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Home Depot vs Lowe's 2026: Compare Prices & Stores

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.

The Home Depot, Inc.

The Home Depot, Inc.

Largest home improvement retailer in North America with 2,328 stores and $152B annual revenue.

Professional contractors, builders, renovation companies, and homeowners who prioritize selection and convenience

Score71%
VS
Lowe's Companies, Inc.

Lowe's Companies, Inc.

Second-largest home improvement retailer with 2,119 stores and $86.2B annual revenue.

DIY homeowners, renters seeking project supplies, rural customers, and those who prefer strong digital shopping

Score71%

Quick Answer

AI Summary

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.

Our Verdict

AI-assisted

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.

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The Home Depot, Inc.
7.5/10
Lowe's Companies, Inc.
7.5/10

TIE — neck and neck

The Home Depot, Inc.

Choose The Home Depot, Inc. if

Professional contractors, builders, renovation companies, and homeowners who prioritize selection and convenience

Lowe's Companies, Inc.

Choose Lowe's Companies, Inc. if

DIY homeowners, renters seeking project supplies, rural customers, and those who prefer strong digital shopping

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Key Differences at a Glance

  • Annual Revenue:The Home Depot, Inc. wins($152.0 billion vs $86.2 billion)
  • Store Count (2024):The Home Depot, Inc. wins(2,328 stores vs 2,119 stores)
  • Professional Contractor Focus:The Home Depot, Inc. wins(Pro accounts with dedicated support vs Growing contractor program)
See all 7 differences

Key Facts & Figures

19 numeric metrics compared

MetricThe Home Depot, Inc.Lowe's Companies, Inc.Ratio
FY2025 Total Sales Revenue(USD Billions)$120+$86.3
FY2026 Sales Growth Guidance(%)2.5-4.5%7-9%
Price-to-Earnings Ratio(P/E multiple)26x
Total Store Locations(stores)2,320
Annual Revenue (2024)(USD Billion)$152.3B
In-Stock SKUs(SKUs)400,000+
Rebate/Loyalty Program Value(percent)3-5% Pro discount (selective)
Customer Satisfaction Score(J.D. Power (0-1000))78/100
Average Checkout Time(minutes)8.2 minutes
Private Label Penetration(percent of SKUs)32%
Annual Revenue (FY 2024)(USD Billions)$152.0B
Annual Revenue (Fiscal 2024)(USD Billions)$86.0 billion$86.0 billion
US Store Locations(stores)2,2732,273
Average Store Size(sq ft)112,000112,000
Customer Satisfaction Score (ACSI 2024)(points (0-100))7575
Pro/Contractor Membership Annual Fee(USD)$49.00$49.00
Same-Day Delivery Coverage(percent of markets)85%+85%+
Standard Return Policy Window(days)120 days120 days
Contractor Discount Range(% off)2-5%2-5%

Sourced from publicly available data ·

Key Differences

7 attributes compared head-to-head

The Home Depot, Inc.
5The Home Depot, Inc.
The Home Depot, Inc. leads1 tie
Lowe's Companies, Inc.
1Lowe's Companies, Inc.
  • Annual Revenue

    The Home Depot, Inc.

    $152.0 billion(winner)

    Lowe's Companies, Inc.

    $86.2 billion

  • Store Count (2024)

    The Home Depot, Inc.

    2,328 stores(winner)

    Lowe's Companies, Inc.

    2,119 stores

  • Professional Contractor Focus

    The Home Depot, Inc.

    Pro accounts with dedicated support(winner)

    Lowe's Companies, Inc.

    Growing contractor program

  • Digital/E-commerce Revenue %

    The Home Depot, Inc.

    14.5% of total sales

    Lowe's Companies, Inc.

    16.2% of total sales(winner)

  • Average Customer Rating (Google)

    The Home Depot, Inc.

    4.1 stars(winner)

    Lowe's Companies, Inc.

    4.0 stars

  • Stock Performance (5-year)

    The Home Depot, Inc.

    +95% total return(winner)

    Lowe's Companies, Inc.

    +42% total return

  • Price Competitiveness

    The Home Depot, Inc.

    Comparable to Lowe's

    Lowe's Companies, Inc.

    Comparable to Home Depot

Full Comparison

The Home Depot, Inc.
Lowe's Companies, Inc.
FY2025 Total Sales Revenue(USD Billions)
$120+
$86.3
FY2026 Sales Growth Guidance(%)
2.5-4.5%
7-9%
Annual Revenue (2024)(USD Billion)
$152.3B
Annual Revenue (FY 2024)(USD Billions)
$152.0B
Annual Revenue (Fiscal 2024)(USD Billions)
$86.0 billion
Price-to-Earnings Ratio(P/E multiple)
26x
Total Store Locations(stores)
2,320
US Store Locations(stores)
2,273
Geographic Coverage(countries)
49 states + DC
In-Stock SKUs(SKUs)
400,000+
Rebate/Loyalty Program Value(percent)
3-5% Pro discount (selective)
Customer Satisfaction Score(J.D. Power (0-1000))
78/100
Average Checkout Time(minutes)
8.2 minutes
Customer Satisfaction Score (ACSI 2024)(points (0-100))
75
Private Label Penetration(percent of SKUs)
32%
Average Store Size(sq ft)
112,000
Pro/Contractor Membership Annual Fee(USD)
$49.00
Contractor Discount Range(% off)
2-5%
Same-Day Delivery Coverage(percent of markets)
85%+
Standard Return Policy Window(days)
120 days

Pros & Cons

10 pros·4 cons across both

The Home Depot, Inc.
Lowe's Companies, Inc.
The Home Depot, Inc.

The Home Depot, Inc.

+5-2

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
Lowe's Companies, Inc.

Lowe's Companies, Inc.

+5-2

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

Frequently Asked Questions

5 questions

  1. 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.

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