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Garden hose size lookup
Pick a diameter and a length for the water it holds, the flow and the bucket time — or work backwards from the water held to find the length.
★ REFERENCE CHART · EVERYDAY · GARDEN
Garden Hose Size Chart: Diameter, Flow & Length Guide
A 5/8 in hose holds 0.80 gal in 50 ft — flows 17.00 GPM, 64.35 L/min, and fills a 5-gal bucket in 17.65 s — and it is the standard size for general garden watering. Every standard hose diameter is in the table below, with millimetres, flow, bucket time, water held and the job each size is for — pick a size and a length in the calculator, or work backwards from the water held to find the length.
The full chart
Every standard garden hose diameter: millimetres, typical flow at 50 ft and 40 PSI, litres per minute, the time to fill a 5-gal bucket, the water held in 50 ft, and the job each size is for. The sizes run from 1/2 in for light watering up to 1 in for commercial work, and the diameter is what decides the flow: a 3/4 in hose flows 23 GPM against 17 GPM for a 5/8 in hose at the same length, and a 1 in hose holds four times the water of a 1/2 in hose. The flow is the typical value at 50 ft and 40 PSI — a longer hose flows slower, and a shorter hose flows faster.
| Diameter | Millimetres | Flow at 50 ft (GPM) | L/min | 5-gal bucket | Water in 50 ft | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1/2 in | 12.7 mm | 9 GPM | 34.07 L/min | 33.33 s | 0.51 gal | light watering, pots & containers |
| 5/8 in | 15.9 mm | 17 GPM | 64.35 L/min | 17.65 s | 0.80 gal | general garden watering (most common) |
| 3/4 in | 19.1 mm | 23 GPM | 87.06 L/min | 13.04 s | 1.15 gal | large gardens & sprinklers |
| 1 in | 25.4 mm | 30 GPM | 113.56 L/min | 10.00 s | 2.04 gal | commercial / long runs |
The worked example, line by line
Defaults: hose diameter 5/8 in, length 50 ft.
Line 1 — the diameter. 5/8 in is 0.625 in across, which is 15.9 mm.
Line 2 — the water held. π × (0.625 ÷ 2)² × 600 ÷ 231 = 0.80 gal of water in the hose.
Line 3 — the flow. A 5/8 in hose flows 17.00 GPM at 50 ft, which is 17.00 × 3.78541 = 64.35 L/min.
Line 4 — the bucket time. 300 ÷ 17.00 = 17.65 s to fill a 5-gal bucket.
Line 5 — the job. A 5/8 in hose is the standard size for general garden watering (most common).
Reverse: a hose holding exactly 1.00 gal is 98.04 ft of 1/2-in, 62.75 ft of 5/8-in, 43.57 ft of 3/4-in, or 24.51 ft of 1-in hose. A 5-gal bucket in 30 s needs 10.00 GPM, so 5/8-in is the smallest standard diameter that clears it at 50 ft.
Every branch, checked
1/2 in, 50 ft: holds 0.51 gal, flows 9.00 GPM (34.07 L/min), 5-gal bucket in 33.33 s, light watering, pots & containers. The smallest standard size, and the slowest — nearly twice the bucket time of a 5/8 in hose.
3/4 in, 50 ft: holds 1.15 gal, flows 23.00 GPM (87.06 L/min), 5-gal bucket in 13.04 s, large gardens & sprinklers. A third more flow than the 5/8 in hose, and it holds 1.44× the water at the same length.
1 in, 50 ft: holds 2.04 gal, flows 30.00 GPM (113.56 L/min), 5-gal bucket in 10.00 s, commercial / long runs. The biggest standard size — four times the water of a 1/2 in hose, and the fastest bucket in the chart.
5/8 in, 100 ft: holds 1.59 gal, flows 12.02 GPM (45.50 L/min), 5-gal bucket in 24.96 s. Twice the length holds twice the water (2.00× a 50-ft hose), but the flow falls to 12.02 GPM, because a longer hose slows the water down.
5/8 in, 25 ft: holds 0.40 gal, flows 24.04 GPM (91.01 L/min), 5-gal bucket in 12.48 s. Half the length holds half the water, but the flow rises to 24.04 GPM, because a shorter hose slows the water down less.
