{"id":"cmrcd59ie005za65h52m7fdzt","slug":"home-depot-vs-lowes)","title":"Home Depot vs Lowe's","shortAnswer":"Home Depot leads in overall store count (2,300+ locations), annual revenue ($152B), and professional contractor focus, while Lowe's emphasizes DIY homeowners with a smaller footprint (2,100+ stores) and comparable pricing. Both are major home improvement retailers with distinct market positioning.","keyDifferences":[{"label":"Annual Revenue","winner":"a","entityAValue":"$152.0 billion","entityBValue":"$86.2 billion"},{"label":"Store Count (2024)","winner":"a","entityAValue":"2,328 stores","entityBValue":"2,119 stores"},{"label":"Professional Contractor Focus","winner":"a","entityAValue":"Pro accounts with dedicated support","entityBValue":"Growing contractor program"},{"label":"Digital/E-commerce Revenue %","winner":"b","entityAValue":"14.5% of total sales","entityBValue":"16.2% of total sales"},{"label":"Average Customer Rating (Google)","winner":"a","entityAValue":"4.1 stars","entityBValue":"4.0 stars"},{"label":"Stock Performance (5-year)","winner":"a","entityAValue":"+95% total return","entityBValue":"+42% total return"},{"label":"Price Competitiveness","winner":"tie","entityAValue":"Comparable to Lowe's","entityBValue":"Comparable to Home Depot"}],"verdict":"Choose Home Depot if you're a professional contractor, value the largest product selection, or want the most store locations for convenience—it dominates the market with 76% higher annual revenue and stronger pro-focused services. Choose Lowe's if you're a DIY homeowner preferring a slightly more personalized experience, better e-commerce integration, or want a smaller retailer with competitive pricing and a growing digital platform.","category":"companies","entities":[{"id":"cmoy3qtby001m3o8ht402yu3e","slug":"the-home-depot-inc","name":"The Home Depot, Inc.","shortDesc":"Largest home improvement retailer in North America with 2,328 stores and $152B annual revenue.","imageUrl":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5f/TheHomeDepot.svg/330px-TheHomeDepot.svg.png","entityType":"company","position":0,"pros":["2,328 stores across North America—highest store density and convenience","Dedicated Pro accounts with contractor discounts, bulk ordering, and job site delivery","Largest product selection with 500,000+ SKUs across all categories","$152B annual revenue—strongest financial position enabling innovation and inventory","Superior stock performance with 95% five-year return"],"cons":["Often busier stores with longer checkout times during peak hours","Lower e-commerce as % of sales (14.5%) suggests less digital investment than competitors"],"bestFor":"Professional contractors, builders, renovation companies, and homeowners who prioritize selection and convenience"},{"id":"cmoy3qtc3001o3o8h5nsh4pu9","slug":"lowe-s-companies-inc","name":"Lowe's Companies, Inc.","shortDesc":"Second-largest home improvement retailer with 2,119 stores and $86.2B annual revenue.","imageUrl":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0d/A_Lowe%27s_store_in_Murphy%2C_North_Carolina.jpg/330px-A_Lowe%27s_store_in_Murphy%2C_North_Carolina.jpg","entityType":"company","position":1,"pros":["16.2% of sales from e-commerce—stronger digital integration and online shopping experience","Lowe's for Pros program growing with dedicated contractor support and benefits","Strong presence in rural markets where Home Depot has fewer locations","$86B revenue with solid profitability and efficient operations","More approachable store layout marketed toward DIY homeowners"],"cons":["209 fewer stores (2,119 vs 2,328)—less geographic convenience in many regions","76% lower annual revenue limits product selection depth and innovation speed"],"bestFor":"DIY homeowners, renters seeking project supplies, rural customers, and those who prefer strong digital shopping"}],"attributes":[{"id":"cmoy3qtcq001v3o8hiyabjuv1","slug":"fy2025-total-sales-revenue","name":"FY2025 Total Sales Revenue","unit":"USD Billions","category":"Financial