Home Depot vs Lowe's Clearance: Which Store Has Better Deals?

Understanding Each Store’s Clearance System

Home Depot’s Markdown Schedule

Home Depot marks clearance down in percentage steps off the previous price, with no fixed interval between cuts. In our scan data the most common steps are 20%, 25%, 50% and 10%, and the same item can sit at very different depths at two stores on the same day. Common depths along the way:

• Early markdowns: 25-30% off
• Deeper markdowns: 50-70% off
• Deepest clearance: 75-90% off

Home Depot’s clearance items are identified by orange price tags or shelf labels with “SPEC” (Special Buy) or “CLEARANCE” designations. The retailer also uses a color-coded system where different colored tags indicate different markdown periods.

Lowe’s Clearance Approach

Lowe’s operates with a slightly different strategy for their clearance markdowns. Their system tends to be less predictable than Home Depot’s, with markdowns happening on a more flexible schedule based on inventory turnover needs. Lowe’s clearance items are marked with yellow tags or shelf labels indicating “Special Value” or “Clearance.”

Lowe’s typically offers fewer markdown levels but often starts with deeper initial discounts:

• Initial clearance: 30-50% off
• Secondary markdown: 50-75% off
• Final clearance: Up to 80% off

Typical depth	Home Depot	Lowe’s
Early markdowns	25-30% off	30-50% off
Deeper markdowns	50-70% off	50-75% off
Deepest clearance	75-90% off	Up to 80% off

Which Hardware Store Has Better Deals?

Home Depot

• New markdowns cluster midweek (Wednesday to Friday in our data)
• Excellent tool clearances
• Legendary garden center deals
• More frequent clearance opportunities

Lowe’s

• Deeper appliance discounts
• Better home decor clearances
• Superior flooring deals
• Aggressive end-of-quarter pricing

Home Depot Advantages

Home Depot generally offers more frequent clearance opportunities due to their faster inventory turnover. New clearance prices show up most often Wednesday to Friday in our data, which helps deal hunters time store visits. Additionally, Home Depot tends to have larger clearance sections in most locations, providing more selection.

The store’s seasonal clearance events are particularly impressive, with garden centers clearing out plants at 75% off and holiday items reaching similar discount levels. Tools and appliances at Home Depot often see substantial markdowns, especially when new models arrive.

Lowe’s Clearance Benefits

While Lowe’s may have fewer clearance items overall, they often feature deeper initial discounts on big-ticket items like appliances and major tools. Lowe’s clearance strategy focuses on moving inventory quickly with aggressive pricing rather than gradual markdowns.

Lowe’s also excels in certain categories like flooring and lighting fixtures, where clearance deals can reach 70-80% off original prices. Their appliance clearance events, typically held quarterly, offer some of the best deals in the industry.

Timing Your Shopping for Maximum Savings

Best Times for Home Depot Clearance

• End of seasons (late summer for garden items, post-holiday for decorations)
• Thursday mornings when new markdowns typically appear
• First week of each month for appliance clearances
• After major holidays when seasonal items get marked down

Optimal Lowe’s Shopping Schedule

• Wednesday evenings and Thursday mornings for new markdowns
• End-of-quarter months (March, June, September, December) for appliance deals
• Post-season clearances, particularly for outdoor furniture and grills
• Back-to-school season for organization and storage items

Clearance Categories: Store-by-Store Breakdown

Where Home Depot Excels

Tools and Hardware: Home Depot’s tool clearance often features professional-grade items at significant discounts. Power tools from major brands regularly see 40-60% markdowns.

Garden Center: Seasonal plant clearances at Home Depot are legendary, with perennials, trees, and garden supplies reaching 75% off by late summer.

Building Materials: Lumber, concrete, and construction supplies see regular clearances, especially on overstock items.

Where Lowe’s Dominates

Appliances: Lowe’s consistently offers better clearance deals on major appliances, with scratch-and-dent sections providing additional savings.

Home Décor: Lighting, ceiling fans, and decorative items see deeper initial markdowns at Lowe’s compared to Home Depot.

Flooring: Carpet, tile, and hardwood clearances at Lowe’s often beat Home Depot’s pricing by 10-20%.

