If you have a garden that needs constant maintenance, you can avoid the mess of tangles and knots and extend the life of your hose with a hose reel. In this article, we will present to you all the reasons why you need a hose reel in your life and will show you the best options available on the market today.
For our guide of the best hose reels, we’ve examined 35 different hose reels and picked the top 10 of them. In our research, the Liberty Garden 707 Wall Mounted Hose Reel with Guide was our Editor’s Choice pick because of its overall high quality that comes at a great price as well. We will review that product as well as nine others to help you make the final choice when it comes to purchasing a hose reel.
In our review of the best hose reels, we’ll talk about a number of features, which are important. These include the type, construction, dimensions, weight, and maximum hose length. All of these factors contribute to the quality of the hose reels. We’ve spent over 55 hours scouring all of the pertinent details of hose reels to provide you with the most accurate information about each product. After our detailed product reviews, we’ll then shift gears and turn our attention to the buying guide section of our article, which will include more in-depth knowledge about the key features of hose reels as well as our frequently asked questions section. It is our hope that after absorbing all of this information, you will be able to find the best hose reel for you.
More features: rust and hard-water-resistant, bronze powder coating, 5-feet leader hose included, storage shelf, hose guide
Our top hose reel is the Liberty Garden 707 Wall Mounted Hose Reel with Guide. Liberty Garden has a solid reputation for making some really great hose reels, and that’s what you get with one of their best wall-mounted hose reels. It comes in a sturdy cast aluminum design that also features a bronze powder coating to help fight off rust and corrosion. Moreover, this wall-mount hose reel comes with a 5-foot leader hose. The maximum length of 5/8-inch thick hose this reel can accommodate is 125 feet.
The hose comes off this reel very easily, and the durable handle can also effortlessly rewind the hose once you’re done with it. Another great aspect of this hose reel is that it comes pre-assembled and also includes a guide that will help you avoid tangles. A few people did comment saying that they wished it would have come with the mounting hardware, so you’ll need to have that prior to mounting. If you frequently use a few garden tools and don’t have a place to put them, there’s a small bit of storage space on top of this hose reel where you can easily leave smaller gardening tools for easier access.
More features: position lock, 9 pattern nozzle system, 180-dergree swivel, 60 ft. hose and 5 ft. leading hose included
Next up on our list is our choice for the hose reel with Best Value, the Giraffe Retractable Garden Hose Reel. This Giraffe Hose Reel is one of the best garden hose reels and is very effective for smaller-to-medium sized gardens because it only has a maximum hose length of 65 feet of 5/8-inch hose, and it also includes a 5-foot leading hose. It is a wall-mount hose reel made of plastic materials with brass fittings.
What’s great about this hose reel is that there is a patented lock on it so you can keep the hose position in place and don’t have to worry about it unwinding and you losing your hose’s spot. The swivel bracket on this hose reel rotates a full 180 degrees, which should make it easy to roll out the hose in the direction you want it to go (and not just one direction). The spring in this hose reel is also surprisingly quite strong and makes rewinding the hose fast and efficient. Another fantastic feature is that it comes with a 9-pattern nozzle system, which allows you to choose from one of nine different spray patterns allowing you water just about anything in your garden. A few people, however, mentioned that some of the nozzle options did not spray as advertised, while some others did not work altogether.
More features: cold weather flexibility, 9-mode metal spray nozzle, 12-point ratchet locking action
For all your outdoor watering chores, whether you’re taking care of your lawn or filling up the pool, the Avagard Retractable Hose Reel is made for such situations. The easy-to-use hose reel comes with heavy-duty features that allow it to last for a long time in your home. With heavy-duty coated steel and solid brass crush-proof chrome construction, and a 12-point ratchet locking action, you get fantastic durability and long-lasting use.
The highlight of the Avagard Retractable Hose Reel is the hose, which is UV- and ozone-resistant. The hose can be used for hot and cold water purposes, up to 212- and -40-degrees Fahrenheit. The hoses are also strong and durable, but they feature a lightweight and flexible design that allow for easy handling. Even if you’re new to using retractable hose reels, you can quickly get the hang of this unit. Although, it’s best used in your home or lawn, not when you’re on the move.
More features: 360 degree reel rotation with pull-up knob, storage tray, water resistant bronze powder coating
Liberty Garden is here again, but this time with our pick for Best Fully Assembled Hose Reel, the Liberty Garden 712 Single Arm Navigator Rotating Hose Reel. It is much lighter than it looks, and at 15 pounds, you’re getting a hose made of 18-gauge steel that is coated with a beautiful bronze powder that should be able to withstand the weather elements.
