Best Hose Reel: Cart, Wall Mount or Retractable, by Hose Length

A 100 ft, 5/8 in hose holds about 1.6 gallons of water, 13 lb ready to freeze. Drain it, then pick a cart, wall, box or retractable reel by hose length.

11/4/20263 min read

Best hose reel by hose length: a blue hose reel cart with a yellow hose beside a brick garden wall with a FREE CALCULATOR badge, and a chart of gallons left in a full hose: 1/2 in holds 0.51 gal per 50 ft and 1.02 per 100 ft, 5/8 in 0.80 and 1.59, 3/4 in 1.15 and 2.30; 100 ft of 5/8 in hose is about 1.6 gallons, 13 lb of waterBest hose reel by hose length: a blue hose reel cart with a yellow hose beside a brick garden wall with a FREE CALCULATOR badge, and a chart of gallons left in a full hose: 1/2 in holds 0.51 gal per 50 ft and 1.02 per 100 ft, 5/8 in 0.80 and 1.59, 3/4 in 1.15 and 2.30; 100 ft of 5/8 in hose is about 1.6 gallons, 13 lb of water

Your hose is still screwed onto the outdoor faucet, and the first hard freeze is in the forecast. A full 100-foot, 5/8-inch hose holds about 1.6 gallons, roughly 13 pounds of water. Drain it, wind it onto a reel sized for its length, and store it where it won't freeze.

Quick pick: up to 125 ft of hose, a wall mount. Up to 250 ft, a cart you roll into the garage. Hate winding? A retractable reel with its own hose.

Free calculator: mulching beds for winter too? Get cubic feet and bags in our free mulch and soil calculator. No sign-up.

A frosted garden hose draped over a stone trough, with an icicle hanging from the hose end
A frosted garden hose draped over a stone trough, with an icicle hanging from the hose end

Photo: Anna Maria Gnadl on Unsplash

How much water sits in your hose

The math: inside diameter in inches, squared, × 0.0408 = gallons per foot. Water is 8.34 lb a gallon.

1/2 in hose: 0.51 gal (4.3 lb) per 50 ft, 1.02 gal (8.5 lb) per 100 ft.

5/8 in hose: 0.80 gal (6.6 lb) per 50 ft, 1.59 gal (13.3 lb) per 100 ft.

3/4 in hose: 1.15 gal (9.6 lb) per 50 ft, 2.30 gal (19.1 lb) per 100 ft.

Nominal sizes; yours may differ a little.

A light blue hose wound on a dark hand-crank reel standing in a grassy yard
A light blue hose wound on a dark hand-crank reel standing in a grassy yard

Photo: Seiya Maeda on Unsplash

Match the reel to your hose length

Add it up: two joined 75 ft hoses need a 150 ft reel. Capacities below are in feet of 5/8-inch hose; pick one at or above your total.

Up to 125 ft: a wall mount like the Liberty Garden 704.

Up to 225 ft: a hose box like the Suncast Smart Trak.

Up to 250 ft: a cart like the Liberty Garden 304 or VEVOR.

Retractable: the Giraffe comes with its own 130 ft of 1/2-inch hose plus a 5 ft lead. Your old hose doesn't go on it.

A brass outdoor faucet on a wooden post with a gray garden hose attached and more hose coiled below
A brass outdoor faucet on a wooden post with a gray garden hose attached and more hose coiled below

Photo: Sandra Luimes on Unsplash

Before the first freeze

☐ Disconnect the hose, shut off water to the faucet and drain the pipe, per UGA Extension.

☐ Run the hose over a high spot so gravity drains it, per Oregon State Extension. Then wind it.

☐ Store it inside if you can. Oregon State says a drained hose can stay out, but temperature swings age it and it may last only a few seasons.

☐ Retractable: Giraffe doesn't recommend leaving its reel outdoors in winter. The bracket has a quick-release.

☐ Next: blow out the sprinkler system and winterize the mower.

A gray garden hose with a yellow stripe coiled on a black wall hanger beside an outdoor faucet
A gray garden hose with a yellow stripe coiled on a black wall hanger beside an outdoor faucet

Photo: Luigy Ghost on Unsplash

Wall mount or retractable

Wall mount: Liberty Garden says the 704 mounts to wood, brick, siding or two 4x4 posts. Hardware isn't included; buy anchors for your wall.

Retractable: pull, lock at any length, tug to rewind. Giraffe includes brackets and screws; on a post, it calls for one larger than 4x4. At 28.4 lb, it's the heaviest pick.

A blue hose reel cart with a yellow hose parked beside a brick wall and a leafy garden bed
A blue hose reel cart with a yellow hose parked beside a brick wall and a leafy garden bed

Photo: franci ee on Unsplash

Cart or hose box

Cart: rolls to the far beds, then into the garage for winter. Liberty Garden's 304 is aluminum, 17.3 lb; VEVOR's is steel, 24.2 lb, on four wheels.

Hose box: Suncast's Smart Trak hides the hose under a lid and winds by crank. Its 3-year limited warranty covers leaks from defects.

Hauling mulch bags too? See the best garden cart.

A yellow garden hose hung on a green bracket fixed to a tree trunk in a shady garden
A yellow garden hose hung on a green bracket fixed to a tree trunk in a shady garden

Photo: Ries Bosch on Unsplash

Hose reels (#ad)

As an Amazon Associate, Curb Calc earns from qualifying purchases.

Liberty Garden 304 Explorer Hose Reel Cart: 250 ft of 5/8 in hose, aluminum frame, flat-free tires, basket. See it on Amazon

VEVOR 4-Wheel Hose Reel Cart, 250 ft: steel frame, brass fittings, four 10 in wheels, basket. See it on Amazon

Liberty Garden 704 Wall Mount Hose Reel: 125 ft of 5/8 in hose, cast aluminum, 5 ft leader hose, shelf, 3-year limited warranty. See it on Amazon

Suncast 225 ft Smart Trak Hose Hideaway: 225 ft, crank, hose guide track, stay-up lid. See it on Amazon

Giraffe Tools Retractable Hose Reel, 130 ft: hose included, any-length lock, swivel bracket, 2-year warranty. See it on Amazon

Hose reel FAQ

What is the best hose reel?

One sized for your total hose: a wall mount to 125 ft, a cart to 250 ft, or a retractable with its own hose.

Can I leave a hose reel outside in winter?

Drain it first. Oregon State says a drained hose can stay out but ages faster; Giraffe advises bringing its reel in.

Can I put my own hose on a retractable reel?

Not on the Giraffe here. It comes with its own 130 ft hose.

Watch Curb Calc on YouTube: youtube.com/@curbcalc

Sources: UGA Extension Forsyth County, Nov. 1, 2017; Oregon State University Extension, reviewed 2024; Suncast hose reel warranty.