8 Best Garden Hoses of 2024, Tested and Reviewed
Learn the basics of garden hoses, and choose the right one for your yard and garden with HGTV editors' top recommendations, from long-lasting rubber to lightweight, expandable hoses perfect for small spaces.
Amy Marturana Winderl
Our Top Garden Hose Picks
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Best Retractable With Hose Reel
Giraffe Tools AW30 Retractable Wall-Mounted Garden Hose and Reel
Tested by Amy Marturana Winderl and HGTV Editors
Gear up for gardening by purchasing the best hose you can afford — and one that fits your garden needs. Investing in a quality garden hose transforms the everyday chore of watering into a pleasant experience. The right one eliminates the daily headaches of wrestling with a kink-prone, leaky hose. Garden hoses have three distinguishing features: length, diameter and material. Master these basics to take the guesswork out of choosing the right hose.
Amy Marturana Winderl
How We Tested
To find the very best garden hoses out there, we first did our research to find out what hoses customers love and rate highly. When researching, we read customer reviews and ratings, sourced recommendations from local gardening groups on Facebook and consulted master gardener and senior editorial director for HGTV digital, Kelly Smith Trimble. Then, we ordered hoses to test. Between our original garden hose product test, an updated garden hose product test this year, a recent expandable hose test and a hose reel test, we’ve evaluated the performance of 27 garden hoses.
We put each hose through rigorous testing. First, we connected the hose to the hose bib and noted how easy or difficult it was, and if any leaked. We also connected each hose to a hose reel to make sure it was seamless to do (since most of these hoses will likely be stored on reels). We then used the hose to water plants, noting how easy it was to maneuver around the yard and what the overall experience was like.
To measure the water flow rate and efficiency of the hoses, we then used each hose to fill up a 5-gallon bucket and timed how long it took. (Don’t worry – we used most of the water and didn’t just dump it!)
To test how easily a hose kinked, we coiled it into a pile and noted how difficult or easy it was and how twisted or kinked it got. We then pulled it back out to its full length, looked for kinks and noted if the kinks seemed to last or if the hose bounced back quickly after we worked the kinks out. We even held up each hose and purposefully tried to let it bend with the help of gravity.
Amy Marturana Winderl
Amy Marturana Winderl
Finally, we evaluated the durability of the hose fittings by lining up the hoses on asphalt and driving a vehicle over them, targeting the fittings and noting any damage or misshaping.
After all of that, we chose the following eight hoses as the best that money can buy.
- Good flow rate
- Durable
- Variety of size and color options
- Heavy
- Expensive
The Dramm ColorStorm Rubber Hose checks all the boxes for a good quality hose and more. Made of durable EPDM rubber, this 5/8-inch hose is 50 feet long (also available in multiple other lengths and diameters) and features nickel-plated brass couplings and a hexagonal design. Kelly Smith Trimble, master gardener and editorial director of HGTV.com, says, "I love Dramm hoses for their durability and less likelihood of kinking. They come in a great range of colors for brightening up the garden and the chore of watering. I also love that these hoses are made in the U.S.A." The one downside to this hose? It’s on the heavier side, so if you need something that’s more lightweight, it’s not going to be the best pick. But if you’re looking for a workhorse that can withstand all your messiest and most rugged outdoor chores, this hose is the one for the job.
- Material Rubber, brass
- Sizes Available 1/2" x 25', 3/4" x 50', 3/4" x 75', 3/4" x 100", 5/8" x 25', 5/8" x 50', 5/8" x 75', 5/8" x 100'
- Easy to pull
- Quality spray nozzle
- Extra grip on the end
- Nothing
When it comes to maneuverability and overall performance, the Pocket Hose Copper Bullet stood out from the other expandable hoses we’ve tested. The hose expanded quickly and maintained the right amount of pressure when we opened the spray nozzle and let water out. It was easy to pull the hose around without feeling like we had to really tug or over-stretch it. The spray nozzle itself is surprisingly high quality (not always the case when they’re included with a hose) and we appreciate that the threads are copper and not plastic, which instills confidence in its durability. When we ran the hoses over with a pickup truck to test how crush-proof they were, the Copper Bullet didn’t break or even bend at all under the pressure. (The fittings on almost all the other hoses got a bit bent out of shape.) The rubber sleeve at each end of the hose, right before the fittings, is another nice feature: It makes it easier to grip the hose as you screw it on or off the spigot. The Pocket Hose Copper Bullet is available in 25 feet, 50 feet, 75 feet and 100 feet.
- Material Copper, aluminum, latex
- Sizes Available 3/4" x 50'
5 Best Expandable Garden Hoses of 2024, Tested and Reviewed
Check off all your yard to-dos and save major storage space with these lightweight expandable garden hoses.
