Sarah - Author
Here’s our garden hose sizes guide including standard garden hose length & diameters, size & weight chart, types of threads, fittings & washers, and how to know the hose size you need.
Garden hoses make watering one’s garden easier because it can bring water straight to the garden from the water source. Homeowners who use a garden hose don’t need to carry buckets of water.
However, choosing one requires a bit of research especially on the right size that will suit their needs and meet the demands of specific task they intend to use the garden hose for, like will it be for professional or landscaping use or a light and small garden watering task?
Standard Garden Hose Size
There are many sizes, colors, styles, and features that a garden hose may have. Options may include multi-ply construction, kink resistance, flow rate and more. Other garden hoses will also have water-flow control valve for turning the water flow on or off or changing the nozzles.
The bigger the diameter of the garden hose, the more water it can carry and deliver. For the size, there are many options to choose from, and they are 5/8”, ½”, and ¾”. These are the garden hose diameter options on offer in stores.
The standard size will typically be 5/8” in the United States, though. But then, many homeowners will need a ½” diameter size for a garden hose because typical household piping’s size is ½” in diameter, too.
On the other hand, people who need a heavy-duty watering tasks, like for commercial gardens, or a wider piping, like for commercial landscaping design, they will pick a ¾” diameter size for a garden hose.
The larger diameter will allow hose to deliver more water to the lawn or garden, while also compensating for variables in water pressure, such as when running it uphill.
For the water volume, the ¾” hose can supply more water volume per minute because it allows for a larger water pathway.
Garden Hose Lengths
A garden hose length can range from the shorter 25 feet to the longer 250 feet for commercial garden hoses. For households, length between 50 feet and 100 feet can be enough.
However, some homeowners may need to connect at least two hoses in order to reach a part of the garden or if they need to repair a leak in their old hose. If there’s a leak and a part of the hose needs replacement, a homeowner should know the diameter or size of their current hose.
To do it, they need to measure the internal diameter of the hose to ensure that the new one can be connected well or is the same size as the old hose.
Nevertheless, knowing the length of the garden hose to buy is important. For instance, a too short garden hose can be frustrating to use. Meanwhile, a too long garden hose is as unnecessary if one’s garden isn’t that large.
To determine the length of the hose needed, measure the farthest distance from the spigot and then buy a hose that is a little longer than you would need.
In this case, you don’t need to drag through bushes or flowers but be able to walk around the lawn or down your front walkway easily. Buying the right length will also avoid tugging on the garden hose, which would otherwise stretch it out.
But remember, there’ll be reduced water pressure with longer hose. Thus, it’s advised that you buy a hose with sufficient length so that you’ll be able to reach where you’re going to use it. But if you’re occasionally using a longer hose, you can buy two shorter garden hoses, which can be combined when needed.
Garden Hose Size Chart
| Diameter Size | ½” | 5/8” | ¾” |
| Fitting Size | 12.5mm (1/2″) | 15mm (5/8″) | 19mm (3/4″) |
| Washer Size | ½” | 5/8” | ¾” |
Garden Hose Weight
| Length | Dry Weight | Filled with Water |
| 25 ft. | 4 lbs | 7 lbs |
| 50 ft. | 7 lbs | 14 lbs |
| 75 ft. | 11 lbs | 21 lbs |
| 100 ft. | 14 lbs | 27 lbs |
Garden Hose Ply Layers
Garden hose layers are typically composed of three to four layers. The core layer or innermost layer, which is also the primary layer responsible for overall kink resistance, is what transports water from the spigot to the hose’s end through a softer plastic tube or synthetic rubber.
Then, there is the middle layer, which is also called the reinforcement layer, adding durability and integrity to the garden hose. It is typically made of webbed, knitted, braided, or wrapped polyester fiber. The reinforcement layer is placed between two layers – the jacket layer and the core layer and provides reinforcement.
Lastly is the outermost or jacket layer that provides protection to the inner layers from the elements and other external forces. It is what also gives a specific outward appearance and color to the garden hose.
Garden Hose Thread Size
The garden hose thread refers to the lines on the fittings of the garden hose. A thread allows the hose to fit the external equipment or tap securely. You’ll find different sizes of a garden hose thread, but you should get the right one to ensure tight fitting.
The size of a garden hose thread is referred to as the Garden Hose Thread (GHT) and National Hose (NH) for standardization. For a gardening hose, the most common size is 11.5 NH.
Standard Garden Hose Fitting Size
When you shop for fittings, you’ll find them in different styles, including backflow preventers, splitters, and sprayer wands. The normal fitting sizes available are 12.5mm (1/2″), 15mm (5/8″), and 19mm (3/4″).
Typically, standard size for garden hose fittings is 15mm since this is the most common size of hoses sold on the market. These fittings come either a male or female connection. Thus, look at the location of the threads on the hose at the point where you’ll make a connection.
Garden Hose Washer Size
Garden washers help prevent water leaking at the hose connection and faucet. They make a secure and tight seal to help prevent any water loss.
The 5/8” garden hose washer size is the standard used in garden hoses. This size of the washer works with a 5/8” garden hose size. So if you’re getting another washer size, it should also be used with the corresponding garden hose size where it fits.
What Size Garden Hose for Pressure Washer?
The most common garden hose for pressure washer is ¼” size. It’s designed and made for small and electric gas power washers having a pressure rating of up to 3,200 Psi.
On the other hand, the middle-sized 5/16” is the least common garden hose for a pressure washer that can deal with pressures between 2,700 and 3,600 Psi.
How Do I Know What Size Garden Hose I Need?
Before going to the store, take measurements to determine the size of a garden hose you need. In addition to this, consider how you’ll use the garden hose.
For instance, consider getting a standard hose, which can either be lightweight or heavy-duty, to use for everyday watering. If you’re concerned about chemical leaching out into the water, look for a garden hose labeled drinking water safe.
Now for the size of garden hose you’ll need. Think about the length of the hose to get – can be 25, 50, 75, or 100-foot length.
What length you need? Get the distance from the water source to where you need to use the hose. For a small patio size, balcony, or yard, a length of 25 feet should be sufficient. If you need to reach far corners of your yard or lawn, getting a 50-feet garden hose may be for you.
Do you have a bigger garden or yard and you need to go past 50 feet? You might want to consider two 50-ft hoses or one 50-ft and one 25-ft garden hose, or two shorter lengths that you can easily combine when needed. You can use the shorter hose for watering flowers and plants close to your house.
A longer hose weighs more and needs more storage space. It will also be hard to lug around a 100-ft garden hose filled with water.
For example, this length of a hose can weigh 14 lbs (dry weight) and 27 lbs (weight with water). It is why it can be very heavy to lug around the garden. Longer hoses can also be harder to coil up when you need to store them or fully drain them.
Another factor to help you determine the size of garden hose you need is its diameter, which is quite a standard in hoses like their lengths.
You’ll find the size of the inside diameter of the hose on the packaging itself. For enough water flow and pressure, a 5/8” size of a garden hose is commonly chosen. There are also hoses coming in ½” and ¾” diameter sizes.
Remember, the larger the hose’s diameter, the more water that the hose can carry and hold. For light tasks, like watering small gardens, a ½ and ¾-inch diameter size can be enough.
On the other hand, a size of 5/8” can be what you need if the hose should be dealing with high water pressure, such as pressure washers or sprinklers.
See more related content in our article about the types of outdoor faucets on this page.
