The most common hose size?

I said 5/8" is the most common garden hose size. Then I backed up and said I assume it's the most common size. But I don't like to assume. So I googled garden hose sales by size.

Got a lot of links to places selling garden hose, of course. Some links to garden hose reviews. Got one link to The Difference Between 5/8-Inch and 3/4-Inch Garden Hose, which says

You probably only need a 5/8-inch diameter hose... Use of 3/4-inch hoses is normally reserved for professional uses, such as watering public parks or gardens.

So, yeah: I've heard that before. That's the reason I think 5/8 is the most common size. But I still don't know if 5/8 is the most common size! So I kept looking.

Ever heard of Google Answers? I thought it was something new. Apparently, it is something old. Back in 2003 someone asked about the size of the garden hose market. And someone replied:

According the 1997 US Economic Census (the last one completed), there were 218 companies that primarily engaged in manufacturing rubber hose and/or plastics (reinforced) hose and belting from natural and synthetic rubber and/or plastics resins. This North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 32622, Rubber & plastics hoses & belting mfg. This sector generated $4,025,238,000 in sales and paid over 24,000 employees. This was an increase of over 50% in revenue from the 1992 statistics. You can see a breakdown of the sales locations of the manufacturers as well as other data at the reference below.

Reference:
1997 Economic Census:
NAICS 326220
Rubber and plastics hoses and belting manufacturing
http://www.census.gov/epcd/ec97/industry/E326220.HTM

Something from Freedonia on Lawn & Garden Watering Products from a year ago:

Demand for lawn and garden watering products is expected to grow at an annual rate of 2.8% to $970 million in 2021, based on assumptions that weather will be favorable and the economy will continue to grow at a slow to moderate pace. Trends in watering products will continue to focus on attributes demanded by consumers: ease of use, performance, durability, and water conservation.

However,

This report presents a detailed analysis of the US consumer market for residential do-it-yourself (DIY) lawn and garden watering products.

and

The report does not include products/services sold to the following markets:

• agricultural
• commercial
• horticultural
• institutional
• professional
• recreational

The page offers the report for sale... for $4900.

Wow.

And then, something from PR Newswire: Garden Hose Demand to Grow 3% Annually Through 2021. Dated October, 2017 -- same as the Freedonia link. I looked again, and the PR Newswire page says "News provided by the Freedonia Group". Huh. I never heard of Freedonia, and now twice in two minutes. Might be a useful source (if they have free info).

Anyway, PR Newswire says

Demand for garden hoses in the US is forecast to rise 3% per year to $435 million in 2021. Growth will be driven by an improved economy and the development of the higher quality products that are most desired by consumers. Growth will be more broad-based compared to the previous five-year period due primarily to the leveling off of demand for expandable hoses.

and

These and other trends are presented in Lawn & Garden Watering Products Market in the US, a new study from The Freedonia Group, a Cleveland-based industry research firm.

Yeah, that's the $4900 report.

They also say:

Conventional garden hoses continue to dominate the market, accounting for around 70% of all sales. A conventional garden hose is still seen by most households as a basic item required for typical maintenance activities. Further gains will result from disappointed buyers of expandable hoses reverting back to conventional hoses, which have a longer history of positive performance and durability.

Soaker hoses will see the fastest increase of sales at 6.4% per year through 2021. Despite the rapid gains, soaker hoses are expected to remain a niche product as their use is primarily limited to irrigation purposes.

Yeah. I bought my first shrinker hose 2, maybe 3 years ago. Fell in love with it immediately and bought two more since. But now I'm running out of em because the outer cover wears out and the rubber tube within expands like a balloon when you turn the water on, and you can't use the hose anymore. You can repair em, but it's difficult to get the fittings into that rubber tube. I haven't found a solution to that, yet.

But I do plan to buy some soaker hoses this coming spring. And probably some of those compression fittings I was looking at the other day.

//

Okay, so I have three numbers:

• $435 million in 2021
• $970 million in 2021
• $4,025,238,000 in sales in 1997. Four billion dollars.

That last number includes "belting" and all kinds of hoses, so it probably overstates the garden hose market. A lot. The low number is only for garden hoses. And the middle number is for "lawn and garden watering products" which is more than just hoses.

So half a billion in garden hoses and another half a billion in accessories gets us to a billion bucks. That leaves three billion for belting and hoses other than garden hoses. All very interesting.

But I still don't know how many 5/8" hoses then sell, and how many 3/4" hoses. I still don't know the most common garden hose size.