Performance","dataType":"number","higherIsBetter":true,"values":[{"entityId":"cmoy3qtby001m3o8ht402yu3e","valueText":"$120+","valueNumber":120,"valueBoolean":null,"winner":true},{"entityId":"cmoy3qtc3001o3o8h5nsh4pu9","valueText":"$86.3","valueNumber":86.3,"valueBoolean":null,"winner":false}]},{"id":"cmoy3qtd500213o8htvzwsvyr","slug":"fy2026-sales-growth-guidance","name":"FY2026 Sales Growth Guidance","unit":"%","category":"Financial 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Coverage","unit":"countries","category":"Scale & Reach","dataType":"text","higherIsBetter":true,"values":[{"entityId":"cmoy3qtby001m3o8ht402yu3e","valueText":"49 states + DC","valueNumber":50,"valueBoolean":null}]},{"id":"cmpx9qcq4000c46cgq3lt5dnj","slug":"annual-revenue-2024-","name":"Annual Revenue (2024)","unit":"USD Billion","category":"Financial Performance","dataType":"number","higherIsBetter":true,"values":[{"entityId":"cmoy3qtby001m3o8ht402yu3e","valueText":"$152.3B","valueNumber":152.3,"valueBoolean":null}]},{"id":"cmqqn2xw3008ltqd249lqa5d5","slug":"in-stock-skus","name":"In-Stock SKUs","unit":"SKUs","category":"Product Selection","dataType":"number","higherIsBetter":true,"values":[{"entityId":"cmoy3qtby001m3o8ht402yu3e","valueText":"400,000+","valueNumber":400000,"valueBoolean":null}]},{"id":"cmqqn2xwf008rtqd2f3t05myt","slug":"rebate-loyalty-program-value","name":"Rebate/Loyalty Program Value","unit":"percent","category":"Customer Value","dataType":"number","higherIsBetter":true,"values":[{"entityId":"cmoy3qtby001m3o8ht402yu3e","valueText":"3-5% Pro discount (selective)","valueNumber":4,"valueBoolean":null}]},{"id":"cmnge2vi800ub9t3s0png5dxb","slug":"customer-satisfaction-score","name":"Customer Satisfaction Score","unit":"/100","category":"Customer Experience","dataType":"number","higherIsBetter":true,"values":[{"entityId":"cmoy3qtby001m3o8ht402yu3e","valueText":"78/100","valueNumber":78,"valueBoolean":null}]},{"id":"cmqqn2xx00093tqd2z834ljvs","slug":"average-checkout-time","name":"Average Checkout Time","unit":"minutes","category":"Customer Experience","dataType":"number","higherIsBetter":false,"values":[{"entityId":"cmoy3qtby001m3o8ht402yu3e","valueText":"8.2 minutes","valueNumber":8.2,"valueBoolean":null}]},{"id":"cmqq8kujw002xwjatfg7ugjs3","slug":"private-label-penetration","name":"Private Label Penetration","unit":"percent of SKUs","category":"Product 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Footprint","dataType":"number","higherIsBetter":true,"values":[{"entityId":"cmoy3qtc3001o3o8h5nsh4pu9","valueText":"2,273","valueNumber":2273,"valueBoolean":null}]},{"id":"cmq578jwf000gj2xvs9b83ssy","slug":"average-store-size","name":"Average Store Size","unit":"sq ft","category":"Scale & Presence","dataType":"number","higherIsBetter":true,"values":[{"entityId":"cmoy3qtc3001o3o8h5nsh4pu9","valueText":"112,000","valueNumber":112000,"valueBoolean":null}]},{"id":"cmqpj1e1k00l5smlfdkh0qam4","slug":"customer-satisfaction-score-acsi-2024-","name":"Customer Satisfaction Score (ACSI 2024)","unit":"points (0-100)","category":"Customer Experience","dataType":"number","higherIsBetter":true,"values":[{"entityId":"cmoy3qtc3001o3o8h5nsh4pu9","valueText":"75","valueNumber":75,"valueBoolean":null}]},{"id":"cmqpj1e1x00lbsmlf8c2ib8a4","slug":"pro-contractor-membership-annual-fee","name":"Pro/Contractor Membership Annual Fee","unit":"USD","category":"Pricing","dataType":"number","higherIsBetter":false,"values":[{"entityId":"cmoy3qtc3001o3o8h5nsh4pu9","valueText":"$49.00","valueNumber":49,"valueBoolean":null}]},{"id":"cmqpj1e2900lhsmlfb6y5v665","slug":"same-day-delivery-coverage","name":"Same-Day Delivery Coverage","unit":"percent of markets","category":"Logistics","dataType":"number","higherIsBetter":true,"values":[{"entityId":"cmoy3qtc3001o3o8h5nsh4pu9","valueText":"85%+","valueNumber":85,"valueBoolean":null}]},{"id":"cmqpj1e2m00lnsmlfmqw5jr39","slug":"standard-return-policy-window","name":"Standard Return Policy Window","unit":"days","category":"Customer Protection","dataType":"number","higherIsBetter":true,"values":[{"entityId":"cmoy3qtc3001o3o8h5nsh4pu9","valueText":"120 