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There are a plethora of uses for garden hoses. Watering plants, washing the car, irrigation, cleaning the driveway or porch, and countless other household tasks require a steady water supply.
Often, houses have only a single spigot to accommodate garden hoses, making it difficult to do more than one job simultaneously. Garden hose splitters solve that problem by directing water from a single spigot into two or more water channels. Simple to use, these products are available in many different options.
Our favorite of the bunch is the 2wayz 2-Way Heavy-Duty Garden Hose Splitter. We chose it as our best overall pick because of its durable construction, dual faucets with rubberized on/off switches, and versatile 360-degree rotation. However, finding the best garden hose splitter for your needs means knowing the pros and cons of the many splitters on the market. Read on for help in finding the best hose splitter for your needs.
- BEST OVERALL: 2wayz 2-Way Heavy-Duty Garden Hose Splitter
↓ Jump to Review - RUNNER-UP: IPow 2-Way Heavy-Duty Y-Valve Garden Hose Splitter
↓ Jump to Review - BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: DBR Tech 2-Way Heavy-Duty Hose Splitter
↓ Jump to Review - BEST HEAVY-DUTY: Morvat 2-Way Heavy-Duty Brass Garden Hose Splitter
↓ Jump to Review - BEST PLASTIC: Gilmour 800174-1002 Y-Valve Hose Connector
↓ Jump to Review - BEST COMMERCIAL: Twinkle Star Heavy-Duty Brass Garden Hose Splitter
↓ Jump to Review - BEST QUAD-CHANNEL: Solterra Garden Hose Manifold With Shutoffs
↓ Jump to Review - ALSO CONSIDER: Orbit Zinc 5-Way Shut-Off Valve Hose Manifold
↓ Jump to Review
How We Chose the Best Garden Hose Splitters
We took into consideration a few different factors when determining the best garden hose splitter. One of the most important was the size of the splitter.
Most hose fittings have a standard size of 11/16 inches, which allows them to be secured to standard garden hoses, though some options vary in size. The hose circumference should match the connector size when the diameter of the hose opening is measured.
We also considered the base material to find the best garden hose splitter. Most splitters are made from plastic and metal. While plastic splitters are light and durable, they do not provide the same longevity as metal splitters and can deform when exposed to hot water or high temperatures. Red metals, such as brass, bronze, and copper, are typically the strongest due to their low iron count, which ultimately leads to less corrosion.
Other factors we considered were cost, the number of hose channels the splitter had, and each one’s estimated longevity.
Our Top Picks
Finding the best garden hose splitter means identifying the proper construction material, spigot compatibility, and number of channels. Here are the top picks to help take some of the guesswork out of finding the right splitter for the job. The following are some of the best garden hose splitters on the market based on durability, size, and construction quality.
Best Overall
2wayz 2-Way Heavy-Duty Garden Hose Splitter
Product Specs
- Material: Zinc and aluminum alloy
- Faucets: 2
- Features: 2 shut-off valves and 360-degree rotation
What We Like
- Durable zinc and aluminum construction
- Comfortable rubber grip on the dual on/off switches
- 360-degree rotation; hose can be pulled in any direction
What We Don’t Like
- Plastic components can break with heavy-use
This hose splitter checks all the boxes when it comes to quality. Constructed primarily of zinc and aluminum alloy with some rubberized plastic parts, this dual-channel splitter is durable and easy to use. 2wayz fastens its parts with metal bolts that stand up to the challenges of high-volume, high-pressure spigots.
The on/off switches are coated with rubber and are 4 centimeters long, providing a comfortable grip and operation. The splitter rotates 360 degrees, so the hose stays clear when pulled in any direction. Rubber gaskets and threaded parts prevent leakage, and installation is tool-free and straightforward.
Get the 2Wayz garden hose splitter at Amazon or Walmart.
Runner-up
IPow 2-Way Heavy-Duty Y-Valve Garden Hose Splitter
Product Specs
- Material: Brass and thermoplastic rubber
- Faucets: 2
- Features: 6 rubber washers and 2 thermoplastic rubber on/off switches
What We Like
- Heavy-duty brass construction
- 2 thermoplastic rubber on/off switches
- Fits all standard faucets and garden hoses
- 6 rubber washers are included
What We Don’t Like
- Levers can be quite stiff to operate
This all-brass garden hose splitter from IPow attaches quickly to standard spigots and hoses. Wide on/off handles make regulating water flow easy and comfortable. IPow built these splitters for use in the garden as well as inside, and each unit comes with six rubber washers to create a seal that prevents leaks.
