The Most Popular Hardware Store, Ranked

Choose the hardware store you think is the most popular!

Author: Gregor Krambs
Updated on Apr 21, 2024 07:11
Making decisions about where to buy tools and supplies for home improvement can often feel like a chore, especially with so many options available. Having a clear insight into the most favored hardware stores helps simplify this decision. By seeing which stores others prefer, you can better decide where to shop for quality products and excellent service. This live ranking system reflects the choices made by individuals just like you. By participating and casting your vote, you contribute to a broader community input, helping shape a dependable guide to the best hardware stores out there. Whether you're a DIY enthusiast or a professional contractor, your opinion adds value and assists others in making well-informed choices.

What Is the Most Popular Hardware Store?

  1. 1
    53
    votes
    The Home Depot
    Eric_W_Kennedy · CC BY-SA 3.0
    With over 2,200 locations in North America, The Home Depot is the largest home improvement retailer in the world. They offer a wide variety of products and services for homeowners, contractors, and DIY enthusiasts.
    The Home Depot is a leading hardware store chain in the United States and Canada. It offers a wide range of products for home improvement, construction, and repair projects. The store provides tools, building materials, appliances, furniture, and more.
    • Founded: 1978
    • Headquarters: Atlanta, Georgia, United States
    • Number of Stores: over 2,200
    • Store Size: ranging from 60,000 to 200,000 square feet
    • Product Categories: over 35,000
    The Home Depot in other rankings
  2. 2
    36
    votes
    Lowe's is the second-largest home improvement retailer in the world, with over 1,800 locations in North America. They offer a wide range of products and services for homeowners, contractors, and DIY enthusiasts.
    Lowe's is a popular hardware store chain in the United States that offers a wide range of home improvement products and services. It was founded in 1921 by Lucius Smith Lowe in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina. With over 2,200 stores across the country, it is one of the largest home improvement retailers in the world.
    • Number of stores: Over 2,200
    • Founded: 1921
    • Headquarters: Mooresville, North Carolina
    • Product range: Home improvement products, appliances, tools, lumber, flooring, paint, etc.
    • Services offered: Installation, design, project planning, and financing options
  3. 3
    16
    votes

    Ace Hardware

    Richard Hesse
    Ace Hardware is a cooperative of independently owned and operated hardware stores with over 5,300 locations worldwide. They offer a wide variety of products and services for homeowners, contractors, and DIY enthusiasts.
    Ace Hardware is a popular hardware store known for its wide range of products and exceptional customer service. Founded in 1924, it has grown to become one of the leading hardware retailers in the United States. With over 5,000 stores worldwide, Ace Hardware offers a vast selection of tools, home improvement products, lawn and garden supplies, paint, and more. The store caters to both professionals and DIY enthusiasts, providing everything needed for various projects. As a customer-focused store, Ace Hardware aims to assist customers in finding the right products and solutions for their needs.
    • Year Founded: 1924
    • Number of Stores: Over 5,000
    • Product Range: Wide range of tools, home improvement products, lawn and garden supplies, paint, and more
    • Customer Focus: Caters to professionals and DIY enthusiasts
    • Exceptional Service: Known for exceptional customer service
  4. 4
    25
    votes
    Menards is a chain of home improvement stores with over 300 locations in the United States. They offer a wide variety of products and services for homeowners, contractors, and DIY enthusiasts.
    Menards is a popular hardware store in the United States, known for providing a wide range of home improvement products and services. It caters to both do-it-yourself enthusiasts and professional contractors, offering a vast selection of tools, building materials, appliances, and more. With a strong presence in the Midwest region, Menards is widely recognized for its sizeable stores that accommodate various departments and specialized sections for different projects. The store's mission is to provide high-quality products at competitive prices, ensuring customer satisfaction.
    • Founded: 1960
    • Headquarters: Eau Claire, Wisconsin, United States
    • Number of Stores: Over 300
    • Store Size: Average of 200,000 square feet
    • Product Range: Over 65,000 items
  5. 5
    14
    votes

    True Value

    John Cotter
    True Value is a cooperative of independently owned and operated hardware stores with over 4,500 locations worldwide. They offer a wide variety of products and services for homeowners, contractors, and DIY enthusiasts.
    True Value is a widely renowned hardware store that offers a diverse range of products and services for DIY enthusiasts, contractors, and homeowners alike. Known for its exceptional customer service and extensive selection of quality merchandise, True Value has established itself as a go-to destination for all hardware and home improvement needs.
    • Store Count: Over 4,500 stores worldwide
    • Product Variety: Over 85,000 items available
    • Brand Partnerships: Collaborations with leading hardware and home improvement brands
    • Convenience: Online shopping and local store pickup options
    • Expert Staff: Knowledgeable professionals to assist customers
  6. 6
    7
    votes
    Do it Best
    Kevinerb · CC BY 3.0

    Do it Best

    Do it Best Corporation
    Do it Best is a cooperative of independently owned and operated hardware stores with over 4,000 locations worldwide. They offer a wide variety of products and services for homeowners, contractors, and DIY enthusiasts.
    Do it Best is a well-known hardware store that offers a wide range of products and services for different home improvement needs. It is a retail cooperative that aims to provide quality products, competitive prices, and exceptional customer service. With over 4,000 member-owned stores across the United States and around the world, Do it Best has become one of the most popular destinations for DIY enthusiasts, homeowners, and contractors.
    • Number of Member-owned Stores: 4,000+
    • Global Reach: International presence
    • Product Catalog: Wide range of hardware and home improvement products
    • Competitive Pricing: Offers competitive prices on products
    • Customer Service: Focus on exceptional customer service
  7. 7
    7
    votes
    Orchard Supply Hardware
    Mx. Granger · CC0

