What Is the Average Cost of Lawn Sprinkler Systems?

Manifold

• The manifold is the heart of the sprinkler system. The manifold is where a series of valves are installed on a main pipe. The electric timer sends a signal to these valves to operate individual zones. You can purchase a premade manifold, or build your own out of PVC parts. The cost of a premade three-zone manifold is about $55. Add an additional $20 or so for each additional zone. If you make your own manifold, the cost of PVC parts is about $25, while each valve costs about $12. Overall, it is usually more affordable to build your own manifold.

Pressure Vacuum Breaker

• The most expensive part of any sprinkler system is the pressure vacuum breaker. This is a safety device that prevents irrigation water from entering back into the main line. Because most breakers are made out of brass, they cost about $100 each. You need one breaker for every manifold that you intend to install. Watts, for example, manufactures a 1-inch breaker with a retail price of about $92 as of 2011.

Pipes and Fittings

• Most sprinkler systems are laid out using inexpensive PVC pipes. A 10-foot section of pipe costs less than $2 at most home-improvement stores. Estimate the length of pipe that you will need, divide the total length by 10 and multiply by $2 for a close estimate of how much the pipe will cost. You will also need PVC fittings to connect the pipes together. Most couplers and T-fittings cost about $1. You can estimate the number of fittings you will need by drawing the pipe configuration on a piece of paper. For every 10 feet, you will need at least one fitting.

Sprinkler Heads

• You will need to install sprinkler heads about every 6 to 10 feet along your lawn. There is a wide array of sprinkler-head types available, with varying costs. The most common type of sprinkler is a pop-up model, which sells for between $3 and $10. You can also purchase metal sprinkler heads, which are more durable but cost a few dollars more. There also are rotating sprinkler heads for bushes, or impact heads for large areas. In general, you should expect to pay about $5 per sprinkler head.

Timers

• You will need to purchase an electric timer if you want your sprinklers to run automatically. A wide variety of timers are available, at many different price points. Rain Bird, for example, manufactures digital timers that cost about $50. Orbit manufactures timers that range from $20 to $100, depending on the number of zones on your system. In general, you should expect to pay at least $40 for a timer.