Have you used an extension cord, but it always seems to be in the way? It’s no fun and it can cause injuries. It can also cause other damage to the cord itself, making its life short lived.
A retractable extension cord may be just what you’re looking for as you can choose the length that you need and when you’re done, you can retract it right back into place. Read on to see why retractable extension cords are beneficial to have and see all the best ones on the market today.
Top 3 Picks
Best Overall: Reelworks Retractable Extension Cord
We’ve chosen the Reelworks Retractable Extension Cord as the best overall because it can extend up to 65 feet long and its heavy duty. Also, you can mount this cord either on the wall or ceiling.
Best Bargain: DEWENWILS Retractable Extension Cord
The DEWENWILS Retractable Extension Cord will definitely give you a bang for your buck. It can be mounted on either ceiling or wall, and it also has a 180 swivel.
Best Quality: AlphaWorks Retractable Extension Cord
The Alphaworks is an extremely high-quality extension cord that can be used either inside or outside. It’s also a smart extension cord, meaning it can connect to Wi-Fi and be voice activated.
What is a Retractable Extension Cord?
A retractable extension cord is a cord that’s in the reel and when you go to take it out it can extend to a certain number of feet. It can also retract back when you need to be done with the extension cord. Some retractable extension cords come with cord stoppers, extra outlets, and some are even weather resistant. If you’re using it to pair with something such as a charging station or permanent, fixed items, we suggest you not use a retractable cord.
Benefits of a Retractable Extension Cord
No Tripping
Retractable extension cords usually come in a reel that you can mount on the ceiling or a wall. This means, when you go to use the cord for a power tool for example, there are less chances of tripping. Traditional extension cords can only be plugged where the outlet is, which is usually closer to the floor, which can be dangerous for tripping.
Most Come with Extra Outlets
Some retractable extension cords will come with extra outlets. Some of them have either three or five outlets that you can plug in extra appliances or lights. That means you can charge anything from your coffee maker to your laptop to maybe even your Christmas lights if it’s heavy duty.
Extra Features
Some retractable extension cord comes with circuit breakers, cord stopper, smart features and more. A lot of them are built with heavy duty material that you can use outside or leave in the weather elements.
8 Best Retractable Extension Cords
CopperPeak 50 ft Retractable Extension Cord Reel
We’re starting off with CopperPeaks Retractable Extension Cord. It’s on a reel so that means it’s easy to carry wherever you need to carry. It can be mounted on the wall or ceiling for easy use. There’s an adjustable stopper and the cord is made to where it’s safe, so you don’t trip on it. It can be extended up to 50 feet and there’s a 180-degree swivel which means you can get the cord from any direction that you want. This retractable cord also has a circuit breaker (it has a reset button on the case) so you’ll never have to worry about a blown fuse.
The cord itself is made out of a heavy-duty polypropylene case that is resistant to oils and grease. Another cool feature with this cord is that it has an LED status light to let you know that it’s working properly. This cord comes in blue and black, but you do have an option to choose yellow and grey.
What customers are saying:
“This thing is a game changer for my garage which also serves as “project central” for my place. This is an investment I wish I had made five years ago when we built the place. I put it up yesterday and have already used it twice.”
“This Copper Peak cord reel is well made and heavy duty. The reel mechanism draws the cord up quickly and effectively. Shipping was very quick; I ordered it on a Sunday afternoon and received it the next day.”
“Very well built. Strong retraction mechanism, sturdy mounting bracket and hinge, solid outlet piece.”
Pros
- Heavy Duty
- 180-degree swivel
- Circuit breaker
Cons
- Some users have reported that the cord reel can be dangerous as it retracts back quickly
DEWENWILS Retractable Extension Cord
The DEWENWILS Retractable Extension Cord can extend up to 30 feet and it has a 10A circuit breaker. The circuit breaker can help protect the devices from blown fuses and more. It can automatically retract which means you can set a lock on the certain amount of feet that you’ll be using, and it’ll stop there.
There is a 180 swivel on this extension cord that you can get from wherever it’s mounted (Ceiling or wall). The maximum power that it can handle is 1250 watts. A feature that this cord has those other models don’t have is it has three grounded outlets that you can use so that you can charge even more things with this cord.
What customers are saying:
“I should have bought this a long time ago. You will be happy with this reel.
Believe me I would tell you if this sucked! I like this one…”
“This is so great for the garage. I was always thinking about getting one, but too lazy. Anyway, this one I ordered the red and black version. It is secured onto my garage ceiling (with provided screws) and it is very sturdy.”
