If you’re looking for a garden hose to water your lawn or complete other jobs outside your home, a high-quality garden hose is a must. Typically, you can expect to spend anywhere from $20 to $40 on standard hoses, while high-quality expandable garden hoses or hoses over 50 feet can sometimes exceed $50 or $75.
To find the best garden hose for your home, I examined over 50 of the top hoses on the market and read over 200 customer reviews. Overall, my top pick is the Flexzilla 50-Foot Garden Hose, which is durable, kink-resistant, and works in any weather condition. Read the buying guide below for more of my top picks.
Best Garden Hoses: Our Top 7 Picks
- Flexzilla 50-Foot Garden Hose: Best Garden Hose Overall
- Briggs and Stratton Rubber Garden Hose: Best Heavy-Duty Garden Hose
- Giraffe Tools 5-Foot Garden Hose: Best Connector
- TheFitLife Metal Garden Hose: Best Stainless Steel Garden Hose
- Flexi Hose Expandable Garden Hose: Best Expandable Hose
- LINEX Garden Soaker Hose: Best Soaker Hose
- EADUTY Hybrid Garden Hose: Best Value
Compare Top-Rated Garden Hoses
| Product | Available Lengths | Material | Operating Temperature Range | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Flexzilla 50-Foot Garden HoseCheck Price | 3, 5, 10, 25, 50, and 75 feet | Polymer and aluminum | Between -40 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit | 7.8 pounds |
Briggs and Stratton Rubber Garden HoseCheck Price | 25, 50, 75, and 100 feet | Rubber and brass | Between -25 to 200 degrees Fahrenheit | 9.7 pounds |
Giraffe Tools 5-Foot Garden HoseCheck Price | 2.5, 3, 5, 50, and 100 feet | Polymer and brass | Between -40 to 150 degrees Fahrenheit | 1.2 pounds |
TheFitLife Metal Garden HoseCheck Price | 3, 5, 10, 15, 25, 50, 75, and 100 feet | Stainless steel | Not listed | 11 pounds |
Flexi Hose Expandable Garden HoseCheck Price | 25, 50, 75, 100, and 150 feet | Latex, rubber and brass | Between 41 and 113 degrees Fahrenheit | 2.7 pounds |
LINEX Garden Soaker HoseCheck Price | 15, 25, 50, and 75 feet | Vinyl | Not listed | 7.2 ounces |
EADUTY Hybrid Garden HoseCheck Price | 6, 10, 25, 50, and 75 feet | PVC and rubber | BEtween -40 and 140 degrees | 7.1 pounds |
Best Garden Hose Overall
Flexzilla 50-Foot Garden Hose
Good for: Homeowners seeking a long, flexible hose that works in any weather conditions.
This medium-duty Flexzilla garden hose has a distinctive green coating that can withstand severe weather conditions and temperatures between -40 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit, which is one reason it’s my pick for best hose overall. The hose is engineered with a flexible hybrid polymer, allowing it to lay flat and resist kinks. I also like that this hose is safe to use for drinking water.
Pros and Cons of Flexzilla 50-Foot Garden Hose
- Is made of a polymer blend that lays flat
- Is available in five other lengths
- Has an abrasion-resistant exterior to handle any environment
- Doesn’t feature a comfortable grip like other options
- Is susceptible to black mold growth, according to some customers
What People Are Saying About The Flexzilla 50-Foot Garden Hose
“Amazing hose that worked perfectly for what I needed. It is easy to move, resists kinking up, and the ends are metal and are of very high quality! Will for sure be getting more Flexzilla hoses in the future!” — Amy H via Amazon
“…There is nothing fundamentally wrong with this one, but it’s not for me. I find the hose to be heavy and not easy to snake in between flowers when I’m watering. I end up dragging the hose across my flower bed and smashing some of the more delicate plants. I also find this hose difficult to wind up in my hose pot.” — Hockey Mom x2 via Amazon
Best Heavy-Duty Garden Hose
Briggs and Stratton Rubber Garden Hose
Good for: Customers seeking a durable hose for large lawns or commercial use.
