The best empty cable reels, compared.
Top pick: Amazon Basics LRK02 Best value: Amazon Basics LRK02 – About £10.52 with 4.6 from 637 reviews. Storage only, up to 45 m on thinner cable. A 12.5 mm hose review doubts much more than 20 m. Updated October 2026.
A cable reel empty of flex is either a socket drum you wire yourself or a tidy reel that only stores a lead you already own. Typical jobs are a caravan hook-up, lights or a hose, or flex kept from a broken extension. A socket drum has outlets and a place to terminate flex. A tidy reel has neither, and it should not carry current while the cable stays coiled. A socket drum needs a printed cut-out and separate wound and unwound ratings. Four sockets are not four times 13 A. UK mains are nominally 230 V and domestic plugs are BS 1363. BS EN 61242 covers household cable reels. The plug fuse does not protect a lead that is still wound. A tidy reel has no such rating, because the lead should be unplugged before you wind it. A title length only fits the cable thickness that listing describes. Type, length and cable size are set out on the [empty cable reel buying guide](/hub/sockets-and-extension-leads/cable-reel-empty/sub/cable-reel-empty-buying-guide).
A cable reel empty of flex is either a socket drum you wire yourself or a tidy reel that only stores a lead you already own. Typical jobs are a caravan hook-up, lights or a hose, or flex kept from a broken extension.
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Personal buying guide
Question 1 of 2
What should the reel do?
The Amazon Basics LRK02 is an orange freestanding organiser at £10.52, 495 g and 33.5 x 33 x 13 cm, rated 4.6 from 637 amazon.co.uk reviews. The bullets list it for leads, lights, hoses and rope, up to 45 m. There are no sockets and no thermal cut-out, so it stores a lead that is already unplugged. A UK review of 20 m of 12.5 mm hose doubts the reel will take much more hose, and expects thinner cable to get closer to the 45 m claim. The parts list includes a knob, washers and screws, while one UK review says the reel arrived as a single piece. It is the cheapest listing in this set with a large review file. It is the wrong object if you need sockets on the drum.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You are storing lights, rope, or a thinner lead and you want the cheapest well-reviewed wheel in this set.
Less suitable: You need sockets, or a thick 25 m caravan lead with large plugs on both ends.
Specifications
Common questions
Will the Amazon Basics reel hold a garden hose?
The bullets say hoses as well as cords. A UK review of 20 m of 12.5 mm hose doubts the reel will take much more hose, and expects thinner cable to get closer to the 45 m claim.
Does it include cable or sockets?
No. The box list is a spool, a knob, washers, screws and a handle. There is no socket and no thermal cut-out in the listing, so it is for storage only.
Do you have to assemble it?
The included-components line lists a knob, washers and screws. One UK review says the reel arrived as a single piece. Follow whichever is in the box you receive.
The Pro Elec PEL00901 is a blue plastic 4-gang empty drum at £18.19, listed at 1.22 kg, with 280 mm in the item type name and a title capacity of 50 m. Across 399 amazon.co.uk reviews it sits at 4.6, and the reviews that describe the job are about fitting flex the buyer already owned. The specification line still says one cable is included, so the carton and the page disagree. One UK review fitted 25 m and would not trust 50 m of their cable, while another says the drum was robust enough for 50 metres, which leaves thickness unsettled. A review mentions wires for a safety switch sharing the terminal holes, and the amazon bullets in this capture do not print a watt rating. The winding handle can pop off. Four sockets are not four times 13 A. A B&Q listing of the same model number states 13 A and a safety cut-out; that figure is not in these amazon bullets.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You are reusing sound flex from a broken reel and you will check the cut-out on the drum you actually receive.
Less suitable: You need a printed wound rating on the amazon page, or a lead that is already in the box.
Specifications
Common questions
Does the Pro Elec PEL00901 come with cable?
The title calls it an empty drum. The specification line says one cable is included. UK reviews describe fitting a lead the buyer already owned, so treat the box as an empty drum unless the listing you see that day shows a lead.
How long a lead will the PEL00901 take?
The title says 50 m. One UK review fitted 25 m and would not trust 50 m of their cable. Another says it was robust enough for 50 metres. Thickness decides the fit. The item type name gives a 280 mm drum.
Is there overload protection?
The amazon bullets in this capture do not state a watt rating. One review mentions wires for a safety switch sharing the terminal holes. A current figure is not printed on this listing.
