Best Retractable Garden Hose Reel Without Hose

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A retractable garden hose reel without hose is a reel you mount near a spigot, where the hose either comes separately or is already wound on the drum. Many buyers want the reel alone because they already own a hose and need somewhere tidy to store it. This roundup covers four retractable reels from the listings in this set. It explains which listings name a hose as included, how the reels differ in mounting and winding, and how to decide whether a bundled hose helps you or simply duplicates one you own.

At a glance: the 4 picks, by their own spec fields

Pick	Hose included?	Weight	Operation mode	Flag
Relhost Metal Deck Box Hideaway	No — reel only	20.5 lbs	Automatic	Title says 125ft x 5/8″ capacity, bullets say 65ft — confirm before buying
100ft Wall Mount Automatic (brass fittings)	Yes — 100ft hose + full brass fittings + 10-pattern nozzle	10.09 kg	Automatic	24-month warranty mentioned in package bullet, terms not spelled out
SUNPOW 50ft	Yes — 50ft hose + nozzles + wall mount hardware	8.34 kg	Manual	No wall-bracket load rating in specs — mount to solid framing or rated anchor
GLAHODEN 100ft Automatic Rewind	Title says 100ft hose; Included Components field names only “Garden hose reel” — confirm actual hose length on the package	10 kg	Listing gives both “automatic rewind” in title and “Manual” in operation field — confirm before buying	Two internal conflicts in one listing

Specs are from each product’s Amazon listing, checked 2026-10-11 (full citations in this guide’s sources section). Only the Relhost pick is an actual reel-without-hose as this guide’s title names — the other three ship bundled with a hose. Check the included-components field closely if you already own a hose and want to avoid paying for a second one.

Quick answer

Choose the Relhost reel if you want a reel whose included components name only the reel, and you already own a hose. Check its hose length first, because the title and the bullets give different numbers. Choose one of the three reels that include a hose if you want a complete set and you are happy with the length it comes with. Measure the reach from your spigot to the farthest bed before you decide, and mount the reel with the hardware the maker supplies.

What matters for this keyword

A retractable reel is a different buying decision from a plain hose. Five criteria change when the keyword is a reel without a hose.

1. Whether a hose is included. Read the included components before you compare anything else. A reel that ships with a hose duplicates the hose you already own, and it can also come with a length you did not need. A reel that lists only the reel fits better when you already have a hose.

1. Fitting compatibility. A hose reel is only as useful as the connection at the spigot. Small rubber or plastic washers in the female ends of garden hoses prevent leaks, because the threads are not sealed by themselves. Check that the reel’s fitting matches the threads on your spigot and on your existing hose.

1. Winding style. A retractable reel uses a spring to pull the hose back when you release the water. Automatic winding saves time, but it can also pull a hose back faster than you expect. Look for a slow-return or lock feature if you water in short bursts.

1. Mounting and reach. Most reels in this set mount to a wall. The bracket needs a solid surface, a clear path for the hose and enough room to swing the reel. Measure the reach from the spigot to the farthest bed, not just the height of the wall. For another wall-mount option, see the Best Hampton Bay Wall Mount Hose Reel guide.

1. Housing material. Housings are often polymer, plastic or ABS. Polypropylene is a thermoplastic polymer with high chemical resistance, and it is slightly harder and more heat-resistant than polyethylene. ABS is a thermoplastic in common use since the 1950s. A housing material matters more in sun and frost than in a shaded corner.

How to choose

Use these rules to narrow the field before you compare the four picks side by side.

• Choose a reel-only listing if you already own a hose. Check the included components, and buy the reel without a bundled hose if the listing names the reel alone.
• Choose a bundled hose if you are starting from nothing. A reel with a hose saves a second purchase, but confirm the hose length against your reach before you assume it will cover the yard.
• Choose the longest reach that fits your wall space. A longer hose covers more of the yard, but it also weighs more and takes more room on the drum when wound. For a heavier-duty option, the Best Heavy Duty Garden Hose Reel guide is a useful comparison.
• Choose a wall-mount reel if you have a solid wall near the spigot. A freestanding stand suits a yard with no wall, but a freestanding model is a different product type from a retractable reel.
• Choose a lock if you water in short bursts. A reel that locks at a length saves you from pulling the hose out again for every short session.

Keep the decision simple: pick the reel whose included components match what you already own, whose hose length matches your reach, and whose mounting suits the wall beside your spigot.

Check the hose and the fittings

Before you order, check the fittings on both ends. A reel fitting that does not match the spigot will leak no matter how well the reel winds. Compare the thread size on the reel’s inlet with the spigot and with the hose you already own. If the listing names a brass fitting, that is a useful detail, but it does not replace a thread check.

Also check the hose’s outer diameter if you plan to keep an existing hose. A hose that is too thick or too thin for the drum can jam, bind or fail to wind evenly. Compare the stated diameter in the listing with the hose in your garage.

A kinked hose wears out faster at the bend and can reduce the flow to your nozzle. When you install a reel, route the hose so it leaves the drum in a straight line toward the work area. A guide at the outlet helps keep the hose from twisting as it winds.