days","valueNumber":120,"valueBoolean":null}]},{"id":"cmqpj1e2y00ltsmlfjorsi8b9","slug":"contractor-discount-range","name":"Contractor Discount Range","unit":"% off","category":"Pricing","dataType":"number","higherIsBetter":true,"values":[{"entityId":"cmoy3qtc3001o3o8h5nsh4pu9","valueText":"2-5%","valueNumber":3.5,"valueBoolean":null}]}],"faqs":[{"question":"Does Home Depot or Lowe's have better contractor programs?","answer":"Home Depot's Pro program is more established with 1.5M+ active members, dedicated service desk staff, bulk pricing, job site delivery, and extended payment terms. Lowe's for Pros has grown significantly but still lags in membership penetration and dedicated support infrastructure. For serious contractors, Home Depot's Pro program is generally superior, though Lowe's is narrowing the gap."},{"question":"Which store has better prices: Home Depot or Lowe's?","answer":"Prices are virtually identical between the two retailers on comparable products. Both match competitor pricing and run similar promotional cycles. Price differences typically come down to sales/clearance events and brand-specific items rather than structural pricing differences. We recommend price-checking specific items you need rather than assuming one is consistently cheaper."},{"question":"Which retailer has a better online shopping experience?","answer":"Lowe's generates 16.2% of revenue from e-commerce vs Home Depot's 14.5%, indicating stronger digital investment. Lowe's website has been rated more intuitive by users, with better product filtering and faster checkout. However, Home Depot offers more diverse shipping options including same-day delivery in more markets due to its larger footprint."},{"question":"Can I return items at either store without a receipt?","answer":"Both Home Depot and Lowe's allow returns without a receipt, though with limitations. Home Depot offers 90-day return windows for most items; Lowe's offers similar 90-day windows. Credit card/debit card purchases can be traced, but cash purchases may have reduced refund amounts. Policies vary by product category (appliances, power tools, etc.), so check before purchasing."},{"question":"Which store is more likely to be near me?","answer":"Home Depot has 209 more locations (2,328 vs 2,119), but Lowe's has stronger rural market penetration. Home Depot dominates urban/suburban areas, while Lowe's has invested more in smaller towns. Use store locator maps for both to determine which is closer to your specific location, as regional distribution varies significantly."}],"relatedComparisons":[{"slug":"home-depot-vs-lowe-s-comparison-2026","title":"Home Depot vs Lowe's 2026","category":"companies"},{"slug":"home-depot-vs-lowes","title":"Home Depot vs Lowe's","category":"companies"},{"slug":"home-depot-vs-menards","title":"Home Depot vs Menards","category":"companies"},{"slug":"netflix-vs-disney-plus","title":"Netflix vs Disney+","category":"companies"},{"slug":"iphone-17-vs-samsung-s26","title":"iPhone 17 vs Samsung Galaxy S26","category":"technology"},{"slug":"ps5-vs-xbox-series-x","title":"PS5 vs Xbox Series X","category":"technology"},{"slug":"mac-vs-windows","title":"Mac vs Windows","category":"technology"},{"slug":"android-vs-ios","title":"Android vs iOS","category":"technology"},{"slug":"bitcoin-vs-ethereum","title":"Bitcoin vs Ethereum","category":"economy"},{"slug":"nvidia-vs-amd","title":"NVIDIA vs AMD","category":"technology"},{"slug":"us-economy-vs-china-economy","title":"US Economy vs China Economy","category":"economy"},{"slug":"stock-market-vs-real-estate","title":"Stock Market vs Real Estate","category":"economy"}],"relatedBlogPosts":[{"slug":"best-streaming-services-in-2026-top-picks-for-every-budget-interest","title":"Best Streaming Services in 2026: Top Picks for Every Budget & Interest","excerpt":"Navigating the crowded streaming landscape in 2026 can be overwhelming. 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Which is better?","publishedAt":"2026-07-08T17:40:07.864Z","updatedAt":"2026-07-08T17:40:07.910Z","isAutoGenerated":true,"isHumanReviewed":false,"viewCount":0}}