The SLx Tidy Reel 90131PI is a yellow polypropylene wheel at £12.99, 460 g and 33 x 8 x 33 cm, rated 4.5 from 275 amazon.co.uk reviews. The title is 25 m of hook-up, extension or light cable, and there are no sockets. Several UK reviews say a 25 m heavy hook-up fits, and one says a 16 A camper cable with a plug each end only just fits, while a thinner 13 A lead would be easier. Clip-in hooks and a centre grip are how reviewers wind it. Philex is the manufacturer. Loaded SLx reels elsewhere are marked around 960 W wound and 3,120 W unwound, and those figures do not belong on this storage wheel. It will not power a pitch while the cable stays on the reel.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You already own a finished 25 m hook-up and you will unroll it before the bollard is live.
Less suitable: You need sockets, or the plugs are larger than the opening this wheel actually has.
Specifications
Common questions
Will a 25 m caravan lead fit the SLx tidy reel?
Several UK reviews say yes, including a heavy hook-up. One says a 16 A camper cable with a plug each end only just fits, and that a thinner 13 A lead would be easier.
Can this SLx reel power tools while the cable stays on it?
The listing has no sockets and no thermal cut-out. It is a storage wheel. Unplug the lead before you wind it, and lay a live lead out.
What is the SLx reel made of?
The bullets say a tough polypropylene holder. The listing weight is 460 g and the size is 33 x 8 x 33 cm. Philex is the manufacturer and the model is 90131PI.
The Xtremeauto XACRBY455234 is a black polypropylene storage reel at £13.99, 450 g and 32 x 32 x 8 cm, rated 4.4 from 491 amazon.co.uk reviews. The title says 25 m. The box is a reel and a side handle, and reviews also mention a centre grip for winding. Reviews report a 25 m lead, a hosepipe, and much longer runs of thin speaker cable, without stating a maximum diameter. The listing asks whether it is weatherproof and does not answer, and no IP rating is printed. There are no sockets. It sits in the same price band as the SLx wheel, with a larger review count and less specific notes on whether a 16 A hook-up plug will pass.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a 25 m storage reel with a side handle for lights, a light lead, or a hose.
Less suitable: You need a confirmed pass-through for a 16 A plug, or sockets on the reel.
Specifications
Common questions
Is the Xtremeauto reel weatherproof?
The listing asks the question and does not answer it. No IP rating is printed. Treat outdoor storage as unstated.
Can it hold thick cable?
The title says 25 m. Reviews report a 25 m lead, a hosepipe, and much longer runs of thin speaker cable. They do not give a maximum diameter.
Does it have a handle?
Yes. The included-components line says a side handle, and reviews also mention a centre grip for winding.
The EnergyPro DL616B-BS is an empty green polypropylene reel at £18.88 with four UK sockets listed as BS 1363, a 10 A illuminated push button, and a claim of BS EN 61242. Fully unwound it states 2,300 W, which is 10 A at 230 V, and coiled it states 1,150 W on the 1.5 mm² example and 1,000 W on the 1.25 mm² example. The bullets say you supply H05VV-F 3G1.25 mm² up to 20 m or 3G1.5 mm² up to 30 m, and cable is not in the box. The star line is 4.4 from five reviews. One UK review says the folding handle came off in the first week and was repaired at home. The specification block lists 45.4 g and 10 x 10 x 10 cm, which conflicts with a reel reviewers treat as a full drum. Five ratings are too thin to treat the 4.4 as a settled verdict, and 10 A is not a 13 A reel.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You will build a 10 A lead to the stated lengths and you want those limits printed on the listing.
Less suitable: You need 13 A, a large UK review file, or a listing whose weight agrees with the photos.
Specifications
Common questions
What cable does the EnergyPro empty reel accept?
The bullets say you supply H05VV-F 3G1.25 mm² up to 20 m or 3G1.5 mm² up to 30 m. They do not say any flex is suitable. Cable is not in the box.
What load is the EnergyPro reel marked for?
Fully unwound it states 2,300 W, which is 10 A at 230 V. Coiled, it states 1,150 W on the 1.5 mm² example and 1,000 W on the 1.25 mm² example. That is a 10 A reel, not a 13 A reel.
Did reviewers mention the handle?
One of the four UK reviews says the folding handle came off in the first week and was repaired at home. Others call the plastic strong. The sample is five ratings, so it is thin.
