water Timer
This Bob Vila Approved product carries our brand’s highest level of recommendation.
Bob Vila Approved recognizes the household and DIY products that impressed us most in our real-world testing and that exemplify core values of the Bob Vila brand, including craftsmanship, innovation, and value for the dollar. Winners of this designation come recommended by our professional review team and are personally approved by Bob Vila.
Our Ratings: Ease of Use 5/5; Performance 4/5; Durability 5/5; Value 5/5
Product Specs
- Number of hose outlets: 2
- Watering duration: 1 minute to 6 hours
- Digital or manual: Digital
What We Like
- Easy to program and adjust with a large digital display and intuitive buttons
- Rain-delay function can pause watering for up to 7 days
- Dual watering zones can be individually programmed—ideal for those with differing watering needs
What We Don’t Like
- Batteries are not included and may require frequent replacement
- Water flow is not adjustable per zone—both zones will have the same water pressure
Topping our lineup is the Melnor AquaTimer. It features two hose outlets and is an excellent option for watering more than a single zone.
In testing, we attached the AquaTimer to an outdoor spigot and connected two hoses to the bottom outlets. The fitting that connects to the spigot twists independently of the timer, which makes it simple to attach.
We found programming the AquaTimer to be self-explanatory. A central button in the middle of the control panel allowed us to scroll through the functions, and we used the plus and minus buttons to set the time as well as select when watering would begin and how long it would last. Watering duration is adjustable from 1 minute to 6 hours.
We created custom watering programs for each of the two zones. The first zone ran to a sprinkler in a flower bed, and we set the timer to water twice a day for 30 minutes each. For the second zone, we ran the hose to a large drinking bowl in our dogs’ play yard and programmed the water to come on twice a day for 2 minutes—just long enough to fill the bowl with fresh water. Having dual zones will be a boon for anyone with multiple watering needs, just as it was for us in our tests.
Once set, the AquaTimer runs the same watering schedule daily, but it also has a rain-delay function that allows you to pause the watering schedule if you don’t need to water that day. It also features a manual override function that allows you to water anytime.
The AquaTimer runs on two AA batteries (not included) and features a large easy-to-read LCD screen. Its primary downside is that flow strength is not adjustable per zone—if we wanted full-blast water for Zone 1, we also had it for Zone 2. For many, that likely won’t be a big issue. Overall, this little hose timer saves time and ensures the garden or pets always have a source of fresh water.
Read our full review: Melnor AquaTimer 2-Zone Digital Water Timer
Get the Melnor hose timer at Amazon, or Walmart.
Best Bang for the Buck
RainPoint ITV105 1-Zone Mini Digital Sprinkler Timer
Our Ratings: Ease of Use 3/5; Performance 4/5; Durability 4/5; Value 4/5
Product Specs
- Number of hose outlets: 1
- Watering duration: 1 minute to 3 hours and 59 minutes
- Digital or manual: Digital
What We Like
- Compact design; this small hose timer is designed to fit in tight spaces
- Clear, easy-to-see LCD screen with large numerical display
- Offers manual override and rain-delay functions for versatility
What We Don’t Like
- The words on the dial and the buttons are small and can be challenging to read
- Compact size offers only 1 hose outlet, which limits use in larger yards or gardens
One of the biggest complaints from those with water spigots in hard-to-reach spots is that most standard hose timers are too large to connect. There’s always the option of attaching a short leader hose to the spigot, then attaching a timer between the leader hose and another garden hose. However, if you want a compact timer to use in restricted areas, the RainPoint Mini timer is a great option.
The RainPoint Mini uses two AAA batteries (not included) and has the same features as most larger timers. As a mini unit, it does only have one hose outlet, but for many watering situations, that’s enough. You can choose a watering duration between 1 minute and 3 hours 59 minutes. You can also adjust watering frequency to as often as once per hour or as little as once every 7 days.
We found the words on the RainPoint Mini’s dial on the small side, so rather than attach the timer to a spigot where we might struggle to read the dial, we opted to connect the unit between two hoses. This process was quite simple thanks to the RainPoint Mini’s easy-attach fitting. Unfortunately, this model’s plus and minus buttons were also small—it was easier to simply memorize which was which rather than trying to read them. Even though this tiny timer has a small dial and buttons, its LCD screen’s digital numbers are large and easy to see, even in bright sunlight.
