Our choice
Melnor XT4200M
The metal bottom Melnor XT4200M is a more reliable and easy to use oscillating sprinkler than its competitors.
Purchase options
* At the time of publication, the price was $ 30.
The Melnor XT4200M provides consistent, even coverage of square or rectangular lots up to approximately 4,000 square feet. Its controls were some of the easiest to adapt to the shape of the lawn, and its metal base made it sturdier and more stable than its plastic competitors. And it doesn’t require a hose adapter or other add-ons (like our also great pick), making it one of the easiest models to use. The longevity marks out the better sprinklers, and the solid build and positive reviews from owners of the XT4200M suggest it can maintain your lawn for at least a few seasons. If something goes wrong, it’s backed by Melnor’s limited lifetime warranty.
runner up
Melnor XT4200
This all-plastic version of our pick saves a few dollars in exchange for less stability and durability. Our pick is better value for money, but if it’s not available this model is a good replacement.
Purchase options
* At the time of publication, the price was $ 20.
The Melnor XT4200 is almost identical to our top pick, except for a plastic base which is less stable than the metal base of our top pick. This model produced a slightly longer maximum spray distance in our tests, and although we saw more wind drift on the XT4200 than the metal-based XT4200M, the similar controls, water flow, and spray length helped us compensate slightly. If you can’t find the XT4200M or prefer to pay a little less, the XT4200 is a good choice, but we don’t expect its all-plastic construction to last as long as our top picks.
Also great
Gardena oscillating sprinkler ZoomMaxx
This compact and effective sprinkler has more flexible coverage patterns than our pick, but is not as simple or affordable and offers more customization options than the average garden needs.
Purchase options
* At the time of publication, the price was $ 56.
The Gardena swing sprinkler ZoomMaxx is our former top pick for this guide. While it offers the most customizable spray pattern of any sprinkler we tested, it only covers about half the area of our top pick – up to about 2,300 square feet. But if you have an irregularly shaped garden, it could be worth the extra money. Its controls are easy to use, and two rows of nozzles ensure even coverage. However, it does require the use of a hose adapter (included) and has a surprising number of plastic parts.
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