Use this sprinkler zone planner to organize an existing irrigation system, measure sprinkler output, calculate runtimes, and print a weekly controller cheat sheet. Start with one zone and add more as you walk your yard.
Not sure what each controller station waters? Follow our guide to mapping your sprinkler zones, with a three-zone example and tips for labeling heads, valve boxes, and problem spots before you build your plan.
1. Identify each zone. 2. Measure its output or enter a verified runtime. 3. Choose permitted days. 4. Print your plan.
This is a planning tool for existing systems, not an installation design, automatic weather service, or controller connection.
Clear all zone records, map items, and saved copies on this browser?
Zone data stays in this browser when you click Save. It is not synced between devices; clearing browser storage removes it. Print a copy before switching devices. Blank inputs are intentional.
Your sprinkler yard map
Reference sketch only — not to scale. Add areas and markers, then position them on the grid. Labels should match your controller zone numbers. No address or location lookup is required.
Select an item on the map or in the list to edit it. Set its horizontal and vertical position below and click Apply item changes, or choose “Place on map” and tap the desired location.
Numbers identify items in the legend. Markers use approximate positions only; no sprinkler coverage, pipe routes, pressure, or excavation clearance is calculated. Changing this sketch does not alter physical zones. Use Save on this browser above to keep both your zone records and map.
How to Identify Your Sprinkler Zones
At the controller, manually run one station at a time using its manufacturer instructions. Walk the yard and note which heads turn on. Record the controller number, area name, plant types, and any visible valve-box locations. Keep observations separate from assumptions: an area on your sketch does not necessarily correspond to a single valve. Do not open electrical equipment or excavate to identify a zone. Use a qualified irrigation professional for uncertain valves, wiring, leaks, or system changes.
Run a Catch-Cup Test Before Choosing Minutes
Place identical, straight-sided containers across a sprinkler zone, including near edges and areas that appear dry. Keep them upright and clear of plants that could block collection. Run that zone for a measured time, then measure the water depth in every cup in inches. Enter all results, including zeros, separated by commas. Repeat in calm conditions if wind affected the test. This is a simple homeowner screening test, not a professional irrigation audit.
What the Runtime Calculation Means
The measured application rate is average cup depth × 60 ÷ test minutes. Weekly runtime is the net irrigation target ÷ application rate × 60. The tool divides that runtime equally among your selected days. For example, an average depth of 0.25 inches after 15 minutes gives 1 inch per hour. A hypothetical net target of 0.5 inches would require 30 minutes for the week, or 15 minutes on each of two selected days. This is a math example, not a watering recommendation.
Choose a Target for Your Yard
Obtain a watering target appropriate to your plants, season, soil, and location from your water provider or local extension service. The target entered here is irrigation still needed after effective rainfall—not total rainfall simply subtracted without considering runoff and soil conditions. The tool does not check drought restrictions, permitted hours, weather, or current soil moisture. A zero target produces an Off schedule. Drip zones use the manual-runtime option because lawn catch-cup calculations are not suitable for them.
Cycle and Soak Without Guessing
If water starts running off before the desired depth is applied, observe how long the zone can run before runoff begins and choose a shorter maximum cycle. Enter a site-appropriate soak break. The planner splits the daily runtime into equal cycles and shows the break required between them. It does not generate start times or coordinate cycles across zones. Check your controller instructions carefully: on some controllers, additional program start times repeat the entire program, not just one zone.
A Dry Spot Does Not Always Need More Water
Uneven cup readings, a blocked head, or a wet patch beside dry grass warrants inspection before increasing every runtime. The tool flags particularly uneven readings as a screening prompt; it does not diagnose turf disease, pressure, or underground leaks. Review mixed plant needs or sprinkler types with an irrigation professional. Renaming a zone or changing this worksheet does not physically separate areas connected to the same valve. For a worked catch-cup example and next-step checks, read our guide to uneven sprinkler watering, brown patches, and soggy spots.
Keep a Simple Sprinkler Maintenance Record
Use the location and maintenance notes to document visible head locations, damaged nozzles, overspray, blocked coverage, or items to discuss at a service visit. Save the plan in your browser and print a clean landscape copy for the controller area. Revisit the plan when seasons change, after repairs, and when watering restrictions change. Budget for confirmed repairs using the Home Project Budget Planner, and compare household spending with the Family Budget Calculator.
Sources and Planning Limits
The EPA WaterSense watering guidance explains measuring sprinkler output, accounting for landscape differences, adjusting schedules, and using cycle-and-soak where appropriate. This worksheet helps organize those decisions; it does not replace local guidance, a professional system audit, hydraulic design, backflow requirements, or manufacturer instructions. The yard sketch records approximate positions only; it is not a surveyed map or an installation design.