Say Goodbye to Kinks With These Top-Rated Garden Hose Reels

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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 ground stakes to elaborate models with decorative scrollwork that are meant to show off.

Garden hose reels are more than worth the expense—a basic option won’t set you back more than $20—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 our best garden hose reel recommendations that work for a variety of needs and outdoor spaces.

For more great ways to make gardening easier and more enjoyable, check out our picks for the best garden hose nozzles, raised garden beds, and greenhouse kits.

Best Garden Hose Reels

What to Consider

Size

Unless you’re planning to buy a new garden hose, the one you have will determine the size 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.

Location

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 your hoses completely hidden.

Mechanism

Most hose reels require some elbow grease, though there are pricier retractable hose reels that can help make your watering routine even easier. We cover both options below.

Key Features

The features you may come across are typically 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. Some large garden hose reels have wheels, which is a smart choice if you have a lot of ground to cover.

How We Selected

Here at PopMech, our experience with garden tools and accessories runs deep from extensive research and testing. Our selection includes durable, reliable garden hose reels in a range of popular styles from no-frills to decorative. We aimed to provide manual and retractable options across price points to suit different budgets, paying special regard to materials, weight, and ease of installation.

Multi-Directional Garden Hose Reel

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. It features a pull-up knob on the top that locks and unlocks the brass swivel mechanism so you can rotate the reel to face wherever you’re dragging the hose.

There’s also a small wire basket attached to the side for stowing extra nozzles or sprayers. 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.

Wall Mount Deluxe Hose Hanger

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 $12 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-width garden hose. It comes in three pastel springtime colors in addition to the classic green that’s shown.

Garden Hose Stand

You’ll get even more bang for your buck with this freestanding garden hose reel 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.

Retractable Garden Hose Reel

This is the most expensive picks on our list, but you can’t beat the convenience of a retractable reel 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 you can lift the entire reel out of the mount for storage in the off season.

Hose Holder

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 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 hoses up to 100 feet long.

Metal Hose Reel Box

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 hose reel sits in a casing 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 five-foot lead, 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 two-year manufacturer’s warranty.

Wall-Mounted Garden Hose Reel

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.

Garden Hose Holder

This option is great if you don'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 black.

Guide Hose Reel

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.

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.

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