The best outdoor extension leads, compared.
Top pick: Status 15 m 2-socket reel Best value: SLx RM 10 m reel – About £19.99 with 4.6 from 1,660 reviews on this ASIN, four sockets and a thermal cut-out claimed. No IP code, no wound current, and the rewind tangles. Updated October 2026.
An outdoor extension lead is a portable 13 A cable for temporary power outside, run from an indoor socket to a mower, a pressure washer or garden lights. The usual form is a cable reel, sometimes a straight multi-gang bar. You choose one when the job is occasional and the lead comes back indoors afterwards. Judge a listing by a UK fused plug, a thermal cut-out on a reel, a printed unwound current and a printed IP code. Four sockets still share one plug fuse. Unwind the cable before a heavy tool runs. Outdoor, weatherproof and waterproof are not an IP code. Under BS EN 60529 a water digit of 4 means splashing water, not immersion. A thermal cut-out is not a 30 mA RCD. That device belongs in the supply. Those checks are set out on the [outdoor extension lead buying guide](/hub/sockets-and-extension-leads/outdoor-extension-lead/sub/outdoor-extension-lead-buying-guide). Do not plug a second lead into the first to gain reach. A socket you need every week is fixed work under Part P in England and Wales.
An outdoor extension lead is a portable 13 A cable for temporary power outside, run from an indoor socket to a mower, a pressure washer or garden lights.
26 products checked · 58 hrs invested · +18,600 readers
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Personal buying guide
Question 1 of 2
Will the sockets get wet?
The Status S15M2SHBCR1PK2 is a green 15 m two-socket reel at £19.95. A bullet prints up to 13 A when the cable is fully unwound and 5 A when it is still wound, next to a thermal cut-out. That pair of figures is the only wound-and-unwound rating printed in this set. The 4.6 from 21,068 line and the same fifty UK reviews are also on B007AT9EPG and B0DPG5J37G, so the count is not proof for this 15 m model alone. Shared comments praise an open reel that some buyers find easier to wind than an enclosed case, and they also say the case is flimsy and can separate slightly on rewind. No IP code is printed, a listing question asks if it is weatherproof, and the included-components field says bulb. Origin is given as China, with a one-year warranty and a listed weight of 2.09 kg.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want 15 m, two sockets, and a wound current you can read on the listing before you leave cable on the drum.
Less suitable: You need four sockets, a printed IP rating, or a review file that is only about this 15 m reel.
Specifications
Common questions
What current does this Status reel print when the cable is still wound?
A bullet says up to 13 A fully unwound and 5 A when wound. That pair is the only wound-and-unwound rating printed in this set.
Is the Status 15 m reel IP rated?
No IP code is printed. The title says outdoor and garden use, and a listing question asks if it is weatherproof.
Is the 21,068 review count only for this 15 m ASIN?
No. The same star line and the same fifty UK reviews are also on B007AT9EPG and B0DPG5J37G. Use the line as printed. Do not treat it as three separate totals.
The Status S25M13ACR2 is a green 25 m four-socket reel at £25.75. The title says 13 A and a thermal cut-out, and the best-sellers line is rank 70 in DIY & Tools and 1 in Cord Reels. The star line is 4.6 from 21,068, and the same fifty UK reviews sit on B010LFSTE2 and B0DPG5J37G, so that count is not three separate audiences. Comments in the shared block praise a bright green cable, a thermal cut-out and garden use including a pressure washer, and they also mention 5 m, 10 m and two-socket reels. The case is called a little flimsy and plasticky, and it can separate slightly when you wind it back. The table prints 10 x 5 x 10 cm against a 3.3 kg reel, the installation field says wall mount while the bullets describe a portable reel, and the included-components field says bulb. No IP code and no wound-current figure are printed.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want about 25 m and four sockets for dry garden or workshop use, and you will unwind the cable.
Less suitable: You need an IP code, a wound-current figure, or a review count that belongs only to this 25 m reel.
Specifications
Common questions
What length and socket count does the Status 25 m title give?
25 metres and four sockets, with a thermal cut-out. No IP code is printed. The title states 13 A.
Why is the review count 21,068 on the Status 25 m reel?