“For around 40 bucks, this can’t be beat. I used a couple of my own lag screws to attach it to a ceiling joist. Now instead of having extension cords across the floor (trip hazard?), I can just pull this thing out to wherever I need it.”
Pros
- Ceiling or wall mount for safety
- 3 extra outlets
- Cord stopper
Cons
- Doesn’t really stay extended once fully retracted according to some users
Flexzilla Retractable Extension
The Flexzilla Retractable Extension Cord is an extension cord that can extend up to 50 feet. There is also a 5-foot lead in as well. The cord is oil resistant and can resist colder temperatures as well as the sun. The reel can be mounted on either the wall or ceiling, making it safer as you won’t be tripping on cords.
This reel also has a power indicator light with a triple cap outlet for even more capacity. There is a circuit breaker on this as well with a reset button. The maximum watts that can be powered is 1650 watts. It’s the perfect extension cord for those who need more coverage (length).
What customers are saying:
“We just got the Flexzilla and haven’t used it much, but it seems a lot smoother and ‘smarter’ about when to retract and when not to. I would say it is more user friendly than the other brands.”
“Easy to install and adjust. The 5-foot lead-in cord was more than ample length for my installation. Very compact unit which might appeal to someone who needs to install in a tight space.”
“I am glad I went with this over other reels on Amazon. The unit is very sturdy and easy to operate.”
Pros
- 5-foot lead in cord
- Extends to 50-feet
- Triple cap outlet
Cons
- Has an issue at locking with certain lengths
- Can only be used inside
Reelworks Retractable Extension Cord
The Reelworks Retractable Extension Cord is a heavy-duty reel that can be mounted on either a ceiling or wall. This 65-foot card is weather resistant, so feel free to use it outside. The tangle free encased 12 Gauge SJT is designed so that it’s easier to extend and retract. The max watts it can handle is 1875 and there is a triple cap connector included. There is a 135-degree swivel for easy reach to get the cord. It’s a great extension cord if you need to use it on the jobsite or outdoors regularly.
What customers are saying:
“This one offers a 65′ which is 15′ longer than most of the others and is 12 AWG at that. I can run my big 9″ angle grinder to sharpen bush hog blades with no problems of tripping the internal breaker (all of my shop circuits are 20 amp).”
“This ReelWorks Heavy Duty retractable extension cord is one of the best things I have bought for my garage. Having an extension cord I can just pull down from the ceiling is super handy.
“Really like this cord refactor, I used it this winter to use my leaf blower to blow snow off driveway, recoiled fine, and it was a -40c winter here!”
Pros
- Heavy duty & weather resistant
- Can extend to 65-feet
- 135-degree swivel
Cons
- There is no circuit breaker
- Some users have said this is lower quality than what they’re used to
Poweradd Retractable Extension Cord
The Poweradd Retractable Extension Cord can extend up to 3.3 feet. While that’s not a lot, it is a “smart” extension cord reel. It has five power outlets and 8 ports on the reel. Out of those ports, there’s 2 USB ports, 5 AC ports and 1 AC port. This reel has a smart IC technology which means it can recognize the device you’re charging and charge them even faster. For safety, it has circuit protection, over voltage protection and over current protection. It has a max wattage of 1625 so remember to keep that in mind when charging multiple items.
What customers are saying:
“The flower design is not only cute, but it’s functional. You actually turn the flower part to retract the cord. Not only is it great to store, but it’s small enough to travel with. Simple, but ingenious invention.”
“I took it with me on my last overnight trip two days ago and it was so handy to have. It really doesn’t weigh much and isn’t that large. I like the power button in the center as well.”
“I wanted something modern, attractive and all white. This Surge Protector is made well, and it has all the qualities that I was looking for. It came in wonderful packaging, not some cheap wrapping. Buying another one for my home. The flat plug is a must, very sleek design. Highly recommend!”
Pros
- 5 power outlets
- 8 ports
- Smart IC technology
- Added safety features
Cons
- Some users have reported poor quality issues with the extension cord
Woods Retractable Extension Cord
The Woods Retractable Extension Cord is extremely easy to use, and it comes with 4 grounded outlets. It can be mounted on. There is an orange light indicator to let you know that it’s on and there is a 10-amp circuit breaker in case there is any power lost for any reason. The material is made from durable high-quality materials and the cord can extend to 25 feet long.