- Lightweight
- Flexible
- Only comes in one color (neon green)
- May not be as durable overtime as other options
This Flexzilla hose is super popular and well-rated for its lightweight polymer material. It's 50 feet long and features aluminum fittings and a durable outer cover that resists abrasion, UV damage and mold. When testing, we liked that it was lighter than the rubber hoses and easier to flex and bend where we needed it without resisting. The flexibility means that it has more opportunities to kink, but when it does, it’s easy to give it a quick tug and the kink works itself out. We’re skeptical about it holding up as well over time as some of the other rubber, polyurethane or steel hoses, but it’s a great option if you’re on a budget and prefer a lightweight hose.
- Material Hybrid polymer, aluminum
- Sizes Available 5/8" x 25', 5/8" x 50', 5/8" x 75' and 5/8" x 100'
- Lightweight
- Durable
- Kink-resistant
- Great for small spaces
- Coils can get tangled or caught on obstacles if stretched too far
Coil hoses aren't as versatile as a traditional rubber hose, but they can work great for small yards, decks and patios where a heavier 50-foot hose is a bit overkill. Available in 25-, 50- and 75-foot lengths, this coil hose from Water Right features brass fittings and a 5/8-inch diameter. For a 25-foot hose, you can realistically expect it to comfortably reach about 20 feet. A 25-foot hose was perfect for potted plants on our tester's deck, and it even worked great as an attachment on the end of a rubber hose that didn't quite reach some raised beds. Compared to other coil hoses we tried, we like that this one better rebounded to its original compact shape after use, making it easy to store and keep untangled. Plus, it comes in a few different colors.
- Material Polyurethane, brass and nickel
- Sizes Available 3/4" x 25', 3/4" x 50' and 3/4" x 75'
- Easy to install
- Great value
- Great for watering plants at root level
- Not as versatile as other hoses
If you have a thirsty vegetable garden that requires daily watering, consider a soaker hose. Instead of lugging a rubber hose back and forth from storage to your garden, you can simply leave these hoses in gardens and landscaping beds and just turn on the spigot (or put it on a timer) when it needs water.
Another perk of using soaker hoses for vegetable gardens is that they disperse water at the root level and prevents water from getting on the leaves, which can cause mildew and other plant problems. Watering at the root level also uses the water more efficiently and reduces water evaporation. Our tester loved this option from Rocky Mountain Goods that's made of PVC liner with extra strength fabric because it was super easy to install and soaked the ground around her veggies in just a few minutes. "I like that it is lightweight and easily maneuverable," says Jackie McGilvray, HGTV editor and master gardener. "It just laid flat out of the box, so I didn’t have to pin it down to stay in place."
The downside of any soaker hose is that it's not as multipurpose since it's designed for plants and can't be used for washing cars, hosing down patio furniture and tackling other watering chores around the yard.
- Material PVC and vinyl
- Sizes Available 15', 25', 50', and 75'
- Doesn't tangle or kink
- Durable
- Slower flow
- Extra care required around cars to avoid scratching
Expandable hoses are great because they’re so light and store compactly, but their flow can be inconsistent and they tend to rip easily. We love this stainless steel hose because it has the features we love yet is much sturdier. The Bionic Steel Pro is kink-resistant and very sturdy — it even survived a car running over the couplings! It's resistant to rust and tears, and it features brass fittings and an on/off valve. The one downside is that the flow was lower than the other hoses we picked. A stainless steel hose may be a good choice for someone who moves a lot of machinery and tools around their yard that might potentially run over the hose. Use caution if you plan to use a stainless steel hose to wash a car since, unlike a rubber hose, dragging the hose overtop the car could scratch the exterior.
- Material Stainless steel and brass
- Sizes Available 5/8" x 25', 5/8" x 50', 5/8" x 75' and 5/8" x 100'
- Doesn't tangle or kink
- Lightweight
- Good water flow
- Expensive
Though pricey for a regular old garden hose, the Water Right 600 Series is worth the splurge if you’re looking for something lighter than the rubber Dramm. The two are neck-and-neck in terms of flow rate, but the Water Right is significantly lighter and easier to maneuver around the yard. The polyurethane material is not very flexible, but that also means that it doesn’t kink easily. It’s also a sturdy material, so we’d expect this one to hold up pretty well to the demands we put on it out in the yard. Case and point: During our crush test, we drove over all of the hoses with a pickup truck, and this was one of the only ones with fittings that didn’t bend out of shape under the weight.
- Material Polyurethane and brass
- Sizes Available 5/8" x 25', 5/8" x 50', 5/8" x 75' and 5/8" x 100'
- Mountable
- Convenient storage
- Long hose length
- Thinner hose reduces water flow
A retractable hose can be an absolute game-changer if you need to reel your hose in and out multiple times a day. This one from Giraffe Tools comes with a whopping 130 feet of hose, which is the longest of the retractable hose reels we tested. It's easy to pull out and automatically locks into place when you stop pulling. A quick little tug unlocks it and starts to wind it in automatically. The mount includes a 180-degree swivel, making it easy to pull the hose to different areas of the yard without worrying about kinks. The hose diameter is only ½ inches compared to 5/8 inches for a standard garden hose, so you will sacrifice a bit on water flow. It didn’t make a big difference to us when watering the landscaping, but you wouldn’t want to rely on it for a bigger job like washing a car or hosing dirt off your front porch.
