In this article I’ve compared a number of commonly purchased products sold at Home Hardware and Home Depot. I’ve tried to compare the exact same products, but in a few cases it was not possible. And all prices were from their websites.
For example, I compared 14″ battery powered chainsaws. Home Depot carries Ryobi products whereas Home Hardware apparently does not. For this product type they have a much less expensive line called Radley.
Also, paint. I compare what I consider the most basic type of paint – white, eggshell, latex. Both stores have what appear to be different quality levels – in the case of HD, an inexpensive brand and a more expensive brand. In the case of HH, numerous levels within their featured brand, Beautitone.
Comparison of several products…
Stanley Fatmax 16′ Tape Measure
Home Depot – $29.98 Home Hardware – $29.99
Dewalt FlexTorq 100 piece Power Drill Bit Set
Home Depot – $104.98 Home Hardware – $89.99
(Home Depot has many more product listings for these two name brands (Stanley and DeWalt) than does Home Hardware. That suggests HD has a wider selection, and perhaps that HH has more products from other lesser known brands.)
Philips Light Bulbs – A19 E26 60W equiv. Dimmable (3 pack)
Home Depot – $19.78 Home Hardware – $19.99
Philips Light Bulbs – 4.4W Par16 Med Base Brite White Dimmable LED (3 Pack)
Home Depot – $29.97 Home Hardware – $32.99
Energizer Batteries – AA – 20 pack
Home Depot – $19.97 Home Hardware – $19.99
Chainsaw 14″ 40v Battery Powered
Home Depot – Ryobi – $288 (no battery) $399 with battery and charger
Home Hardware – Radley – 14″ 40v Battery Powered
-includes 2 20v batteries and charger ($229.00)
*The Radley is a lot cheaper, but gets only 3.6 stars in reviews. Some reviews are qute bad. Also, the Ryobi uses batteries compatible with other Ryobi devices so you may already have a battery. Charging on the Radley is also fairly slow since there are 2 separate batteries needed to drive the saw.
Paint – White Eggshell Latex
Home Depot – Price ranges from $25.97 to $45.97 (3.78 l)
Home Hardware – Price ranges from $30.77 to $64.99 (3.64 l)
*3.78 l is the same as a US gallon; no idea why HH is only 3.64 l.
Quikrete Concret Mix – 30kg
Home Depot – $6.70 Home Hardware – $6.99
Electrical Wire – Southwire 10m White 14/3 NMD90
Home Depot – $76.99 Home Hardware – $71.24
My conclusion from these price comparisons is that Home Depot tends to be slightly less expensive in most – but not all – product areas.
This ignores the fact that both stores have house brands that are, in many cases, less expensive. Home Depot clearly has more name brands and wider selection listed on their website. I suspect Home Hardware has more lesser known brands – which may also be cheaper, but I don’t really know. If you have more info on this, or maybe inside info (lots of employees of both stores around here), let us know.
There are obviously several reasons why different people prefer different stores: location, staff attitudes, selection, and, yes, price.
P.S. Why did I choose these products? Because I’ve purchased most of them myself over the last couple of years.