The best 25m cable reels, compared.
Top pick: Desiretech 4-socket 25m Best value: Masterplug Work Power 25m – £24.00 with 4.7 from 4,909 reviews, four shuttered sockets and a BS EN 61242 bullet. No IP rating and no switch. Updated October 2026.
A 25m cable reel stores about 25 metres of flexible lead on a drum and gives you two, three or four sockets at the work end. Most household tools in the UK need a 230 V reel with a BS 1363 fused plug. A yellow 110 V site reel is a different supply. You tell a suitable reel by the voltage, a thermal cut-out, and the wound rating as well as the 13 A headline. Four sockets do not multiply that current. The cable has to come fully off the drum under load. Outdoor in the title is not an IP rating, and coloured flex is not weatherproofing. BS EN 61242 covers household cable reels. The plug fuse does not protect coiled cable, so the reel needs a thermal cut-out. Unwind for the rated current, and do not join two reels. Outdoors, use weather-resistant gear, an RCD and dry ground. The checks before you buy are on the [25m cable reel buying guide](/hub/sockets-and-extension-leads/25m-cable-reel/sub/25m-cable-reel-buying-guide).
A 25m cable reel stores about 25 metres of flexible lead on a drum and gives you two, three or four sockets at the work end. Most household tools in the UK need a 230 V reel with a BS 1363 fused plug.
38 products checked · 58 hrs invested · +18,600 readers
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Personal buying guide
Question 1 of 2
Where will the reel live?
The Desiretech reel states four shuttered sockets, 25 m, 13 A and 3,120 W at 240 V, plus a thermal cut-out, at £36.99. The amazon.co.uk line is 4.8 from 380 reviews. The bullet limits it to indoor use in a workshop, garage, home office or long hallway, and claims CE and UKCA. Reviewers reach a large garden in dry weather, like the green cable, and find the wind-in easier than a loose lead on the ground. The sockets sit close together, so some plugs do not seat fully. The title also says a 20–25 m reach, which is looser than a single length, and the model field is only "1". One review says it is not specifically an outdoor reel and keeps it to dry weather.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want the unwound wattage printed on the page, and you will keep the reel indoors or on dry ground.
Less suitable: You need a weather rating, or you plug in several chunky plugs at once.
Specifications
Common questions
Is the Desiretech reel listed for the garden?
The bullet says indoor use in a workshop, garage, home office, large room or hallway. It does not give an IP rating. Some reviews describe dry-weather garden use.
What load does the listing print?
13 A and 3,120 W at 240 V, with a thermal cut-out and four shuttered sockets described as BS 1363. A wound rating is not printed.
Do the sockets take every UK plug?
Reviews say the sockets sit close together and that some plugs will not seat fully. The title also says a 20–25 m reach as well as 25 m.
The Brennenstuhl Garant 1198053500 is a three-socket reel with 25 m of H05VV-F 3G1.5 cable on a hot-dip galvanised steel drum, a thermal cut-out and self-closing covers, at £59.54. The listing says made in Germany and lists a carrying handle plus a twist grip. The amazon.co.uk line is 4.8 from 15 reviews, and one of those reviews is about a 50 m Brennenstuhl rather than this ASIN. Buyers writing about this shape praise the steel drum and the covers for dust, and they also say a careless wind tangles the cable. The bullets do not state an outdoor or IP rating. H05VV-F is a PVC flexible cord, so the steel drum does not turn it into a rubber outdoor lead, and the cut-out sits on the reel rather than on each socket.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a steel drum for a garage or a trade kit, and you accept a small review sample.
Less suitable: You need a large review count, four sockets, or a weatherproof rubber cable.
Specifications
Common questions
Is the steel Brennenstuhl reel outdoor-rated on the listing?
The bullets do not state outdoor use or an IP rating. They specify H05VV-F 3G1.5, 240 V / 13 A, a thermal cut-out and a galvanised steel drum.
How many people have reviewed it on this listing?
The listing shows 4.8 from 15 reviews, with 13 UK review blocks. One of those reviews is about a 50 m Brennenstuhl, not this 25 m model.
What is the drum made of?
Hot-dip galvanised sheet steel, described as rust-resistant, with a cablepilot handle. Country of origin is Germany. Weight is 4.1 kg.
