How To Measure Your Garden Hose Diameter

If you want to water your garden effectively, that typically means you need to invest in a garden hose. If you are buying a new one, you want to be sure you get one that works just like the old one.

But if you have lost your instruction manual or have an older hose, you’ve lost your way of having that info quickly at hand. So if you want to learn how to measure your garden hose diameter, check out these instructions:

First, know that standard sizes for garden hoses are typically about 3/4, 5/8, or 1/2 inch wide. By purchasing various dowels of this diameter, you can shove them in to see if they fit snuggly.

You can also measure your hose’s outside diameter. If that hose’s exterior width is more than an inch, you likely have a 3/4 inch hose. 

In the rest of this article, we will provide you with a secondary method for measuring your garden hose if you want to be extra careful.

We will also let you know the common differences and uses of hoses at different diameters. 

A Step-By-Step Process of Measuring the Diameter Inside of Your Garden Hose

Surprisingly enough, you can measure the inside of your garden hose using a thick piece of paper or index card. Let’s get into those step-by-step instructions:

Step One: Roll Your Paper Into a Tube

Thicker paper (like construction paper or an index card) is the preferred method of measuring a garden hose inside because it won’t falter when touching the water. When you roll it into a tube, try and get it just underneath the assumed wideness of the garden hose. 

Shove the paper tube in, making sure that it is halfway out. You need to be sure that you have something for gripping. If it falls into the hose, have a pair of tweezers ready for use. 

Step Three: Tape the Tube 

Once the tube has expanded out to fill the hose’s entirety, tape it so that the tube stays at the hose’s diameter. Next, pull the tube out of the hose and add more to be sure you can hold it down. 

You don’t have to pull the tube out entirely to measure it will a ruler. Once you receive the internal measurement, you can pull the tube out and set it aside. Be sure to write down the size with a ruler.

Please don’t throw out the paper quite yet, as you can take it with you to the store to compare its size to various garden hoses. You can try and shove the paper tube into other garden hoses to test it out. 

Why Do I Need to Worry About The Diameter of the Hose?

Think back to when you initially bought your garden hose. Typically, most people grab the first garden hose they find without thinking much about what they need. Their primary focus is the hose length. 

That’s understandable, as the length of a garden hose determines how far it can reach in your yard.

However, if you were unlucky to pick one of the uncommon diameters (5/8 inches), you likely had to return to find a hose fitting that was better for your sprinkler or other watering systems. 

Garden hose diameter also affects the water pressure coming out of your hose. Smaller garden hose sizes will increase your water flow. Your 1/2 inch option will increase the flow from any water source when compared to a 5/8 option. 

Do I Need To Worry About The Hose Threading?

Garden hose thread (GHT) is a technical term used in North America. In other parts of the world, it is National Hose (NH). You can identify GHT or NH by being among the three standard measurements:

• 1/2 inch
• 5/8
• 3/4

Their threading is also a stand 11 and 1/2 threads per inch. These thread sizes come in male hose threads (MHT) and female hose threads (FHT).

This standardization ensures that you do not have to worry about thread sizes when making a selection. 

You can also choose quick connection systems, which Hozelock popularized in the late 1950s. Whatever garden hose fitting you choose, standardization helps ensure you have the right now.

Final Thoughts 

When it comes to measuring the interior of your garden hoses, you’ve got three different options:

• Look at the owner’s manual
• Buy a series of curtain dowels
• Use the index card method from above

By being aware of this process, you will easily select a suitable garden hose for your existing gardening appliances.

This requires any types of hoses, including soaker hoses.  If you need any additional help with gardening, check out our suggestions for the best leaf grabbers.