Irrigation Runtime Calculator
Estimate irrigation water volume, total weekly runtime, runtime per zone and watering event, seasonal use and water cost.
Default project preview
17.3 minutes
Weekly water volume
2,494 gal
Total weekly runtime
208 min
Water per event
831 gal
Seasonal water use
64,831 gal
Calculator
Build the material order
Your order will appear here
Enter the project details and calculate a rounded material estimate.
Methodology
Transparent calculation
BuildMeter converts every input to a consistent internal unit, applies the selected allowance, and rounds products up to whole purchasable units.
Weekly water volume = area × target depth ÷ application efficiency. Total runtime = weekly volume ÷ active-zone flow. Runtime per zone per event divides by equal zones and watering days.
FAQ
Irrigation Runtime Calculator questions
Why divide by irrigation efficiency?+
Not all applied water reaches the root zone because of wind, evaporation, overspray and uneven distribution.
Should all zones use the same runtime?+
Only if zones have similar area, precipitation rate, plants, soil and exposure. Real systems often need different schedules.
What is cycle and soak?+
It splits a long runtime into shorter cycles so water can infiltrate instead of running off.