To achieve the compact size, RainPoint does compromise on some features, such as separate buttons for manual override and rain delay (up to 72 hours). This small hose timer requires you to use the plus and minus buttons and set the dial to “On” to activate those features, whereas other timers have dedicated buttons for those actions.
Get the RainPoint Mini hose timer at Amazon, The Home Depot, or RainPoint.
Best Mechanical
Gardena 31169 Manual Mechanical Water Timer
Our Ratings: Ease of Use 4/5; Performance 4/5; Durability 4/5; Value 5/5
Product Specs
- Number of hose outlets: 1
- Watering duration: 5 minutes to 2 hours
- Digital or manual: Manual
What We Like
- Super simple to set the timer—just turn the dial to the desired watering time
- No batteries required; the timer runs off an internal spring
- Budget-friendly and can be set to water for 5 to 120 minutes
What We Don’t Like
- Strictly manual—cannot be preprogrammed to water on a schedule
Sometimes less is more. We didn’t have to worry about batteries running down with the Gardena mechanical hose timer because this model is spring-loaded—no batteries are required.
Nothing could be simpler than turning the rotary dial to set the watering duration between 5 and 120 minutes (2 hours). As soon as we set the time, we heard a faint ticking sound from the timer—similar to a kitchen timer that works on a spring-loaded system. The timer is also accurate. We set it to 15 minutes, and after 15 minutes of watering, it shut the water off.
We could also leave the timer on the spigot but opt for manual operation by turning the dial to water-only mode. This allowed us to turn the water on and off as we pleased without using the timer function.
The Gardena timer doesn’t come with any bells and whistles, and it doesn’t offer preprogramming. Every time we wanted to use the timer, we had to set the dial manually, but it shuts the water off, and that’s its saving grace. Those with busy lifestyles who tend to turn on sprinklers but forget to turn them off don’t have to worry about flooding the yard and running up the water bill. When you set the Gardena timer, it’s OK to forget.
Get the Gardena hose timer at Amazon, Ace Hardware, or Wayfair.
Best Ease of Operation
Orbit 62056 One Outlet Single-Dial Hose Faucet Timer
Our Ratings: Ease of Use 5/5; Performance 4/5; Durability 5/5; Value 4/5
Product Specs
- Number of hose outlets: 1
- Watering duration: 1 minute to 4 hours
- Digital or manual: Digital
What We Like
- Programming is simple—turn the dial to select the function and use the buttons to fine-tune the settings
- Rain-delay option allows you to pause the watering program
- Manual override makes it easy to turn the water on or off when needed
What We Don’t Like
- Timer’s LCD screen can be challenging to read in bright sunlight
After popping in two AA batteries (not included), we connected the Orbit timer to our outdoor spigot, attached a garden hose, and started testing. We immediately noticed how large and clearly marked the dial functions were—it was very easy to read them.
Using the dial, we could set the hose timer to water for as little as 1 minute to as long as 240 minutes (4 hours), and we were able to change the watering frequency anywhere from once every 6 hours to once every 7 days. Programming was simple: The Orbit timer features a six-function dial and plus and minus buttons for setting the clock and selecting how long and when to water. The Orbit timer also includes a rain-delay function and a manual override.
Overall, this hose timer is an excellent performer, but we didn’t love its digital screen. While the dial is large, the screen is on the small side, and it was challenging to see the readout in bright sunlight. Plus, it only has one water outlet, which may not be enough for some yards and gardens. We feel it’s best suited to small gardens or perhaps a drip irrigation system that runs off a single garden hose.
Get the Orbit hose timer at Amazon, The Home Depot, Orbit, or Walmart.
Best Dual-Hose
Gilmour 804014-1001 Electronic Water Timer
Our Ratings: Ease of Use 4/5; Performance 5/5; Durability 5/5; Value 5/5
Product Specs
- Number of hose outlets: 2
- Watering duration: 1 minute to 6 hours
- Digital or manual: Digital
What We Like
- Can select from multiple start times per day for each of the 2 zones
- Programming watering is simple thanks to the dial and buttons
- Features an override and rain-delay function for versatility
What We Don’t Like
- Rain-delay function comes with a slight learning curve