How Much Does Drip Irrigation Cost?

Average Drip Irrigation Cost in 2024

To figure out the average cost of drip irrigation, we went through some of the best drip irrigation companies and averaged the prices.

You'll see figures here from Drip Works, Drip Depot and random but similar kinds of sites like Amazon.

Let's get into it.



We'll start with Raised Bed Gardening.

Drip Irrigation Prices

Keep in mind that the prices we list below are just for the drip irrigation kits. This doesn't include shipping. It also doesn't include installation costs which we'll cover later in the article.

Drip Works has three options for raised bed gardening, and even the kits have ranges:

Small - $89.95 - $159.95 ($124.95)

Medium - $139.95 - $219.95 ($179.95)

Large - $289.95 - $419.95 ($354.95)

Drip works prices range from $89.95 up to $419.95, and that's without professional installation.

Drip Depot has five options for raised bed gardening, but the prices are much more concrete:

• Basic - $94.84
• Standard - $156.62
• Deluxe - $192.04
• Premium - $263.36
• Ultimate - $386.59

Drip Depot prices range from $94.84 to $386.59 without professional installation.

I could only find one option on Rain Bird for a Raised Bed Garden Drip Kit.

• Standard - $39.99

If you looked into Drip Tape Irrigation Kits, then one of our favorite companies, HOSS, has both 8 mil Drip Tape and 15 mil Drip Tape:

• 8 mil Drip Tape - $199.99
• 15 mil Drip Tape - $269.99



HOSS Prices range from $199 to $269.99 without professional installation.

How Much Does It Cost To Install Drip Irrigation?

Drip irrigation costs vary depending on which system you buy, from what company, and how you choose to install it. There is a lot of added cost with irrigation system installation.

Cost To Install Drip Irrigation Yourself

For example, if you buy a small drip irrigation system for raised bed gardening from Drip Works and you install it yourself, it will cost you $89.95. If you buy an Ultimate Drip Irrigation system from Drip Depot, and you install the system yourself, you will pay $386.59.

Cost For Professional Installation

Now, if you buy a system and you have a professional install it, you can expect to pay less than $100/hr on top of the cost of your system. For half a day's work, you can expect to pay $450 or more for the labor and installation fees in addition to the cost of the system. The average cost of drip irrigation of drip irrigation installation is $490 for a non-complex drip irrigation system.

Note: this does not include the cost of a lawn irrigation system, which can cost thousands of dollars.

Prices of Drip Irrigation Components

There are a lot of different drip irrigation components. Each of them has varying price points depending on the component.

The prices will vary depending on the distributor and the quality of the material Some drip irrigation components include:

• Mainline Tubing - 1/2" Tubing - $18/100'
• Pressure Regulators - $10/30 PSI Regulator
• Drip Emitters - Fixed Rate Button Drippers (1.0 GPH) - $0.32/10 units
• Drip Line - 1/4" Dripline Tubing - $17/100'
• Filters - 3/4" Hose Thread Filter - $12
• Elbow Fittings - $0.13/10+ Units
• End Closures - $0.30/5+ Units
• Backflow Preventers - $4.39/1 Unit
• Timers - Varies - You can get a decent one for $40
• Valves - Varies - $25 to $100+
• Pressure Gauges - $10 - $25

Drip Irrigation Installation Cost Factors

Below Ground vs. Above-Ground Drip Irrigation Systems

Subsurface drip irrigation systems are much more labor-intensive and require professional installation. They are much more expensive than above ground drip systems.

Drip Irrigation Materials

Higher quality materials cost more money. That's why you see such a price variance between drip irrigation companies. The higher the quality, the longer the material will last over the long term.

Property Density

The density of your property will have an affect on price. If you need more water lines for denser coverage, you will pay more.

Size

More square footage equates to higher costs. Irrigating a small garden will cost much less than irrigating a farm.

Timing

If you have a drip irrigation system installed during peak months, you can expect to pay more. But installation during the off-season can be significantly cheaper.

Labor

Labor always costs more. If you hire a professional to do the installation, then you will get installation costs. Most home gardening irrigation systems can be done DIY style.

Location

Residential homes in areas with higher living costs will get charged more for drip irrigation installation. Urban areas can expect to pay much more than rural areas.

Other Factors That Affect Cost of Drip Irrigation

The best part about the cost of a drip irrigation system or sprinkler installation is that once you invest our initial cost, it's not very expensive there after.

And what you lose on money, you save in time and gain in increased plant or lawn health. Most homeowners find that an automatic sprinkler system or drip system was worth the initial investment.

But there are some other factors that can increase the cost of your drip irrigation system. Those include:

• Type of system (irrigation system or traditional sprinkler systems)
• Watering Zones
• Type of Vegetation

Type of System

The type of irrigation system will drastically change the cost. Installing lawn sprinkler systems will be much more expensive than drip irrigation for a home garden. The national average cost of sprinkler system irrigation is around $3150.

Water Zones

Watering zones are sections of your yard that gat water from the same valve. If you have more zones, you will pay more money because you will need more water. More zones are needed due to water pressure restrictions and varying watering needs. You can expect to pay (on average) $450 extra per zone.

Type of Vegetation

The vegetation type will affect your drip irrigation system cost:

• Lawns: Or grass, does really well with subsurface drip irrigation systems. These can cost an average of $2500 per acre. That doesn't include any additional expenses like land preparation. For the average homeowner (who just has a hobby garden), installing sprinkler systems will be expensive.
• Plants: If your plants have special watering requirements, you need to add additional watering zones. This could add $450 more per zone.

How Much Does Drip Irrigation Cost FAQs

Before you go...

So that's it for my guide on drip emitters.

They are critical for any drip irrigation system. But they aren't the only thing you need to know about when it comes to drip irrigation.

Be sure to check out some of our other guides so you can build the biggest and baddest garden around.