The 7 Best Hose Nozzles of 2023, Tested & Reviewed

Jun 06, 2023

We tested 28 hose nozzles to find the best for every gardening task.

Rachel covers all aspects of the home space and tests products to find the best for consumers. When she's not writing, you can find her streaming, hiking, and decorating.

Quinn Gawronski is the Associate Commerce Editor for Real Simple.

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Real Simple / Rachel Marek

Hose nozzles are an essential tool for yard work, whether you are tending to your garden or ridding your patio of dirt or debris. With a hose nozzle, you can control the water pressure with the touch of your hand, instead of having to walk back and forth from your spigot to do so. You also have control over the spray setting, so you can transition from watering your plants to washing your car quickly and easily.

"Using an adjustable spray nozzle will offer you options to regulate your water pressure needs, from days when you need to wash your muddy pup to mornings when you need [to give your seedlings] a gentle wake-up spray," says Allison Vallin Kostovick, an organic gardening expert with more than 25 years of experience and owner of gardening education website Finch + Folly.

We tested 28 hose nozzles, assessing each on their ease of use, features, effectiveness, durability, and value. Our top picks include nozzles for gardening, car washing, and more.

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The spray settings are clearly spelled out right on the nozzle, and there's a convenient on/off valve at the top.

It can dribble and leak over time.

This versatile hose nozzle can switch between a variety of power settings with ease. Its nine spray settings allow you to do everything from gently watering your plants to washing your car with just a turn of the nozzle. Unlike other hose nozzles, the names of the nine spray settings are written out right on the nozzle, so you can find the exact spray you are looking for right away. We found that each setting performed exactly as listed and that the highest spray setting was powerful enough to easily remove mud from an Adirondack chair.

During our cement drop tests, this hose nozzle was not damaged, which is likely due to its durable metal exterior. The handle is outfitted with indentations for your fingers for comfort, and there's a valve at the top of the nozzle that turns the product on and off. Although this is a pricier hose nozzle, we found this Dramm model to have an impressive value for its versatility and effectiveness.

Price at time of publish: $22

Spray Settings: 9 | Water Pressure: 20-90 psi | Materials: Zinc and rubber

Real Simple / Rachel Marek

Amazon

It's made entirely of metal, so it's sturdy, and the nozzle produces a powerful stream.

Gripping the hose nozzle for prolonged periods of time may cause discomfort for some.

If you’re looking for a simple, no-frills hose nozzle that won't cost you very much, consider this Gilmour model. The Gilmour Metal Front Threaded Hose Nozzle is entirely made of metal, so it’ll be able to withstand rain or shine during all four seasons. Not only that, but it withstood our 4-foot tall drop test with no damages.

The amount of power you get from the nozzle is all dependent on your grip. The harder the grip, the more powerful the water flow. We found that this nozzle produced a powerful stream, making it particularly good for cleaning just about anything. On its highest spray setting, it sprayed upwards of 32 feet.

Having to grip a hose nozzle for prolonged periods of time may cause discomfort for some. If you tire easily from laborious tasks that involve your hands, you’ll want to choose a different hose nozzle with additional features for comfort. This nozzle may also not work for people who are planning on using their nozzle to water plants. Unless you are watering trees or shrubs, the power of the spray may be too harsh for outdoor plants, including flowers.

Price at time of publish: $7

Spray Settings: 1 | Water Pressure: 60 psi | Material: Metal

Real Simple / Dera Burreson

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The lower settings are gentle enough to water delicate plants, and the ergonomic rubber handle is comfortable to use.

The high-powered watering settings aren't quite strong enough to adequately hose down a patio.

This super popular hose nozzle performed well across a variety of our testing categories, including effectiveness, durability, value, and more. We loved that this hose nozzle comes with ten spray settings, ranging from shower to jet and even mist, the latter of which is great for watering sensitive plants, such as seedlings. We also found the hose nozzle comfortable to use, which can be attributed to the ergonomic rubber handle and the fact that you can turn this nozzle on and off with one hand.

The Innav8 Water Hose Nozzle Sprayer is primarily made of metal and rubber, two materials that will certainly stand the test of time. During our drop tests, the rubber protected the hose from being damaged. This nozzle sprayer can spray up to 28 feet and comes with a 12-year warranty. Although we were overall very pleased with this product, we wished that the high-powered watering settings were strong enough to adequately hose down a patio.

Price at time of publish: $25

Spray Settings: 10 | Water Pressure: Not listed | Material: Metal and rubber

Real Simple / Dera Burreson

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You can easily adjust the water pressure with a lever located at the base of the hose nozzle.

The hole diameter is too large for effectively spot-cleaning tight areas like crevices between pavers.

Fireman spray nozzles are just what they sound like: a large hose nozzle capable of producing powerful streams that can clean up big messes. And this spray is powerful, able to reach 250 psi (pounds per square inch). That's pretty significant considering the force that water moves through our home pipes typically measures between 30 to 80 psi. During our testing, we discovered that this nozzle was capable of spraying up to 32 feet at its highest spray setting.

