This research objective was: to evaluate for Lavras - MG region the precision of 3 methods to estimate the reference crop evapotranspiration (ETo), compared with the evapotranspirometer measurement; to get an adjustment factor among 3 different Class "A" tank data; and to determine the water consumption for the cotton crop (G. hirsutum L.) under different water table levels. To evaluate ETo the Thornthwaite method presented the lower average deviation, overestimating the ETo measurement in 6,0% with a high correlation coefficient (0.9539). The Penman and Class "A" Tank even overestimating the ETo measurement in 35,6% and 37,4 %, respectively, presented a high correlation coefficient. The total water consumptions for the crop under the water table level of 0,25; 0,50 e 0,75m were respectively 682, 528 and 492 mm. The plants under 0,75m of water table presented the beat condition of development. As the evapotranspiration values obtained for these plants (ETm75), was calculated the and determined through crop coefficients (Kc), using the ETo obtained with the evapotranspirometer (EToET) and determined through the following methods: Penman (EToPe); Clasa "A" Tank (EToA2); and Thornthwai te (EToTw). The correlation among the Kc values determined using ETo measured and calculated showed the following correlation coefficients: 0.9383 (KcEt x KcPe); 0.9483 (KcEt xKcTw); and 0.9163 (KcEt x KcA2).