Output · formula · meaning
| Output | Formula | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Diameter | table row | 5/8 in for the default. |
| Millimetres | inches × 25.4 | 15.9 mm for 5/8 in. |
| Water held | π × (d ÷ 2)² × length ÷ 231 | 0.80 gal for 5/8 in, 50 ft. |
| Flow | flow at 50 ft × √(50 ÷ length) | 17.00 GPM for 5/8 in, 50 ft. |
| Flow in L/min | GPM × 3.78541 | 64.35 L/min for 5/8 in, 50 ft. |
| 5-gal bucket time | 300 ÷ flow | 17.65 s for 5/8 in, 50 ft. |
| Best for | table row | general garden watering (most common) for 5/8 in. |
| 1/2 in, 50 ft | table row + model | 1/2 in, holds 0.51 gal, flows 9.00 GPM (34.07 L/min), bucket in 33.33 s, light watering, pots & containers. |
| 3/4 in, 50 ft | table row + model | 3/4 in, holds 1.15 gal, flows 23.00 GPM (87.06 L/min), bucket in 13.04 s, large gardens & sprinklers. |
| 1 in, 50 ft | table row + model | 1 in, holds 2.04 gal, flows 30.00 GPM (113.56 L/min), bucket in 10.00 s, commercial / long runs. |
| 5/8 in, 100 ft | same model, 100 ft | 5/8 in, holds 1.59 gal, flows 12.02 GPM (45.50 L/min), bucket in 24.96 s, general garden watering (most common). |
| 5/8 in, 25 ft | same model, 25 ft | 5/8 in, holds 0.40 gal, flows 24.04 GPM (91.01 L/min), bucket in 12.48 s, general garden watering (most common). |
| Reverse: 1.00 gal in 1/2-in hose | 231 ÷ (π × (d ÷ 2)²) ÷ 12 | 98.04 ft. |
| Reverse: 1.00 gal in 5/8-in hose | 231 ÷ (π × (d ÷ 2)²) ÷ 12 | 62.75 ft. |
| Reverse: 1.00 gal in 3/4-in hose | 231 ÷ (π × (d ÷ 2)²) ÷ 12 | 43.57 ft. |
| Reverse: 1.00 gal in 1-in hose | 231 ÷ (π × (d ÷ 2)²) ÷ 12 | 24.51 ft. |
| Fill-time reverse: 5-gal bucket in 30 s | 300 ÷ 30 | Needs 10.00 GPM; smallest standard diameter clearing it at 50 ft is 5/8 in. |
| 100-ft 5/8-in vs 50-ft 5/8-in | volume ÷ volume | 2.00× (1.59 ÷ 0.80). |
| 3/4-in vs 5/8-in water held | volume ÷ volume | 1.44× (1.15 ÷ 0.80). |
| 1-in vs 1/2-in water held | volume ÷ volume | 4.00× (2.04 ÷ 0.51). |
Who uses this
- The gardener watering pots: they learn a 1/2 in hose flows 9 GPM and fills a 5-gal bucket in 33.33 s — so they know the small hose is enough for pots, and they check the 5/8 in row at 17.65 s before buying bigger.
- The homeowner with a big garden: they learn a 3/4 in hose flows 23 GPM and fills a 5-gal bucket in 13.04 s — so they know it waters a big garden a third faster than the 5/8 in hose, and they check the 100-ft 5/8 in case at 12.02 GPM before running a long hose.
- The landscaper with a long run: they learn a 100-ft 5/8 in hose holds 1.59 gal and flows only 12.02 GPM — so they know length costs flow, and they check the 1 in row at 30 GPM before choosing the hose for a commercial job.
- The measurer with a bucket and a stopwatch: they learn a 5-gal bucket in 30 s needs 10.00 GPM, so 5/8-in is the smallest standard diameter that clears it — so they can test any hose with a bucket, and they check the 1.00 gal lengths (98.04 ft of 1/2-in, 62.75 ft of 5/8-in) before buying by the foot.
Accuracy & limitations
The flows are typical values at 40 PSI and 50 ft, and they vary with pressure, length, and fittings: a higher-pressure tap flows faster, a longer hose flows slower, and a kinked hose or a narrow nozzle flows slower still. The water held is exact geometry — π times the radius squared times the length divided by 231 — so the volumes hold at any pressure. The flow at other lengths follows the square-root rule, which is a good guide for a garden hose but not a measurement: measure your own tap with a bucket and a stopwatch if the flow matters. This is not a pressure-loss engineering chart and not an irrigation-design chart: pressure loss and irrigation design are separate lookups. For the beds the hose waters, see garden bed size chart; for the water heater inside, see water heater size chart.
