We tested 26 popular hose reels to narrow down the very best.
Rachel covers all aspects of the home space and tests products to find the best for consumers. When she's not writing, you can find her streaming, hiking, and decorating. Hose Connector Y Type
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Hose reels keep your hose stored and tidy, so you don’t need to worry about tripping or pesky kinks that get in the way of yard work.
“No one wants a tripping hazard in the garden, especially if it’s by thorny plants like roses,” says Allison Vallin Kostovick, an organic gardening expert with more than 25 years of experience and owner of gardening education website Finch + Folly. “A hose reel also keeps your hose intact longer. Coiling it up after each use prevents kinks, which often become tears in the hose. It also shields the hose from too much sun exposure, which can cause the hose to brittle over time.”
To find the best hose reels, we tested 26 models in our Lab, assessing each one’s overall value based on ease of use, design, portability, and durability. Our top picks include various types of hose reels, including box reels and freestanding reels.
This portable hose reel has durable, heavy duty materials and a convenient storage compartment for gardening tools.
The hose reel handle may be too short for a tall person.
Out of all the hose reels we tested, this hose reel was our personal favorite for its sturdy materials, easy portability, and comfortable handle. The Gorilla Mobile Hose Reel is primarily made of aluminum, which is rust-resistant and lightweight. The wheels are made of rubber, which are water-resistant and flat-free, so no need to worry about the wheels going down because of a puncture. During our testing, the wheels easily maneuvered over any terrain, in part thanks to the rubber grip on the handle, which gave us better grip and control. To unravel your hose, simply use the crank on the side.
This machine comes with a six-foot-long leader hose, a seven-year warranty, and a storage compartment under the reel, which is a great place to store gardening tools. Plus, it has been tested to ensure that it can survive outside in extreme weather conditions, so you can rest easy knowing that it can handle rain or shine, as well as snow. All things considered, we found this to be a reliable and quality hose reel that will last for years to come.
Price at time of publish: $149
Hose Capacity: 150, 200, or 225 feet | Material: Aluminum | Dimensions: 23.5 x 19.3 x 16.9 inches
This affordable hose reel comes fully assembled and is easy to maneuver.
The reel is fairly close to the ground and could be more ergonomic.
Those new to hose reels might be surprised to find that many models are priced at over $100. If you’re on a budget and want a hose reel to do the bare minimum, we recommend the Suncast Hosemobile Hose Reel Cart. This affordable pick is portable, features a compartment on the top of the reel where you can store gardening tools, and can hold a 175-foot hose. We found this product to be lightweight and easy to maneuver, with a no-frills design that effectively winds and stores your hose.
The low price does come with some drawbacks though. During our testing, shorter people had no problem wheeling the reel around comfortably, but because it's fairly low to the ground, it might be less ergonomic for tall people. The second is that this product is made entirely of plastic, which will get damaged in direct sunlight overtime. As such, you can keep this hose reel outside but it must be kept in shade. The third is that since the wheels are plastic, we had a harder time moving it around on grass. Despite all of this, the low price is still impressive for what you get, and in the end this hose reel is still a reliable option that gets the job done.
Price at time of publish: $40
Hose Capacity: 175 feet | Material: Plastic | Dimensions: 20 x 24 x 32 inches
This pick has commercial-grade materials and hefty flat-free tires for portability.
This high-quality pick comes at a higher cost than other selections.
This hose reel is great for people who have a large backyard and/or front yard and do landscaping tasks on a regular basis. Although some may gawk at the high price, we found this hose reel to be durable, stable, and long-lasting. The most noticeable part of this hose reel is the large, rubber flat-free tires, which make it easy to move around, especially along uneven surfaces or rough terrain—even with a heavy hose, it was still easy to carry around.
The body of the hose reel is made of commercial-grade materials like rust-proof metal and stainless-steel hardware, which will protect it against all kinds of weather. There is also a powder-coated finish on the hose reel for extra protection against the elements. The Eley 4-Wheel Portable Garden Hose Reel Wagon is compatible with drinking-water-safe plumbing, comes with a feeder hose, and has a ten-year warranty.
Price at time of publish: $416
Hose Capacity: 125 feet | Materials: Metal, stainless steel, rubber | Dimensions: 23.25 x 20.5 x 10.5 inches
The concealed design of this hose reel blends in with your yard.
This hose reel does not have wheels, so it may be more challenging to move around your yard.
If you’re someone who prefers to have their hose completely concealed, check out this hose reel box from Giraffe, which can accommodate a 130-foot 5/8-inch garden hose or a 200-foot 1/2-inch garden hose. The box is quite sturdy and is able to hold up well outside thanks to its aluminum material, which has also been given a rust-resistant coating. Plus, the aluminum is painted green, allowing it to blend in easier with your yard. It’s also way less mechanical-looking in appearance compared to other hose reels we tested, making it a good option for people who are searching for gardening tools that are aesthetically pleasing and functional.