The Masterplug Work Power LDCC2513/4BL-MP is a four-socket 13 A open reel with 25 m of cable, shuttered sockets and a thermal cut-out you reset by hand, at £24.00. Across 4,909 amazon.co.uk reviews at 4.7, buyers run a shredder, a jackhammer and outside lights from it, and one reel bought in 2015 was still in use. The bullets say it is manufactured to BS EN 61242. The listing does not give an IP rating, so a garden job is not a weatherproof claim. Reviewers who wanted the garden circuit protected bought a separate in-line RCD, because none comes in the box. The cable can tangle on the way out, and one buyer doubted the plastic drum for rough use in a cricket centre.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a basic 13 A open reel for a workshop or a dry DIY job, and you will add an RCD if the tool goes outside.
Less suitable: You need a printed outdoor rating, a power switch, or a 110 V site plug.
Specifications
Common questions
How long is the Masterplug Work Power reel?
The listing states a 25 m cable with four 13 A sockets. It does not print a separate wound wattage.
Does this blue Masterplug reel state a safety standard?
The bullets say it is manufactured to BS EN 61242 and that it has a thermal cut-out with a manual reset, plus four shuttered sockets.
Is an IP rating given for outdoor use?
No IP rating is in the listing. The stated uses are home, DIY and light industrial work, including power tools and workshops.
The Masterplug Pro-XT OMU25134SL-PX is a four-socket open reel with 25 m of high-visibility cable, shuttered sockets, a power switch and an LED, at £36.50. Across 3,621 amazon.co.uk reviews at 4.7, buyers use it in dust on a home extension and say it winds more easily than an older lead that tangled. The thermal cut-out has a manual reset, and one household saw it open under an overload. A review describes the plug strain relief as so rigid that the conductors broke inside, and a friend reported the same model. The bullet claims a five-year warranty while the warranty field says N/a, and one reviewer could not get a replacement after a failure at about two years. The listing prints no IP rating. A live FAQ on the amazon.co.uk page, read on 19 October 2026, calls it IP20 and says to keep it dry.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a 13 A four-socket reel with a switch and an LED, and you will keep the drum dry.
Less suitable: You need a stated rating above IP20, or you want the lowest price in this set.
Specifications
Common questions
Does the Pro-XT have a switch?
Yes. The bullets describe an integrated power switch and an LED that shows power is live, plus a thermal cut-out that needs a manual reset.
What warranty does the listing print?
A bullet says a 5-year warranty. The manufacturer warranty field says N/a. One review says a replacement was not obtained after a failure at about two years.
Is this reel wall-mounted?
The installation field says freestanding. The listing asks about wall mounting and does not answer it. No IP rating is in the listing. A live FAQ on 19 October 2026 calls it IP20.
The Masterplug LVCT2516/2-MP is a yellow 110 V site reel with two sockets and 25 m of cable, at £35.99. The bullets claim IP44, a thermal cut-out, a power indicator, and manufacture to BS EN 61242 and BS EN 60309. It will not run a square-pin 230 V tool, even though the bullets also mention home, garden and DIY. You still need a 110 V transformer between a household socket and this reel. The amazon.co.uk line is 4.7 from 72 reviews, and the listing holds only eight review blocks, several of them one line. One buyer could not get a plug into one of the two sockets. Another thought 25 m was short and wanted 30 m. The power indicator is the detail short reviews actually praise.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You already have 110 V site tools and a transformer, and you want 25 m between the transformer and the tool.
Less suitable: You are plugging in a 230 V mower or any appliance with a square-pin plug.
Specifications
Common questions
Will this Masterplug reel plug into a normal 13 A wall socket?
The title says 110 volt site power and the bullets cite BS EN 60309 as well as BS EN 61242. The listing does not describe a BS 1363 household plug. Do not treat it as a 230 V garden reel.
What weather rating does the listing claim?
The bullets claim IP44 and say the reel is moisture and dust resistant for DIY and construction. They also claim a thermal cut-out and a power indicator.
How many reviews describe the sockets?
The listing shows 4.7 from 72 reviews, but it contains eight UK review blocks. One says a socket would not accept the plug.
