Drip Tape Buying Guide
Choose the right drip tape by comparing diameter, wall thickness, emitter spacing, flow rate, operating pressure, filtration requirements and field application.
Quick Answer: How Do You Choose Drip Tape?
Start with the crop layout and soil. Select emitter spacing to create an appropriate wetting pattern, then calculate the required flow for each lateral and irrigation zone.
Choose diameter and wall thickness according to row length, operating conditions, installation method and expected service period. Finally, confirm pressure limits, filtration, fittings and chemical compatibility with the supplier.
What Is Drip Tape?
Drip tape is a thin-walled polyethylene irrigation lateral with emitters or flow passages integrated at regular intervals. It is supplied flat on a roll and expands into a round or oval shape when pressurized.
Water flows through each outlet at a specified nominal rate, delivering small amounts of water along the crop row. Compared with thicker dripline, drip tape is lightweight, economical and well suited to row crops, vegetables and seasonal field systems. You can browse our drip tape products to compare the available product types before selecting a model.
Drip Tape
Thin-wall construction supplied flat on a roll. Commonly used for seasonal crops and long agricultural rows.
Explore drip tape productsDripline
A thicker round tube with integrated emitters. Often selected for longer-term installations, landscaping and orchards.
Online Drippers
Individual emitters installed into polyethylene tubing. Useful when plant spacing is irregular or outlet locations must be selected individually.
Two Drip Tape Designs to Consider
The TREX drip tape range includes two product designs: T-Tape drip tape and drip tape with flat emitters. Both are intended to distribute water along planted rows, but they use different integrated outlet structures. Review the relevant product page and confirm the required specifications before ordering.
T-Tape Drip Tape
T-Tape drip tape uses an integrated flow-channel and outlet design to distribute water at repeated positions along the irrigation tape. It is an option for organized agricultural rows and field irrigation layouts.
View T-Tape Drip TapeDrip Tape with Flat Emitters
This drip tape incorporates flat emitters inside the tape. The integrated emitters control discharge at repeated intervals along the crop row.
View Drip Tape with Flat EmittersCompare All Drip Tape Options
Visit the drip tape collection to compare the available product designs, and then confirm wall thickness, diameter, emitter spacing, flow rate and operating requirements for your irrigation project.
Browse all drip tape productsMain Types of Drip Tape
Flat-Emitter Drip Tape
Flat emitters are bonded into the tape at fixed intervals. Each emitter contains a flow path designed to regulate water before it leaves the outlet.
This design is available in multiple spacing and flow combinations and is widely used for vegetables, row crops and greenhouse production.
Continuous Labyrinth Tape
A continuous flow channel is formed along the tape, with outlets positioned at regular intervals. It provides a lightweight solution for closely spaced crops and seasonal irrigation.
Confirm outlet spacing, discharge variation and recommended lateral length for the selected model.
Heavy-Wall Drip Tape
A greater wall thickness provides more resistance to handling, abrasion and mechanical damage. It may be selected for longer service periods or more demanding installation conditions.
A thicker wall does not automatically increase the permitted pressure; always check the product specification.
Drip Tape Parameters Explained
Drip tape should be specified as a complete combination of dimensions, hydraulic performance and operating limits. Two rolls with the same diameter may perform differently because their wall thickness, emitter spacing and flow rate differ.
- Diameter influences fitting compatibility and flow capacity
- Wall thickness affects handling and damage resistance
- Emitter spacing controls outlet quantity per row
- Emitter flow affects irrigation rate and zone flow
- Roll length affects installation efficiency and shipping
- Pressure limits determine safe operating conditions
Diameter
16 mm is widely used, while larger diameters may be considered for longer rows or higher lateral flow. Use the manufacturer’s hydraulic data to verify the choice.
Check fittingsWall Thickness
Wall thickness may be stated in mil or millimetres. One mil equals 0.0254 mm. Greater thickness generally improves handling durability but also increases material and purchase cost.
Mil or mmEmitter Spacing
Common options include 10, 20, 30 and 40 cm, but availability varies. Select spacing from crop spacing, soil wetting pattern and required water distribution.
Crop and soilEmitter Flow
Flow is normally specified per emitter at a stated test pressure. Lower flow can reduce total zone demand, but irrigation time and clogging risk must also be considered.
L/h per emitterPressure
Drip tape operates at relatively low pressure. Use pressure regulation and confirm normal, flushing and maximum permitted pressure for the specific product.
Regulation requiredFiltration
Filter rating must match the emitter requirement and water quality. Filtration should be combined with mainline and lateral flushing.
Mesh or micronHow to Select Drip Tape Wall Thickness
Wall thickness should be selected from the installation method, field surface, expected service period, handling conditions and recovery method. The values below show exact unit conversions, not a guaranteed service life.
| Wall thickness | Metric equivalent | General selection consideration | Before ordering |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 mil | 0.127 mm | Lightweight seasonal use under controlled installation and operating conditions | Confirm field preparation and installation equipment |
| 6 mil | 0.152 mm | Seasonal field applications requiring slightly more handling resistance | Check pressure and expected recovery method |
| 8 mil | 0.203 mm | A common balance between material cost and handling durability | Confirm crop cycle and surface condition |
| 10 mil | 0.254 mm | More demanding installation or longer intended use | Compare cost with thicker dripline alternatives |
| 12 mil | 0.305 mm | Greater resistance for handling and selected multi-cycle applications | Confirm that cleaning and storage are practical |
| 15 mil | 0.381 mm | Heavy-wall option for demanding conditions where supported by the product design | Evaluate pressure rating, economics and system compatibility |
Where Is Drip Tape Used?