We liked how neatly the hose is wrapped up and stored inside the box, and found it pretty easy to wind up the hose once assembled. While this hose reel doesn’t have wheels, we still easily moved it around thanks to the handles on the side of the box. That said, if you prefer to move your hose reel with wheels rather than lifting it manually, we suggest another pick from our list. Should you purchase this, make sure to wear gardening gloves, as the un-padded handles made our hands uncomfortable.
Price at time of publish: $198
Hose Capacity: 130 feet for 5/8- inch hose or 200 feet for 1/2-inch hose | Material: Aluminum | Dimensions: 20.5 x 22.8 x 17 inches
This compact model doesn't take up much space and has a sturdy design to withstand outdoor elements.
This hose reel doesn't have a crank, so you'll have to wind it by hand.
One of the biggest problems that comes with owning a hose reel is space. Many tend to be bulky and take up ground space that could otherwise be used for landscaping. This hose reel solves that problem by taking up vertical space instead. The Artigarden Freestanding Hose Holder can hold a 150-foot hose, and is probably the simplest hose reel you will ever use: All you have to do is drive it into the ground and it stands up on its own. Its sturdy steel body will allow it to survive during inclement weather, while the lacquer finish helps prevent rust. Plus, it has a compartment dedicated to holding your hose nozzle (and is compatible with universal nozzles).
During our testing, we found this hose reel to be simple yet effective. We had no problem setting it up and found it pretty easy to store the hoses we used during testing. The hose reel was fairly stable while in dry soil, although it might be less sturdy if in loosely packed or really wet soil. The biggest con with this hose reel is that you have to wind it up yourself. If that kind of labor is arduous for you, you’re better off with a crank-style hose reel.
Price at time of publish: $30
Hose Capacity: 150 feet | Material: Steel | Dimensions: 12 x 5 x 45 inches
This iron hose pot can be easily camouflaged and comes at an affordable price.
It could include a lid to protect the hose from outdoor conditions.
Hose reel pots are a great, no-frills storage center, and as such, tend to be less expensive than traditional hose reels. This metal hose pot from the Better Homes & Gardens Walmart line not only provides a roomy safe haven for your hose, but is also pretty to look at (Better Homes & Gardens is owned by Real Simple’s parent company, Dotdash Meredith). We loved the design of this metal pot, especially the pattern, and recommend it to people who want a semi-camouflaged and compact way to store their hose.
This metal pot is made of iron that is powder-coated, which helps with rusting. Based on our examination of the product, we think the materials and make of this hose pot are durable and long-lasting. Just keep in mind, however, that iron becomes hot to the touch if left out in direct sunlight. This hose pot weighs less than five pounds, so it’ll be easy to move around if needed. One downside is that it doesn’t come with a lid, which would add extra protection for your hose during inclement weather.
Price at time of publish: $35
Hose Capacity: 100 feet | Material: Powder-coated iron | Dimensions: 18 x 10 inches
This hose reel has an impressive capacity of 400 feet and a high-quality steel construction.
The faucet connection on this hose reel could be more durable.
If you have a massive yard or garden, a regular hose reel might not reach the far edge of your space. This heavy-duty GroundWork Hose Reel Cart can store 400 feet of hose, which is more than twice the capacity of the other reels on our list. In addition to its large storage capacity, it boasts a durable steel construction that we think will last for many years to come, even if exposed to outdoor elements.
Though this hose reel is a larger and heavier selection compared to our other options, we still found it easy to maneuver thanks to the rubber wheels and flexible handle. It also features a steel basket beneath the reel to store hose attachments, gardening tools, and more. While most yards don’t need more than 200 feet of hose length, if you want a well-made, long-lasting reel with an impressive reach, this one's for you.
Price at time of publish: $267
Hose Capacity: 400 feet | Material: Steel | Dimensions: 42.5 x 19.69 x 38.19
Overall, we recommend the Gorilla Mobile Hose Reel for its easy portability, sturdy materials (which can survive outside with ease), and extra features, including a leader hose and storage compartment for garden tools.
We tested 26 hose reels in our Lab and assessed them based on a variety of criteria, including ease of setup, ease of use, design, portability, durability, and value. Our first test involved setting up each hose reel, which is when we examined the materials to evaluate their quality and then recorded how long it took to assemble (if assembly was required).
For the hose reels that had a wind-up system, we tested to see how easy it was to wind the hose onto the reel and vice versa. We took note if the reel smoothly winded and unwinded as well as if the reel stayed steady or tipped over while doing so. For portable hose reels, we attached our hose and transported it across our testing area to see if it glided smoothly across the ground. For hose pots, we winded up the hose, put it in the post, and gave it a good push to see if the hose fit securely and didn't move around. We took all this information and used it to come up with the best hose reels.