The Outdoor Revolution AC470 is a plastic storage reel at £11.39 and 560 g, rated 4.2 from 810 amazon.co.uk reviews, the largest count in this set. The title says 25 m of mains hook-up storage and there are no sockets. Reviews include a 25 m motorhome lead and a 30 m three-core lead, while others say a thick lead feels too big for the reel. The spec block lists a 13 cm diameter, which sits oddly next to those lengths. Several reviews call the plastic flimsy at first, and one says the black outer rims are thin and could crack if the loaded reel is dropped. Reviews also wind a jet-wash hose, a short motorhome water hose, and Christmas lights, though the listing has no water union. A centre handle is what reviewers use to wind.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a widely reviewed hook-up store at £11.39 and your lead is not the thickest 2.5 mm² cable.
Less suitable: You drop loaded reels, or you need reviews that call the drum robust for a heavy hook-up.
Specifications
Common questions
Will the Outdoor Revolution reel take a 25 m hook-up?
The title says 25 m. Reviews include a 25 m motorhome lead and a 30 m three-core lead. Others say a thick lead feels too big for the reel. The spec block lists a 13 cm diameter, which sits oddly next to those reviews.
Is it only for electric cable?
The title says mains cable storage. Reviews also wind a jet-wash hose, a short motorhome water hose, and Christmas lights. There is no water union in the listing.
How solid is the plastic?
Several reviews call it flimsy at first. One says the black outer rims are thin and could crack if the loaded reel is dropped. The listing weight is 560 g.
The Brennenstuhl Garant 1130710 is a black plastic empty storage drum on a frame, made in Germany, at £16.52, 1.1 kg, and 19 x 29 x 36.5 cm, with a 290 mm drum, rated 4.1 from 559 amazon.co.uk reviews. This listing does not mention sockets or a thermal cut-out. It is a different product from the metal empty socket reel on the Brennenstuhl UK site. UK reviews say the side hole can be too small for a caravan plug, and that there is no clip to start the wind. One buyer enlarged the hole. Another fed a 25 m lead of 2.5 mm² through the hub. A review says it is not a hose reel with an inlet and outlet, even though many buyers wind a garden hose. At 1.1 kg it is the heaviest storage piece here, and 4.1 is the lowest star line among products that have reviews.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a framed storage drum for a hose, fence tape, or a lead you can start through the hub.
Less suitable: You need sockets, or a blue caravan plug that must pass the side hole as sold.
Specifications
Common questions
Is this Brennenstuhl reel an extension with sockets?
This amazon.co.uk listing, model 1130710, does not mention sockets or a thermal cut-out. It is an empty storage drum. It is a different product from the metal empty socket reel on the Brennenstuhl UK site.
Will a caravan plug fit the side hole?
UK reviews say the hole can be too small for a caravan plug, and that there is no clip to start the wind. One buyer enlarged the hole. Another fed a 25 m 2.5 mm² lead through the hub.
Can water run through it like a hose reel?
No. A review says it is not a hose reel with an inlet and outlet. A large hole lets part of the hose sit outside the drum. Bullets describe an empty storage aid.
The Gatuida listing is a small black plastic cord spool at £12.52, 290 g, and 20 x 20 x 6.5 cm. The page gives a capacity of 1 kg and does not state a length in metres. Nothing in the raw file supports a 25 m hook-up. No sockets are described, and the listing asks about a handle without answering. The raw file has no customer reviews and no star line, so there is no UK owner comment on fit or strength. At this size it is a short-cord spool. £12.52 is more than the Amazon Basics organiser, which has 637 reviews and a stated length. Buying it for a caravan lead would be a guess the listing does not support.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You need a small spool for short cords and you accept a listing with no UK reviews.
Less suitable: You have a 25 m hook-up, or you want a review file before you spend £12.52.
Specifications
Common questions
How much cable will the Gatuida reel hold?
The listing gives a capacity of 1 kg and a size of 20 x 20 x 6.5 cm. It does not state a length in metres. Nothing in the raw file supports a 25 m hook-up.
Does it have a handle or sockets?
The listing asks about a handle and does not answer. No sockets are described. The box is one plastic cord storage reel.
Are there UK reviews?
The raw file for this ASIN has no customer reviews and no star line. The price in the capture is £12.52.
Eight amazon.co.uk listings were scored for this page. Weights sum to 100. Shelf date 19 October 2026. Stars, review counts and the printed ratings come from those listings. A tidy reel is not scored as if it had a thermal cut-out. There was no lab test. A count under ten, a missing star line, and a specification block that contradicts the reviews are deductions. Two listings land on the same score. The socket drum takes the top pick because this category is an empty drum you wire, and that drum has 399 reviews of that job. The storage reel at the same score takes best value because it is the lowest price with a large review file and it has no sockets to pretend otherwise.