Cite this reference tableBright Side Kit. “Garden Hose Size Chart: Diameter, Flow & Length Guide.” brightoolbox.com, 2026. Method: water held (gal) = π × (diameter ÷ 2)² × length (in) ÷ 231; flow (GPM) = flow at 50 ft × √(50 ÷ length); bucket time (s) = 300 ÷ flow; L/min = GPM × 3.78541. Defaults: 5/8 in, 50 ft → 15.9 mm, 17.00 GPM, 64.35 L/min, 5-gal bucket in 17.65 s, holds 0.80 gal, general garden watering (most common). Rows: 1/2 in → 12.7 mm, 9 GPM, 34.07 L/min, 33.33 s, 0.51 gal, light watering, pots & containers; 5/8 in → 15.9 mm, 17 GPM, 64.35 L/min, 17.65 s, 0.80 gal, general garden watering (most common); 3/4 in → 19.1 mm, 23 GPM, 87.06 L/min, 13.04 s, 1.15 gal, large gardens & sprinklers; 1 in → 25.4 mm, 30 GPM, 113.56 L/min, 10.00 s, 2.04 gal, commercial / long runs. Branches: 1/2 in 50 ft → 0.51 gal, 9.00 GPM, 33.33 s; 3/4 in 50 ft → 1.15 gal, 23.00 GPM, 13.04 s; 1 in 50 ft → 2.04 gal, 30.00 GPM, 10.00 s; 5/8 in 100 ft → 1.59 gal, 12.02 GPM, 24.96 s; 5/8 in 25 ft → 0.40 gal, 24.04 GPM, 12.48 s. Reverses: length holding exactly 1.00 gal → 1/2 in 98.04 ft, 5/8 in 62.75 ft, 3/4 in 43.57 ft, 1 in 24.51 ft. Fill-time reverse: a 5-gal bucket in 30 s needs 10.00 GPM, so 5/8-in is the smallest standard diameter that clears it at 50 ft. Extras: a 100-ft 5/8-in hose holds 2.00× a 50-ft one; 3/4-in holds 1.44× the water of 5/8-in at the same length; 1-in holds 4.00× the water of 1/2-in. Flows are typical values at 40 PSI and 50 ft and vary with pressure, length, and fittings. This is not a pressure-loss engineering chart or an irrigation-design chart.
Bright Side Kit. "Garden Hose Size Chart: Diameter, Flow & Length Guide." https://brightoolbox.com/garden-hose-size-chart/ Accessed October 25, 2026.Frequently asked questions
What size garden hose should I buy?
5/8 in, for most gardens. A 5/8 in hose flows 17 GPM at 50 ft and fills a 5-gal bucket in 17.65 s, and it is the most common size. Buy a 1/2 in hose only for pots and light watering, and a 3/4 in hose for large gardens and sprinklers.
How much water does a 50 ft garden hose hold?
0.80 gal for a 5/8 in hose. A 1/2 in hose holds 0.51 gal, a 3/4 in hose holds 1.15 gal, and a 1 in hose holds 2.04 gal in 50 ft. A 100-ft 5/8 in hose holds 1.59 gal — twice the 50-ft hose.
How fast does a garden hose fill a 5-gallon bucket?
17.65 s for a 5/8 in hose at 50 ft. A 1/2 in hose takes 33.33 s, a 3/4 in hose takes 13.04 s, and a 1 in hose takes 10.00 s. A 100-ft 5/8 in hose takes 24.96 s, because a longer hose flows slower.
What is the flow rate of a 5/8 garden hose?
17 GPM at 50 ft. That is 64.35 L/min. At 100 ft the same hose flows 12.02 GPM, and at 25 ft it flows 24.04 GPM — the flow falls as the hose gets longer.
How long a hose holds exactly 1 gallon of water?
98.04 ft of 1/2-in, 62.75 ft of 5/8-in, 43.57 ft of 3/4-in, or 24.51 ft of 1-in hose. The wider the hose, the shorter the length that holds a gallon.
Does a longer hose slow the flow?
Yes. A 5/8 in hose flows 24.04 GPM at 25 ft, 17.00 GPM at 50 ft, and 12.02 GPM at 100 ft. The flow follows the square root of 50 divided by the length.
Is a 3/4 inch hose better than a 5/8 inch hose?
For big jobs, yes. A 3/4 in hose flows 23 GPM against 17 GPM for the 5/8 in hose at 50 ft, and it holds 1.44× the water at the same length. For pots and light watering, the 1/2 in hose at 9 GPM is enough.
Does this chart cover pressure loss or irrigation design?
No. This is a size chart only — it is not a pressure-loss engineering chart, and it is not an irrigation-design chart. The flows are typical values at 40 PSI and 50 ft, and they vary with pressure, length, and fittings.