Drip tape is primarily used along straight crop rows. It can be installed on the soil surface, under plastic mulch or at a suitable shallow depth when the product and field method permit.
Vegetables
Tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, onions, leafy vegetables and other row crops.
Field Crops
Selected corn, cotton and other organized row-production systems.
Greenhouses
Beds and crop rows that require regular emitter positions and controlled irrigation.
Plastic Mulch
Irrigation beneath mulch where outlet position and tape orientation are controlled during installation.
Calculate Flow Before Ordering Drip Tape
Emitter spacing and emitter flow determine the flow required by each lateral. The number of laterals operating simultaneously determines zone flow. This information is needed to size pumps, filters, valves, regulators and mainlines.
These formulas provide an initial estimate. Final allowable row length must be checked against the manufacturer’s hydraulic performance data because pressure decreases and flow variation develop along the lateral.
Emitter Spacing
Closer spacing increases the number of emitters and total lateral flow. Use crop and soil information rather than selecting spacing only from local habit.
Use the Emitter Spacing SelectorFiltration
Calculate full operating flow before selecting a filter. Confirm its filtration rating, rated capacity and pressure loss.
Read the Irrigation Filtration GuideClogging Prevention
Correct filtration does not replace pipe flushing, water monitoring and suitable biological or chemical management.
Learn how to prevent emitter cloggingCommon Drip Tape Buying Mistakes
Ordering by Price per Roll
Rolls may have different lengths, wall thicknesses, diameters, emitter spacing and flow rates. Compare the complete specification and cost per unit length.
Ignoring Fitting Compatibility
Nominally similar tape and connectors may have different sealing dimensions. Approve the tape, take-off connector, end closure and repair connector as one system.
Choosing Spacing from Crop Spacing Alone
Soil texture and wetting pattern also matter. One emitter does not always need to align with one plant, especially when water spreads laterally through the soil.
Exceeding Recommended Row Length
Excessive lateral length can cause unacceptable pressure and flow variation between the beginning and end of the row.
Using Inadequate Filtration
Small passages are vulnerable to physical particles. Filtration must match the tape requirement and actual water source.
Operating Without Pressure Control
High pressure can damage tape, fittings or seals. Include a suitable regulator and verify pressure under both normal and low-flow operating conditions.
Recommended Drip Tape Configurations by Application
The following configurations are starting points for comparison, not final engineering specifications. Confirm row length, soil, crop, water quality and pressure before ordering.
| Application | Selection priority | Typical direction | Verify before purchase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Closely spaced vegetables | Continuous wetting along the row | Closer emitter spacing with suitable low or medium flow | Soil infiltration and total zone flow |
| Widely spaced vegetables | Water placement near the root zone | Spacing selected from crop and wetting pattern | Plant spacing, soil and irrigation duration |
| Long crop rows | Hydraulic uniformity | Diameter and flow selected from the manufacturer’s lateral-length data | Elevation, inlet pressure and flow variation |
| Rocky or abrasive fields | Mechanical resistance | Consider greater wall thickness and careful installation | Surface preparation and retrieval method |
| Multi-cycle use | Durability and maintenance | Heavy-wall tape or a suitable thicker dripline | Cleaning, storage and economic comparison |
| Poor-quality water | Clogging management | Appropriate filtration, flushing and water treatment | Water analysis and emitter filtration requirement |
Drip Tape Buying FAQ
What thickness of drip tape should I buy?
Select thickness according to the crop cycle, installation method, field surface, expected handling and intended reuse. Thin-wall tape can suit controlled seasonal applications, while demanding or multi-cycle use may require a thicker wall.
What emitter spacing is best for drip tape?
The correct spacing depends on crop layout, soil texture, root distribution and the desired wetting pattern. Closer spacing is often considered for closely planted crops or soils where continuous wetting along the row is required.
Is 16 mm drip tape suitable for long rows?
It may be suitable, but diameter alone cannot determine the maximum row length. Check emitter flow, spacing, inlet pressure, elevation and the manufacturer’s hydraulic table.
Can drip tape be buried?
Some products can be installed below the surface when the product specification and installation method allow it. Confirm burial depth, outlet orientation, filtration, flushing and root-intrusion management before installation.
How much pressure does drip tape need?
Drip tape is designed for relatively low-pressure operation, but the correct range is product-specific. Use a suitable pressure regulator and do not exceed the manufacturer’s operating or maximum pressure limits.
What filter should be used with drip tape?
Use the mesh or micron rating specified for the selected emitter. The filter must also handle the full system flow and the contaminants present in the water source.
Can drip tape be reused?
Reuse depends on wall thickness, field conditions, crop practices, retrieval, cleaning and storage. Do not assume that a particular thickness guarantees a fixed number of seasons.
What information is needed for a drip tape quotation?
Provide diameter, wall thickness, emitter spacing, emitter flow, roll length, quantity, crop, row length, water source, destination country and any packaging or branding requirements.
Need Help Choosing Drip Tape?
Send us your crop, soil type, row length, row quantity, water source, operating pressure, preferred emitter spacing, flow rate, wall thickness and destination country. We can review the requirements and recommend a suitable configuration.