Pump & Irrigation Flow Rate Calculator
Size your pump, calculate total dynamic head, and check emitter and tubing flow rates for drip and hydro systems.
Used only when Custom is selected.
Typically 2 to 5 min for coco and rockwool.
Vertical lift from water surface to the highest emitter.
Get this from the Emitter Flow tab.
About 5 to 10 ft per elbow, 15 ft per ball valve.
Total system flow0GPH0.00 GPM
- Volume per cycle
- 0.0 gal
- Reservoir lasts (continuous flow)
- 0.0 hours
- Cycles per reservoir
- 0
- Minimum pump (25% headroom)
- 0 GPH
Pump must deliver at least0.0ft TDHat 0 GPH (0.0 PSI)
- Static head
- 0.0 ft
- Friction loss
- 0.00 ft
- Base TDH
- 0.0 ft (0.0 PSI)
Find a pump whose performance curve shows your required GPH at or above this head.
Flow velocity0.00ft/s
- Friction loss
- 0.00 ft head
- Loss in PSI
- 0.00 PSI
- Loss per 100 ft
- 0.00 ft
Formulas and reference
Total GPH = plants × emitters per plant × GPH per emitter. TDH = static head + friction loss (Hazen-Williams, US units: loss per 100 ft = 0.2083 × (100 ÷ C)^1.852 × GPM^1.852 ÷ ID^4.8655, ID in inches). 1 ft of head = 0.433 PSI. Velocity (ft/s) = 0.4085 × GPM ÷ ID². Pump sizing uses C = 140.
| Tubing ID | Max recommended flow | Best use |
|---|---|---|
| 1/4 in | 15 GPH | Individual emitters, micro jets |
| 1/2 in | 120 GPH (2 GPM) | Main drip lines, small systems |
| 3/4 in | 360 GPH (6 GPM) | Supply headers, medium rooms |
| 1 in | 600 GPH (10 GPM) | Main lines, large systems |