Best Garden Hoses for Your Yard

Choosing your best garden hose will depend on several factors such as the size of your yard, your local climate and budget. You’ll need to decide what garden hose material, durability and flexibility you prefer. The length, diameter and fittings you select will determine the hose’s capacity. Pick the nozzle or wand that best suits your needs. Overall, the best water hose will be the one that keeps your lawn, garden and landscape well-watered season after season.

There are at least 10 types of garden hoses. The best garden hoses for watering your garden may not be the best water hose for soaking the lawn. Choose your hose based on the use. Here are the most popular types of garden hoses and uses:

Standard Garden Hose:

• This is an all-purpose hose that works for general watering and cleaning tasks. You can get them in various materials and sizes.

Soaker Hose:

• This hose has tiny holes in it that let water seep out slowly. The flow is gentle enough for delicate plants. If you set it on a timer, it’s an effortless way to keep your garden thriving through a hot summer.

Sprinkler Hose:

• This hose acts as a sprinkler and a soaker hose. It has a flat base on the bottom and holes on top. Water sprinkles through the holes along the whole length of the hose. It’s excellent for watering a larger area of grass or garden.

Flat Hose:

• A flat hose looks like a collapsed firefighter's hose. It lies flat until water pressure makes it round. This hose is easy to store, takes up less space and is self-draining.

Coiled Hose:

• This hose is tightly coiled into a spring when it’s not in use. A coiled hose is great for watering small areas. It tends to be a light-duty hose.

Expandable Garden Hose:

• For a lightweight option, this scrunchy-looking hose expands up to three times its length when filled with water. Expandable hoses are the best water hoses for small yards and gardens.

RV/Marine Hose:

• A marine hose features a nontoxic core, so you can drink water from it. It’s ideal for recreational vehicles (RVs), campers, trailers and boats.

Drinking Water Hose:

• Most standard hoses aren’t safe for drinking water. They have plasticizers that can leach into the water. Any hose marked as “drinking water safe” is lead-free, BPA-free and phthalate-free. Marine and RV hoses are drinking water safe.

Metal Garden Hose:

• This type of hose is puncture- and kink-proof. It’s made of industrial stainless steel but is still lightweight. Metal hoses stay cool to the touch and are resistant to corrosion and UV rays.

Hoses are usually made from vinyl, rubber or a combination of the two. Garden hoses are constructed in layers, or plies. The more plies the hose has, the greater the durability. Some hoses have metal coils or cords between the layers of rubber or vinyl to help keep the hose from kinking. Which garden hose material you choose will depend on your budget, gardening needs and climate.

• Vinyl hoses are the most budget-friendly choice. These hoses are best for mild climates and lighter watering tasks. Vinyl hoses aren’t as durable as rubber hoses.
• A rubber garden hose requires the most upfront investment. They’re tougher, more flexible and heavier than vinyl hoses. Overall, rubber hoses are more durable.
• Combo hoses have rubber’s durability combined with vinyl’s light weight. They may have more plies or an outer mesh layer to protect against snags and punctures. Combo hoses are sometimes reinforced with nylon and rayon. This gives these hoses a different level of flexibility.

Aim for a garden hose that’s flexible enough for easy storage and going around corners.

• A reinforced rubber garden hose works well for home use.
• Stiffer hoses are less likely to kink while in use, but they can be heavy and cumbersome.
• Flexible hoses are easy to move around the garden, but they’re more likely to kink.

A hose's durability is determined by its category. Hoses are categorized as light duty, standard or medium duty, heavy duty or super duty.

• Light-duty hoses aren’t as durable, but they’re easier to wind up and store than stronger duty hoses. They work well in small spaces like patio gardens.
• Standard hoses are good for most residential lawn and landscape needs. Take care of general gardening work with a medium-duty hose.
• Heavy-duty hoses have thick walls and are very sturdy. You can leave them outside and exposed to the elements without risking damage.
• The heavier duty the hose is, the more water pressure it can handle. Use heavy-duty hoses for pressure washer tasks.