Despite its force, we were still able to control the Gilmour Professional Classic Fireman's Nozzle. You can adjust the water pressure with the lever located at the base of the hose nozzle, a feature we found convenient and easy to use throughout our testing. We were also keen on how durable this nozzle was and noted that the rubber around the spray head and the zinc metal body helped it remain damage-free after our drop test. Due to the type of spray head, and the increased water pressure, this hose nozzle isn't suitable for people who want to water delicate plants.

Price at time of publish: $29

Spray Settings: 1 | Water Pressure: 250 psi | Material: Zinc and rubber

Real Simple / Dera Burreson

Amazon

The good grip and easy on/off lever are great for people with arthritis or limited hand mobility.

The hose turns along with the nozzle, so it's challenging to keep the hose from twisting awkwardly.

People who have a lot of hanging plants around their homes, or really any plants that require extra effort to reach, will benefit from this watering wand. On its highest and strongest setting this wand is able to spray up to 27 feet, giving you plenty of space to adequately water your plants from a distance. The Relaxed Gardener Watering Wand has eight spray settings that are clearly marked on the end of the nozzle, including low flow sprays for delicate plants and a powerful spray that's good for cleaning. We were particularly pleased that we were able to get stains out of dirty chairs with this hose nozzle, which we were unable to do with other hose nozzles.

During our testing, we found that this nozzle boasted a good grip and an easy on and off lever that could be beneficial for people with arthritis or limited hand mobility. Although it had plenty of perks, there were a couple drawbacks to using this hose nozzle. The first is that it did scuff after our drop test, which is probably due to the primarily plastic exterior. Second, as you turn the nozzle to water, the hose also turns with it. We had to constantly adjust the rest of the hose to keep the hose from twisting awkwardly. Still, paired with the right garden hose, your yard will be flourishing in no time.

Price at time of publish: $27

Spray Settings: 8 | Water Pressure: Not listed | Material: Plastic and aluminum

Real Simple / Dera Burreson

Amazon

The sleek and effective design produces a powerful spray, and the brass ensures that it won't rust or corrode over time.

The spray settings aren't marked on the nozzle.

This brass hose nozzle boasts a sleek and effective design that stood out in our testing for its durability and power. Unlike many other hose nozzles we tested, this model is made up of 100 percent brass, so it won't rust or corrode over time. The brass easily survived our drop test—not only did it not show any signs of damage, but dropping it didn't change the performance of the nozzle whatsoever. In fact, we were able to clean mud off of chairs in just seconds using the power wash setting.

In addition to the power wash, you have two other spray settings to choose from, including a fan and cone spray. However, unlike some other hose nozzles we tested, the spray setting isn't marked on the nozzle. You have to turn the spray nozzle to adjust the settings, which took some experimentation to figure out. Those with sensitive plants may want to choose a different hose nozzle that has less of an intense spray.

Price at time of publish: $31

Spray Settings: 3 | Water Pressure: Not listed | Material: Brass

Real Simple / Dera Burreson

Amazon

You can easily switch from one setting to the next, making it highly functional for a variety of tasks.

The auto-lock function can be difficult to engage and disengage.

No need to shell out money at the car wash when you can achieve a shining clean from home with the help of a powerful hose nozzle, like the Melnor Metal Rear Trigger Nozzle. During our testing, it quickly cleaned dirt off of a chair on multiple settings, could spray at a distance of 17.5 feet, and felt powerful at a close range, making it well-suited to tackle mud, dust, or dirt on your car.

In addition to its powerful settings, it also has a mister, soaker, and shower setting that are gentle enough for gardening or playing with kids. Each of the seven settings is clearly labeled, which makes it easy to use. While this nozzle sustained some slight scuffs during our drop test, it wasn't damaged enough to compromise its effectiveness or long-term durability. For those who want a versatile hose nozzle that can do everything from washing a car to misting delicate flowers, this is a great option.

Price at time of publish: $33

Spray Settings: 7 | Water Pressure: Not listed | Materials: Metal

Real Simple / Rachel Marek

Overall, we recommend the Dramm One Touch Revolution Spray Gun for its range of spray settings, which can do everything from gently watering plants to completely washing mud off of Adirondack chairs. It also boasts a comfortable handle, an easy on and off switch, and impressive durability, as it continued to perform quite well even after dropping it onto concrete.

We tested 28 hose nozzles in our Lab and assessed them based on ease of use, range of features, effectiveness, durability, and value. Our first test involved seeing how easy it was to thread the nozzle onto our hose. After we got it securely on, we tested out the spray settings by adjusting the nozzle to each spray setting to ensure that the correct spray came out of the hose nozzle. We also noted if that spray pattern was normal and steady or spotty and erratic. We then tested the hose at close range, assessing the water pressure from its lowest to highest setting based on its ability to get dirt off a dirty Adirondack chair.

