Spending as little as $20 can save you from the backbreaking task of uncoiling and winding up your garden hose. Garden hose reels range from simple, powder-coated metal options to carts with hand cranks that can be rolled around a large lawn. They’re more than worth the expense—plus they can extend the life of a hose, which is more likely to crimp and leak if stored on the garage floor. If you’re sold on the idea, read on for recommendations that work for a variety of needs and outdoor spaces.
Unless you’re planning to buy a new garden hose, the one you have will determine the capacity of the reel you should get. Most garden hose reels can accommodate standard garden hoses that are 100 feet or longer, and some of the larger reels can handle hoses up to 300 feet long. Next, decide where you’re planning to put the hose reel. There are stationary wall-mounted or ground-stake reels, portable carts to store in the shed, and resin boxes that sit on the patio and keep hoses completely hidden. Most hose reels require some manual elbow grease, and there are also more expensive retractable hose reels. The features you’ll encounter are specific to the brand and style of hose reel you buy. For example, wall-mounted options can have wire baskets for holding gardening gloves and tools, hose guides, and swivels.
How We Selected
We cover top-rated garden hose reels with average customer ratings of four stars or more, and the majority of our picks have an average rating of 4.5 stars or higher. We combed through countless customer reviews and our selection includes all the most common hose reels on the market. We also offer choices across price points, from inexpensive to high end, along with reels in a range of capacities.
It’s hard to go wrong with this garden hose reel if you want something basic and affordable that gets the job done.
Priced at $18 at the time of this writing, this 12-gauge powder-coated steel reel has a strong double-screw mount and can hold up to 100 feet of a standard 5/8-inch hose. Customers give it high marks, with an average rating of 4.7 stars from more than 4,600 reviewers—plus it comes in three pastel springtime colors in addition to the classic green that’s shown.
2
Best Freestanding
Garden Hose Reel Stand
Key Specs
Dimensions (L x W x H): 10.2 x 9.8 x 42.5 inches
Weight: 9.1 pounds
Hose Capacity: 125 feet
You’ll get even more bang for your buck with this freestanding garden hose reel, also made of heavy-gauge steel. This option features a brass spigot for extending a hose’s connection to give you better access if the spigot is in an awkward, hard-to-reach spot on your house.
It stands roughly 3.5 feet high and anchors securely in the ground with two stakes. The reel can hold garden hoses up to 125 feet long and comes in tan and white, along with steel gray.
3
Best Resin Wall-Mount
Garden Hose Reel
Key Specs
Dimensions (L x W x H): 18 x 21.75 x 19 inches
Weight: 8.4 pounds
Hose Capacity: 5/8-inch (200 feet)
This wall-mounted option can handle up to 200 feet of a standard vinyl 5/8-inch hose. The garden hose reel is made from durable resin, with reinforced connections to eliminate drips and leaks and a small shelf on top to hold gardening gloves or anything you don’t want to lose in the yard while you work. It’s available in neutral taupe and can be mounted to the side of the house or inside the garage.
4
Best Metal Wall-Mount
Multi-Directional Garden Hose Reel
Key Specs
Dimensions (L x W x H): 18.6 x 20.3 x 22 inches
Weight: 15 pounds
Hose Capacity: 5/8-inch (125 feet)
If you want a garden hose reel with style, this one is an excellent choice. The industrial reel is made of 18-gauge steel powder-coated in bronze so it’ll hold up to the elements, and features a pull-up knob to rotate the reel 360 degrees, plus a solid brass swivel. There’s also a small wire basket attached to the side for stowing pocket items.
It holds up to 125 feet of a standard 5/8-inch hose and comes fully assembled, which is a bonus, but there’s no mounting hardware included.
5
Best for Small Yards
Garden Hose Reel
Key Specs
Dimensions (L x W x H): 19.5 x 19.5 x 11
Weight: 10 pounds
Hose Capacity: 100 feet
This rustic garden hose reel is perfect if you have a tiny yard or can’t mount one on the side of your house. It serves the practical purpose of keeping your space tidy and also looks attractive, accented with an embossed metal diamond pattern and a bronze finish.
The center post is removable for uncoiling the hose easily, and there’s a hole on the side for snaking it through. It may appear small, but it holds standard 5/8-inch hoses up to 100 feet long.
6
Best for Large Yards
Garden Hose Reel Cart
Key Specs
Dimensions (L x W x H): 37 x 24 x 43 inches
Weight: 42 pounds
Hose Capacity: 5/8-inch (300 feet)
Anyone with a spacious backyard will appreciate this garden hose reel cart. This handsome choice, made of steel with a green powder-coated finish to prevent rust, can accommodate 300 feet of a standard 5/8-inch hose.
It features 10-inch rubber wheels and steel axles, along with nonslip rubber grips on the handle and crank. There’s also a wire basket that’s spacious enough to hold gardening gloves and a handful of tools.
7
Best Retractable Reel
Retractable Garden Hose Reel
Key Specs
Dimensions (L x W x H): 22.8 x 10.2 x 17.6 inches
Weight: 30 pounds
Hose Capacity: 130 feet
This is the most expensive pick on our list, but you can’t beat the convenience of a retractable option to prevent the hose—and your back—from kinking. There’s a 130-foot hybrid hose coiled up inside that’s abrasion-resistant to ward off leaks and the reel features nine spray modes plus 180-degree rotation.
The flexible hose locks at the length you desire and the entire piece can be lifted out of the mount for storage.
8
Best Vintage-Style Reel
Guide Hose Reel
Key Specs
Dimensions (L x W x H): 15 x 22.6 x 13.5 inches
Weight: 17 pounds
Hose Capacity: 5/8-inch (125 feet)
For a decorative hose reel that truly stands out, look no further than this option from Liberty Garden. It has tons of vintage appeal and is crafted from cast aluminum with a nickel powder-coated finish for protecting it against rust and hard-water stains.
It holds up to 125 feet of a standard 5/8-inch hose and the guide loop in front keeps it from getting twisted while unrolling, plus there’s a wide shelf on top to set down gardening gloves and tools. The only drawback is that it doesn’t come with mounting hardware.
9
Best With Ground Stakes
Garden Hose Reel
Key Specs
Dimensions (L x W x H): 15.7 x 15.7 x 41.3
Weight: 5 pounds
Hose Capacity: Varies
This option is great for anyone who doesn’t want to drill holes on the side of the house or take up patio space. Made from rustproof metal with a simple design, the garden hose reel has three sharp stakes to stand firm in the ground, plus the top piece detaches from the base if you want to store the coiled hose in the garage. Choose from matte silver or the black that’s shown.
If you want to keep your garden hose out of sight, you’d be hard-pressed to find a more attractive way to hide it. This garden hose reel box’s casing is constructed of metal, with a rust-resistant coating and antique bronze finish.
The reel features a guide loop in front for tangle-free, hassle-free unrolling, along with a 5-foot leader, and it holds 150 feet of a 5/8-inch garden hose, or 200 feet of a 1/2-inch garden hose. There’s also a 2-year manufacturer’s warranty attached.
Rachel Klein Rachel Klein Rachel Klein has been a professional editor and writer for more than a decade, with a background in digital media, publishing, and journalism.
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