Finally, look at the housing and the bracket. A reel that is mounted on a thin siding board or a loose fence post can rock and pull away when a long hose is drawn out. Use a solid wall or a sturdy post, and use the hardware the maker supplies.

Measure before you order

Measure the wall first. Choose a spot near the spigot where the bracket can reach solid material. Drywall on its own does not hold a heavy bracket well, so the bracket should land on framing or on a rated anchor. A stud finder can locate the framing, and it is worth checking the reading twice before you drill.

Next, measure the reach. Walk from the spigot to the farthest bed or tree, and add a few feet for bends and slack. Compare that number with the hose length in the listing, and remember that a reel with a longer hose is heavier and more awkward to wind.

Finally, check the reel’s footprint. A reel on a short wall can hang over a walkway or a door swing. Measure the depth the reel projects from the wall, and make sure a person can walk past it without catching a hip or a bag.

Plan where the reel will sit when you are not watering. A reel that stays on the wall all year needs a spot away from wheelbarrows and foot traffic. If you plan to take the hose down for cold weather, check whether the reel detaches, and confirm that the bracket comes off without a struggle. A quick-release design makes that job easier, but store the hose out of direct sun when you can.

Worked example: matching a hose to your reach

A hose that is 50 feet long leaves 50 minus 35 equals 15 feet of slack. That slack covers bends and kinks, so a 50-foot hose works for this layout. If the far bed sits 60 feet away, the same 50-foot hose falls short, and 60 minus 50 equals 10 feet of missing reach, so you would need a longer hose.

Walk the longest route from the spigot, count the bends and add 20 percent for slack. Round up to the next hose length you can buy, and check that length against the reel’s listed capacity before you order.

Common mistakes

• Ignoring the included components. A reel that ships with a hose you already own is wasted space and money. Read the list before you add the reel to your cart.
• Trusting the title for capacity. Some listings give a capacity in the title that differs from the number in the bullets. Check both, and use the lower figure until you confirm.
• Mounting on siding or a loose board. A reel on weak material can pull free when a long hose is drawn out. Use a solid wall or a sturdy post.
• Skipping the fitting check. A thread mismatch at the spigot causes leaks that look like a faulty reel. Confirm the thread size before you buy.
• Locking the reel at a length you cannot reach. A lock is useful, but set it at a length that covers your work, not at the maximum the reel holds.

Who should skip this type of reel

A retractable reel without a hose is the wrong choice for a few readers. Skip it if you water only one bed next to the spigot, because a short hose and a simple hook cost less and take less room. Skip it if you need a portable cart that you can roll across the yard, since a wall-mounted reel stays put. If a cart suits you better, the Best Eley Portable Garden Hose Reel Cart guide covers that format. Skip it if you have no solid wall near the spigot and cannot set a post, because a bracket on weak material is the most common reason these reels come loose.

Manual crank reels, freestanding holders and hose carts are a different product type. They can hold a long hose, but they do not retract on their own, so they do not fit this keyword. If you want a crank, look for a crank model on its own page rather than comparing it with a spring reel.

FAQ

Do retractable hose reels come with a hose?

Some do and some do not. The included components field tells you what is in the box. Three of the four reels in this roundup list a hose among the included items, and one lists only the reel. Read the listing before you assume a hose is included.

How do I know which hose length to buy?

Measure the reach from your spigot to the farthest point you water, then add a few feet for bends. A hose that reaches with slack to spare is usually the right choice. A longer hose adds weight and takes more room on the drum, so do not buy more length than you need.

Can I mount a retractable reel to drywall?

Only with a stud or a rated anchor, and only if the bracket lands on the framing. A bracket on bare drywall can pull out under the weight of a full hose. A stud finder helps you find framing, and the maker’s hardware instructions tell you what the bracket needs.

Will a retractable reel fit any spigot?

Not automatically. Check the thread size and fitting type on the reel’s inlet and on your spigot. A mismatch causes leaks, and an adapter can fix some mismatches, but an adapter adds a connection that can leak. Compare the fitting details before you buy.

Why do some reels have a lock?

A lock holds the hose at the length you choose, so you do not have to pull it out again each time. A lock is useful for short watering sessions. Set the lock at a length that covers your work, and release it before you wind the hose back.

Is polypropylene or ABS better for a reel housing?

Neither is better in every case. Polypropylene resists many chemicals well and holds up better under heat than polyethylene does. Choose the housing that fits your sun and frost exposure, and check the listing for the material.

What should I check before I order?

Check whether a hose is included, the hose length against your reach, the thread size at the spigot, the mounting bracket and the wall it will sit on, and the footprint the reel projects from the wall. Those checks decide whether the reel works in your yard.

Bottom line

Choose the Relhost reel if you already own a hose and want a reel-only listing, and check its hose length first. Choose a bundled reel if you want a complete set and the hose length matches your reach. In either case, measure the reach, confirm the spigot thread, and mount the reel to solid material with the hardware the maker supplies.

Sources

• Hose reel on Wikipedia: spring driven, hand crank and motor driven styles
• Garden hose on Wikipedia: washers in the female ends prevent leakage
• Polypropylene on Wikipedia: properties of polypropylene housings