Every electric reel gets a score from 0 to 100% built from five factors, which maps onto the 5-point rating shown on the site (a 0% score would be 1.5 stars; a perfect score, 5). Each factor is scored against fixed reference points, not against the other products in the list, so adding a new model never moves another model’s rating. Reels are grouped by maximum drag (under 14 kg, 14 to 24 kg, 25 kg and up) and use the same scale in every group.
| Factor | Measures | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Value | price per kg of maximum drag | 30% |
| Drag | maximum drag | 20% |
| Line speed | line speed with a 1 kg load | 20% |
| Weight | drag per kg of reel weight | 15% |
| Warranty | longest warranty the maker states | 15% |
Where the numbers come from
Drag, weight, gear ratio, line speed, line capacity and warranty come from the maker’s own product page: Daiwa Japan’s spec tables, PENN’s product pages and Shimano’s product pages. Retail listings often disagree with each other and with the maker, so they are not used for specs. Prices are checked at Amazon. Anything a maker doesn’t publish is left blank.
Shimano’s pages block automated downloads, and its figures were read through a search engine’s copy of each page. Where Shimano’s own pages disagree with each other, as for the Forcemaster 2000’s weight, the product page’s table is used.
The factors
Value is the current price divided by the maximum drag in kg, on a log scale, so halving the price per kg always counts the same. $100 per kg scores zero and $25 per kg full marks.
Drag is the maker’s maximum drag: 8 kg scores zero and 30 kg full marks.
Line speed is the speed with a 1 kg load, which is closer to real fishing than an unloaded figure: 120 m/min scores zero and 165 m/min full marks. On two-range reels the faster range is used. Only Daiwa and, for one model, Shimano publish it. PENN’s page gives none.
Weight is maximum drag per kg of reel weight: 10 scores zero and 25 full marks. It rewards a reel that is light for the pull it gives.
Warranty is the longest period the maker states, general or motor-only: 6 months scores zero and 36 months full marks. Daiwa gives 1 year (or 200 hours, or 100 km of line) and 3 years on the motor of its G and 2026 models. A warranty the maker doesn’t publish scores 0 and is marked estimated, so it can’t beat a published short one.
What isn’t scored
Line capacity, gear ratio, line per handle turn, bearing count, pulling force and power supply are listed but not scored. Capacity depends on the braid size, which differs by maker. The standard pulling force is the Japanese tackle industry’s JAFS figure, which only Daiwa publishes.
Daiwa quotes drag, speed and pull at 13 V, and the Seaborg G800MJ also at 24 V. The rankings use the 13 V figures.
Missing data
If a figure isn’t published, that factor gets the neutral middle score (50) and the product page marks it as estimated.
Ties and discontinued models
Products are ranked by score within each group. Discontinued models stay listed but rank below every current model and can be hidden with the “Hide discontinued” filter.