The Status S25M13ACR2 is a four-socket 13 A reel with 25 m of green cable and a thermal cut-out, at £25.75, and the amazon.co.uk line is 4.6 from 21,068 reviews. Early reviews praise a robust case, an accurate length, and use with mowers and pressure washers. The title and bullets say outdoor, garden and workshop, but a YESSS page for the same part number says indoor use only, and this listing prints no IP rating. One review calls the reel waterproof, which is not a specification. Another review says 3,120 W falls to 1,200 W if the cable stays on the drum, and that figure is a review note rather than the specification table. Winding is fiddly for some hands, including buyers with arthritis, and a minority call the case flimsy. The printed size of 10 x 5 x 10 cm is not a usable drum measurement.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a low-priced four-socket 13 A reel and you will treat the outdoor title as a claim to check, not as proof.
Less suitable: You need a verified weather rating, or you have limited grip in your hands.
Specifications
Common questions
Does the Status listing prove the reel is waterproof?
No. The title and bullets say outdoor use, but they do not give an IP rating. One review calls it waterproof. That sentence is not a specification.
What safety device does the Status reel list?
A thermal cut-out that disconnects power if the reel overheats or is overloaded. The warranty in the bullets is one year.
Can the printed size be used to compare this reel?
The page prints 10 x 5 x 10 cm and an included-components line of bulb. Those fields are not a credible description of a 25 m drum.
The IONOS ION25M13ACR2 listing shows 4.6 from 21,068 reviews, the same count as the Status S25M13ACR2, and the early review texts match, so this is one sample counted twice. The title says IONOS and outdoor, while the brand field says Status. The price is £33.08, above the Status ASIN at £25.75, for a four-socket 13 A reel with a thermal cut-out and no IP rating. A review mentions 3,120 W falling to 1,200 W if the cable stays wound, and that figure sits in a review rather than the specification table. The material field says metal, while the matching Status page says plastic. The one-year warranty line is on the listing, and it does not repair the shared star count.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You have already compared this page with the Status ASIN and you are not buying it for a separate review sample.
Less suitable: You want an independent set of reviews, or the lower Status price.
Specifications
Common questions
Who is the brand on this IONOS listing?
The title says IONOS. The specification brand field says Status, and the model is ION25M13ACR2.
Are the 21,068 reviews only for this ASIN?
The listing shows 4.6 from 21,068, the same count as Status B007AT9EPG, and the early review texts match. Treat them as a shared block, not a separate sample.
Does the listing give an IP rating?
No. The title and bullets say outdoor use. A review mentions 3,120 W falling to 1,200 W if the cable stays wound. That figure is in the review, not in the specification table.
The Daewoo EXT1035 is a four-way handbag reel with 25 m of cable and a reset button if the case gets too hot, at £30.43. Across 4,927 amazon.co.uk reviews at 4.6, people use it with power tools, and one reviewer ran a pressure washer across a patio. The bullet tells you to avoid using it outside in wet conditions. The specification field does not print an amp rating. The first unwind is a repeated complaint: the cable arrives tangled, the rewind is stiff, and the winding wheel feels cheap. Several reviews call the plastic case flimsy, and one buyer was on a third reel of this type. The printed size starts with 25 m, which reads as the cable length rather than the case.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a closed case for indoor storage, and you will walk the cable out rather than yank it.
Less suitable: You work in the rain, or you want an open drum that winds more easily.
Specifications
Common questions
Can the Daewoo reel be used in the rain?
The bullet says to avoid using it outside in wet conditions. It also says the 25 m cable gives reach inside and outside. No IP rating is printed.
What happens if the Daewoo reel gets too hot?
The listing says a reset button shuts the reel off if it becomes too hot. It does not print a wound or unwound wattage.
Is this an open drum?
The title calls it a handbag reel with a winding handle and a compact case. Reviews often describe a stiff or tangled first unwind.
The SLx 90106PI/14 is a four-socket reel with a 13 A fused UK plug, 25 m of cable and a thermal overload switch, at £34.99. The amazon.co.uk line is 4.6 from 644 reviews. The title says outdoor, and the bullets mention a bright yellow cable, while the colour field says black. One review says the manufacturer's specification states indoor use and calls the outdoor line misleading. Other reviews describe a spool glued to the casing on arrival, a drum that popped out of the coil, and a unit that broke on the third use. Some buyers found the rewind easy and thought the price was fair for a lead under £40. The listing gives no IP rating. One reviewer suspected a fuse after it stopped and had not checked it yet.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You can inspect the reel on arrival and return it if the drum is stuck or the sheet in the box says indoor.
Less suitable: You need a listing whose outdoor claim and cable colour already agree.
Specifications
Common questions
Does SLx state that this reel is for the garden?