The handles are coated with a thermoplastic rubber that is easy to grip when adjusting the water flow. A threaded plastic collar secures to the spigot, and brass construction resists corrosion. This dual splitter from IPow represents an excellent combination of functionality and durability.
Get the IPow garden hose splitter at Amazon or Walmart.
Best Bang For The Buck
DBR Tech 2-Way Heavy-Duty Hose Splitter
Product Specs
- Material: Brass
- Faucets: 2
- Features: 2 silicone gaskets and Teflon tape
What We Like
- Strong rust-resistant brass construction
- Dual valves for independent manipulation of each channel
- Quick installation with a threaded female garden hose connector
What We Don’t Like
- Can be difficult to turn valves on and off
DBR earns the Best Bang for the Buck award with its dual-channel garden hose splitter. Constructed from corrosion-resistant brass, this inexpensive splitter will stand up to forces that could damage one built from plastic. It comes with a threaded female connector that prevents leaks.
Dual valves allow for independent manipulation of the channel. The dual-valve design also helps manage water flow, maintaining water pressure even when the operator is far from the spigot. DBR’s offering is compatible with ¾-inch hoses and even allows for the addition of another splitter in case more hoses are needed. If timed watering is essential, gardeners can easily attach a water hose timer.
Get the DBR Tech garden hose splitter at Amazon.
Best Heavy-duty
Morvat 2-Way Heavy-Duty Brass Garden Hose Splitter
Product Specs
- Material: Brass
- Faucets: 2
- Features: 2 rubber washers and thread seal tape
What We Like
- Durable brass construction
- 360-degree rotatable swivel connection
- 2 large easy-to-turn switches
- Made with ¾-inch U.S.-standard NH threading
What We Don’t Like
- Ball valve openings are smaller than average
Heavy brass construction guards against breakage and provides longevity for this heavy-duty splitter from Morvat that’s built to last. Operators can adjust brass levers to regulate the stream coming out of the hose, giving appropriate pressure levels for any task ranging from watering the flowers to washing the car.
The main tap secures tightly to any standard spigot, creating a reliable connection that prevents leakage. A high-quality interior ball valve blocks water when not in use. The handles on this dual splitter are easy to grip, and the unit installs easily without requiring tools.
Get the Morvat garden hose splitter at Amazon, The Home Depot, or Walmart.
Best Plastic
Gilmour 800174-1002 Y-Valve Hose Connector
Product Specs
- Material: Plastic
- Faucets: 2
- Features: 2 on/off switches
What We Like
- Plastic construction; no rust or corrosion
- Made with long legs to avoid hose-kinking
- Integrated poly shut-off valves
What We Don’t Like
- Not recommended for use with hot water
Corrosion can be devastating to metal hose splitters. Constant exposure to water creates rust that causes leaks and makes it difficult to move the splitter from one spigot to another. Eliminate these problems with this dual splitter from Gilmour.
Sturdy plastic construction and easy-to-use polymer cap handles and valves allow for independent control of streams. A twist collar makes installation painless and seals water in to prevent leaking. Long legs combat the possibility of kinking the hose. Because of low resistance to heat, running hot water through this garden hose connector is not recommended.
Get the Gilmour garden hose splitter at Amazon, Walmart, or DK Hardware (12-pack).
Best Commercial
Twinkle Star Heavy-Duty Brass Garden Hose Splitter
Product Specs
- Material: Brass
- Faucets: 4
- Features: 4 on/off switches, 4 O rings, and thread seal tape
What We Like
- Manifold comes with a protective seal
- Heavy-duty brass construction
- Includes 4 faucets, 4 O rings, and thread seal tape
What We Don’t Like
- The on/off switches can be hard to turn
Landscaping, garage work, and cleanup require a lot of water, which is why we recommend the Twinkle Star brass garden hose splitter for commercial use. Made with heavy-duty brass, this option comes with four valves, four O rings, and two rolls of thread seal tape.
Each of the faucets has an on/off switch for controlling where water is needed, making it ideal for watering lawns and plants, running irrigation, and even power-washing multiple vehicles at a time. It provides a maximum pressure of 80 PSI, which is pretty impressive for the number of faucets, while the manifold seal prevents leaks.
Get the Twinkle Star garden hose splitter at Amazon.
