3 Ingenious DIY Garden Hose Reel Ideas

Last Updated on May 27, 2022 by Gary Stephen

In this article, we will show three different ways you can create a DIY (do-it-yourself) garden hose reel. These projects are very easy and inexpensive. It could even be absolutely FREE if you happen to have the scrap materials on-hand.

Garden hose reels are the perfect companion in any type of lawn or garden. It is an excellent solution to keeping your hoses tidy and well-stored at all times.

Nowadays, hose reels are available in various types. And of course, various price points too. It can be anything from a basic and cheap hand-crank design. Or, even the complex and much expensive motor-driven hose reels.

Nevertheless, all these simple machines end up doing the same function!

So, why bother spending that hard-earned bucks of yours when there are a lot of ways you can improvise a hose reel?

Now, let’s start turning your trash into a garden dash!!!

DIY #1: Portable Bucket Garden Hose Reel

This DIY project is inspired by Reel-A-Pail’s QuickWinder Cord Reels. Although this one uses a few unconventional materials that you may already have in your kitchen or garage. Here’s how to make your own bucket hose reel:

Materials:

5-gallon plastic bucket – You can use old paint buckets or any plastic container of the same capacity.

10-inch Lazy Susan – You may use your old or unused lazy susan in the kitchen as long as it’s ball bearing mechanism is still intact and working well.
3-inch ABS drain pipe – You don’t need a lot of this. Leftovers from other projects will be just fine as long as the length is long enough.
Wooden board – You can use scrap woods from previous projects. Or, you can also take cuttings from old or unwanted furniture.

5-inch sanding disc drill adapter – This is essential for the “quick winding” feature. It doesn’t matter though if you use a worn-out sanding disc.
Door edge guard – You can often find this in auto supply stores.
Brackets and Screws

Velcro straps
Knob

Procedure:

Measure the diameter at the bottom of the bucket from the inside.

Subtract ⅛ of an inch to give it some allowance.
Trace the circle into your wooden board.
Cut and sand out the edges to give it a smoother finish. Set aside.

Assemble the center. Measure the length from the bottom of the bucket up to the rim.
Subtract the thickness of the wooden board on both ends.
Mark the length in the ABS pipe. Cut and sand out the edges.

Attach the cut ABS pipe into the center of the wooden circle using metal brackets and screws. Set aside.

Prepare the top circle.

Measure the diameter along the inside of the rim line. Take note that the diameter of the bottom may differ from the top portion of the bucket. Thus, it is best to make a separate measurement.
Trace, cut, and sand the top circle in the wooden board.

Attach the top circle to the other end of the ABS pipe using brackets and screws.
On the other side of the top circle, attach the sanding disc drill adaptor into the center.
Then, drill a hole on one side of the top circle. The diameter should be big enough to fit the size of your hose.

Drill in the velcro straps on two opposing ends of the top circle. This will help keep the exposed hose in place. Set aside.

Next step.

Cut open a window in the bucket. The size should be wide enough to conveniently expose one side of the reel.
Line the cut window with door edge guard. This will conceal the rugged edges and help protect the hose from rubbing against it.

Now, prep the lazy susan. Make sure the ball bearing mechanism is exposed. If not, just take out the cover to reduce friction and enhance the performance.
Place the lazy susan at the bottom of the bucket. The ball bearings should face up.
Insert your previously prepared centerpiece on top of the lazy susan.

Thread your hose into the bucket window and out into the hole in the top circle. The part with the faucet connector should go in first.
Secure the extra length of hose into the velcro straps.
To wind your reel, you may use your drill and attach it to the sanding disc adaptor for the “quick winding” factor.

Although, you can also opt to manually wind it by attaching a knob on one side of the top circle.

Don’t want to make DIY hose reel? Buy these instead:

Stromberg Carlson Hose and Cord Caddy

EMSCO Expandable Hose Hider

Garden Holder Storage Pot

DIY #2: Tire Rim Hose Reel

This project is one great way to repurpose your old tire rims. It’s super easy to make and very stylish too. Here’s how to transform tire rims into a decorative yet very useful garden hose reel.