Strategies for Finding the Best Deals

Technology and Tools

Modern clearance hunting benefits greatly from technology. Platforms like Endless help Home Depot shoppers track clearance inventory across multiple locations, making it easier to find the best deals without visiting every store. Endless also tracks Lowe’s store clearance and price history, and flags Lowe’s items that are cheaper at Amazon for a price match.

In-Store Tactics

• Check end caps and dedicated clearance sections first
• Ask associates about upcoming markdowns or hidden clearance areas
• Look for items with damaged packaging that might qualify for additional discounts
• Consider seasonal timing – buy grills in fall, heaters in spring

Online vs. In-Store Clearance

Both retailers price clearance per store, and both show that store’s price online once you set your store. Neither gives you one list of every markdown at your store, so you check item by item or use a tracker that scans each store. At Home Depot, only count a clearance price if the store shows stock for pickup.

Regional and Store-Specific Variations

Clearance availability can vary significantly between individual stores and regions. Urban locations often have faster turnover and more frequent markdowns, while suburban stores might have better selection but slower markdown schedules. Stores in competitive markets typically offer more aggressive clearance pricing.

Good to Know: Neither Home Depot nor Lowe’s will price match the other store’s clearance items. Clearance pricing is considered promotional and is explicitly excluded from both retailers’ price matching policies. You’ll need to shop at each store individually to get their best clearance deals.

Key Takeaways

When comparing Lowe’s clearance vs Home Depot, both retailers offer excellent savings opportunities with distinct advantages:

Choose Home Depot for: Midweek markdown timing, extensive tool clearances, garden center deals, and more frequent clearance opportunities.

Choose Lowe’s for: Deeper initial appliance discounts, better home décor clearances, superior flooring deals, and aggressive end-of-quarter pricing.

The best strategy involves shopping both stores regularly and understanding each retailer’s clearance patterns. Home Depot’s systematic approach makes it easier to predict deals, while Lowe’s aggressive pricing can yield unexpected bargains. Successful clearance shoppers often develop routes that include both stores and time their visits around each retailer’s markdown schedule.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often does Home Depot mark down clearance items compared to Lowe’s?

Home Depot typically marks down clearance items every two weeks following a predictable schedule, while Lowe’s uses a more flexible approach with markdowns happening as needed based on inventory levels.

Which store offers better clearance deals on appliances?

Lowe’s generally offers better appliance clearance deals with deeper initial discounts and more frequent scratch-and-dent sales, often beating Home Depot’s appliance clearance pricing by 15-25%.

What day of the week should I shop for new clearance markdowns?

Home Depot typically processes new markdowns on Wednesday nights for Thursday morning shopping, while Lowe’s varies by location but often follows a similar Wednesday evening/Thursday morning schedule.

Do Home Depot and Lowe’s price match each other’s clearance items?

Neither store will price match clearance items from competitors, as clearance pricing is considered promotional and excluded from price matching policies at both retailers.

Which hardware store has better seasonal clearance sales?

Home Depot excels at garden and outdoor seasonal clearances with markdowns up to 75% off, while Lowe’s offers superior indoor seasonal items like holiday decorations and lighting with comparable discount levels.

Lowe's clearance we track store by store

• Harbor Breeze Calera 52-in Bronze Uncovered Outdoor Ceiling Fan Without Light Chain: 1,663 stores, from $41.92
• Orbit Max 1 -Pattern Thumb control Trigger Nozzle: 1,636 stores, from $12.72
• Fanimation Studio Collection Blitz 56-in Black LED Covered Outdoor Ceiling Fan With Light and Remote Control Included: 1,544 stores, from $134.47
• VT Dimensions 28-in W x 4.25-in H x 0.75-in D White Bardiglio, Matte Waterfall Edge Laminate Kitchen countertop end splash: 1,526 stores, from $8.72
• Orbit 5000-sq ft Rotating Spike Lawn Sprinkler: 1,507 stores, from $12.32
• SurfaceMaxx M22 (14-mm) female to 3/8-in Brass Coupler for Gas and Electric Pressure Washers up to 4500 PSI: 1,475 stores, from $5.02
• Project Source 6-ft to 12-ft Telescoping Steel Extension Pole: 1,473 stores, from $4.22
• Miracle-Gro Shake 'N Feed Rose and Bloom Flower Food 4.5-lb: 1,470 stores, from $12.57

More on the Lowe's price tracker.

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