Best Quad-channel
Solterra Garden Hose Manifold With Shutoffs
Product Specs
- Material: Brass, metal, and rubber
- Faucets: 4
- Features: 4 on/off switches
What We Like
- Includes a rubber cover for durability
- Suitable for a wide range of gardening needs
- Each faucet comes with a shut-off valve
What We Don’t Like
- Water pressure can fluctuate with additional hoses
For those who need four hoses simultaneously, look no further than the Solterra four-port brass garden hose splitter. Solterra built its quad-channel splitter with a rubber-coated metal body supplemented by sturdy plastic shut-off valves. The male-threaded connection swivels, so pulling on the hose from across the yard will not damage the splitter or cause leaks.
Four separate valves allow gardeners to control each channel individually, though the handles are small and may be difficult to manipulate while wearing gloves or in cold weather. Be sure to check that the spigot provides enough water pressure to operate four hoses at once. An average garden spigot provides between 40 and 60 PSI. If you intend to run more than two hoses, higher pressure may be required. If the tap provides low water pressure, splitting the stream into four will result in less than optimal results.
Get the Solterra garden hose splitter at Amazon.
Also Consider
Orbit Zinc 5-Way Shut-Off Valve Hose Manifold
Product Specs
- Material: Zinc, brass, and plastic
- Faucets: 5
- Features: 5 on/off switches on each faucet
What We Like
- 5 streams of water with 2 extra ports on the sides
- Made of zinc, brass, and plastic
- Tight ball valves prevent any leaks or wasted water
What We Don’t Like
- Components can wear over time
- Zinc can corrode; may be difficult to remove or connect
Orbit takes garden hose splitters to the next level by offering a product capable of splitting one spigot into a whopping five streams of water. The three ports on the bottom are equipped with shut-off valves for individual control of water streams. Orbit shines with the inclusion of two additional ports on either side of the apparatus, allowing for two extra hoses without the independent shutoff.
The two extra hoses operate as though attached directly to the spigot. Constructed from zinc with a plastic covering and a brass swivel head, this hose splitter is durable and stable and has a swivel capability that protects against breakage when tugging on the hose. This splitter is best for permanent installation as zinc can corrode, making it difficult to remove.
Get the Orbit garden hose splitter at Amazon or Walmart.
Jump to Our Top Picks
What to Consider When Choosing a Garden Hose Splitter
Identifying the best garden hose splitters requires taking several factors into account. Features like size, material, and the number of channels dictate the effectiveness of a multihose setup. Read on to learn more about selecting the best hose splitter for a garden.
Compatibility and Size
At first glance, garden hoses tend to look like they’re the same size, but the reality is that they have different-size fittings. The proper fitting size for a garden hose splitter matches the threads of a garden hose for a secure fit and prevents leakage. Most garden hose fittings have a standard external size of 1 1/16 inch wide, but the inner diameter may vary depending on the circumference and thickness of the hose.
The hose circumference usually matches the connector size. Water hose connectors include ⅜-, ½-, and ¾-inch fittings. Determining the proper size is easy: Simply use a tape measure to determine the diameter of the hose opening. That number corresponds to the size of the garden hose connector required for that hose.
Material
The two most popular materials in the best garden hose splitter are plastic and metal. Plastic splitters are light, durable, and sturdy. Well-constructed plastic splitters usually incorporate some metal parts, more effectively resisting the corrosion associated with constant exposure to water. If you plan on frequently moving the splitter between taps, plastic is preferable, as the threads will not seize since they do not rust.
Though durable and sturdy, plastic splitters do not provide the same toughness and longevity as metal splitters, and they may melt or deform when exposed to high temperatures. Red metals like brass, bronze, and copper are best due to their low iron content. Less iron translates to reduced corrosion, but be aware that any metal splitter will ultimately begin to leak as it rusts.
Metal hose connectors for garden hoses can become stuck to the tap by rust, making them difficult to remove. Those using metal splitters will want to remove the hose after each use and be sure the tap is securely closed.
Number of Channels
The purpose of a hose splitter is to provide multiple water channels, and two is not the limit. By definition, a hose splitter turns one stream of water into two, but there are more options available. Splitters with three channels are very popular for their added utility, and there are even four-channel splitters on the market.
Water pressure becomes an issue with multichannel splitters. Dual splitters usually work well with both high and low pressure, but adding a third channel may result in three streams of water that are too weak to be useful. If an operator must attach a four-channel splitter to a spigot, there must be excellent water pressure to maintain the integrity and strength of the stream.