Materials:

Tire rims

3-inch threaded floor flanges, 2 pieces
3-inch male pipe fitting, 6 inches long
⅜ inch bolts

Paint (Optional)

Procedure:

Clean and prep your tire rim if it is already worn-out and dingy. Thoroughly wash it to remove grimes, rusts, and other debris. Better yet, you can also paint on it to renew its look and make it more presentable.
Layout one flange against the wall or any stable structure you wish to place your hose reel in.

Mark the spots for screws. Drill ⅜ inch holes on these spots.
Mount the floor flange using ⅜ inch bolts. Make sure the bolts are tight.
Attach the 6-inch pipe into the flange. You can use a pipe wrench to ensure it is screwed in securely.

Thread the pipe into the center hole of the tire rim.
To fasten the rim, thread another flange into the other end of the pipe. Make sure it is tightly twisted.
Thread the hose with the faucet connector end into the rim. Make sure it is positioned on the side nearest the water source.

Wind the hose around the tire rim until the entire length is finished.

Don’t want to DIY? Buy these instead:

Liberty Garden Multi-Purpose Steel Garden Hose Reel

AMES ReelEasy Side Mount Reel

Liberty Basic Wall Mount Hose Reel

DIY #3: Garden Box Hose Reel

This project is your best choice if you wish to keep your garden hoses totally out of sight. The box keeps the hose hidden while giving it some protection against exposure to harsh weather conditions.

There are also a lot of variations you can create with this plan. For example, rather than doing a plain garden box, you level up your creativity and make it a planter box instead. It is basically the same thing, with the addition only of a planter that serves as the box’s lid too.

Materials:

Large wooden box – You don’t have to buy a new one for this material. Old pallet boxes from the vegetable market will do just fine. Or, if you have the skills and time, you can also opt to custom create your own wooden box.
Rod – You can either choose to use a wooden dowel rod or a metal pipe. Again, you don’t have to buy it, unless you really don’t have any on hand. If you have scraps from previous projects, take advantage of it.
Nails

Cable tie
Paint or wooden varnish (Optional)

Procedure:

Assuming that you already have a pre-made box, you can start by making sure the construction is sturdy. Especially if you are using an old and worn-out box, check for areas that may need reinforcement with additional nails.

Now, drill holes or ports on opposing sides of your box. The diameter should be big enough to fit the size of your hose.
Drill another set of opposing holes on another side. But this time, the diameter should be able to accommodate the size of the wooden rod or metal pipe you choose to use for this project.
To create a simple winding shaft mechanism, cut your rod or pipe at least 3 inches longer than the total length of your box. The box should go through and through the holes so you need that extra length on each side of the rod.

Cut another piece of rod to serve as your handle. The length should be long enough to give you a good grip.
Attach this handle to the rod forming an L-shape.

Notice:

If using wood, you can try to glue both pieces then nail or screw it in place. If using metal piping, solder the edges to fuse both parts together.

Decoration

Next thing is to make your box and shaft look nice and presentable. If you already like the look of your box, leave it as is. But, if you think it needs some improvement, you can choose to paint it with whatever color you like. Just make sure to sand it down first so you can get a smoother layer of paint. Let it dry.

Once the paint is all dry, thread the hose into the ports. The end with the faucet connector should be placed closest to the water source.
Pull the hose until you reach a good length from your faucet into your desired box placement. Secure this length in place by tying down the hose into the shaft using a heavy-duty cable tie.
Slowly wind the garden hose around your shaft. Make sure to guide the hose as it rolls into the reel to prevent kinks.

Don’t want to DIY? Buy these instead:

Suncast Resin Hose Hideaway

Giraffe Hideaway Metal Hose Reel

AMES NeverLeak Cold Weather Resistant Hose Reel Cabinet

Wrapping Up about DIY Hose Reel

There you go! Three simple DIY projects to create your very own garden hose reel. They are very easy to follow and require minimal skills and budget. You don’t need to be a total handyman to build these. Nor, spend hundreds of dollars on your materials. All you need is some elbow grease and tons of creativity!

Moreover, not only will these projects keep your hoses organized, but they also help you repurpose your old stuff. Thus, giving you less clutter, less trash, and of course, less stress!