A well-designed drip irrigation system can save water, improve crop quality, and reduce weed growth by delivering water right where plants need it: at the root zone. This guide explains the differences between drip tape, dripline, and poly tubing, and helps you choose the best products for your farm, vineyard, orchard, or garden.
At IrrigationKing, we stock complete drip irrigation solutions, including drip tape & dripline, drip tape fittings, and Toro Blue Stripe® poly tubing.
Drip Tape vs. Dripline vs. Poly Tubing – What’s the Difference?
Drip Tape
Drip tape is a thin-walled, flexible tube with built-in emitters molded directly into the tape. It is designed for long, straight rows and is especially popular for:
- Vegetable and row crops
- Annual plantings and seasonal crops
- Large fields where cost per foot matters
Key features of drip tape:
- Typically used at low pressures (around 6–15 PSI, depending on product).
- Available in different wall thicknesses (mil) for seasonal or multi-year use.
- Emitters are spaced evenly along the row for uniform watering.
- Best used in straight lines; bends and curves are done with fittings, not by bending the tape sharply.
Browse our selection of premium drip tape: IrrigationKing® Premium Drip Tape and Toro Aqua-Traxx® drip tape .
Dripline (Pressure-Compensating or Non-PC)
Dripline is thicker-walled tubing with emitters built into the wall at fixed intervals. Compared to drip tape, it is more durable and can handle higher pressures and a wider range of layouts.
- Ideal for orchards, vineyards, perennial beds, and landscapes.
- Works well on slopes when you use pressure-compensating (PC) dripline.
- Handles curves and contours better than thin-wall drip tape.
- Suitable for multi-year or permanent installations.
For most permanent systems, dripline is the best choice when you want long-lasting drip irrigation with less risk of damage during installation and maintenance.
Poly Tubing (Mainline & Sub-Main)
Polyethylene (poly) tubing is the solid (non-emitter) tubing that feeds your drip tape, dripline, or micro-sprinklers. It is used as the mainline and sub-main in a drip irrigation system.
- Connects to your water source, filter, and pressure regulator.
- Runs along the headlands or between beds as a supply line.
- Drip tape or dripline is connected to the poly tubing using starter fittings.
- Available in different diameters and pressure ratings to match system flow.
See our durable poly tubing options: Toro Blue Stripe® poly tubing and other lay flat & poly hose products.
Which Product Should I Choose?
Before choosing drip tape, dripline, or poly tubing, answer these questions about your project:
- Crop type: annual vegetables, perennials, trees, vines, greenhouse crops, or landscaping?
- Expected lifespan: single-season, a few years, or long-term/permanent installation?
- Row length: short garden beds or long field rows (hundreds of feet)?
- Terrain: flat ground or significant slope and elevation changes?
- Water source & pressure: house spigot, pump, gravity tank, or municipal supply?
- Budget: lowest upfront cost or higher durability and reuse?
Choose Drip Tape When:
- You are irrigating long, straight row crops or vegetable beds.
- You want the lowest cost per foot for large plantings.
- Most runs are relatively flat and straight.
- You don’t mind replacing the tape after a season or a few years (depending on mil thickness).
Choose Dripline When:
- You are irrigating orchards, vineyards, berries, or permanent beds.
- You need tubing that handles curves and slopes more easily.
- You want a longer service life and more robust tubing.
- You prefer pressure-compensating emitters for uniform flow across elevation changes.
Choose Poly Tubing When:
- You need a mainline or sub-main to feed your drip tape, dripline, or micro-sprinklers.
- You want to customize emitter locations by punching in individual emitters or branch lines.
- You need higher pressure or higher flow capacity than emitter tubing can handle.
Understanding Sizes, Flow Rates & Spacing
Diameter
Common diameters for drip tape and dripline include 5/8" and 1/2", while poly tubing is often available in 1/2", 5/8", 3/4", and 1". Larger diameter tubing can carry more water over longer distances with less pressure loss.