This durable garden hose from Briggs and Stratton has a heavy-duty construction that makes it ideal for commercial, industrial, and residential applications. It’s made from rubber and brass, allowing it to withstand rough use and extreme temperatures and weather conditions.
Pros and Cons of Briggs and Stratton Rubber Garden Hose
- Withstands hot water up to 200 degrees Fahrenheit
- Stays flexible in cold weather
- Built for commercial, residential, and recreational use
- Less flexible than other models due to its heavy-duty construction
- Left black residue on some customers’ hands
What People Are Saying About The Briggs and Stratton Rubber Garden Hose
“…This hose combines durability and flexibility in a way that makes garden work seem almost effortless. Made from heavy-duty rubber, it withstands any weather condition and resists kinks, ensuring a steady water flow even when maneuvering around corners or furniture. Its length is perfect for reaching all corners of a medium to large garden without having to constantly move the tap.” — Vic R via Amazon
“…This hose says “premium rubber”, and it smells and feels like a car tire. I left it out in the rain in hopes that some of it would wash off, but it leaves black “greasy” marks on my hands after use. On the positive side, it appears to not want to kink, especially when it’s pressured up.” — Who Knows via Amazon
Best Connector
Giraffe Tools 5-Foot Garden Hose
Good for: Those looking for a long, durable hose connection to extend the length of their hose or attach it to another device, like a water timer.
This compact vinyl hose from Giraffe Tools is designed with a durable weather- and abrasion-resistant outer coating to give you access to water in a variety of environments. This 5-foot male-to-female connector has two swivel ends to prevent your hose from twisting and getting stuck.
Pros and Cons of Giraffe Tools 5-Foot Garden Hose
- Made with three layers to resist kinking, cracking, and bursting
- Includes nickel-plated solid brass fittings to prevent leaks
- Works in temperatures ranging from -40 to 150 degrees Fahrenheit
- Has a short length that limits its reach
- Doesn’t include a nozzle
What People Are Saying About The Giraffe Tools 5-Foot Garden Hose
Most customer reviews that I read said this hose could handle high water pressures and extreme temperatures, specifically high heat. However, a few low-rated reviews mentioned issues with leaking, and others said it was prone to cracking.
Best Stainless Steel Garden Hose
TheFitLife Metal Garden Hose
Good for: Customers seeking a heavy-duty steel hose that waters lawns quickly.
This durable stainless steel garden hose fills with water in seconds to provide homeowners with a fast and convenient way to water their lawns. Ideal for those with large outdoor spaces, the garden hose is 100 feet long to reach every corner of your yard easily.
Pros and Cons of TheFitLife Metal Garden Hose
- Resists rust thanks to its stainless steel material
- Has a kink- and fray-resistant design
- Includes a multi-function spray nozzle
- Isn’t as comfortable to grip or hold compared to other garden hoses
- Has a high price point
What People Are Saying About The TheFitLife Metal Garden Hose
In my research, I noticed the majority of customers who reviewed this metal garden hose thought that it was durable, powerful, and easy to control. Those who purchased the garden hose in its 100-foot length added that it offered ample reach to access the corners of their yards. However, some customers said that it was difficult to tighten the hose to spigots or nozzles, and others complained that it had a bad smell.
Best Expandable Hose
Flexi Hose Expandable Garden Hose
Good for: Homeowners looking for a flexible hose that takes up minimal storage space.
This lightweight expandable garden hose shrinks to a compact size when it’s not in use, but it quickly fills and expands when water is running through it. I like that it also comes with an eight-pattern spray nozzle that has vertical, flat, full, shower, center, stream, cone, and mist modes.
Pros and Cons of Flexi Hose Expandable Garden Hose
- Reinforced with a double latex core
- Has solid brass connectors to screw on any standard spigot
- Includes eight-pattern rotating hose spray nozzle
- Has a relatively high price point
- Leaked in less than a year for some customers
What People Are Saying About The Flexi Hose Expandable Garden Hose
Customers who purchased and reviewed this expandable garden hose said that the materials were high quality and the hose rapidly expanded and contracted. However, I did read some negative reviews that mentioned the hose sprung multiple leaks in less than a year, presenting longevity concerns.