Ease of Use
Hose splitters make it easier to control where water goes, and plenty of user-friendly features are included with some options. Here are some of the best things to look for that help these products stand out:
- Spigots and on/off valves: Spigots or on/off valves allow the user to turn a single faucet’s water on and off to allocate water where it is needed. Most hose splitters with this feature have one spigot per faucet for the best control.
- Threaded connections: Threaded garden hose connections are made to provide a tight water seal and prevent wasted water and leakage. Female hose connectors with threaded designs are also easier to connect to a current garden hose.
- O rings and washers: O rings and washers help to maintain a watertight seal when attaching a garden hose.
- Tape: Thread seal tape, Teflon tape, or plumbers tape is helpful when a garden hose splitter is a permanent fixture as it can help keep any potential leaks at bay. This kind of tape is also suitable for kitchen and bathroom faucet varieties.
The Advantages of Owning a Garden Hose Splitter
Garden hose splitters add utility to many household and garden-related operations. Adding a splitter to an outdoor spigot enables the simultaneous execution of more than one job. If you need to wash the car while the sprinkler waters the lawn, a splitter makes that possible. Perhaps two separate areas of the yard require irrigation simultaneously; hooking up a splitter can direct water into multiple places at once.
The best garden hose splitters make operations like drip irrigation easy. Drip irrigation allows water to drip slowly into the root systems of plants. Because the process is slow and ongoing, it often requires full-time hose use. Splitters allow gardeners to hook up a separate hose for other tasks.
Soaker hoses are often used to irrigate gardens as well. A soaker operation requires poking several holes in the hose, which is not a good quality when you need to wash the dog. Splitters make it possible to keep a fully functional hose at hand while the other intentionally leaks. Those who use water timers to put their garden on autopilot may also need a full-time hose hooked to a spigot. Splitters keep a second, third, or fourth hose free for other uses.
- Garden hose splitters provide the utility of operating multiple hoses from one spigot.
- Dedicated irrigation systems that require full-time use of a hose will not prevent operators from using hoses for other purposes.
- Garden splitters provide easy-to-use shut-off valves that prevent water loss through leakage.
Tips on Using a Garden Hose Splitter
Installation and use of a garden hose splitter are pretty straightforward, but there are a few tips to keep in mind. Cold weather can cause water trapped in the splitter or hose to freeze. Frozen water expands, sometimes resulting in burst pipes or damaged equipment. If you live in an area that experiences low temperatures, be sure to uninstall the splitter and the hoses for the winter months.
When installing a garden hose splitter or a hose, use firm but gentle pressure to hand tighten the socket. Applying too much force will result in damaged parts that will destroy the integrity of the connection. Check out some more tips below.
- When using a metal garden hose splitter, ensure that the hose is disconnected and the water is fully shut off after each use to avoid corrosion.
- Check water pressure prior to buying a splitter. Dual garden hose splitters work well with normal water pressure that’s between 40 and 60 PSI, but weak water pressure or too many channels will prevent proper use.
- Try to buy a splitter with a large and comfortable grip. This provides easy operation and prevents leakage.
FAQs
There is a lot to consider when choosing the best garden hose splitter. For quick reference to your most pressing queries, check out the answers to the following frequently asked questions.
Garden hose attachments are not universal, but many standard garden hoses on the market are made with fittings that fit as many outdoor watering products as possible including fountains, outdoor pools, or hose nozzles.
Male hose connectors have a pin that fits a hole on the splitter, while female connectors accept the pin from the male end. Examine your spigot before purchase to be sure you are searching for the right one.
Garden hoses have a narrower circumference than washing machine hoses. Hooking up a garden hose to a washing machine may result in engine burnout as there probably is not enough water moving through the machine.
If high pressure is what you are looking for, choosing a garden hose splitter with fewer faucets is optimal as more faucets require more water dispersion. Another way to ensure that water is running at high pressure is to check for any leaks, twisting, or blockages in the hose.
Gardeners can connect two garden or expandable hoses together for added length. Compatible connectors or couplers will extend the reach of the hoses, though excessively long hoses may result in reduced water pressure.
Connecting two different-size hoses together requires a hose adapter. Determine the diameter of each hose with a tape measure and find a garden hose adapter that accommodates both.
There are many ways to properly store a garden hose. One of them is to purchase a wall-mounted hose organizer or reel that can keep the hose untangled and organized. Another way is to roll up the hose and place it on a shelving unit in a shed, bench, or garage. These storage options will prevent damage—and you from having to repair your garden hose.