Wall Thickness (Mil) for Drip Tape
Drip tape wall thickness is measured in mil (thousandths of an inch). Thicker walls increase durability and lifespan.
- 6–8 mil: Typically used for single-season or short-term crops.
- 10–12 mil: Better for multi-season or more demanding conditions.
- 15 mil and above: Heavier-duty tape for longer-term use or rougher conditions.
Our IrrigationKing® Premium Drip Tape is available in multiple wall thicknesses and coil lengths so you can match tape life to your crop rotation.
Emitter Spacing
Emitters are spaced at regular intervals along the tape or dripline (for example, 8" or 12" apart). Choose spacing based on how close your plants are:
- 4–8" spacing: For closely spaced crops like leafy greens and onions.
- 8–12" spacing: For most vegetable rows (tomatoes, peppers, squash, etc.).
- 18–24" or more: For widely spaced plants, trees, or vines.
Flow Rate
Drip products are rated by gallons per hour (GPH) per emitter or by gallons per minute per 100 feet (GPM/100’).
- Lower flow emitters help on heavy clay soils to reduce runoff and ponding.
- Higher flow emitters can be useful on sandy soils where water moves quickly through the root zone.
- Total system flow (GPH) determines how many rows you can run at once.
You can see exact flow specifications for each coil on the product pages in our Drip Tape & Dripline category.
Basic Drip System Layout
Most drip irrigation systems follow a similar layout:
- Water Source — Hose bib, pump, or mainline.
- Filter — Protects emitters and drip tape from clogging. See our filters section.
- Pressure Regulator — Reduces pressure to the recommended range for drip tape/dripline. See our pressure regulators or pressure reducing valves.
- Mainline Poly Tubing — Runs along the field or garden as the supply line. Use products like Toro Blue Stripe® poly tubing.
- Drip Tape or Dripline Laterals — Branch off the mainline with starter fittings to water each row. See our drip tape fittings.
- End Caps / Flushing Valves — Allow you to flush debris from the lines and close the ends.
Example Scenarios
Backyard Vegetable Garden
For a home garden with several 50–75 foot rows on relatively flat ground:
- Use a Y-filter and 10–15 PSI pressure regulator at the spigot.
- Run 1/2" or 5/8" poly tubing as the mainline along one end of the beds.
- Install 5/8", 8 mil drip tape with 8" or 12" spacing down each row.
- Connect drip tape with starter fittings from the mainline; use end plugs or figure-8 clamps at the row ends.
Commercial Vegetable or Row Crop Field
For longer rows and larger plantings:
- Use larger diameter poly tubing or layflat as the mainline to handle higher flows.
- Choose heavier mil drip tape (10–15 mil) if you plan to reuse it for multiple seasons.
- Match emitter spacing and flow rate to your crop spacing and soil type.
- Use drip tape fittings designed for quick installation and repairs.
Orchards, Vineyards & Perennial Plantings
For trees, vines, and perennial beds:
- Consider dripline with pressure-compensating emitters for uniform water on slopes.
- Run poly tubing as a mainline along the row and install one or more lines of dripline near each plant row.
- Use longer-lasting tubing and fittings suitable for multi-year use.
Installation & Maintenance Tips
- Filter everything: Always install proper filtration to prevent clogging of emitters and drip tape.
- Flush lines regularly: Open the ends of your drip tape or dripline to flush out debris at the start and end of the season.
- Use correct pressure: Operating above the recommended pressure can damage tape or emitters.
- Protect from rodents & equipment: Avoid driving over drip tape and keep it covered with soil or mulch when possible.
- Winterize: In freezing climates, drain water from lines and open ends to prevent freeze damage.
Need Help Designing Your Drip Irrigation System?
If you’re not sure which combination of drip tape, dripline, and poly tubing is right for your project, we’re happy to help. Contact our team with details about your crop, row length, water source, and terrain, and we can recommend the best products from our Drip Tape & Dripline category and our lay flat & poly hose selection.
You can reach us at (844) 259-0640 or by email at support@irrigationking.com.