Home Depot

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Home Depot is a large American home-improvement retail chain, founded in 1978 and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, that sells building materials, tools, appliances, and garden supplies through thousands of stores plus homedepot.com, serving both do-it-yourself shoppers and professional contractors.

This is independent, third-party informational content, not an official Home Depot page. Verified public information as of 2026.

What is Home Depot and what is its history?

The Home Depot, Inc. is a publicly traded American retailer (NYSE: HD) that specializes in home improvement, construction, and gardening products. It was founded in 1978 by Bernie Marcus, Arthur Blank, Ron Brill, and Pat Farrah, with financial backing from investor Ken Langone. The company opened its first two warehouse-format stores in Atlanta, Georgia, in June 1979, built around a large-format, well-stocked model staffed by employees trained to give hands-on product advice.

Home Depot grew into the largest home-improvement retailer in the United States by revenue and store count. Its corporate headquarters, referred to internally as the Store Support Center, is located at 2455 Paces Ferry Road, Atlanta, Georgia. As of fiscal 2025, the company reported net sales of roughly $164.7 billion and employed approximately 472,000 people, and operated around 2,300 retail stores across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, in addition to distribution operations acquired through its SRS Distribution business.

What products and departments does Home Depot carry?

Home Depot stores are organized into departments covering the major categories of home construction, repair, and maintenance. Typical department groupings include building materials and lumber, tools and hardware, electrical and lighting, plumbing, paint, flooring, kitchen and bath fixtures, appliances, outdoor power equipment, and lawn and garden supplies. Larger stores also carry seasonal items such as holiday decor, patio furniture, and grills.

Product selection and shelf layout can vary by store size and region, and not every department is stocked identically at every location. Online, homedepot.com extends the in-store assortment with a much larger catalog, including items available only for delivery rather than in-store pickup.

What services does Home Depot offer?

Beyond retail sales, Home Depot offers several services aimed at both DIY customers and professional contractors:

  • Installation services — Home Depot connects customers with independent, licensed service providers for projects such as flooring, cabinets, countertops, water heaters, HVAC systems, and windows, coordinated through the company’s installation program.
  • Tool and equipment rental — Home Depot Rental Centers, located at many store locations, rent tools and equipment ranging from hand tools to larger machinery like tillers and pressure washers, typically by the hour, day, or week.
  • Delivery — the company offers delivery options for both small parcel items and bulk or oversized purchases such as lumber, appliances, and building materials, with cost and timing depending on item size, distance, and delivery speed selected.
  • Design and planning services — in-store and online tools help customers plan kitchen, bath, and flooring projects, sometimes with paid design consultations.

What is Pro Xtra and who is it for?

Pro Xtra is Home Depot’s free loyalty program built specifically for contractors, property managers, and other business or professional customers who purchase materials in volume. Members can track purchases, access purchase history for expense tracking, and earn perks tied to spending that can be applied toward tool rental costs at Home Depot Rental Centers. The program also includes tiered benefits, business tools such as team purchasing and bulk order management, and a dedicated Pro Desk available at many stores for trade-focused service. Enrollment is available online, through the Home Depot app, or in person at a store’s Pro Desk.

Home Depot also offers a consumer and commercial credit card program, separate from Pro Xtra, that provides store financing options; specific terms, rates, and current promotional offers are set by the card issuer and change over time, so we do not list them here.

How does online ordering and in-store pickup work?

Customers can browse and purchase products on homedepot.com or through the Home Depot mobile app, then choose from several fulfillment options depending on the item and location: standard or express shipping to an address, free in-store pickup at a nearby store once an order is ready, curbside pickup where available, and locker pickup for smaller items at some locations. The website and app typically show real-time or near-real-time inventory estimates for a selected store, though actual availability can differ due to timing, in-store demand, or inventory system lag. Large or bulky items, such as lumber or major appliances, are generally excluded from standard small-parcel shipping and instead use freight or scheduled delivery.

How does Home Depot compare to Lowe’s and other retailers?

Home Depot’s closest direct competitor in the United States is Lowe’s Companies, and the two chains are often described as a duopoly in the home-improvement retail category. Both operate large-format warehouse stores with overlapping product categories, though they differ in scale, founding history, and market emphasis.

