8 Best Garden Hose Reels of 2024
Updated: Mar. 19, 2024
Whether you tend an acre plot or a tiny vegetable patch, garden hose reels keep your yard neat and tidy for seasons of enjoyable watering.
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A garden hose reel isn’t complicated. It neatly winds up and stores watering hoses that would otherwise be left lying on the ground, where they can be easily damaged or tripped over. Garden hose reels also prevent other sources of potential hose damage like tugging, twisting and wrestling with kinks.
Whether fixed to the side of your house or shed, rolled out from a portable cart or stashed away in a handsome cabinet, a well-designed, sturdy garden hose reel streamlines your above-ground irrigation efforts. According to seasoned gardeners, every reel should come with a short leader connector that threads into the end of your hose so it can be installed close to the water spigot.
Here, we showcase the eight best garden hose reels for watering your lawn, flower beds, fruit trees and vegetable gardens.
Best Overall Garden Hose Reel
Liberty Garden Multi-Directional Garden Hose Reel
Pros:
- 18-gauge steel construction
- Durable bronze powder coat finish for weather resistance
- 360-degree reel rotation
- 90-degree solid brass swivel prevents hose damage
- Fully assembled
Cons:
- Not cheap, but excellent quality
The Liberty Garden Rotating Garden Hose Reel is a well-rounded find that’s durable, classic-looking and an A+ addition to helping keep your lawn hydrated. It rotates 360-degrees for effortless unwinding, sans snags or bends. Constructed of 18-gauge steel and powder-coated in bronze, it’s weather-resistant and holds up to 125 feet of hose. The handy attached storage tray is the cherry on top.
Best Wall Mount Garden Hose Reel
Suncast Sidetracker Wall Mounted Garden Hose Tracker
Pros:
- Removable wall mount for easy storage
- Budget-friendly
- Compact
- Comes fully assembled
Cons:
- Doesn’t retract automatically, must use crank handle
If you’re looking for a garden hose reel that keeps a low profile, the Suncast Sidetracker Garden Hose Reel is an excellent choice. The slim side reel mounts flush to surfaces and holds up to 100 feet of standard hose. It comes assembled and features a crank handle for quick and reliable hose winding. Just mount it, attach it to the spigot and spray away! Best of all, it’s removable for garden storage.
Best Self-Retracting Garden Hose Reel
Giraffe Tools Retractable Garden Hose Reel
Pros:
- Stable auto-rewind system is durable and prevents tangling
- Can lock at any length
- Easy to assemble
- Durable and long-lasting
Cons:
- Expensive
No more struggling to wind hoses back in place every time you water your plants. With the Giraffe Retractable Garden Hose Reel, just pull the hose to the length you need and it automatically locks in place. When you’re done, tug slightly and the hose retracts into its 180-degree-pivoting clam-shell casing. It comes with 100 feet of hose and a mounting bracket.
Best Vintage-Style Garden Hose Reel
Liberty Garden Decorative Wall Mount Garden Hose Reel
Pros:
- Durable, non-rust decorative steel
- Convenient top shelf
- Rubber-grip rewind handle
- Classic bronze color
Cons:
- Hose not included
Garden like it’s 1899! This filigreed Liberty Garden Aluminum Garden Hose Reel features a beautiful bronze finish and a charming, old-fashioned-style hand crank to add to its vintage vibe. The heavy-gauge reel holds up to 125 feet of hose. The lovely storage shelf neatly keeps nozzles, gloves and other garden tools on hand.
Best Budget Garden Hose Reel
Suncast Garden Hose Hangout
Pros:
- Very affordable
- Built-in storage tray
- Taupe finish matches most outdoor decor
- Compact
Cons:
- May not be as durable as other options
The Suncast Hose Hangout will cost you about as much as a fancy coffee drink. Rust- and water-resistant, the no-frills, molded resin construction supports 150 feet of standard hose. It also has a built-in cubby to keep a few must-have garden tools on hand. It comes in light taupe for an unassuming look when mounted to your home or garage wall (hardware not included).