The same 4.6 from 21,068 line and the same fifty UK reviews are also on B010LFSTE2 and B0DPG5J37G. The count is printed, not three separate totals.
Do the dimensions match a 25 m reel?
The table prints 10 x 5 x 10 cm and 3.3 kg. The installation field says wall mount, while the bullets describe a portable reel.
The listing titled IONOS is a 10 m two-socket reel at £16.95, the lowest shelf price in this set. The brand and manufacturer fields say Status, model ION13A10MCR6, and the item highlight says green, 13 A, weatherproof and outdoor safe. Bullets describe a thermal cut-out, a carry handle and garden jobs that include mowing, trimming and pressure washing. No IP code and no wound current are printed, and the installation field says wall mount while the bullets describe a portable frame. The star line is again 4.6 from 21,068, shared with B007AT9EPG and B010LFSTE2, so the reviews mix 25 m four-socket comments with 10 m two-socket comments. Weight is listed as 1.47 kg, dimensions are absent, and origin is China with a one-year warranty.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want the cheapest 10 m two-socket reel in this set for a short, dry job and you accept the brand-name clash.
Less suitable: You need an IP code, a wound-current figure, or a review count that is only about this model.
Specifications
Common questions
Which brand name is on this 10 m listing?
The title starts with IONOS. The brand and manufacturer fields say Status, model ION13A10MCR6.
Does weatherproof on this listing mean an IP rating?
The highlight says weatherproof and outdoor safe. No IP code is printed. Those words are not an IP rating.
Is the 21,068 review count only for this 10 m ASIN?
No. The same star line and the same fifty UK reviews are also on B007AT9EPG and B010LFSTE2.
The SLx 90025PI is a yellow 20 m reel with two covered sockets at £34.99, and it is the only listing here that prints IP54. Bullets call those sockets splashproof sealed, claim a BSI-approved 13 A fused UK plug and a thermal overload switch, while the title also says waterproof, which is a stronger word than IP54. It has 4.6 from 4,160 reviews on this file. Reviewers use the covered sockets with a pressure washer and in the rain, and they mention camping plus a reminder to unroll fully, including one note about a 3 kW portable EV charger. The covers are hard to clip shut, the plastic clips are called fragile, and one buyer reinforced the case on arrival. One review says the plug melted and that the thermal cut-out did not prevent it. No wound-current figure is on the amazon.co.uk listing, and one of the fifty reviews is about the 30 m version rather than this 20 m reel.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want the one reel in this set with a printed IP54 code for splash at the sockets, and you will unwind the 20 m cable.
Less suitable: You need a hose-proof or immersion rating, four sockets, or a wound current printed on the Amazon page.
Specifications
Common questions
What IP code is printed on the SLx 90025PI?
IP54. The bullets call the two covered sockets splashproof sealed. The title also says waterproof, which is a stronger word than IP54.
Does the SLx 90025PI include a 30 mA RCD?
No RCD is described. The bullets describe a thermal overload switch and a 13 A fused UK plug. A thermal cut-out is not a 30 mA RCD.
Is a wound-current figure printed for the SLx 90025PI?
No. Reviews say to unroll the cable fully, including when a reviewer used a 3 kW portable EV charger.
The SLx 90073PI/14 is a 30 m four-socket reel at £44.99, with 4.6 from 2,494 amazon.co.uk reviews on this listing. Bullets claim a BSI-approved 13 A fused UK plug, a copper tri-core cable and a thermal overload switch, and the voltage line says 230 V. Reviewers use the yellow cable for a garden, a workshop, a jet wash and car cleaning, and some find the frame stable and the rewind free-running. The same notes call the sides thin flexible plastic, say the drum does not turn smoothly, and say the cable tangles if it is not wound carefully. One review describes a UK plug that loses its connection, and another calls the cable PVC 1.25 mm² when the buyer wanted 1.5 mm². On a second use the reel belched smoke and nearly caught fire with a portable air conditioner drawing about 5 or 6 A. The table also prints 36 watts, plug type B, four conductors and Cat 3, which fights the 13 A tri-core bullet, and no IP code is printed. Ignore the 36 W cell.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You need about 30 m in a dry garden or workshop and you will unwind the whole cable.