The title and bullets say outdoor use, including a lawn mower. One UK review says the manufacturer specification says indoor and calls the outdoor wording misleading. No IP number is printed.
What plug does the SLx reel list?
A 13 A fused UK plug, with thermal overload protection and a winding handle. The bullets offer a 12 month warranty.
What do reviews say about the drum?
Praise centres on easy rewinding. Complaints include a spool stuck to the case, a drum that popped out, and a unit that stopped, with a fuse suspected.
The Brennenstuhl Garant 1218053 is a three-socket reel with 25 m of black H05VV-F 3G1.5 cable, rated 240 V and 13 A, with a thermal cut-out and self-closing covers, at £35.99. The bullet says the black cable is for indoor use. Across 194 amazon.co.uk reviews at 4.6, buyers praise a sturdy frame, an easy rewind and a clip that holds the plug, and some have sprayed a fence or run a garden shredder from it. The PVC cable is less flexible than rubber and winds less neatly. Three chunky plugs will not all sit in the sockets. Socket covers fall off in reviews, and one plug-retaining clip arrived broken. The printed weight of 1.5 kg is light beside the other 25 m reels and is only what the page prints. The origin field says Germany.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a three-socket indoor reel with the cable type printed, and you will keep it off wet ground.
Less suitable: You need four sockets, a rubber outdoor lead, or a weight figure you can trust.
Specifications
Common questions
Is this Brennenstuhl reel listed for outdoor use?
The bullet says the black cable is for indoor use. A listing question asks about outdoors and is not answered with an IP rating. Some reviews still describe garden use.
What cable is fitted?
H05VV-F 3G1.5, stated as 240 V / 13 A, on a reel about 240 mm across. Reviews say the PVC is less flexible than rubber.
Why might three plugs not fit?
Reviews say the three sockets sit close together, so chunky moulded plugs may not all seat at once. Covers are also reported to come off.
The Brennenstuhl Standard 1098253001 is a three-socket reel with 25 m of black H05VV-F 3G1.5 cable, rated 240 V and 13 A, with a thermal cut-out, at £40.91. The bullet says the black cable is for indoor use, and the country-of-origin field says China. Across 223 amazon.co.uk reviews at 4.5, buyers like the sprung socket covers, a drum that keeps the cable on the reel, and a rewind that beats some cassette reels. One unit stopped within about six months and the reset did nothing, with no product support in that review. Chunky rubber plugs do not sit tight against the sockets, and a review notes the missing large top handle of another Brennenstuhl shape. Some buyers assume German manufacture, but the page says China.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a three-socket indoor reel and you can check the covers and the reset before you rely on it.
Less suitable: You want the German-origin steel drum, four sockets, or outdoor use.
Specifications
Common questions
Where does the listing say this reel was made?
Country of origin is China. Some reviews assume German manufacture. The bullet says the black cable is for indoor use.
Can it be wall mounted?
The installation field says wall mount. The listing asks the question and does not give a fitting method. The drum diameter is given as 260 mm.
What failed in reviews?
One review says the reel stopped within about six months and the reset button did not restore power. Others praise the spring covers and the rewind, and note that chunky plugs may not sit flush.
Eleven amazon.co.uk listings were scored for this page. Weights sum to 100. Shelf date 19 October 2026. Stars, review counts, voltage and cable wording come from those listings. IP ratings and wattages are claims on the page, not a measured load. There was no lab test. A shared star line, an outdoor title that a trade page or the bullet contradicts, and a junk dimension are deductions inside those weights. The IONOS review count is not treated as a second sample.
Amazon evidence
25%Star rating and review count on amazon.co.uk for that ASIN. A small count is deducted. A star line shared with another ASIN is deducted hard.
Listing clarity
40%A clear 13 A or 110 V supply, a thermal cut-out, shuttered sockets or a stated cable type, and a switch or LED when the listing has them. An outdoor title that a trade page or the bullet contradicts is deducted. A junk dimension, or a warranty field that disagrees with the bullet, is deducted.
Review outcome
25%UK reviews that describe a finished job score. A broken drum, a dead reset, a socket that will not take a plug, and conductor damage at the plug are deducted.
Shelf price
10%GBP on amazon.co.uk. Price cannot outweigh a shared review count or a title that fights the bullet. The lowest-priced four-socket 13 A reel with a large review count and a BS EN 61242 bullet takes the value award.