Best Box Style Hose Reel
Suncast Wicker Hideaway Hose Cart
Pros:
- Wicker-style exterior is stylish and functional
- Crank handle has a smart track for tangle-free winding
- Resistant to fading
- Durable and easy to maintain
Cons:
- Top of box is curved and can’t be used as a storage shelf
Use it and stash it. The Suncast Hideaway Hose Cart cleverly tucks your hose away when not in use. The contemporary wicker-style cabinet, made of strong and pliable plastic, looks great in any yard. It can handle 225 feet of hose, with guide tracks that re-spool it neatly onto the reel. A tight seal with a strong, reinforced system prevents leaks at the garden hose spigot.
Best Garden Hose Reel for Small Yards
BirdRock Home Metal Hose Pot
Pros:
- Compact, stylish design
- Hides garden hose discreetly
- No assembly required
- Lightweight
Cons:
- Not suitable for heavy or extra-long hoses
A jumble of hose can really clutter up a small yard. Why not camouflage your coiled hose inside this charming copper-colored pot? The BirdRock Home Hose Pot is a picture-perfect way to store 100 feet of hose on a terrace, patio or deck. Practical features include a matching lid to keep your hose hidden and free of debris.
Best Heavy-Duty Garden Hose Reel
Eley Wall Mount Garden Hose Reel
Pros:
- Durable, no-break aluminum-alloy construction
- Set up for either parallel or perpendicular use
- 10-year warranty
Cons:
- Expensive, but top-notch quality
Passionate gardeners need a reliable and sturdy garden hose reel they can count on. The Eley Wall Mount Garden Hose Reel, which features stainless-steel mounting hardware and rugged rustproof metal construction, delivers years of commercial-grade durability and performance. The reel easily handles 125 feet of hose, and it comes with an industry-leading 10-year no-rust, no-break factory guarantee.
What to Look for When Buying a Garden Hose Reel
When in the market for a garden hose reel, you’ll encounter a range of options, varying from simple and budget-friendly to intricate and pricey. While personal preference plays a significant role in selecting the style and price, it’s crucial to consider a few important features before making a purchase. Pay close attention to the reel’s capacity to hold hose length and whether it can be mounted, as these aspects greatly impact usability.
If you opt for a wall-mount hose reel instead of a freestanding one, ensure compatibility with the wall or siding you plan to mount it on. Keep in mind that most wall-mount garden hose reels do not come with mounting hardware.
How We Found the Best Garden Hose Reels
As shopping experts, our only job is to help you find a winning product. We start with the research and reporting basics—what products are made of, what they look like and how much they cost—to ensure that we’re only recommending the buys that are worth your time and money. Then, we research the features that speak to the product’s quality, taking advice from industry insiders and subject matter experts on what makes a product a smart value (or worthy of a splurge). Finally, we do the work of combing through user reviews to see how real people interact with the product, and if it stands up to the test.
FAQs
How much does a garden hose reel cost?
You should budget around $100 for a standard, well-made garden hose reel. However, some budget options can cost as low as $10 to $20, and some high-end versions may set you back a few hundred dollars.
How does a garden hose reel work?
There are two basic types of garden hose reels. Some wind-up with a hand crank or an automatic load and release button. Others require you to unroll (and roll up) the hose manually with each use.
What is the best height for a garden hose reel?
The best height for your garden hose reel will largely depend on how tall you are. The recommendation for the average person is to mount your hose reel so that the bottom of the reel is about four feet off of the ground, ensuring it’s close to a water source.
What size garden hose reel do I need?
A standard hose reel will typically be able to hold a hose that is somewhere between 100 and 150 feet in length. Check the length of your garden hose before purchasing a hose reel, so that the two will be compatible.
Does a hose reel reduce pressure?
While a hose reel will provide lots of benefits, like helping your hose to last longer, it may lessen the water pressure in your hose, which may not be a bad thing depending on what you’re using your hose for and how high your water pressure is to begin with.
Originally Published: December 31, 1969
