Prolonged dry periods are occurring with increasing frequency during the growing season due to climate change. Irrigation is, therefore, becoming more important for the improved exploitation of crop yield potential. The choice of a suitable irrigation system depends on various factors such as the crop to be irrigated, availability of water, soil condition, and topography, availability of technical and financial resources, as well as technical know-how, and manpower availability. Three widespread irrigation methods of mobile, fixed and micro irrigation have been analysed in the geographical areas of Germany and Switzerland concerning their working time requirement for transport, assembly, operation, and dismantling. The working hours and the influencing variables were statistically analysed and integrated in a model calculation system. The results showed the working time requirement for the selected irrigation methods under modelled conditions. Regarding the required manpower, for a 1 ha plot, hose reel irrigators required 1.8 h, pipe sprinklers 9.5 h and drip irrigation systems 12.3 h total working time.