    Orchard Supply Hardware

    Orchard Supply Company
    Orchard Supply Hardware is a chain of home improvement stores with over 80 locations in California. They offer a wide variety of products and services for homeowners, contractors, and DIY enthusiasts.
    Orchard Supply Hardware is a popular hardware store chain in the United States that specializes in home improvement and DIY supplies. It was founded in San Jose, California in 1931 and has since expanded to over 100 locations across the country. The store offers a wide range of products including tools, building materials, electrical and plumbing supplies, gardening equipment, paint, and home decor.
    • Year Founded: 1931
    • Headquarters Location: San Jose, California, USA
    • Number of Locations: 100+
    • Specialization: Home improvement and DIY supplies
    • Product Range: Tools, building materials, electrical and plumbing supplies, gardening equipment, paint, and home decor
  8. 8
    7
    votes
    Harbor Freight Tools
    BronxZooDave · CC0

    Harbor Freight Tools

    Allan Smidt
    Harbor Freight Tools is a chain of discount tool and equipment stores with over 1,000 locations in the United States. They offer a wide variety of products and services for homeowners, contractors, and DIY enthusiasts.
    Harbor Freight Tools is a popular hardware store that provides a wide range of tools, equipment, and accessories for various trade professionals and DIY enthusiasts. It offers affordable prices and a diverse selection of products for home improvement, construction, automotive repair, woodworking, and more. Harbor Freight Tools has become a go-to destination for customers looking for low-cost yet reliable tools.
    • Product Range: Thousands of tools and equipment
    • Affordability: Low prices
    • Quality: Reliable products
    • Trade Professional Focus: Caters to professional trades
    • DIY Enthusiast Friendly: Ideal for DIY projects
  9. 9
    7
    votes
    Northern Tool + Equipment is a chain of tool and equipment stores with over 120 locations in the United States. They offer a wide variety of products and services for homeowners, contractors, and DIY enthusiasts.
    Northern Tool + Equipment is a leading hardware store that offers a wide range of tools, equipment, and accessories for various industries and DIY enthusiasts. With a strong reputation for quality products and excellent customer service, it has become one of the most popular destinations for hardware needs.
    • Founded: 1981
    • Headquarters: Burnsville, Minnesota, USA
    • Number of Stores: Over 100
    • Product Categories: Tools, Equipment, Automotive, Construction, Welding, Material Handling, Electrical, Plumbing, and more
    • Online Presence: Yes
  10. 10
    4
    votes
    Canadian Tire
    Raysonho @ Open Grid Scheduler / Grid Engine · CC0

    Canadian Tire

    Alfred Jackson Billes
    Canadian Tire is a chain of retail stores with over 1,700 locations in Canada. They offer a wide variety of products and services for homeowners, contractors, and DIY enthusiasts.
    Canadian Tire is a popular auto parts store in Canada that offers a wide range of automotive products, including parts, accessories, tools, and maintenance supplies. It is also known for its selection of home, leisure, and sports products. With over 500 stores scattered throughout Canada, Canadian Tire has become a household name for automotive enthusiasts and DIYers.
    • Founded: 1922
    • Headquarters: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
    • Number of Stores: 500+
    • Product Range: Auto parts, accessories, tools, home products
    • Services: In-store shopping, online shopping, automotive service centers
    Canadian Tire in other rankings

Missing your favorite hardware store?

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Discussion

Ranking factors for popular hardware store

  1. Brand reputation
    The brand's reputation plays the major role in determining its popularity. A well-reputed brand would be more popular among its customers than a lesser-known brand.
  2. Product variety and quality
    A popular hardware store should offer a wide range of products across various categories and the quality of the products should be high.
  3. Competitive prices
    Competitive pricing attracts customers, so a popular hardware store should offer its products at reasonable prices.
  4. Customer service
    Outstanding customer service is a vital factor that contributes to the popularity of a store. Hardware stores that are known for their helpful and knowledgeable staff would likely see more foot traffic.
  5. Store locations
    Having multiple store locations that are easily accessible contributes to the popularity of a hardware store.
  6. Online shopping and website usability
    A user-friendly website with online shopping options can increase the reach and popularity of a hardware store.
  7. Store layout and design
    A well-organized and visually appealing store layout can improve customer experience, making the hardware store more popular among customers.
  8. Marketing and advertising
    Effective marketing campaigns and advertising strategies contribute to increased brand recognition and subsequently, higher popularity.
  9. Return and exchange policies
    A customer-friendly return and exchange policy can make the store more popular, as customers feel more secure shopping in a store with a flexible return policy.
  10. Community involvement
    Stores that are involved in their local communities through charitable giving, sponsorship, or other community events are often viewed more favorably in the eyes of the community, thus contributing to their popularity.

About this ranking

This is a community-based ranking of the most popular hardware store. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or store is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!

Statistics

  • 3119 views
  • 176 votes
  • 10 ranked items

Voting Rules

A participant may cast an up or down vote for each store once every 24 hours. The rank of each store is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.

More information on most popular hardware store

Hardware stores are a staple of any community, providing homeowners and contractors alike with the tools and materials they need to tackle home improvement projects. From power tools and building supplies to gardening equipment and home decor, these stores offer a wide range of products to meet the needs of their customers. But with so many options to choose from, which hardware store reigns supreme as the most popular? At StrawPoll, we've conducted extensive research to find out which hardware store is the go-to destination for shoppers across the country. Read on to discover the results of our poll and learn more about the most popular hardware stores in America.

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