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Setting up a new home or adding new touches to an existing one is an endeavor that requires a lot of thought. Choosing a home improvement retailer to help you achieve this task is naturally one that will require the same level of consideration too. Therefore, the Lowe’s vs. Home Depot is an old debate.
The answer, however, is a complex, nuanced one, dependent on a variety of factors. DIY enthusiast or professional contractor? Is there a specific brand you’re looking for that is only available with one of the retailers? Is Lowe’s or Home Depot cheaper for the exact product you’re looking for? What is the customer service like? Each factor helps you narrow down your search in order for you to choose the best partner for your current requirement.
Both retailers are the largest and second-largest home improvement retailers in the country, and are each other’s biggest competitors. From pricing, to customer service, to return policies, to membership plans, Lowe’s and Home Depot have strategic benefits for both DIY homeowners as well as professional contractors.
As competitors, Lowe’s and Home Depot have largely competitive prices and pricing strategies. They both also offer a price matching policy which allows customers to find the best prices of the exact product they’re looking for, and request for a price match at either of the two stores.
Both retailers also have dedicated clearance sections, deals of the day, and sale periods. Both retailers also have a military discount with Lowe’s having discounts for veterans, active-duty service members and spouses, and Home Depot offering discounts for active service members and veterans with honorable status, plus spouses.
Both retailers have bulk pricing with different discounts, number of products it’s available on, and minimum purchase requirement.
Therefore, it depends on what you’re looking for, the size of your requirement, and the best deal you find at that particular period.
A top-tier home improvement retailer, Lowe’s has a large selection of products, excellent customer service, competitive prices and an effective return policy. Therefore, shopping at Lowe’s is always a solid option when it comes to picking out home improvement supplies, for both DIY homeowners as well as professional contractors.
Here are some of the primary benefits of shopping at Lowe’s:
The MyLowe’s Rewards system is Lowe’s loyalty program for DIY customers that rewards members with perks such as points for shopping at Lowe’s, exclusive offers, free member gifts, and free standard shipping over a certain tier.
Apart from home improvement supplies, Lowe’s also provides professional services such as installation and assembly. They work with top independent, licensed installers from local communities, cultivating a sense of trust and a provision of good service.
Across product categories, Lowe’s has an extensive selection of products, with a focus on trendy and stylish options. They even have exclusive offerings such as Sherwin-Williams paints and Pella windows.
With private labels like Kobalt, Allen + Roth, and Project Source across product categories like home décor, power tools, and home project solutions, Lowe’s selection is focused on dependability and good quality.
The largest home improvement retailer in the US, Home Depot is one of the most popular names that come to mind when it comes to shopping for home improvement products. An expansive range of products, brands and categories, comprehensive rental options, membership with extensive benefits for professional contractors, it is a brand that has built a strong space for itself in the home improvement category.
With special features like DIY workshops, installation services, and a price matching policy, Home Depot caters to several aspects of the home improvement world for both DIY enthusiasts as well as professional contractors.
A program crafted to cater to contractors and other professionals that do business with Home Depot, the Pro Xtra membership brings with it a whole lot of benefits. Personalized offers and recommendations based on your purchase history, specialized offers, access to exclusive products, the Home Depot Pros get to take advantage of a variety of perks.
When it comes to home renovation, every expense adds up. Tools, machinery, and large equipment can be rented out from Home Depot. Not only does it help save money, it also avoids the cumbersome task of storing and maintaining these tools.
Design support from the best? Sounds like a plan. Apart from a variety of products, Home Depot also offers a range of design services such as kitchen design and bathroom remodelling. Services like consultation, professional measurement, site analysis, site verification, 3D digital renderings, 2D floor plan, and professional installation can be sought, while opting for the kitchen design service.
Home Depot’s bulk pricing strategy is available across a range of products, making it an attractive option from both a time and efficiency perspective.
In the Home Depot vs. Lowe’s debate, the choice is essentially made based on the requirement of the product or service. If you want a specific brand that is exclusively available at one of the stores, your decision becomes an easier one.
Both brands have their own set of advantages and features that make careful consideration before picking between either option, well worth the time.
While offering largely the same categories of products, the store layout for each of the two stores do have some differences. Home Depot’s warehouse layout has a wider appeal to professional contractors, with a wide variety of products out on display on tall shelves, and minimal labelling. Lowe’s, on the other hand, has a store layout that focuses more towards DIY homeowners, with more of a lifestyle approach, with more detailed labelling.
Both retailers have a set of private labels in the game. With Lowe’s Allen+Roth, Kobalt, Stainmaster, Project Source adding high value to the world of improvement, Home Depot also comes in strong with private labels like Husky, HDX, and Glacier Bay.
