9 Best Garden Hose Reels of 2022
Updated: Sep. 29, 2022Whether 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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How To Choose a Garden Hose Reel
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.
Gardener Tip: 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 nine best garden hose reels for watering your lawn, flower beds, fruit trees and vegetable gardens.
Best Wall Mount
If you’re looking for a garden hose reel that keeps a low profile, the Suncast Sidetracker Garden Hose Reel with Guide ($45) is an excellent choice. The slim side reel mounts flush to surfaces and holds up to 125 feet of standard hose. It comes assembled and features a retractable hose guide to make winding kink-free. Just mount it, attach it to the spigot and spray away! Best of all, it’s removable for winter storage.
Best for Small Yards
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 Water Hose Holder is a picture-perfect way to store 100 feet of hose on the terrace, patio or deck. Practical features include a matching lid to keep your hose hidden and free of debris.
Best for Large Yards
The longer the hose, the bigger the challenge in plenty of ways, including wrestling with an ample length of garden hose. A cart-mounted garden hose reel like the ALEKO Heavy Duty Industrial Yard Garden Landscape Metal Hose Reel Cart can help.
The hand-crank spool, set on a corrosion-resistant frame, holds up to 400 feet of hose. The trolley’s pneumatic wheels make for easy mobility on any terrain so it’s good for landscaping professionals and home-gardening aficionados.
Best Self-Retracting
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 Heavy-Duty
Passionate gardeners need a reliable and sturdy garden hose reel they can count on. The Wall Mount Garden Hose Reel Model 1041by Eley, with stainless-steel mounting hardware and rugged rustproof metal construction, delivers years of commercial-grade durability and performance. The reel easily handles 125 feet of 5/8-in.-dia. hose. And it comes with an industry-leading 10-year no-rust, no-break factory guarantee.
Best Vintage Style
Garden like it’s 1899! This filigreed Liberty Garden 704 Decorative Cast Aluminum Wall Mount 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 5/8-in.-dia. hose. The lovely storage shelf neatly keeps nozzles, gloves and other garden tools on hand.
Best Budget
The Suncast 150 foot 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 garden accessories and necessities. It comes in light taupe for an unassuming look when mounted to your home or garage wall (hardware not included).
Best Box Style
Use it and stash it. The Suncast Wicker Hideaway Hose Cart cleverly tucks your hose away when not in use. The contemporary wicker-style cabinet, made of strong and pliable resin, looks great in any yard. It can handle 225 feet of 5/8-in.-dia. hose, with guide tracks that re-spool it neatly onto the reel. Brass connections prevent leakage.
Best All-Around
The Liberty Garden 712 Single Arm Navigator Rotating Garden Hose Reel is a well-rounded find that’s durable, classic-looking and a great help. It rotates 360 degrees for effortless un-winding, 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.