What customers are saying:
“It is bigger than what it looks in the picture. Nice and sturdy.”
“Works exactly as expected.”
“Good product-exactly what I’m looking for.”
Pros
- 5 power outlet
- Can detect devices and help charge them faster
- 8 ports
Cons
- Extension cord is actually pretty short (3.3 feet)
CopperPeak Retractable Extension Cord
Here we have another Copperpeak extension cord, but this one extends to 30 feet and is 16 gauge. It has the LED status light to let you know it’s working and a 180 degree swivel. Like the previous model, you can mount this reel from either wall or ceiling. If you need more outlets, there is a three-plug outlet that comes with this retractable extension cord. There is an adjustable stopper that can stop at the length that you want to use.
What customers are saying:
“It came undamaged. The product seems like it built good. Steel reel, retracts and pulls out good. No problems.”
“I’ve placed it above my basement utility room work bench and it’s been really convenient to use while finishing the basement since I only have a single outlet down there at this point. More often than not I have multiple tools plugged in at once; so, the three-plug outlet is a considerable improvement over my single outlet cord.”
“So awesome!”
Pros
- 180-degree swivel
- Can be mounted on wall or ceiling for trip free space
- 3 plug outlets
Cons
- No circuit breaker if the power cuts out
AlphaWorks Retractable Extension Cord
Finally, we have the Alphaworks Retractable Extension Cord, which is another extension cord that has smart features that uses Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. It can extend up to 50 feet and is 14 AWG. It can be voice activated, connect to Wi-Fi, use as remote control, and you can even set routines. It has three additional outlets that can be controlled by timers, and it has a built-in slow retraction so that it doesn’t snap back quickly, making it super safe. As far as more safety features, there is over current protection, it is weather resistant, waterproof, fireproof.
The case is made out of oil resistant polypropylene and there is an adjustable cable stopper. It can handle a maximum of 1625 watts. You can connect anything from coffee makers to even sprinklers and control when they go on/off.
What customers are saying:
“Needed a good long outdoor reel for the Wife. She has a corded blower. It’s long enough for my front yard. This scored me points with the Wife. It can be Wi-Fi controlled to integrate with IOT Smart Home. Good quality relays, rubber seals, and components inside.”
“Got it all out of the box, feels sturdy, measured the reel, plugged it in, got the plugs set up in SmartLife, and everything’s up to standards so far.”
“This reel allows me to do outdoor lighting, power tools, sprinkler system, you name it, to a whole new level. If it takes power, this reel can power it and do it by voice command! After setting up the Wi-Fi/Alexa connection (which was super easy)”
Pros
- Smart Extension Cord
- Can extend up to 50-feet
- 3 additional outlets for more charging
- Weather Resistant
Cons
- Some users have complaint about Wi-Fi issues
- Some users have reported it stops working after a certain amount of time
Safety Tips for Using an Extension Cord
Don’t overload extension cord
There’s a reason why watts and other specifications are provided so that you know how much you can get out of the extension cord. Overloading means dangerous shocks or fires.
Choose the right extension cord for your needs
You may need an extension cord for a specific reason such as your power tools. Or maybe you need one just for regular household items. Whichever is your reason, you’ll want to look at the specs and more to make sure that you’re using the right cord.
Make sure you plug into the right outlet
A lot of extension cords come with the three prongs so you don’t want to try to put it into a two-prong outlet as it would be very dangerous.
Avoid Fire Hazards
With traditional extension cords, you don’t want to run it through the wall or steal or anything like that because it can overheat and cause a fire. But, if you get a retractable extension cord, those ones are usually safer to put on a ceiling or wall, because they have high durable quality material to protect them from fire.
How to Properly Store an Extension Cord
Since we’re talking about retractable extension cords, we’ll tell you how to store them properly. If you need to keep it in the garage or workshop you will want to get a retractable extension cord that can be mounted on a wall or ceiling. The reason behind that is because in case you have oil spillage or if you need the cord to be out of way while you use the retractable extension cord for whichever you need it for example, your power tools. You’ll want to keep it out of children’s reach and in an area that is not prone to be flammable.
Bottom Line
A retractable extension cord can be extremely handy to have. They can be mounted from either ceiling or wall for that added safety caveat. Some have extra outlets so you can charge more than one thing. There’s even some that have extra features you’d never thought you see in extension cords. You’ll need to consider what you need the retractable extension cord for. If you have enjoyed reading this guide or have any questions about retractable extension cord, please let us know in the comments if you would like.
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