Tip: When shopping for a hose, use the “U” test. Bend the hose into a “U” shape. If it kinks, choose another.

Hoses come in 25-foot increments up to 100 feet. The best length for a garden hose isn’t one that’s longest. The longer the hose, the harder it is to move around your lawn. You’ll want a garden hose long enough to comfortably move around your yard. Here’s how to find right length garden hose:

• Mark the farthest distance in your yard.
• Using a tape measure, measure from that distance to the nearest spigot or outdoor faucet.
• Choose a garden hose that is slightly longer than your measurement.

A garden hose’s size or diameter determines how much water flows through it at a time.
Garden hose diameters generally range from 1/2 to 3/4 inches. Each size has its own use:

• A garden hose size of 1/2-inch in diameter works for most home lawn and garden uses.
• A few specialty hoses offer a 1-inch diameter, but length choices are limited.
• Larger diameter hoses are for heavy-duty watering tasks. Commercial landscapers are more likely to use lengthy 3/4-inch diameter hoses than homeowners.

Once you've chosen the size of your hose, choose the fittings. Hose fittings, or couplings, are where the hose attaches to the water supply. They’re the end pieces that attach to spigots, sprinklers and nozzles. Most hose fittings are metal and plastic.

• Metal fittings, usually brass, are more durable than plastic. They also come in zinc and aluminum.
• Plastic fittings may be made of nylon or thermoplastic. They attach easier than metal ones.

Next, select a fitting:

• Octagon female fittings are easier to work with than standard round fittings.
• Hose connectors, or spigot adapters, make it easy to multitask. You can run several hoses at the same time from one spigot. Hose connectors allow you to water a large lawn or a wide flower garden in a fraction of the time.

Your specific watering needs will determine the best garden hose nozzles and wands to use.

• Pistol grip nozzles feature pull-style handles that allow you to change the pressure and style of spray as you squeeze. They're sometimes called spray gun nozzles.
• Watering wand nozzles extend your reach by up to 30 inches. They're great for watering areas that are tough to reach.
• Fan nozzles feature widened mouths that spray a wide, gentle spray of water. They're perfect for gently watering delicate foliage.
• Fireman nozzles are versatile and can put out a large amount of water in a very short time. They quickly take care of big watering jobs.
• Pattern nozzles are pistol grip nozzles or wands with many different spray settings. Choose from up to 10 spray patterns, ranging from a fine mist to a strong jet.

Quality garden hoses are an investment worth protecting. With routine maintenance and small repairs, you can extend the life of the hose, save money and conserve water.

• Proper storage is key. Leaving hoses on the ground exposes them to sun damage and lawnmower accidents. Use hose reels, carts or hangers to keep them neat, prevent kinks and avoid tripping hazards. Always store hoses in a shaded spot, and in a garage or shed during winter to protect from freezing temperatures.
• Lengthen the life of your hose by draining it after using. Turn off the water at the spigot. Hold the nozzle trigger until the water stops, releasing the rest of the water pressure. Disconnect the hose from the spigot and let the water drain out. Place the hose at the bottom of a deck railing and pull up, coiling as you go, to empty the hose. As you coil or uncoil the hose, check for kinks and straighten them to avoid damage that can lead to tears.
• Inspect washers regularly, especially at the spigot, and replace them as needed to prevent leaks. For pinhole leaks, clean the area, apply rubber cement, and wrap it with plumber’s tape. Damaged hose ends can be fixed with a repair kit, while leaky couplings are easily replaceable. Spray silicone lubricant on nozzles and wands to prevent rust and locking.
• Even the best-kept hose will eventually show wear, but choosing the right type for your needs helps. Use a soaking or sprinkler hose for newly planted lawns and shrubs, a coiled hose for patios, and a heavy duty hose for your vegetable garden.