Additional Coverage:
- I Brought the Same Shopping List To Home Depot & Lowes – Here’s Who Was The Clear Winner (financebuzz.com)
When it comes to stocking up for your next home improvement project, both The Home Depot and Lowe’s are go-to destinations. But which one truly offers the better bang for your buck? To find out, I compared prices on a variety of common items you might need, from cleaning supplies to kitchen appliances.
Here’s what I discovered after careful shopping at both stores:
1. Cleaning Supplies
Winner: Lowe’s
Looking for bleach?
Lowe’s offers its Moxie brand 121-ounce bottle for $5.98, beating The Home Depot’s HDX generic at $6.48.
2. Power Drills
Winner: The Home Depot
A Ryobi 18V brushless cordless drill combo kit goes for $99 at The Home Depot, while a comparable Bosch model at Lowe’s costs $119.
3. Interior Paint
Winner: The Home Depot
One gallon of Glidden Premium Interior Paint + Primer (eggshell) is $30.98 at The Home Depot versus $44.98 for a similar Valspar paint at Lowe’s.
4. Potting Soil
Winner: The Home Depot
A 32-quart bag of Vigoro All-Purpose Potting Soil Mix is priced at $7.97 at Home Depot, while Lowe’s Sta-Green version goes for $8.98.
5. Kitchen Appliances
Winner: The Home Depot
A Frigidaire 36-inch, 26-cubic-foot stainless steel side-by-side refrigerator is $1,259 at The Home Depot compared to $1,599 at Lowe’s for a nearly identical model.
6. Showerheads
Winner: Lowe’s
Delta’s six-spray fixed showerhead costs $19.98 at Lowe’s, slightly less than The Home Depot’s $21.98 price for the same item.
7. Tile
Winner: The Home Depot
TrafficMaster’s beige 12-by-24-inch matte ceramic tile sells for $0.97 per square foot at The Home Depot, while a similar tile at Lowe’s is $1.89.
8. Carpeting
Winner: The Home Depot
TrafficMaster’s polyester-textured carpet is $1.14 per square foot at The Home Depot, less than Lowe’s comparable Style Selections carpet at $1.38.
9. Smoke Detectors
Winner: The Home Depot
A Kidde battery-powered smoke detector is $18.97 at The Home Depot, whereas Lowe’s First Alert model is priced at $32.98.
10. Hand Tools
Winner: The Home Depot
A Stanley six-inch wrench is just $5.97 at The Home Depot, compared to $16.98 for a Craftsman adjustable wrench at Lowe’s.
11. Toilets
Winner: Tie
Both stores offer basic one-piece elongated toilets for $179, making this a dead heat.
12. Kitchen Sink Faucets
Winner: The Home Depot
Glacier Bay’s Sadira single-handle pull-down sprayer faucet is $59 at The Home Depot versus over $89 for a comparable Project Source faucet at Lowe’s.
Bottom Line
Overall, The Home Depot edges out Lowe’s as the more budget-friendly option across a broad range of home improvement essentials. That said, both retailers offer price match guarantees on qualifying items, so it’s wise to check with your local store or their websites for details.
Beyond price comparison, savvy shoppers can save even more by using the best cash-back credit cards for purchases.
Smart Money Moves for Every Homeowner
Improving your finances isn’t just about where you shop.
Consider ways to increase your income through side gigs, grow your wealth with smart investments, and maximize savings by taking advantage of discounts and avoiding hidden money traps. If you’re aiming to get ahead, creating a solid financial plan-even with professional help-can set you on the path to early retirement.
Whether you’re refreshing your home or your budget, a little research goes a long way toward stretching your dollars further.