How to Make a Garden Hose Reel

On this page (8 sections)

1. What are your options for making a garden hose reel?
2. How do you choose a spot for a garden hose reel?
3. How do you build a simple wooden hose reel?
4. Can you make a hose reel without building anything?
5. What should you check before buying a hose holder?
6. How do you wind a hose so it drains and doesn't kink?
7. How do you keep the reel and hose in good shape?
8. Which setup should you choose?

A garden hose reel is one of those small projects that pays off every time you water. You can make a simple freestanding hose reel from a metal stand or a wooden frame, or skip the build and use a ready-made holder.

The trick is winding the hose in even loops so it drains and stores without kinks.

This guide covers how to make a garden hose reel in a few ways, from a no-build stand to a basic wooden frame. It also covers winding and storage so the hose lasts longer.

For the wider buying picture, our guide to what is the best garden hose reel compares the main types.

What are your options for making a garden hose reel?

The simplest answer is a freestanding stand or holder, which needs no wall and no carpentry. A wooden frame is the next step up, and a wall bracket is the third option if you already have a sturdy exterior wall.

A freestanding holder sits on the ground with ground spikes or a weighted base. It moves wherever you water and needs no tools beyond a screwdriver.

A wooden frame is a DIY build: a base, an upright post, and a cross bar or drum to wrap the hose around. It's a weekend job with a drill and saw, and it can be built to fit your hose length.

A wall bracket is cheap but fixed. It damages siding when it pulls loose, so it's best for brick or solid walls.

For the freestanding route, a metal holder such as the GOFORWILD model does the job with a ground spike and a hook. That's the easiest way to make a garden hose reel without a build.

How do you choose a spot for a garden hose reel?

Put the reel near the spigot, on flat ground and within reach of every bed. A hose that has to run around a corner or over a path kinks more and drains worse.

Check the spigot first. A reel close to the tap shortens the run of hose that stays coiled and makes winding faster.

Keep a clear path so you can walk the hose out and back without dragging it over sharp edging.

Look at the ground. A freestanding stand needs soil that holds its spikes or a firm surface for a weighted base.

Avoid low spots where water pools and softens the ground.

Check sun and shade too. A hose left in full sun gets hot and stiff, so a spot with afternoon shade helps.

Leave room to move around the reel so winding stays comfortable.

How do you build a simple wooden hose reel?

Build a base, an upright post, and a winding bar or drum, then anchor the base. A box base filled with gravel adds weight and keeps the frame upright when the hose is full.

Start with a square base of pressure-treated timber and brace the corners. A single upright post set in the center holds a cross bar for winding.

A simple drum made from a large bucket or a section of wide pipe gives the hose a round surface to wrap around.

Fit two short side arms at the top so the hose can wrap without slipping. Add a hook or bracket to hang a spray nozzle.

Fill the base with gravel or sand and screw a base plate over it.

Sand any rough edges before winding. A rough surface snags the hose and wears the outer layer.

Set the frame level, then test the fit of your hose before you finish the base.

Where does a hose guide fit on a homemade reel?

A hose guide is a small arm or roller that steers the hose onto the drum evenly. Homemade reels often skip one, which is why the hose piles up on one side.

Fit a guide as a short arm with a roller near the winding point. Keep it aligned with the drum so the hose lays flat.

If you skip it, wind by hand and move side to side as you go.

Our post on what a hose reel with hose guide does explains the part in more detail. A guide matters most on long hoses that wrap many times around a drum.

Can you make a hose reel without building anything?

Yes, a freestanding holder needs no build at all. You open it, push the base into the ground or set it down, and hang the hose.

That's the quickest way to make a garden hose reel when you don't want a carpentry project.

The GOFORWILD stand is a good example. It's heavy-duty steel with a weather-resistant coating, a storage basket and two removable hooks for pruners and gloves.

Four reinforced anchor points keep it upright under a full hose, and the maker rates it for up to 150 ft of 5/8 hose. It's also removable, so you can take it down in winter and store it flat.

The base needs soil that holds its spikes. On a patio or deck, set it in a weighted bucket instead.

Winding is manual, so you wrap the hose around the stand by hand. It's the no-build route to a tidy hose corner.

What should you check before buying a hose holder?

Match the holder to your hose length and your ground. A stand rated for a short hose won't hold a long one safely, and a spiked base needs soft ground.