Less suitable: You need a printed IP rating, or you will leave the cable on the drum under load.
Specifications
Common questions
How long is this SLx 30 m reel?
The listing says 30 metres, with four sockets. Four sockets still share the one fuse in the plug.
Does the SLx 30 m reel print an IP rating?
No IP code is printed. The bullets say it can be used outside or indoors, and a listing question asks if it is weatherproof.
What load does the SLx 30 m listing give?
The bullets say a 13 A fused UK plug. The wattage field says 36 watts, and the plug-type field says Type B. Ignore 36 W. It fights the 13 A tri-core bullet.
The SLx RM is a 10 m four-socket reel at £19.99, with 4.6 from 1,660 amazon.co.uk reviews on this listing. Bullets name a lawnmower and power tools, a thermal overload switch and a BSI-approved 13 A fused UK plug on a yellow tri-core cable. Reviewers call 10 m the right length for a mower, use it outdoors with a strimmer, and some find it sturdy for the price and light enough to move at a listed 1.39 kg. Winding is the repeated complaint: the cable is stiff, the winder tangles, and plugs do not seat easily in the sockets. One buyer found no hanging handle and drilled holes for a cable tie. No IP code and no wound-current figure are printed, so the outdoor title does not say what the reel may carry while the cable is still on the drum. The frame is listed at 21 x 21 x 10 cm, with a 12-month warranty in the bullets.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a short 10 m reel for a mower on dry ground, with four sockets and a review file that belongs to this ASIN.
Less suitable: The sockets will sit in the rain, or you need a printed current for a still-wound drum.
Specifications
Common questions
Can the SLx RM listing be used with a lawnmower?
The bullets name a lawnmower and power tools. They do not print an IP code or a wound-current figure. Unwind the cable, and keep the mower on dry ground.
Does this 10 m SLx reel have a thermal cut-out?
The bullets describe a built-in thermal overload protection switch. That is a listing claim, not a lab test on this page.
Is an IP rating printed on the SLx RM?
No. The title says outdoor, and a listing question asks if it is weatherproof. Weatherproof without a number is not an IP code.
The Etykir lead is a black 10 m three-socket bar at £19.99, with 4.5 from 70 reviews, and it is not a cable reel. The listing says Type G, 13 A and 3,250 W, one switch for the whole block, child shutters, a rubber enclosure, two mounting holes and surge protection with no joule figure. Reviewers say the 10 m cable reaches the end of a garden and describe it as thick, and some have used it for hedge trimming and garden lights when it stayed out of standing wet. Several UK reviews say the instructions or packaging say indoor use only, or not for damp or wet conditions, and no IP code is printed. One reviewer sees a CE stamp and no British Standard kite mark. The single switch is not a switch per socket, and a front-facing switch can be knocked off if you step on it. No thermal cut-out is described.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a 10 m three-socket bar with one switch for a dry indoor or covered run, and you have read the indoor-only paperwork reviews.
Less suitable: You need a reel, an IP code, or a lead whose own instructions agree with outdoor use in the wet.
Specifications
Common questions
Is an IP rating printed on the Etykir lead?
No. The title says outdoor. Several UK reviews say the instructions or packaging say indoor use only, or not for damp conditions.
Does each Etykir socket have its own switch?
The listing describes one switch for the three sockets. Reviews say it is not a switch per socket.
What surge figure does the Etykir listing give?
Surge protection is claimed. No joule figure is printed. Child safety shutters are claimed, and the plug fields say Type G.
Seven amazon.co.uk listings were scored for this page. Weights sum to 100. Shelf date 21 October 2026. Stars, review counts, IP wording and current figures come from those listings. A garden title without an IP code is not scored as weather protection. Four sockets share one plug fuse. The 4.6 from 21,068 line on three listings is one shared block, so it is not counted three times. There was no lab test.
Amazon evidence
30%Stars and review count on amazon.co.uk for that ASIN. A count shared across three ASINs is not treated as three audiences. A count of 70 cannot carry this block the way a four-figure file on one ASIN can.
Outdoor listing fit
35%A printed IP code, a UK 13 A plug claim, a thermal cut-out on a reel, and a wound or unwound current when the page actually prints them. Weatherproof or waterproof with no number does not score as an IP rating.