The checks run in this order: voltage and plug, unwound current, a thermal cut-out, then whether outdoor is more than a title word. Cable type and socket spacing come after that. The table is the eleven stored listings. Wound wattage stays a label on the reel, not a figure copied from one model onto the others.
A 25m cable reel stores about 25 metres of flexible lead on a drum and gives you two, three or four sockets at the work end. Most UK buyers want a 230 V, 13 A reel with a BS 1363 plug for a workshop or a temporary job away from the wall. A smaller group needs a 110 V yellow site reel. That reel is not a household substitute, and it will not run a square-pin tool. An empty storage drum is a different product and is not in this table. Voltage and the plug come first.
Green flex is not an IP rating. A YESSS page for Status part S25M13ACR2 says indoor only, while the amazon.co.uk title says outdoor. Desiretech, Daewoo and the black Brennenstuhl bullets limit wet use. IP44 in this set is claimed only on the 110 V reel.
The 13 A headline is the unwound rating. Electrical Safety First says a wound reel is often only about 3 A to 4 A. A 720 W wound figure on one trade line belongs to that model. Do not copy it onto the other reels. Use the label on the drum.
Do not daisy-chain reels, and do not buy the 110 V reel for a square-pin mower. Reset a cut-out only after you unplug, remove the load, cool the reel and unwind. A cut or melted sheath needs a registered electrician, not another reel.
Household tools need 230/240 V and a BS 1363 fused plug. BS 1362 is that fuse. Do not fit a larger one. The 13 A figure, often written as 3,120 W at 240 V, is the rating with the cable fully off the drum. Four sockets do not multiply it. Electrical Safety First puts a wound reel at about 3 A to 4 A. The UK note in BS EN 61242 says the plug fuse does not protect coiled cable, so the reel itself needs a thermal cut-out, a current cut-out, or a weak point. Two-core reels are not permitted.
An outdoor word in the title is not an IP rating. IP44 is claimed only on the 110 V reel. A live FAQ on the Pro-XT, read on 19 October 2026, calls that reel IP20 and says to keep it dry. A YESSS page for the Status part says indoor only. Desiretech, Daewoo and the black Brennenstuhl state an indoor or dry-weather limit in the bullets. Brennenstuhl cable is H05VV-F 3G1.5 PVC. A galvanised steel drum does not turn that cord into outdoor rubber.
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
You want a basic 13 A open reel for a workshop or a dry job, and you will add an RCD if the tool goes outside. The Masterplug Work Power is the best value at about £24.00, with 4.7 from 4,909 reviews, four shuttered sockets and a BS EN 61242 bullet. The listing gives no IP rating and no switch.
You want a 13 A four-socket reel with a power switch and an LED, and you will keep the drum dry. The Masterplug Pro-XT is the top pick at about £36.50, with 4.7 from 3,621 reviews and a manual-reset cut-out. A live FAQ called it IP20. Strain relief is the known weak point.
You already have 110 V tools and a transformer, and you want 25 m between the transformer and the tool. The Masterplug LVCT2516/2-MP is about £35.99, with 4.7 from 72 reviews, two sockets and IP44 claimed. It will not run a square-pin 230 V tool.
The top pick is the Masterplug Pro-XT OMU25134SL-PX at about £36.50, with 4.7 from 3,621 reviews, four shuttered sockets, a power switch, an LED and a thermal cut-out. Strain-relief reviews, a warranty field that says N/a, and a live FAQ that called it IP20 are the limits. The best value is the Masterplug Work Power LDCC2513/4BL-MP at about £24.00, with 4.7 from 4,909 reviews, a BS EN 61242 bullet and a manual reset. It has no IP rating and no switch. The Status reel has the largest review count, but a trade page for the same part says indoor only while the title says outdoor, so it does not take the value award.
Masterplug Work Power 25m
£24.00 with 4.7 from 4,909 reviews, four shuttered sockets and a BS EN 61242 bullet. No IP rating and no switch.
Editorial
Peter F. is the editor for DIY & tools at productscompared.co.uk. Comparisons in this category are checked against amazon.co.uk listings, review evidence and public UK sources.
Guides on what to look for, how to use a product, and common mistakes.
Sources taken from the research digest. Listings were scored on 19 October 2026. This page did not run a lab test.
This article contains affiliate links. If you buy through these links we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. Prices, stars and review counts come from stored amazon.co.uk listings. We did not run a lab test.
