5/8 vs 3/4 Hose: Which Garden Hose Size Should You Buy?
Choose a 5/8-inch hose for everyday watering, car washing and runs up to about 50 feet. Choose a 3/4-inch hose when you run 75 to 100 feet or more, or when you need as much water as possible at the far end, such as filling a pool or feeding a pressure washer. Both screw onto the same outdoor spigot, so the decision is about flow, weight and price, not compatibility.
TL;DR
- A 3/4-inch hose moves noticeably more water over long runs. In one university extension comparison, a 100-foot 5/8-inch hose delivered about 11 GPM at 40 PSI, against 18 to 19 GPM for 3/4-inch.
- Both sizes use the same 3/4-inch garden hose thread, so neither needs a special faucet or adapter.
- 5/8-inch is lighter, cheaper and easier to coil. For most yards it is plenty.
- Mixing sizes? Put the larger hose at the spigot.
- Check your pressure washer manual before you buy. Some require more flow than a long 5/8-inch run can give.
Table of Contents
- What the numbers actually mean
- Flow: where 3/4-inch earns its keep
- Side by side
- The fitting myth: both sizes use the same thread
- Which size fits your yard
- Mixing sizes and getting the most from either hose
- Our perspective
- Shop garden hoses at PriceLows™
- FAQ
- Sources
What the numbers actually mean
Hose sizes describe the inside diameter of the tube, not the fitting. A 5/8-inch hose has a bore of five eighths of an inch. A 3/4-inch hose has a bore of six eighths. That sounds small, but the cross-section area grows with the square of the diameter, so the wider hose has roughly 44 percent more open area for water to move through.
More room means less friction. Friction is what steals pressure and flow as water travels down the hose, and the longer the hose, the more you lose.
Flow: where 3/4-inch earns its keep
Iowa State University Extension’s hose guidance puts it plainly. With standard household pressure of about 40 PSI, a 100-foot 5/8-inch hose delivers around 11 GPM, while a 100-foot 3/4-inch hose holds 18 to 19 GPM.
That gap is the whole story for long runs. On a short hose, friction loss is small and the two sizes feel similar. Stretch to 100 feet and the 5/8-inch hose is giving up a large share of the water your spigot could provide.
Two caveats keep expectations honest:
- Your spigot sets the ceiling. A bigger hose cannot create water pressure your home does not have. If your flow is weak at the tap itself, the problem is upstream. This guide to diagnosing low water pressure is written for New Zealand homes and uses kPa, but its checklist of causes (partly closed valves, clogged aerators, pipe problems) applies to any house.
- Nozzles restrict flow. A spray nozzle or sprinkler cuts the flow well below open-end numbers. Washington State University’s garden hose flow calculator assumes a free-flowing hose end, so treat its results as a maximum.
For context on everyday use, University of Georgia researchers noted that a typical garden hose without an end nozzle runs about 5 to 10 gallons per minute. Washing a car for 20 minutes with a wide-open hose can use 100 to 200 gallons, so a shut-off nozzle saves more water than any change in hose size.
Side by side
| 5/8-inch hose | 3/4-inch hose | |
|---|---|---|
| Flow at 40 PSI, 100 ft | About 11 GPM | About 18 to 19 GPM |
| Best for | Watering, car washing, general cleanup, runs under 50 ft | Long runs, pools, high-volume sprinklers, pressure washer supply |
| Weight and handling | Lighter, easier to coil and drag | Heavier and stiffer when full |
| Price | Generally lower | Generally higher |
| Spigot and fittings | Standard 3/4-inch GHT | Standard 3/4-inch GHT |
The flow figures come from the Iowa State source above. The weight, handling and price rows are general tendencies: the wider hose uses more material, so it costs more and weighs more, but exact numbers vary by brand and construction.
The fitting myth: both sizes use the same thread
The most common confusion is that a 3/4-inch hose needs a bigger faucet. It does not. Garden hose thread, formally called NH (National Hose) under ASME B1.20.7, has effectively one nominal size, 3/4-inch, and that is what both hose sizes use. Your existing spigot, nozzles, sprayers and sprinklers will screw on either way.
Where you can run into trouble is pipe thread. Garden hose thread is straight, not tapered, and does not mate with NPT pipe fittings without an adapter. If you are sorting out couplers, repair ends or adapters, our guide to hose fitting sizes for DIYers walks through the three garden sizes and how they differ from hydraulic fittings.
