A hose reel is not a decoration. It does two useful things: it keeps the hose off the ground, and it stops the hose kinking at the tap, which is where cheap hoses fail first. Whether you need one, and which type, depends on where you water and how far the hose has to travel. Here is how to choose in a couple of minutes.
What a reel actually does for you
Left on the ground, a hose collects grit that gets dragged into the fittings, bakes in the sun, and kinks at the same two spots every time you use it. A reel stores it in loops at a height, which keeps it cleaner, keeps the UV off it, and makes the hose far easier to pull out and put back. The other benefit is at the tap end: a hose that hangs in a loop instead of bending sharply where it leaves the spigot lasts longer, because that bend is where the inner tube creases and splits.
Wall mount: best for a fixed spot
If you always water from the same tap, a wall-mounted reel is the tidiest option. Mount it next to the tap at about waist height, so the hose leaves the spigot in a gentle curve rather than a sharp bend. What matters is what you are fixing it to: brick or masonry takes plugs and screws, siding needs to be fixed into a stud or a blocking board, and drywall alone will not hold a loaded reel. A swing-arm model is worth the extra money on a corner, because you can pull the hose in two directions without dragging it around a post. Do not mount it where the hose has to cross a path or a driveway - that is how people trip and how hoses get run over.
Cart: best if you move around
A cart makes sense on a large property with more than one tap, or if you water in different places each time. It rolls the hose to the job instead of you dragging it. The trade-offs are weight and footprint: a loaded cart is heavy, it needs a reasonably smooth path, and small hard wheels sink into soft grass. If your ground is uneven, look for larger wheels rather than a bigger drum.
Ground or pot: cheapest, and fine for small spaces
For a patio, a balcony or a small yard, a lidded hose pot or a simple ground reel does the job at the lowest price. The lid matters, because it keeps sunlight off the hose and stops the water in the bottom turning green. Whatever type you choose, check that it drains: a reel or pot that holds water after every use is a place for algae to grow, and it keeps the hose wet when it should be drying.
What to check before you buy
Four things decide whether a reel is useful or annoying. First, capacity: it has to take your hose length and diameter without forcing the last few feet into a tight coil. Second, the connector: brass fittings last, plastic ones crack in a season or two. Third, whether a leader hose is included - if not, you need a short hose from the tap to the reel, and that is an extra purchase people forget. And fourth, how it drains and how it mounts, because those two things decide whether it suits your wall and your winter routine. In a cold climate, plan to drain the hose, coil it loosely and bring the reel indoors if it is plastic; the water left in a drum freezes and splits it.
| Your situation | Best type | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| One tap, always in the same place | Wall mount, waist height | A wall that cannot hold a loaded reel |
| Several taps, or you move around | Cart with large wheels | Small hard wheels sinking into grass |
| Patio, balcony or a small yard | Lidded pot or ground reel | One that holds water and grows algae |
| A corner where you pull two ways | Wall mount with a swing arm | Hose crossing a path or driveway |
| Cold winters | Any type, drained and stored indoors | Plastic drums left out with water in them |
If the hose itself is the problem rather than the storage, start with why an expandable hose is easier to drag, and for the end of the season, how to store a hose for winter covers draining and coiling.
The bottom line
Buy a reel to keep the hose off the ground and to protect the tap end, not because it looks tidy. Wall mount for one fixed tap, a cart if you move around a big property, and a lidded pot or ground reel for a patio. Check the capacity and the fittings before you buy, and drain it before the first freeze.
Common questions
Do I actually need a hose reel?
No, but it pays for itself in two ways: the hose lasts longer because it is not lying in grit and sun, and it stops kinking at the tap, which is where hoses fail first. If your hose lives on the ground and kinks in the same spot, a reel is the fix.
Is a wall-mounted reel better than a cart?
Wall mount if you always water from the same tap and want the hose out of the way. A cart is better on a large property or with several taps, because you can take the hose to the job - but it is heavier and needs a smooth path.
Can I leave my hose on the reel over winter?
Drain the hose and coil it loosely, then store the reel indoors if it is plastic. Water left in a drum or pot freezes and splits it, and a hose left under pressure in freezing weather is how the fittings crack.
What size hose reel do I need?
Match it to your hose: the drum has to take your full length and diameter without forcing the last few feet into a tight coil. Check the stated capacity against the hose you actually own, not the one you plan to buy.
Related reading
- How to store a garden hose for winter (so it lasts more than one season)
- Why is my garden hose so heavy and hard to drag?
- Best garden hose for washing your car
The hose we make is our reinforced expandable garden hose - light enough to carry, and it coils small enough that a wall hook is often enough storage on its own.