Best hose winder

Gardening can be hassle-free with a hose-keeping winder. Hose winders maintain order, offering accessibility without unfortunate twists and tangles.

Best hose winder: GARDENA Retractable Hose Reel 50-Feet
(Image credit: Gardena)

A hose winder is an essential tool for any well-kept garden or personal green space. Keeping your hose tightly coiled means outdoor space tidy. Whether you're after a smart, affordable option, or perhaps something a little showier, we have you covered.

Some hose winders are automatic, while others are straightforward and manual. Our favorite, the Giraffe retractable garden hose reel, falls into the first category. It's regarded for its tangle-resistant auto-winding system and exceptionally durable hose. That said, we know some of you may have other criteria in mind, so read on to discover your perfect pick.

Staff pick

Giraffe Retractable Garden Hose Reel

(Image credit: Amazon)

Giraffe retractable garden hose reel

When it comes to hose reels, this is the gold standard

Mountable and high-tech, this is a smart choice indeed.

Pros:

  • Auto-winding system
  • Includes hose reel, pattern nozzle, wall mount, leader hose, screws, bolts, and user manual
  • Durable
  • Compact
  • UV-stabilized protection

Cons:

  • Quite expensive

For those of you who take your gardening seriously, the Giraffe retractable garden hose reel is a no-brainer. The high-tech design takes center stage, offering auto-winding at a safe, child-friendly speed, as well as a sturdy hose that is both long-lasting and suitable for a variety of purposes. Center, cone, flat, mist, shower, and rinse—the nozzle provides a wide variety of settings for you choose to from, so you can go from washing the car to watering your vegetables with ease. It is less affordable than other options, but the features certainly justify the cost.

Keep it simple

Liberty Garden Hose Reel

(Image credit: Amazon)

Liberty Garden hose reel

Sometimes, you can't beat a classic

Effortless unwinding and sturdy steel construction make this a simple but strong contender. 

Pros:

  • Houses 125 feet of 0.6-inch hose
  • Easy unwinding
  • Storage tray
  • Fully assembled
  • Simple, timeless design

Cons:

  • Hose not included

Simple but oh-so-good, this Liberty Garden hose reel is a pared-back choice that performs. Complete with a storage tray for your nozzles and tools, it offers easy unwinding thanks to the classic crank, plus it's fully assembled and made from 18-gauge steel. With a bronze-powder coat finish, it is weather-resistant, meaning you can get plenty of use from it, whatever the season. You should note, however, that mounting hardware is not included.

Value pick

(Image credit: Yard Butler)

Yard Butler deluxe hose hanger

Streamlined hose holder cast in durable steel

Affordable and ever-so effective.

Pros:

  • Super affordable
  • Heavy duty
  • Tangle-resistant
  • Simple design
  • Mounts to the wall

Cons:

  • Quite basic

Tidy your hose situation with the Yard Butler deluxe hose hanger. This essential hanger will collect your hose in layered loops with its easy, arched design. Its sturdy powder-coated steel construction will withstand hefty hoses as well as weather the elements. The winder is finished with a hose-maintaining bar for proper positioning. At max, this design can support 100 feet of 0.6-inch hose. And it conveniently attaches to your home's exterior or a fence with its dual keyhole mount.

Fancy function

Liberty Garden wall-mounted decorative hose butler

(Image credit: Amazon)

Liberty Garden Hose Butler

Stylish medallion-style hanger in strong cast aluminum

An ornate choice that is both sturdy and inexpensive.

Pros:

  • Stunning design
  • Rust-resistant
  • Durable
  • Weather-resistant
  • Affordable

Cons:

  • Mounting hardware not included

Stow your hose in style with this Liberty Garden hose butler. Its statement-making design features an elaborate scrolling medallion fixed to a three-peg base for an ideal hose-wrapping design. Hoses, up to 0.6 inches in diameter and 125 inches in length, can be swept up in an accessible coil. This hose winder is constructed of durable cast aluminum and finished with a weather-resistant powder coating. For extra-secure installation, this hose-wrangling hanger has a multi-keyhole mounting system for stability.

Welcome to the future

(Image credit: Amazon)

GARDENA retractable hose reel

Retractable reel with a pivoting base

Make coiling a little (well, a lot) easier.

Pros:

  • Auto-winding system
  • Tangle-resistant
  • Wall bracket, plus screws and wall plugs included
  • Modern design
  • Durable

Cons:

  • Quite expensive

If coiling hoses manually isn't your thing, this automatic GARDENA retractable hose reel will collect an outstretched hose with a simple pull. Fifty feet of hose is at your disposal, housed in a protective frost-resistant case. When it comes to transporting your hose to the farthest corners of your yard, mobility is essential. This retractable hose system is attached to a pivoting base that offers 180 degrees of flexibility. As far as installation goes, this hose reel mounts with a simple bracket. And, for convenience, the hose case can be removed from this bracket during inclement weather.

How should you store your hose?

Leaving your hose spread out in your yard is possibly the quickest way to destroy it. To increase the longevity of your hose, you should consider storing it safely when not in use. If you want to give your hose the best chance of a long life, you should do a few simple things.

1. Make sure your hose is not affected by extreme temperatures. Keep in a shed or garage when not in use. Sunshine will make a hose brittle, and freezing will make it split.

2. Coil your hose and hang it. Keeping your hose coiled and hung on a hook or winder will stop the hose from kinking, which can cause cracks. This is the point of this article too!

3. Keep it away from sharp objects. This may seem obvious, but your hose shouldn't be in a position to be sliced or punctured by tools or even sharp corners on the concrete.

If you keep your hose indoors, wound up, and on a hook/winder when not in use, you should be able to use it season after season.

Wrap it up

Why you can trust Real Homes Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

Our chart-topper is the Giraffe retractable garden hose reel, an auto-winding product with a plenitude of features. That said, all our picks are commendable for their very own quirks, for example, the simple but easy-use Liberty Garden hose reel. What about those on a budget? Well, it has to be the Yard Butler deluxe hose hanger. For those after something with a little more charm, try the antique-style Liberty Garden hose butler

Staff Writer

Amy Kaspriskie loves words, often arranging handfuls to pen creative content for Future’s websites, like this one. She has over seven years of experience professionally authoring copy, primarily in the e-commerce realm, with specialties in home, fashion, beauty, and entertainment. You should also note that this speech-savvy lady lives for puns, alliteration, and (of course) the Oxford comma. When not feverishly typing, Amy is giving her beloved canine and roommate, Teddy, all the pets.