Best Tried & True Brand: Scotts 190567 Lithium-Ion Battery Powered Pump

Let’s talk garden sprayers.

We asked our parent readers with green thumbs for their favorite models. When it comes to garden sprayers, there are two basic types: manual pump models and battery-operated solutions. The former are fine for small areas, but require pumping—and that can be hard on folks with arthritis. Or if you have a large area to cover.

Battery-operated sprayers are great for larger yards or just bigger projects. You can use a sprayer to water plants (some come with adjustable heads for different water streams) or apply weed killer in spot applications. We use a battery-powered sprayer to apply liquid ice melt to our driveway in winter. 

One quick caveat: battery-powered garden sprayers are great for rinsing off dirt or dust on furniture, but they really aren’t power washers—they don’t have enough power to deep clean a patio.

One brand that came up time and time again when we spoke to readers is this one by Scotts—their model 190567 is a reader favorite and an excellent choice in this category, thanks to smart design. Here’s more:

What We Liked

• Generous two-gallon capacity—good for larger projects. (Other sprayers typically have one gallon capacity).

• Long battery life—about 12 full tanks per charge.

• Easy to use.

• Steady pressure.

• Adjustable 3-in-1 nozzle with different spray streams.

• See-through tank with measurement markings.

• Made in the USA.

• Stable design keeps tank from falling over.

What Needs Work

• Pricey.

• Can be heavy when filled with two gallons of liquid.

Best For Weed Killer: Flo-Master Pumpless Battery Powered Sprayer

Spot spraying for weeds is a top use for most garden sprayers—for this use, we liked Flo-Master’s model best. The thumb-operated power switch (so you can pause it) makes it convenient and the double telescoping wand is perfect for reaching harder-to-get-to spots. Best of all, it is lightweight and easy to carry.

What We Liked

• Lightweight (3 lbs).

• Simple to use.

• Easy to recharge.

• Retractable boom wand extends to 35″—excellent for reaching tough spots.

• Padded shoulder strap makes it easy to carry.

• Adjustable nozzle goes from stream to fine mist.

What Needs Work

• Not as much spray power as other models we tried—but good enough for most applications.

Best Dual Function: Battery Powered Sprayer and Pump Sprayer

If you can’t decide between a manual pump sprayer and a battery-operated sprayer, this model has both features. And that is helpful if you run out of battery (you can use it then as a hand pump sprayer). One tip: pump the sprayer manually a few times before switching over to battery-power.

What We Liked

• Power bank is in waterproof case attached to wand—can be charged via USB.

• Works as a manual pump if you run out of battery.

• One charge lasts 80 minutes—so this is a good model for larger projects.

• Easy to use.

• Affordable.

• Shut-off valve (pause button) on handle.

What Needs Work

• Not the best choice if you have arthritis or are otherwise unable to do manual pump at start.

• Instructions could be better.

Best Nozzle: SideKing 1.35 Gallon/5L Battery Powered Sprayer

We couldn’t decide what we liked best about this model: the brass nozzle or the light weight (2.46 lbs). 

Most garden sprayers come with plastic nozzles and those are ok, but prone to clogging. This model is one of the few with a brass nozzle, which is more durable in our opinion. It actually comes with two nozzles: brass (stream) and plastic (mist).

What We Liked

• Easy to use.

• Compact size and lightweight.

• Battery life is good (takes about 3 hours to charge).

• Easy to assemble.

• 2 nozzles: brass and plastic with different spray patterns.

• Affordable.

What Needs Work

• Can dribble a bit after being turned off—be aware if using with weed killer.

• Somewhat shorter wand (23.6″ maximum length) than others on the market, so perhaps not the best choice to water trees or shrubs high off the ground.

About the Authors

Denise & Alan Fields are consumer advocates and best-selling authors. The Fields have authored 12 books with three million copies in print, including the best-selling guide to baby gear, Baby Bargains.

The Fields have been featured and quoted in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Los Angeles Times.

As consumer products experts, the Fields have been guests on the NBC Today Show, Good Morning America and ABC’s 20/20.

How We Pick Products To Recommend

We often turn to our readers (3 million strong!) to find products to recommend. We ask our parent readers for their favorites and consider their real-world experiences in our recommendations.

When we test a product, we always purchase it with our own monies. We do not take free samples, as we believe that compromises our independence.

We also fact check manufacturer information with our own measurements. If a maker claims a product weighs X pounds, we will weigh it to make sure. If the battery life is supposed to be six hours, we will see how it stands up in the real world.

In some cases, we will do interviews with experts in the field to get additional feedback on products.

To get hands-on time with products, we regularly meet one-on-one with gear companies and even tour manufacturing facilities. (When we do this, we pay our own travel expenses).

Why Trust Us

We’ve been rating and reviewing products for the home and families since 1994. We do extensive research, evaluating products with an eye toward quality, ease of use and affordability.

We make our living from affiliate commissions, but we always recommend what we think are the best bets for our readers (not the ones that are the most expensive). We are always looking for products that offer the best bang for the buck.

Our independence is a key reason why we have been doing this so long. As we mentioned above, when we purchase a product for hands-on testing, we do so with our own money.

Here’s another key point: we don’t take money from the brands we review. No free samples, no sponsors, no “partnerships.” Our work is 100% reader-supported!