- Material Polypropelene
- Sizes Available 1/2" x 78', 1/2" x 100' and 1/2" x 130'
7 Best Hose Reels, Tested and Reviewed
Organize and transport your garden hose with our top picks for hose reel carts, boxes, wall mounts and more.
What to Consider When Shopping for a Quality Garden Hose
Amy Marturana Winderl
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Length: Hoses usually come in 25-foot increments, most often topping out at 100 feet. The right hose length is the one that makes the most sense for your setting. Use a flexible tape measure to determine the right length for your use. A 50-foot hose is usually sufficient for most suburban yards and tasks like watering garden beds and pots, washing cars and spraying down decks.
While you can purchase hoses 75 or 100 feet long, they'll be that much more expensive to replace and are harder to finagle; instead, we recommend starting with a 50-foot hose and then connecting on additional hoses as needed, such as a shorter coil hose, to add length. This way, if part of the hose wears down and springs a leak eventually, you can simply replace that one section instead of the entire hose.
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Diameter: This usually varies from 1/2 to 3/4 inches. A larger diameter moves more water per minute. A 3/4-inch hose delivers roughly three times as much water as a 1/2-inch hose in the same amount of time. A 5/8-inch diameter is usually considered standard for a garden hose.
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Materials: Rubber garden hoses are generally the most durable and versatile, which also means they tend to be more expensive. A rubber hose resists kinking and cracking, but it’s also a bit heavier, especially when filled with water. A hose reel can help simplify storage. Stainless steel is another durable material that minimizes kinks and leaks but is not as flexible and needs to be handled with care around surfaces like car exteriors to prevent damage. The cheapest hoses are typically made of synthetic materials like vinyl, which can be a decent choice in a warm-weather climate (no freezing winters) where water needs are limited to a small space. Plus, they're typically lighter, making them a better fit for people with limited lifting mobility. Other synthetics, like polyurethane, can make for a lightweight hose that’s also similarly durable to rubber.
The material of the fittings is also important for durability. Hose fittings made from metal like brass are more crush-resistant than plastic. A hexagonal-shaped fitting is also a nice feature to look for since it means you can use a wrench if you need to loosen a too-tight seal.
Quick note: Experts don’t typically recommend drinking from a garden hose, so we didn't prioritize this product claim, but if you’re concerned that your hose delivers water to vegetables or herbs and want one that's safe enough to drink, look for one that’s labeled “drinking water safe.”
Frequently Asked Questions
How long should a garden hose last?
A garden hose should last anywhere from five to 10 years, depending on the materials, how rough you are with it, and how it’s stored. Like most garden tools, you get what you pay for when selecting a garden hose. Cheaper hoses usually feature thinner construction materials that have a tendency to kink. The kinks lead to cracks and holes, which lead to leaks. In short, cheap hoses spring leaks and fail sooner than their pricier counterparts. Storing your hose out of direct sunlight when possible will reduce UV-light damage and extend its life.
How can I prevent a garden hose from kinking and knotting?
While our hose recommendations are kink-resistant and durable, no hose is 100 percent immune from kinks and knotting.
Do I need a garden hose nozzle for a garden hose?
Whether you need a nozzle depends on how you’re using the hose. Typically, you’ll want a nozzle with a stream feature or other medium-force option to water plants so that the water doesn’t hit them too forcefully and damage them. The high-stream options are also great for heavier-duty jobs, like washing off a patio or dirty outdoor toys. A nozzle simply increases a hose’s versatility and gives you more options to customize the settings for each use.
What’s the best way to store a garden hose?
Properly storing a hose after each use to prevent it from getting run over, stepped on or damaged by the sun is one way to extend its life. Hose reels and stands can make storage easier, too, while also preventing the likelihood of kinks. If you store a hose on a hook, avoid storing it on a single hook and instead distribute the coiled hose across two hooks or an arched hanger to prevent a crease from developing, which could lead to a premature leak. If storage space is a challenge for you, an expandable hose may be the best option — they store very small and you don’t have to worry about them kinking while not in use.
How do you repair a garden hose?
Knowing how to make simple repairs to a hose will also ensure it lasts as long as possible. For example, a leak at the end of a hose may just mean you need to replace the gasket, which only costs a few cents to replace. If you run over a hose with a lawnmower and it gets a hole, you can even cut the hose below the hole and install your own couplings to keep using it. Watch the video below to learn how to repair a garden hose.