Spray Nozzle Droplet Size Charts

Choosing the right spray pattern starts with understanding spray nozzle droplet size—and the best way to see it is with a chart. This guide pulls together multiple droplet size charts to show the droplet range across nozzle families so you can quickly compare how tips, pressure, and speed affect the droplet size produced by a nozzle.

Measuring Spray Nozzle Droplet Size Chart

In spraying, droplet sizes are measured in microns to describe how big the spray drops are as they leave the nozzle. The spray that leaves the nozzle is a mix of many droplet sizes, so experts summarize it with the median volume diameter (VMD or DV0.5)—the droplet size where half of the spray volume is in smaller drops and half is in larger drops.

A micron (symbol µm) is a unit of length equal to one-millionth of a meter. For scale: 1 millimeter = 1,000 microns. A human hair is roughly 70 microns thick.

National and international standardization groups (ASABE S-572.1) use VMD-based ranges to sort sprays into droplet size classes—from Extremely Fine to Ultra Coarse. Those classes are what you see on nozzle charts and pesticide labels (e.g., “use Coarse or coarser”). Smaller micron ranges (Fine) mean more droplets and better leaf coverage but higher drift/evaporation risk; larger ranges (Coarse–Ultra Coarse) mean fewer, heavier droplets that stay on target but need enough GPA and the right setup for good coverage.

If you want to learn more, check out this full guide on sprayer nozzle droplets and how they affect spray coverage.

Spray Nozzle Droplet Color Code Chart

In order to help display droplet size ranges of spray nozzles, the different droplet sizes are color-coded. The chart below is a quick reference for the droplet size class color code you’ll see on nozzle charts and pesticide labels. Circles grow from left (smallest) to right (largest) to show how droplet size increases across the spectrum.

You will find the droplet size range of any given nozzle in that nozzle’s chart. The chart will also show the flow rate and operating pressure range for the nozzle as well. For a complete guide on how to use these charts, be sure to read this article.

Droplet Size Range of Common Spray Nozzles

This table is a quick way to match nozzle families to the droplet size ranges they usually produce. Each family tends to live in a part of the ASABE spectrum—from Fine on the left to Ultra Coarse on the right. Conventional flat-fan styles (like TeeJet XR or Wilger ER) lean finer and boost leaf coverage; air-induction styles (AIXR, AI, TTI, DR) lean coarser to cut fines and reduce drift. Twin fans (TTJ/TTJ60/AITTJ60) split the spray forward and back to help maintain coverage even when using a larger droplet range.

You can use it like a selector. Start with what the label requires (e.g., “Coarse or coarser”), then look down the list for nozzle families that live in that lane. Choose an orifice size that keeps your normal operating pressure in the middle of the range for that family—remember, more pressure makes droplets finer, less pressure makes them coarser (more on this in a moment). The ranges shown here are general; your exact class depends on PSI, nozzle size, fan angle, and operating speed.

After you pick a family from the table, open the manufacturer’s nozzle chart for your exact tip to confirm the droplet class at your target pressure and GPA. A quick pass with water-sensitive paper is an easy field check to make sure you’re getting the coverage or drift control you expect.

Spray Nozzle Droplet Size Vs. Pressure Chart

As mentioned above, pressure plays a role in the droplet size a nozzle produces. This chart shows the relationship between pressure and droplet size.

This relationship is vital to note because you may not always spray at a constant speed. If you are trying to target a specific droplet range, increasing your travel speed will require you to increase system pressure to maintain your GPA. Higher pressure could reduce the droplet size and put it into a range that is prone to drift.

It is also important to note that nozzle size affects the droplet range as well. Not all nozzle sizes within a nozzle family (TeeJet XR, TTI, etc.) will have identical droplet ranges. Larger orifices (larger nozzle size) will result in a larger droplet size range. Find out more about sizing a nozzle in this guide.