Attribute Home Depot Lowe’s
Founded 1978 (Atlanta, Georgia) 1921 (North Wilkesboro, North Carolina)
Headquarters Atlanta, Georgia Mooresville, North Carolina
Approx. store count ~2,300 in the US, Canada, and Mexico ~1,700+ in the US and Canada
Pro/contractor loyalty program Pro Xtra MVPs Pro Rewards
Stock ticker NYSE: HD NYSE: LOW

Other retailers that compete with Home Depot in narrower categories include Ace Hardware and True Value in hardware, Menards in the Midwest, and various regional building-supply chains, along with online marketplaces for tools and home goods.

Department group Examples of what’s included
Building materials Lumber, drywall, insulation, roofing materials, concrete
Tools and hardware Power tools, hand tools, fasteners, storage
Electrical and lighting Wiring, breakers, light fixtures, ceiling fans
Plumbing Pipes, fittings, water heaters, faucets
Kitchen and bath Cabinets, countertops, sinks, vanities
Appliances Refrigerators, ranges, washers and dryers
Outdoor and garden Lawn mowers, patio furniture, plants, mulch
Paint Interior/exterior paint, stains, supplies

Who shops at Home Depot?

Home Depot serves two broad customer groups. Do-it-yourself (DIY) shoppers make up a large share of foot traffic, buying materials and tools for home repairs, renovations, and gardening projects. Professional customers — contractors, electricians, plumbers, property managers, and other trades — represent a significant portion of overall sales and are specifically served through Pro Xtra, dedicated Pro Desks, bulk pricing, and business-focused delivery and account features. The company has stated that growing its share of professional and Pro-related sales is a strategic priority, including through acquisitions such as SRS Distribution, a building-products distributor aimed at professional trade customers.

Honest limitations / what we don’t know

Prices, in-store inventory, promotions, financing terms, and specific service availability vary by store, region, and season, and change frequently. Store counts, employee figures, and financial results shift with each fiscal quarter as the company opens, closes, or reports updated results. This article summarizes publicly available, verifiable information as of 2026 and should not be treated as current pricing, a guarantee of local product or service availability, or financial or investment advice. For current details, always check homedepot.com or contact a local store directly.

Frequently asked questions

What is Home Depot?

Home Depot is a large American home-improvement retail chain that sells building materials, tools, appliances, and garden supplies through physical stores and homedepot.com, serving DIY shoppers and professional contractors.

Who founded Home Depot and when?

Home Depot was founded in 1978 by Bernie Marcus, Arthur Blank, Ron Brill, and Pat Farrah, with investment support from Ken Langone. The first stores opened in Atlanta, Georgia, in June 1979.

Where is Home Depot headquartered?

Home Depot’s corporate headquarters, known as the Store Support Center, is located at 2455 Paces Ferry Road, Atlanta, Georgia.

What is Pro Xtra?

Pro Xtra is Home Depot’s free loyalty program for contractors and other professional customers, offering purchase tracking, tiered perks, and business tools, with benefits that can be applied toward tool rental at Home Depot Rental Centers.

Does Home Depot offer tool rental?

Yes. Many Home Depot locations include a Rental Center where customers can rent tools and equipment by the hour, day, or week.

Can I buy online and pick up in store at Home Depot?

Yes. homedepot.com and the Home Depot app offer options including standard shipping, in-store pickup, curbside pickup at select locations, and locker pickup for smaller items, depending on the store and item.

How is Home Depot different from Lowe’s?

Home Depot and Lowe’s are the two largest home-improvement chains in the US and sell overlapping product categories. Home Depot was founded in 1978 and is headquartered in Atlanta with roughly 2,300 stores, while Lowe’s was founded in 1921, is headquartered in Mooresville, North Carolina, and operates roughly 1,700-plus stores.

Does Home Depot install products it sells?

Home Depot offers installation services for categories such as flooring, cabinets, countertops, water heaters, and windows by connecting customers with independent, licensed service providers rather than performing installation with in-house crews.

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