Methods & worked examples
Drip Irrigation Runtime Calculator — Methods & worked examples
How it works
Measure an emitter in the actual pipework and supply conditions. Flow in ml/min = collected ml ÷ collection minutes. Runtime in minutes = your target ml per emitter ÷ flow. Measure near and far emitters separately if their flow differs; a single emitter may not represent a whole branch.
Worked examples
Collecting 180 ml in 3 minutes gives 60 ml/min. A chosen target of 300 ml takes 5 minutes. With 8 equal-flow emitters, each cycle uses 2.4 L. Two cycles per day use 4.8 L. A usable 24 L reservoir provides floor(24 ÷ 2.4) = 10 complete cycles, or a theoretical 5 days under the same conditions.
Scope & limitations
The 300 ml target is only an example, not a recommendation for a plant. Enter water that can actually be drawn, excluding unreachable water at the bottom. Changing water level, pressure, blockages, leaks, weather and timer errors can change the outcome. Observe the real system and soil, and remeasure after changes. Theoretical days are not a promise of unattended reliability; this tool controls no equipment.
Method sources
Our original explanations and calculators use the methods above. This site is not affiliated with the cited brands or organizations.