Best Soaker Hose
LINEX Garden Soaker Hose
Good for: Homeowners in the market for a soaker hose for gardening.
This lightweight soaker hose is ideal for landscaping and gardening alike. It can leak water at a rate of 1.8 gallons per minute at 50 PSI, delivering the appropriate amount of water for raised garden beds, tilled soil, and other areas in your yard.
Pros and Cons of LINEX Garden Soaker Hose
- Is available in multiple lengths
- Lightweight and easy to carry and store
- Has a kink-resistant plastic inner core to protect the hose from knotting
- Can’t be used for traditional garden applications, such as watering targeted areas
- Has a shorter warranty than other garden hose products
What People Are Saying About The LINEX Garden Soaker Hose
I found that satisfied customers reported that this vinyl soaker hose was easy to unbox and operate and that it met their expectations during the first few uses. Users said the soaker hose stayed in place where they needed it despite its light weight. However, some users found that their hose had holes in it even after gentle use and others claimed it was not long lasting.
Best Value
EADUTY Hybrid Garden Hose
Good for: Homeowners looking for a traditional garden hose made from heavy-duty rubber material.
If you’re in the market for a traditional rubber hose, this product provides excellent value. It is blended with rubber and PVC to make for a durable, long-lasting hose, and it has a flexible design that doesn’t kink even when fully extended. Additionally, this hose is available in sizes ranging from 6 to 75 feet.
Pros and Cons of EADUTY Hybrid Garden Hose
- Comes with rotatable hand grips for threading fittings onto the hose bib
- Delivers high pressure at 150 PSI working pressure and 450 PSI bursting pressure
- Has a wide 5/8-inch diameter
- Is not expandable
- Lacks the durability of some other heavy-duty hoses
What People Are Saying About The EADUTY Hybrid Garden Hose
We found that customers who were pleased with this garden hose were particularly impressed with its durability and easy setup and takedown. Others commented on how it didn’t leak and rotated easily. However, some others felt it leaked easily, and others said it kinked too easily.
What To Know Before Buying Garden Hoses
Before buying a garden hose, you should first look at the length of the hose and see if it’s big enough to water your entire area. The diameter is also a critical factor, as it can affect water flow.
From there, you can begin to examine factors such as material, flexibility, couplings, and any extra features a hose has that will help it work best for your application. Read my buying guide below for more information selecting the best garden hose.
How long should your garden hose be?
A garden hose’s size is measured by its length, with most models being between five and 100 feet long. If you are only watering your garden, a 15 or 25-foot hose may be sufficient, depending on the location of the spigot. If you have a larger yard or need your garden hose to weave through a variety of objects, a long hose such as the Flexzilla Garden 50-Foot Hose is a better option.
How does diameter affect garden hoses?
The diameter of a garden hose affects its water flow. Most standard garden hoses are 5/8 inches in diameter, but some hoses have larger or smaller diameters of 3/4 or 1/2 inches. A larger hose diameter provides greater water volume and pressure, but typically makes the for a heavier, more cumbersome design.
What materials are garden hoses typically made from?
Any quality hose from a trusted brand will be lead-free, but it’s always worth double-checking your hose’s material composition, especially if there’s any chance it could be used to transport potable water. In that case, verify that the hose is dead free, non-toxic, BPA-free hoses that are certified as drinking water safe by a neutral regulatory authority.
Most water hoses are made out of vinyl rubber or polyester and latex. The most durable rubber hoses like the Briggs and Stratton 50-Foot Premium Heavy-Duty Rubber Garden Hose have a crush-proof, scratch-resistant shell. However, they’re typically more expensive and less flexible than their polyurethane and latex counterparts.
Expandable garden hoses typically have a latex core and a polyester covering. This combination of materials allows the hose to expand and contract without sacrificing flexibility and durability.
How do you tell if a garden hose will be flexible?