Amazon evidence
30%Star rating on amazon.co.uk, then a deduction when the count is under ten, when there is no star line, or when the specification block contradicts the reviews.
Listing fit
35%A socket drum scores for sockets, a stated flex or length, and a printed amp or cut-out. A storage reel scores for a stated length and a shape reviewers use for a finished lead. Sockets are not invented for a storage reel. A 13 cm diameter next to a 25 m review is not treated as the real size.
Review outcome
20%UK reviews that describe fitting a reused lead, or winding a 25 m hook-up, score higher than a large file that repeats a tight plug hole, a cracked rim, or a handle that came off.
Value
15%Shelf price in GBP against a reel a UK review can use for the job on the title. A low price does not score when there are no reviews.
The checks run in this order: socket drum or tidy reel, the lead you already have, then a printed cut-out if the drum will be live. Length on the title only fits the cable thickness that listing describes. None of these reels was load-tested in a lab for this page.
An empty cable reel on amazon.co.uk is either a socket drum you wire yourself or a tidy reel that only stores a lead you already own. The jobs behind this set are a caravan hook-up, lights or a hose, and a broken extension rebuilt with the old flex. The notes follow eight stored amazon.co.uk listings scored on 19 October 2026. This is not a laboratory test and not a market-size figure. Product type comes first. Sockets and a place to terminate flex mean a socket drum.
A tidy reel has no outlets and no thermal cut-out. It stores a lead that is already unplugged. If you need to terminate flex, that is a socket drum, and four sockets are still not four times 13 A.
The plug fuse does not protect a lead that is still wound. Electrical Safety First says unwind to the marked current and do not use a reel with no thermal cut-out. A tidy reel should not be live at all.
A 50 m or 45 m title only fits the thickness that listing describes. One Pro Elec buyer stopped at 25 m of their flex. A heavy 16 A hook-up only just fits the SLx wheel. EnergyPro’s 10 A print is not 13 A.
Start with the object, then the lead you already have. A socket drum has outlets and a place to terminate flex. A tidy reel does not, and it should not carry current while the cable is coiled. The socket drums in this set are the Pro Elec PEL00901 and the EnergyPro DL616B-BS. Everything else here is storage. A finished 25 m hook-up with blue BS EN 60309-2 plugs needs an opening that passes the connector. SLx reviews say a heavy 16 A lead only just fits.
A cut-out and a wound rating apply only when the drum is live. EnergyPro prints 10 A, 2,300 W unwound, and lower coiled limits, and it claims BS EN 61242. That is not 13 A. The Pro Elec amazon bullets do not print watts. A B&Q listing of PEL00901 states 13 A and a safety cut-out, and that figure is not in these amazon bullets. Four sockets are not four times 13 A. UK mains are nominally 230 V. Plugs are BS 1363 with a BS 1362 fuse. The plug fuse does not protect a lead that is still wound.
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
You are keeping sound flex from a failed extension and you will check the cut-out on the drum you receive. The Pro Elec PEL00901 is the top pick at about £18.19, with 4.6 from 399 reviews of that job. The specification line still says one cable is included, and the amazon bullets do not print watts.
You want a well-reviewed wheel for lights, rope or a thinner lead, with no sockets to misread as an extension. The Amazon Basics LRK02 is the best value at about £10.52, with 4.6 from 637 reviews, listed up to 45 m. A thick hose will not reach that length.
You already own a finished 25 m hook-up and you will unroll it before the bollard is live. The SLx Tidy Reel at about £12.99 has 4.5 from 275 reviews. A heavy 16 A lead with a plug each end only just fits. It has no sockets and no cut-out.
The top pick is the Pro Elec PEL00901 at about £18.19, with 4.6 from 399 reviews. It is a 4-gang empty drum, and the reviews describe fitting flex the buyer already owned. The specification line still says one cable is included, and the amazon bullets do not print a watt rating. The best value is the Amazon Basics LRK02 at about £10.52, with 4.6 from 637 reviews. It is storage only, listed up to 45 m on thinner cable, with no sockets and no thermal cut-out. The Gatuida spool has no star line in this file, so it does not take the value award.
Amazon Basics LRK02
About £10.52 with 4.6 from 637 reviews. Storage only, up to 45 m on thinner cable. A 12.5 mm hose review doubts much more than 20 m.
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.