Check the rated hose length. A holder rated for 150 ft of 5/8 hose leaves room for a shorter hose to wind loosely.

If you run a 100 ft hose, allow extra turns so it doesn't stack high and tip.

Check the base type. Ground spikes suit lawns and beds.

A flat or weighted base suits paving. The Qatsrin stand uses a square base with lengthened 7 inch spikes and is rated to 130 lb of bearing weight.

Its wider, higher arch gives the hose room to bend and wind.

Check the height too. A taller stand means less bending when you coil the hose.

The Qatsrin stand measures 45 inches high, which suits most adults.

What about a stand for a retractable reel?

If you already own a retractable reel, you can make a stand for it instead of mounting it on a wall. The Trieez stand is a freestanding post that fits most wall-mounted reels with their brackets.

It has a four-pronged base and a triangular support structure for stability.

It's the option for renters or anyone who doesn't want holes in siding. Assembly takes about 10 minutes with the supplied parts.

Set the base in soil and check the reel's bracket fits before you start. For hose options that suit it, see our roundup of the 5/8 retractable garden hose reel picks.

How do you wind a hose so it drains and doesn't kink?

Wind in loose, even loops and keep the hose off the ground. Tight, stacked coils trap water and crease the hose, which shortens its life.

Start at the spigot end and work toward the nozzle. Lay the first loop around the drum or hook, then keep each turn beside the last.

Leave a gap between loops so air can reach the hose.

Don't pull the hose tight as you wind. A little slack lets the hose relax and drain.

If the hose kinks, unwind a turn and lay it straight before continuing.

Finish by hanging the nozzle end over a hook so water can run out. A hose reel with a guide makes this easier, because the guide keeps the hose in even layers as you pull it in.

How do you keep the reel and hose in good shape?

Drain the hose after each use and check the reel's base and fittings. Small habits stop mold, cracks and tip-overs.

Drain the hose by lifting one end and letting water run out. Coil it loosely and store it under cover if you can.

A full hose left on a stand for weeks gets heavy and stiff.

Check the base and anchor points each season. Tighten loose bolts and clear soil from the spike holes.

Wipe metal parts and check for rust spots before they spread.

Store a wooden reel indoors in winter. A homemade frame left outside takes on water and can split in frost.

Our garden hose winter storage ideas cover draining and storage for reels and carts.

Which setup should you choose?

For most people, the GOFORWILD stand is the easiest way to make a garden hose reel without building anything. It's steel, rated for up to 150 ft of 5/8 hose, and has a basket and hooks for tools.

Push the spikes into soft ground and it's ready.

Choose the Qatsrin stand if you want a taller, wider arch and a heavier base for a long hose on firm ground. Choose the Trieez stand if you already own a retractable reel and want to move it off the wall.

Build a wooden frame only if you want a custom size and have the tools.

Whichever you pick, the winding matters most. Coil loosely, drain after use, and check the base each season.

A tidy hose that drains well lasts longer and is easier to use every time you water.

Frequently asked questions

Can I make a garden hose reel without power tools?

Yes. A freestanding metal stand needs only the supplied bolts and a screwdriver, and a wooden frame can be assembled with a pre-cut kit.

You still need a drill if you build a frame from raw timber, so pick a kit or a stand when you have no power tools.

What size hose reel do I need for a 100 ft hose?

Pick a reel or stand rated for at least your hose length, and allow extra room for winding. A holder rated to 150 ft of 5/8 hose leaves slack for a 100 ft hose, while a 25 ft hose fits almost any stand.

Measure your hose first.

How do I stop a homemade hose reel from tipping over?

Anchor the base. Push a stand's ground spikes fully into soil, or set the base in a bucket of gravel or sand and keep the hose wound low and even.

A wide base and a low center of gravity matter more than extra weight on top.

Does a hose reel need a hose guide?

A guide helps the hose wind evenly across the drum and stops it piling on one side. Homemade reels often skip one, so wind the hose by hand in even layers.

A reel with a hose guide is easier to use if the hose runs long distances.

How do I make a garden hose reel last through winter?

Drain the hose, coil it loosely and store the reel or stand out of hard frost. Remove the hose from a hollow drum so trapped water cannot freeze and split it.

Bring a metal or plastic reel indoors if your winters drop below freezing.