The Home Depot Pro Xtra Loyalty Program is a special program that caters to contractors and other professionals who do business with Home Depot. Specialized offers, personalized offers, paint rewards, pro pricing, etc. are part of the gig. Lowe’s brings its A-game as well with the Lowe’s MVPs Pro Rewards Program. Paint rewards, Lowe’s E-gift cards, business tools like order tracking, purchase authorization, access to Pro benefits like Lowe’s rental, project calculators and in-store perks are some of the perks of this program.
With both retailers housing exclusive options with a special focus on quality and service, it becomes a tough choice to pick. Lowe’s stocks premium names like HGTV Home® by Sherwin Williams and Valspar. Home Depot offers Behr and Glidden. Both brands also provide services like color matching in order to ensure you get the exact shade you are looking for.
A garden is a crucial part of a home. Just like the gardening section is a crucial part of both Home Depot and Lowe’s. Whether it is plants, seeds, fertilizer or gardening tools, both retailers have an extensive selection. While Lowe’s is known to have a larger selection of plants, Home Depot has a vast variety of landscaping materials and outdoor equipment.
There isn't much of a difference in how Lowe’s and Home Depot go about delivering their installation services. However, the only difference is that Lowe's follows a more standardized approach, whereas Home Depot is more flexible in how they go about their installation services.
Setting up a home as well as renovations are expensive tasks to take on. It’s a good thing both Lowe’s and Home Depot present affordable pricing, and have a price match policy.
Here are some ways to find good deals at the two popular stores:
Both Home Depot as well as Lowe’s have weekly deals and daily deals. It makes sense to keep track of these in order to find the best deal on the products you’re looking for, so that you are able to stay within budget.
Home Depot’s Pro Xtra Loyalty Program and MyLowe’s Rewards Program both have a bunch of perks that make it worth joining the program. Through exclusive offers, and a host of advantages, each loyalty program is created to help the customer save money.
Both retailers have price matching policies, allowing the customer to find the best deal, while comparing prices.
Lowe’s and Home Depot have a military discount available for veterans, active duty soldiers and their spouses. For instance, in the case of Lowe’s, by verifying the status through ID.me, you can activate a 10% military discount on eligible items.
Both stores have a clearance section which is often stocked with deeply discounted items and seasonal offers. An easy way to find the best deals is to check out this section on a routine basis.
By using reward-based shopping email apps like flash.co, you can track your shopping in a systematic manner, unlock insights about your purchase patterns and make the whole process rewarding through points, which can then be redeemed on a selection of benefits.
Broadly speaking, both stores have a 90-day return policy for most new, unused merchandise. There are rules around various factors such as the timelines for different products, and certain products such as custom orders being non-returnable. Read up more about Lowe’s and Home Depot’s return policies on the official sites to understand the specific rules better.
When two home improvement giants vie for the shopper’s attention, the shopper tends to get the best deal. With a massive collection of products across categories, competitive pricing, price matching, loyalty programs, rental options, and much, much more, both Lowe’s and Home Depot are stellar choices when it comes to purchasing home improvement products. At the end of the day, the precise requirement, preference for certain brands, DIY or professional contracting requirements, and the perks that each one of them offer, help in deciding which store to shop at.
Do Lowe’s and Home Depot offer price matching for online purchases?
Yes, both Lowe’s and Home Depot offer price matching for online purchases. However, the only major difference is that Lowe’s specifically mentions matching Amazon (if sold and shipped by Amazon), while Home Depot does not explicitly include Amazon in its policy.
Which store is better for contractors: Lowe’s or Home Depot?
While Home Depot has a slightly stronger focus towards professional contractors with the Pro Xtra Loyalty Program providing perks for them specifically, Lowe’s also has a range of products and services meant for contractors. It depends on each individual’s preference in terms of brands, and the requirement of the task at hand.
Does Lowe’s or Home Depot have a better loyalty program?
Both Lowe’s and Home Depot have attractive loyalty programs with a host of benefits catering to the member. Home Depot has the Home Depot Pro Xtra Loyalty Program for professional contractors and other professionals who do business with Home Depot, with perks like specialized offers, access to business tools, and paint rewards. Lowe’s has the MyLowe’s Rewards Program for DIY Lowe’s customers, with benefits like exclusive offers, free standard shipping for certain tiers, and point boosters.
What’s the best store for seasonal shopping, like garden supplies or holiday décor?
It depends on what you’re looking for. While both stores have extensive offerings for seasonal shopping, the approach might differ. Home Depot has a large variety of products with competitive pricing. It is a great option if you’re in the market for bulk seasonal buying. Lowe’s is known to take a slightly different approach, with a stronger focus on the seasonal display style and a wide variety of premium, seasonal offerings.