As we mentioned, the weight is fairly light, and it won’t be an issue to install it on your wall. It is a great option for larger-sized gardens as it can hold up to 125-feet of 5/8-inch hose on it. It has a pull-up knob for a full 360-degree reel rotation that provides you with effortless unwinding. The 90-degree solid brass swivel also helps to prevent the hose from damaging.
What’s really great about this hose reel is that it comes pre-assembled, which should save you time putting it together. What it doesn’t come with, unfortunately, is a mounting kit and bolts to attach it to the wall, but it’s still one of the best wall-mounted hose reels with sturdy construction and excellent design.
More features: 180-degree rotating reel, 5-foot supply hose with brass fittings included, lifetime warranty, anti-rust finish
When it comes to hose reels, you might want one that can withstand the rigors of wear and tear. That’s why our top choice for Best Heavy Duty Hose Reel is the Yard Butler Steel Swivel Hose Reel.
This Yard Butler Hose Reel sports a heavy-duty bracket mounting system that prevents it from sagging off your wall. It has a very sturdy steel construction that is capped off with a nice anti-rust finish. The wall-mount comes with an easy swivel design so that you can easily reel your hose in any direction. The downside to this, as some people have pointed out, is that the swivel can easily make the reel turn freely, which leads to the hose being unwound by itself.
As for the hose, it can hold up to 100 feet of 5/8-inch thick hose and also includes a 5-foot supply hose with brass fittings as well. Despite being made of steel, it only weighs at a shockingly low 12 pounds, with most of the weight being centered in the middle. Another great thing that not all hose reels have is the flexibility of a lifetime-limited warranty with this product.
More features: rechargeable 12 Volt battery, manual crank, foot pedal operation, kink-free winding, tilt-out storage bin
The second Suncast product to make it to our list is the Best Auto Rewind Hose Reel, the Suncast 100 ft. Powerwind Auto Rewind Hose Reel. This Suncast Hose Reel has a plastic housing and is meant to be placed on the ground.
This reel can accommodate up to 100 feet of 5/8-inch thick, hose, and is well-suited for medium-sized gardens. It is very convenient to use thanks to the foot pedal operation. A simple push with the foot and the water hose will be automatically retracted back into the drum, tangle-free. This foot pedal mechanism is powered by a 12-volt battery and is good for up to 20 uses. As great as this reel is, it is quite heavy at nearly 28 pounds, and as many people have remarked, it is not the easiest hose reel to move because of its weight. This hose comes fully pre-assembled and includes a leader hose, but not the actual hose. There are two stakes to plant it into the ground. For those who have some extra gardening tools lying around, this hose reel comes with extra storage space for it with its tilt-out storage bin.
More features: corrosion resistant, leader hose included, aluminum water system, storage shelf
Another fantastic wall-mount hose reel option is our Best Metal Hose Reel, the Ames NeverLeak Metal Wall Mount Hose Reel. This metal-made hose reel has a very classy and elegant design on top of being incredibly sturdy as well.
It looks like it should weigh a lot more than 15 pounds, but at this weight, it should be incredibly easy to mount. This metal material is corrosion resistant and can withstand the rigors of water, sun, and the winter seasons. It can hold up to 125 feet of 5/8-inch thick hose and is great for medium-to-large sized gardens.
While it’s mounted on your wall, you’ll enjoy the fact that this hose reel has an easy spin crank, which makes it much easier to get the hose from this reel. As an added bonus, the leader hose is also included with this hose reel. A few commenters did remark that while this hose reel was sturdy, the spin crank would sometimes be a bit more difficult to turn during the colder months.
More features: retractable hose, carry handle, adjustable nozzle system, 180-degree swivel
The Amazon Basics Auto-Rewindable Wall-Mounted Reel with Hose is our top choice for Best Budget Hose Reel because of the many great features you get with this hose reel at an affordable price tag.
It is a wall-mount type of hose reel, and it can easily be moved around thanks to its top-carry handle. However, this hose reel is particularly meant for much smaller gardens because of its maximum hose length of 49 feet of 0.5-inch reinforced hose. It comes with a retractable hose that prevents the hose from overlapping inside the wheel while it is retracting. The wall bracket with this hose reel allows 180-degree swivel movement so you can pull the hose in almost any direction.