Which size fits your yard
Short runs and small yards
If the spigot is within 25 to 50 feet of everything you water, 5/8-inch is the sensible pick. You get enough flow, a lighter hose, and a lower price. It is also easier to drain and store, which matters in cold climates where a hose left full can freeze.
Long runs and big properties
At 75 to 100 feet, flow loss starts to bite. A 3/4-inch hose keeps pressure up at the end, so sprinklers throw farther and buckets or kiddie pools fill faster. Iowa State notes that hoses are normally sold in 25, 50, 75 and 100 foot lengths, and that shorter hoses cost more per foot but are easier to handle. A good compromise is the shortest hose that actually reaches.
Pools and patios
Filling a pool or topping off a spa is a volume job. The larger bore saves real time on a long run. For rinsing patio furniture or watering planters, you will not notice a difference.
Pressure washers
This is where the manual outranks opinion. Many pressure washers specify a minimum water supply. The Milwaukee 4555-22 manual, for example, calls for at least 8 GPM and 30 PSI from a clean source. A 5/8-inch hose can meet that on a shorter run, but if your spigot is more than about 100 feet from the machine, a 3/4-inch supply hose helps compensate for friction. Read your own unit’s requirements first. Our post on matching PSI to the job explains why accessories often beat a bigger machine.
Mixing sizes and getting the most from either hose
If you join two hoses, put the larger one at the faucet. Iowa State’s advice is to connect your largest diameter hose closest to the water source, so you maintain flow down the whole run.
A few habits that help either size:
- Uncoil the hose fully before use. Kinks and tight loops add resistance.
- Open the spigot all the way. A half-open valve throttles flow before it reaches the hose.
- Replace cracked washers in the couplings. A leak at the connection wastes pressure.
- Use the shortest length that does the job.
- Drain and store the hose out of direct sun and away from freezing temperatures.
Our perspective
At PriceLows™ we sell home, yard and garage products to families who watch every dollar, and we hear the same question again and again: do I pay more for the bigger hose? Our honest answer is that most households should not. If your spigot is close to the garden, a 5/8-inch hose does the job, weighs less, and leaves money for the things that stretch your budget further, like a good nozzle, a spreader or drip irrigation.
The upgrade makes sense for specific jobs: long distances, pool filling, and feeding equipment that needs steady volume. Before you spend, measure the distance from the spigot to the farthest point you water, check what your tools require, and buy for that run, not for the biggest number on a package. Our budget yard tool buying guide takes the same approach to the rest of your yard kit.
— Thane Holland
Shop garden hoses at PriceLows™
If you want a hose that is easy to carry and store, take a look at our expandable garden hose with metal joints, offered in 25 ft and 50 ft lengths and suited to car washing. Most orders ship free, and our 100% Shipping Protection plan covers your purchase in transit. Browse the full range of yard, pool and garage products at PriceLows™.
FAQ
Does a 3/4-inch hose fit a regular faucet?
Yes. Both 5/8-inch and 3/4-inch hoses use the same 3/4-inch garden hose thread, the standard on North American outdoor spigots. You do not need an adapter, and your nozzles and sprayers will fit either hose.
Is a 3/4-inch hose worth it for a 50-foot run?
Usually not. Friction loss grows with length, and the big gap shows at around 100 feet. At 50 feet, a 5/8-inch hose typically delivers enough water for watering and washing, and it is lighter to handle.
Will a bigger hose raise my water pressure?
No. A wider hose reduces the pressure and flow you lose along the way, but it cannot add pressure beyond what your home supplies. If flow is weak at the spigot itself, look at your plumbing, not your hose.
Which hose size is best for a pressure washer?
Follow the manufacturer’s manual. Many units need a minimum flow, such as 8 GPM, and a 5/8-inch hose can meet it on short runs. For supply runs beyond roughly 100 feet, a 3/4-inch hose is the safer choice.
Sources
- Hose Care, Iowa State University Extension
- Garden Hose Thread (GHT) Size Guide, Apex Flow Solutions
- Connecting the High Pressure Hose to the Pump, Milwaukee 4555-22 manual
- Garden Hose Flow and Time Calculator, Washington State University
- Professional car washes use less water, University of Georgia CAES Field Report