Home Depot understands that sometimes you can accidentally buy the wrong item or tool for your home improvement project, or sometimes things don’t work the way they should. I know I’ve had to return items on many occasions due to a lack of proper research and planning on my part. As an example, I didn’t check whether my pipes were CPVC or PVC in advance. I bought both to get the job done quickly and returned the pipe I didn’t need.
As a result, Home Depot does accept returns! We’ll explore Home Depot’s current return policy in this post and compare it to the policies of other hardware stores to determine just how forgiving or unforgiving the policy may be.
Return Policy
Home Depot does accept returns for most items. However, the return periods for items vary depending on the type of merchandise you purchase. There are also some items that you can’t return.
Non-Returnable Items
Most of Home Depot’s product catalog can be returned within a designated time period for a full refund with no questions asked. However, there are a few items that can’t be returned as outlined in Home Depot’s return policy:
- Utility trailers
- Floral arrangements and cut flowers
- Whole-house and stationary generators
- Labor, delivery, and/or installation services
- Product samples
- Gift cards or store credit
- Custom blinds that are not identified as “Guaranteed to Fit”
- Custom products from the Home Depot Design Center
Return Policy Exceptions
In addition to items that cannot be returned, there are a few items that fall outside of the standard return policy. The exceptions vary by item category. Some items must be returned in a specific way while other items can only be redeemed for in-store credit. Each exception is outlined below.
Plants
Most plants fall within the standard 90-day return window, but some plants have a return window that extends beyond 90 days. Perennials, trees, roses, and shrubs purchased from Home Depot all have a 1-year guarantee and can be returned within a year from the purchase date for in-store credit. If plants are shipped to you damaged or dead, you can contact support by texting “Support” to 38698 to receive a replacement at no charge.
Paint
Instead of a return, you can exchange paint at Home Depot. If you’re not satisfied with the exterior or interior paint you purchased, you can have the paint corrected or swap it out for a comparable can of paint at no additional charge. You’ll need to return the paint with your receipt within 30 days of purchase to be able to exchange the paint.
Hazardous Materials
If you’ve ever worked in logistics, you know that shipping certain items can be a nightmare. Shipping of hazardous items that contain flammable liquids or gasses is heavily regulated by the Department of Transportation and can be very expensive. As a result, Home Depot only accepts returns of items that use hazardous liquids or gasses in-store. These items would include lawnmowers, weed whackers, leaf blowers, and other tools with a gas engine.
Damaged Orders Or Orders With Missing Parts
If an item arrives damaged or missing parts, Home Depot would prefer that you contact support to get a replacement or replacement parts as opposed to requesting a refund. They advise that you contact customer support by texting “Support” to 38698 within 30 days of the product delivery to reach a resolution.
Third-Party Marketplace Items
You may not be aware of this, but Home Depot does operate a third-party marketplace on its website. If a product is purchased from a third party as opposed to Home Depot, you’ll have to work with the third-party supplier to see if your order qualifies for a refund. How can you tell if you’re buying from a third-party supplier? If the item is only available online and isn’t available in-store, it’s likely from a third-party supplier.
Return Periods
Return periods vary greatly depending on the type of merchandise purchased. Some items must be returned within 48 hours while other items can be returned within a year for a full refund. The varying return periods within the return policy and accompanying merchandise are all outlined below.
Items That Must Be Returned In 48 Hours
Appliances are complex devices and they’re only getting more complicated as smart technology is increasingly integrated into them. There’s a lot that could break with appliances, so it’s unfortunate that appliances have the smallest return window. Any major appliances (Dishwashers, microwaves, refrigerators, washers, dryers, and ranges) purchased through Home Depot must be returned within 48 hours from the date and time of purchase to receive a full refund.
This is a very tight window of time, so make sure that you install and test your appliances as quickly as possible. Home Depot advises that you inspect an appliance before taking it home or accepting the online delivery order to spot visible defects before the product is in your hands. If you find a defect you can contact Home Depot customer support within 48 hours to receive a refund.
Fortunately, many manufacturers offer support that extends past Home Depot’s policy. We purchased a dishwasher from Home Depot and we weren’t able to install it for a week (we were waiting on some tools for the job). When we went to install it we found that the door didn’t latch properly because a pin was missing in the hinge. Home Depot couldn’t help us, but the manufacturer was able to send us a new hinge at no cost. You should contact the appliance manufacturer to see what assistance they may be able to provide if your appliance breaks after 48 hours has expired.