We then wanted to see how far each hose could spray on its highest setting by measuring the distance with a tape measure. Finally, we wanted to see how durable the hose nozzle was against drops. We dropped the hose nozzle four feet onto a concrete surface and assessed the damage and whether or not its performance was affected after that. We collected all of this data and used it to come up with the best hose nozzles.

Metal and rubber are the best materials for hose nozzles, as they can survive outside during inclement weather. Many metals are rust-resistant and won't corrode overtime. Meanwhile, rubber is water-resistant and comfortable on the hands.

"If you’re looking to buy a nozzle you’ll probably never need to replace, then look for one made out of brass," says Allison Vallin Kostovick, an organic gardening expert and owner of gardening education website Finch + Folly. "While expensive, and albeit a bit heavy, a brass nozzle will last forever and resists rust." The Dramm Adjustable Brass Hose Nozzle is the only brass nozzle on our list.

Plastic is a solid option too; however, it isn't as strong as metal. "Plastic nozzles are easy on the wallet and the lightest of materials to hold," says Kostovick. "While they won't rust, they will crack over time." This is because plastic does not do well when exposed to direct sunlight, as it can lead to cracking. If a hose nozzle is made of plastic, make sure there's a mix of other more durable materials as well, such as metal.

"The other key thing to look for in a nozzle is the hand grip," says Kostovick. "Plastic nozzles are much lighter to hold for longer periods in time than heavier brass nozzles. One key item I look for is the ability to lock down the nozzle so it can continue to spray without me having to grip the handle closed the whole time."

The most comfortable hose nozzles are those that have a handle that is ergonomically designed. This includes padding, preferably rubber, and indentations for your fingers. Others also offer a simple on and off button or lever to power the hose nozzle. If your hands tend to tire out easily, avoid pistol hose nozzles, which require you to hold down the handle while spraying to ensure that the hose stays on.

The number of spray settings you need are all dependent on your watering needs. "For tasks like washing your car or cleaning off decks and outdoor furnishings, then look for a nozzle that can handle a high water pressure that’ll give you a strong enough spray to remove dirt," says Kostovick. "If you plan on using this nozzle mainly in the garden, then look for a nozzle that offers an adjustable spray stream, [including] settings for delicate misting of young plants, a shower-like spray for day-to-day garden watering, and a stronger stream for shrubs and more."

If you are looking to use your hose nozzle purely for cleaning, then you don't need to get something with multiple spray settings. A traditional spray will suffice. However, if you are watering plants of any kind, you’ll need something with spray settings that include a rainfall spray setting. This is because traditional, singular sprays are too powerful for many plants, except trees and shrubbery.

Automan Garden Hose Nozzle: This low-cost garden hose nozzle offers many of the same features as its pricier counterparts, including several spray settings that are clearly marked, a comfortable ergonomic handle, and an option to lock your spray in place (so you don't have to apply pressure with your hand). However, it didn't have as far of a reach as other nozzles we tested.

Orbit 10-Pattern Nozzle Set: Although this set offers an incredible value (you get three nozzles for the price of one), we found that with its spray settings and varying performances, getting all three may not be necessary for everyone.

This depends on the materials and how often you will use it. Metal lasts longer than plastic, as it holds up well regardless of whether it's raining, snowing, or super sunny outside. Plastic, on the other hand, wears down when exposed to direct sunlight.

Use also matters. If you are using your hose weekly, you can expect to replace it faster than if you used it once or twice a month, or even during certain seasons out of the year. Replace your hose if the water flow isn't what it used to be, or if there is sudden leaking out of the sides of the attachment.

It's a very affordable tool that helps a lot with yard work. Without a nozzle attached to your hose, you have to walk back to your spigot every time to turn the water on and off, as well as to adjust the water pressure. That can get tiring, especially while working outside during the summer.

A hose nozzle also makes watering plants easier. A lot of plants benefit from a rainfall spray instead of a traditional spray. Most hose nozzles have this rainfall spray, so by attaching this to your hose, it saves you potentially multiple trips of refilling your watering can.

While there is no definitive winner when it comes to the type of hose nozzle, we recommend a pistol nozzle or dial nozzle, which often feature multiple settings that provide versatility for many tasks. For those who need to water or spray in hard to reach areas, a water wand is best—this type has an elongated neck that allows you to extend overhead. If you don't want or need a variety of settings we recommend a traditional hose nozzle, which can be more durable but doesn't offer any bonus features.

This article was written by Rachel Center, a product reviews home writer for Real Simple. Additional reporting was done by Quinn Gawronski, associate editor at Real Simple. We researched the best hose nozzles and tested 28 of the most popular options in our Lab, evaluating them on ease of use, features, effectiveness, durability, and value. We also spoke with Allison Vallin Kostovick, an organic gardening expert with more than 25 years of experience and owner of gardening education website Finch + Folly.

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