What’s also great about this particular hose reel is the adjustable nozzle system that will allow you to use any one of multiple different modes of water spray for your garden. It is made of plastic materials, and thus, it can be prone to damage if it’s left out in the cold, winter season. A few people have remarked that it’s best to detach it from the wall to store it away for winter.
More features: hose and mounting hardware included, retractable hose, carry handle, 180-dergree swivel
The Power BL-CW050 Retractable Garden Hose Reel is our choice for Best Hose Reel for Small Garden. This wall mount hose reel comes in a plastic housing with brass fittings and can accommodate a maximum of 50 feet of 5/8-inch thick hose.
This is a perfect length for smaller gardens, as you’ll be able to spray all areas of your garden with this hose reel. Since it is a wall-mount model, it’s also very portable. It’s so light at 19 pounds and can be carried using the handle on top of the reel. If you do mount it to your wall, this Power BL reel does come with a hose and mounting hardware to help you for easy installation. It also comes with a retractable hose that can be turned to just about any direction with its 180-degree swivel. One issue that a few people did mention about this hose reel was that when retracting the hose back into the reel, sometimes it could get jammed and was a bit of hassle to untangle the hose jam in the reel.
More features: 180-dergree swivel bracket, carry handle, automatic retraction, easy to transport, includes wall bracket, screws, wall plugs, nozzle and hose
If you want a hose reel that is durable and has great features, then try out our Upgrade Pick, the GARDENA Retractable Hose Reel. Unlike the other hose reels, this one comes with a spiffy dark gray and teal design. It has a plastic housing and can accommodate up to 115 feet of hose.
It also has a 180-degree swivel bracket, which will allow you to bring the hose with you in just about any direction. It comes with automatic retraction as well, and this is great because you won’t have to worry about manually rewinding the hose back into the reel.
You can keep your hose in place with the lock feature. With a simple tug of the hose, it will unlock the mechanism, and you’ll be able to drag more hose out or rewind when needed.
This GARDENA hose reel also comes with a wall bracket, screws, wall plugs, nozzle, and hose, which is everything you need to get up and running with this hose reel. In terms of storing it away, when the wintertime comes, simply unscrew and unmount this hose reel and store it away in your garage. You can carry this 20-pound hose reel from one location to the next thanks to its top handle. Unfortunately, some users said that it could jam. Although it happens rarely, it is not something you expect from an expensive product.
We now turn out attention to the buying guide section of our article. Although there is a huge variety of different products, finding the right hose reel for your garden shouldn’t be a difficult task. Here, you will find more information about different features when it comes to hose reels. We’ll explain each of them in more detail, so you can get a clear idea of what you should be looking for. We’ll try our best to answer your questions and help you find the ideal hose reel for your gardening needs.
When it comes to buying the right hose reel for you, there are a few things you’ll need to consider before making the purchase. You’ll need to think long and hard about the type of hose reel for you. Next, think of its construction, its dimensions and weight, its maximum hose length, its durability, and finally, its price. All these factors can help you get the most convenient hose reel.
There are two particular types of hose reels that are commonly found on the market, and they are the floor and wall-mounted hose reels.
Floor hose reels give you much better portability since you place it on the ground as you do your watering. You’re able to move it around your garden as you please, but some models might be a bit heavier or bulkier to move around than others.
Wall-mount hose reels are exactly as they sound – they are fixed to a wall or a ceiling. This type of hose reel helps to maximize your space in your garden.
Both types can require the manual operation or can also be powered by water or battery that allows the garden hose to automatically retract back into the hose reel with the simple push of a button. The Liberty Garden 707 Wall Mounted Hose Reel with Guide is an excellent example of manually operated hose reel with outstanding design and rust-resistant properties.
As we’ve seen in the reviews above, the materials used to construct them can vary. We see about half of them are made with plastic housing, while the remaining ones are made of aluminum, steel, or metal. Hose reels made of plastic are generally much lighter in weight than those made with different metals, but they may not be as durable.
Many of the hose reels made with metals offer some sort of corrosion resistance that prevents them from rusting.
However, these aluminum, steel, and metal reels are much heavier than plastic ones. Still, they might be able to accommodate a longer hose. For example, the Ames NeverLeak Metal Wall Mount Hose Reel can effortlessly hold up to 125 feet hose.