Items That Must Be Returned In 30 Days
A small set of items need to be returned within 30 days to receive a full refund. These items are as follows:
- Gas Powered Equipment & Trailers
- Generators (that are not whole-house generators)
- Consumer electronics (TVs and computers)
Items That Must Be Returned In 365 Days
A year is a very generous amount of time to accept returns. There are only a few items that can be returned within a full year for a complete refund. As long as the item isn’t identified in the return policy exceptions section, the following items can be returned within 365 days from the date of purchase:
- Any item purchased with a Home Depot Consumer Credit Card
- Any item purchased with a Home Depot Pro Xtra Credit Card
- Any item purchased with a Home Depot Commercial Account
All Other Items
Any items that aren’t listed above, aren’t on the non-returnable items list and aren’t listed in the return policy exception section can be returned within 90 days for a full refund.
How Do You Return An Item From Home Depot?
Unless noted in the exceptions (hazardous items and third-party products), you can return Home Depot merchandise online or in-store. If you decide to return an item online, you can do so by contacting customer support. You can reach support by calling (800) 430-3376 or by texting “Support” to 38698. You’ll receive a shipping label in your email that you can print and apply to your return package. You can then drop your package off at a UPS Access Point to have it shipped to Home Depot.
Do You Need A Receipt For Returns?
If you have a receipt for your purchase, it’s always best to bring it with your return. It’ll save time by preventing staff from having to try to look up your order in the system. You can still try to return an item without a receipt. If staff can locate your order in the system they can provide a refund.
What About Purchases Made With A Gift Card?
You won’t be able to receive a cash refund for any purchases made with a Home Depot gift card. You’ll instead be eligible to receive store credit. Purchases made with an e-gift card will receive a new e-gift card for online store credit.
What About Large Cash Purchases?
Purchases of over $1,000 made in cash or cash equivalents can still be returned. Some Home Depot locations might not have enough cash to reimburse you and you’ll then receive a check in the mail from Home Depot’s corporate office.
How Does Home Depot’s Return Policy Compare To Other Hardware Stores?
It’s very likely that Home Depot isn’t the only hardware store in the area. The return policy may be a consideration when deciding which hardware store to shop at. To help you compare hardware stores, we’ve highlighted the differences in return policies for the largest national hardware stores compared to Home Depot below.
Home Depot Vs. Lowe’s Return Policy
Lowe’s return policy is almost identical to Home Depot’s. The only main difference is holiday items. Lowe’s stipulates that any holiday items must be returned before the day of the holiday and any holiday items purchased after the holiday are not eligible for a return. Therefore, if you’re going to buy holiday items like a Christmas tree, it’d be better to buy it from Home Depot.
Home Depot Vs. Menards Return Policy
The return policy for Menards is similar to Home Depot with some slight differences. One of the largest differences in return policy is for appliances. If you’ve opened and installed the appliance, you have 7 days from the purchase date to return or exchange the appliance if it has a defect. You can return an appliance for a full refund within 30 days of the purchase date if the appliance is still in its original packaging. The Mendards policy for appliances is far more gracious than Home Depot’s 48-hour policy. It might be a better idea to purchase appliances from Menards.
Menards has a stricter return policy for gas-powered items. Home Depot will take items that have already been filled with gas. Menards will not accept returns for any gas-powered items that have been filled with gas. It would be to your benefit to purchase any gas-powered items from Home Depot as opposed to Menards.
Home Depot Vs. Ace Return Policy
Ace Hardware stores are more difficult to compare to Home Depot because they’re independently owned and operated. Each store has its own return policy. The Ace Hardware website does offer a 30-day return policy. The policy excludes outdoor power equipment, clearance items, hazardous materials, and items purchased partially or completely with rewards points. Generally speaking, Ace’s return policy tends to be more restrictive than other hardware stores. Keep this in mind when shopping at Ace.
Avoid Having To Do Housework Altogether and Find A Professional To Work With
Shopping for home improvement projects and performing home improvement projects on your own can be a nightmare. Sometimes it’s worth avoiding the headache and frustration and hiring a professional to do the job for you. Home Directory can help you find a home improvement professional in your area to work with.