There are a few types of hose reels out there, including hose pots, stationary wind-up hose reels, and portable hose reels. The type of hose reel you get should be dependent on the size of your yard and your personal preferences.
“If you’d like a more subtle spot to store your hose, check out hose pots which offer aesthetically-pleasing hideaways. Usually they do not come with a crank to coil though, so you would need to hand-coil your hose each time you put it away. Hose pots are especially great for balcony and deck gardens,” says organic gardening expert Allison Vallin Kostovick.
If you don’t like the idea of lugging your hose around, opt for a wind-up hose reel. Stationary wind-up hose reels work for medium-sized yards or people who simply don’t want to have to manually wind up their hose. “Wall-mounted reels offer affordable and easy access and are ideal for using in smaller, more contained areas (ie. things within the reach of 25-50 feet from the mount),” says Kostovick. “Some wall-mounts are available with a hand-cranking feature that helps with easy winding up, whereas others are merely just a wall-mounted holder that you would need to hand-wind to put away.”
Portable wind-up hose reels are great for people who have large yards and need to travel with their hose to get their outdoor watering tasks done. They’re also good for people who have mobility issues. Even if you don’t plan to move your hose reel around very much, having wheels attached will make it a lot easier if you do need to move it around in the future. “Some are designed as a cart of sorts, offering four wheels. Others offer a combination of two wheels/two stationary legs,” says Kostovick. “Take into consideration the landscape in which you’ll be lugging these to see which will be best for your watering needs and your back.”
For hose reels, you want to get a material that will withstand whatever weather comes your way. Luckily, many hose reels are made with weather-resistant materials, so your likelihood of getting something that won’t hold up well in the elements is pretty slim. “The choice really is between metal or plastic. Both are durable, but use and placement will best determine which material to go with,” says Kostovick.
Metals are super sturdy and are usually rust-resistant, especially when applied with a coating, such as a powder-coating. “If it’s just a static mount, then metal more than suffices and you can even invest in some very attractive wrought-iron mounts that offer both looks and use,” Kostovick says.
“If you’re going to be moving all around your yard with it, then I’d recommend plastic, not only because of its lighter weight, but its ease and durability as well,” she continues. Plastic also holds up well but doesn’t age well when placed in direct sunlight for prolonged periods of time. If you get something made entirely of plastic, keep it in the shade to ensure a longer lifespan. Do the same with iron, as it will get very hot to the touch while sitting in hot weather.
Always check how long your hose is as well as its width before you buy a hose reel. Hose reels can usually handle between 100- and 400-foot hoses. Width matters with some hose reels, but many are designed to be compatible with all hose sizes. Make sure you do this before you buy so you don’t have to go through the hassle of returning a large piece of yard equipment.
Sorbus Garden Manger Style Garden Hose Stand: A great budget pick, this no-frills freestanding option holds up to 125 feet of hose. We found that it wasn’t quite as durable as the Artigarden holder, however, and it’s slightly more expensive.
Gardena CleverRoll Hose Trolley: This option is great for people who don’t already have a hose. Although we found it to be lightweight and easy to move on grass and rocks, we didn’t like that you have to get an extra adaptor to connect the included hose to a traditional spigot (since the hose was made abroad).
You should place it closest to the spigot on the side of your house for easy access to your water line. However, the material of your hose reel may be affected by where you place it in your home. If you have a hose reel that is plastic, keep it out of direct sunlight, as prolonged exposure could cause it to break down over time. If you have a hose reel made of iron, know that it will get hot to the touch when placed in the same conditions. Either avoid buying a hose reel made with these materials or, if you can, store them in the shade outside.
Manual hose reels have a crank that winds up the hose, while retractable hose reels have automated spring mechanisms. While retractable hose reels eliminate the manual task of storing your hose, manual models generally have better capacity and a simpler design that is low-maintenance and longer-lasting.
Attach the male connector on the hose reel to the hose’s female end—usually by feeding the female end through the opening on your reel. After they are firmly connected, you wind up the hose length with the crank or lever.
This article was written by Rachel Center, a product reviews home writer for Real Simple. We researched the best hose reels and tested 26 of the most popular options in our Lab, evaluating them on setup, ease of use, design, portability, durability, and value. Additional reporting was done by Quinn Gawronski, who interviewed organic gardening expert Allison Vallin Kostovick, owner of gardening education website Finch + Folly.
Next to each product on this list, you may have noticed a Real Simple Selects seal of approval. Any product appearing alongside that seal has been vetted by our team—put through tests and graded on its performance to earn a spot on our list. Although we buy most of the products we test, sometimes we do get samples from companies if purchasing a product ourselves isn’t an option. All products go through the same rigorous process, whether they are purchased or sent by the company.
Love our recommendations? Check out more products that have earned the Real Simple Selects, from humidifiers to cordless vacuums.
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