As you can see from the products on our list, the hose reels can come in many different dimensions and sizes. Ultimately, what it comes down to is your preference for the type of hose reel you’re looking for and how much space you have in your garden for a hose reel. Realistically, in terms of space, you should find a place at least 30 inches wide by 30 inches tall with a depth of about 24 inches. All of the hose reels in our list will fit into these dimensions, and this should give you a good gauge on how much you will need to be able to fit a hose reel in your garden or backyard properly. If your garden is small, check the Power BL-CW050 Retractable Garden Hose Reel. This hose reel boasts a compact design and self-retractable mechanism.
The weight of the hose reels will only matter for those that are portable, as some wall-mounted options are fixed to the wall, and you won’t be able to take them off. Hose reels that are portable are generally much better because you can shelter them from the weather and changing of the seasons. This will prevent your hose reel from rusting and will keep it fresh for the next season. For most of the hose reels, they are actually quite light (under 20 pounds), and they can be easily moved around. Other hose reels, like the Suncast 100 ft. Powerwind Auto Rewind Hose Reel, are a bit heavier at close to 30 pounds, but this is not necessarily a bad thing. Having a heavier hose reel means it’s more stable and doesn’t move around when you’re trying to get more hose from the reel.
The length of your hose should ultimately depend on the size of your garden. If you have a larger garden, you’ll want a hose length that exceeds 100 feet. But for average-sized gardens, 100 feet should just be fine.
Another consideration when it comes to hoses is the diameter of the hose itself. There are two particular diameters to make a note of: 5/8 and 3/4 inch. The difference here is the ferocity of the water stream that comes out of these sizes. Since the 5/8 is much narrower than the 3/4, the water stream will also be narrower. What this means is that the water volume in a 5/8-inch hose won’t come out in wide gushes, unlike the 3/4-inch.
If you’re using a 5/8-inch diameter hose, note that the longer the length of your hose, the less volume of water you’ll receive in terms of gallons per minute (GPM).
The durability of the hose reel is another important factor, especially if you plan on using it a lot and want to get the most out of it. If your garden is quite big, and you there is lots to tend to in your garden, your hose reel should be durable enough to hold a longer and heavier hose.
Another consideration is finding a hose reel that is corrosion and rust-resistant. This will be especially important for wall-mount hose reels because you won’t be able to store them away for wintertime. Thus, the heavy-duty hose reel like the Yard Butler Steel Swivel Hose Reel might be an excellent option for you.
This is a common question you might ask yourself when it comes to hose reels. There are a few things you will need, with some being optional. One of the things that’s great to have is a swivel bracket. A swivel bracket is great simply because it’s much easier to use your hose reel this way as it allows you to reel your hose in a few different directions. Secondly, a hose, nozzle, and mounting hardware are all necessary things to have. Unfortunately, not all hose reels include all of these things, so it’s best to read the product details before purchasing. If you can find one that has all three, that is a big bonus as it will save you a lot of time and provide you extra value. Lastly, a hands-free hose reel will save you from having to rewind the hose back into the reel manually.
Like any product that has a wide variety of choices, the price will always be a consideration. With hose reels, there are lots of products and brands to choose from. We’ve broken down the pricing for you into low, medium, and high tiers to make it easier for you to find the right product.
In our low tier of prices, we have the Giraffe Retractable Garden Hose Reel at $80. This fantastic product comes with an auto rewind system and a 9-pattern nozzle.
Next, we have the Liberty Garden 707 Wall Mounted Hose Reel with Guide in the medium category. At $130, you get a hose reel with stunning design and excellent rust resistance. Moreover, it prevents tangles and has a small storage shelf.
Finally, at the higher end, there is a GARDENA Retractable Hose Reel at $190. It can hold up to 115 feet of hose and comes with a swivel bracket so it can easily be used to carry your hose in different directions.
Among the best hose reels on the market today, three stood out in particular to us.
The first is our Editor’s Choice, the Liberty Garden 707 Wall Mounted Hose Reel with Guide. This wall-mount hose reel is made of cast aluminum and has an elegant yet sturdy design. It’s incredibly light and can accommodate 125 feet of 5/8-inch thick hose. It can help store some of your gardening tools as well.
Our Best Value pick, the Giraffe Retractable Garden Hose Reel is our second option, and it’s great for smaller-to-medium sized gardens. It has a neat 9-pattern nozzle system and, as a bonus, includes the hose and a 5-foot leading hose as well.
Lastly, we have our Upgrade Pick, the GARDENA Retractable Hose Reel. Pick up this reel if you’re looking for something that is sturdy and can last you a long time. It has a 180-degree swivel and an automatic hose retraction that is efficient, and it will help to simplify your gardening needs.
We hope that this article helped you to find the best hose reel for your gardening needs!