Review outcome
20%What UK reviews say happened in use: garden tools, rewind, covers, smoke, a melted plug, or paperwork that says indoor only. The points follow those notes, not a laboratory fault rate.
Value
15%GBP on amazon.co.uk against a review file that belongs to that ASIN. The lowest shelf price does not take the value award when the star line is shared and the title and brand field disagree.
The checks run in this order: UK plug and total load, unwind rating and thermal cut-out, a printed IP code, then a 30 mA RCD in the supply and a length you can lay in one piece. The table is the seven stored listings. None of these leads was tested in a lab for this page.
An outdoor extension lead is a portable 13 A lead for temporary power outside. In this comparison, six of the seven amazon.co.uk listings are cable reels and one is a straight three-socket bar. You use it for a mower, a trimmer, a pressure washer or lights, then you take it back in. It is not a fixed garden socket and it is not a new circuit. Start with the plug and the total load. SI 1994/1768 names BS 1363 plugs and BS 1362 fuses.
Electrical Safety First says you unwind a reel to reach the marked current. A wound reel is often only about 3 A or 4 A when the label is unclear. A thermal cut-out is the backstop if the drum gets hot. It is not permission to run a mower on a full drum.
Four sockets share the fuse in one BS 1363 plug. SI 1994/1768 covers that plug and the BS 1362 fuse. A 13 A ceiling is the total, not a figure per socket. Do not daisy-chain a second lead to gain reach.
Outdoor, weatherproof and waterproof are not an IP rating when no code is printed. BS EN 60529 is the code system. Several UK reviews of the straight bar quote indoor-only or not-for-damp paperwork. Do not use that title against its own notes.
A UK outdoor extension lead in this set is judged first on a 13 A plug and a 13 A total load. Four sockets are still one fuse. Ignore a 36 W table cell when the bullets say 13 A. Next, read the reel. Electrical Safety First says unwind to the marked current, look for a thermal cut-out, and do not daisy-chain. Only the Status 15 m reel prints both currents: 13 A unwound and 5 A wound. A blank wound figure stays blank. Weather is the third check.
The 30 mA RCD is in the supply, not in these boxes. The IET’s summary of BS 7671 regulation 411.3.3 requires that protection for mobile equipment up to 32 A used outdoors. A thermal cut-out is not an RCD. None of these seven listings prints a 30 mA RCD or an H07RN-F cable code. Lay the length in one piece: 10 m, 15 m, 20 m, 25 m or 30 m here. Stored prices on 21 October 2026 run from about £16.95 to about £44.99. Extra money buys length or the one printed IP54.
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
You mow or trim on dry ground within about 10 m of an indoor socket, and you will unwind the reel. The SLx RM is the best value at about £19.99, with four sockets and 4.6 from 1,660 reviews on this ASIN. No IP code and no wound current are printed, and the winder tangles.
The sockets may see rain or spray from a pressure washer. The SLx 90025PI is the top pick at about £34.99 because it is the only listing here that prints IP54, with 4.6 from 4,160 reviews on this ASIN. The bullets say splashproof, not immersion, and no wound figure is printed.
You need about 25 m and you will still stay inside one 13 A plug. The Status S25M13ACR2 is a green 25 m four-socket reel at about £25.75, with a thermal cut-out claimed. The 4.6 from 21,068 line is shared with two other ASINs. No IP code is printed.
The top pick is the SLx 90025PI, a 20 m reel with two covered sockets at about £34.99. It is the only listing in this set that prints IP54, with 4.6 from 4,160 reviews on this ASIN. The title says waterproof and the bullets say splashproof. No wound-current figure is printed, and one review says the plug melted. The best value is the SLx RM 10 m four-socket reel at about £19.99, with 4.6 from 1,660 reviews on this ASIN. It has no IP code and no wound-current figure, and the winder tangles. The cheapest reel, at about £16.95, does not take the value award: the review line is shared with two other ASINs, and the title and the brand field disagree.
SLx RM 10 m reel
About £19.99 with 4.6 from 1,660 reviews on this ASIN, four sockets and a thermal cut-out claimed. No IP code, no wound current, and the rewind tangles.
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 21 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.
