System for handling cardboard reels to feed machines that produce cardboard tubes, comprising a station (P) for picking up the reels configured to receive a stack (2) of overlapping cardboard reels (1), a station (U) for unwinding of the reels comprising at least one unwinding unit (UU), and handling means (D) for moving the reels (1) along a predetermined path between the reel pick-up station (P) and the unwinding station (U). The reel handling means are provided with an additional reversible device for hooking the reels to the handling means themselves.