A flexible hose is easier to handle and less likely to kink or twist during use. If you want a flexible hose, look for an expandable garden hose or any hose that’s advertised as “kink-resistant” or “no-kink.”
What type of couplings typically come with a garden hose?
Couplings are the fittings on the end of a garden hose. Aluminum or brass couplings are the most common type, but some manufacturers use plastic fittings instead. Couplings are important because they allow users to connect the end of the hose to the spigot as well as pressure washers, sprayers, sprinklers, and other garden hose nozzles and accessories.
What other features should you look for in a garden hose?
Some types of hoses come with additional features to help with water supply transportation. For example, some garden hoses are capped with a brass fitting that doubles as a shut-off valve. Other models have swivel grips that make connecting to a spigot easier.
Tips for Using a Garden Hose
To get the most use out of your garden hose while keeping your plants healthy, consider the following tips.
- Check for leaks before use. Before using your garden hose, look for any visible holes or puncture marks. If you see holes or puncture marks, try to fix them using duct tape or consider replacing the hose.
- Water early or late in the day when it’s cool outside. Using your garden hose during the heat of the day causes some of the water to evaporate, resulting in wasted water and a higher water bill.
- Don’t overwater your grass, plants, or other vegetation in your yard. While it’s easy to add more water as needed, you can’t remove water.
- Use a garden hose with a spray nozzle to adjust the spray pattern and water pressure. Delicate flowers may need a gentle mist, while other vegetation can handle a stronger stream of water.
- When you’re finished using your garden hose, store it properly. Consider using a hose reel or hanger to keep it organized and out of the way. Building your own garden hose holder is a fairly simple project as well.
Frequently Asked Questions About Garden Hoses
What are the advantages of an expandable garden hose?
The advantages of an expandable garden hose include that it drains and coils after you’re done using it. Unlike rubber hoses that are known to bend, expandable garden hoses are resistant to kinks.
Is there a hose that doesn’t kink?
Though many garden hoses are designed to resist kinks, I can’t claim that any garden hose on the market is 100% kink free. Generally, the better you take care of your hose, the less likely it will kink. Look for a garden hose that’s long enough for your needs with built-in kink resistance if you’re concerned about the hose kinking.
Does the diameter of my garden hose matter?
Yes, the diameter of your garden hose matters. Hoses with large diameters dispense more water at once than hoses with small diameters.
Is a 25-foot hose too short?
A 25-foot garden hose may be too short if your spigot is located more than 25 feet away from the area you intend to water. Homeowners with large yards should opt for at least a 50-foot garden hose, if not a 75- or 100-foot hose.
How long will my garden hose last?
Your garden hose will likely last between five and 10 years. The lifespan of your garden hose depends on a variety of factors, including the climate, hose material, and frequency of use. To increase your hose’s lifespan, drain the hose after each use.
Our Methodology
This Old House has empowered homeowners and DIY-ers for more than four decades with top-notch home improvement advice in the form of television programs, print media, and digital content. Our team focuses on creating in-depth product and service review content. To date, we’ve published over 1,600 reviews on products in the home space, including power tools, outdoor equipment, major appliances, kitchen gadgets, electronics, and more that focus on product quality and helpfulness to our readers.
To provide our readers with the best recommendations possible, we rely on several key sources of information to help guide our selection process.
Initial Research: Our research process began by generating a list of garden hoses with a significant number of verified buyer reviews and an average customer review rating of 4–5 stars. We looked at positive and negative reviews alike, focusing on information from both satisfied and critical buyers.
Expert Insights: To complement our in-house expertise, our team looked at reviews and videos from trusted publications and independent testers, spoke with subject matter experts, and drew insights from reader contributions.
Final Product Selection: We then began fine-tuning our list by replacing older models with the latest versions and eliminating any discontinued models. From there, we compared each model’s feature set to create a final short list, selecting the best-in-class options for various buyers, budgets, and scenarios.
Once we conclude our research, we craft a comprehensive, user-friendly article of recommended products and additional information to help our readers make the right purchase.