Does Walmart Sell Home Depot Gift Cards in 2022?
No, Walmart does not currently sell Home Depot gift cards, either online or in their physical retail stores. This is because Home Depot is one of Walmart‘s major competitors in the home improvement and hardware market, so Walmart has no incentive to promote a rival brand.
As two retailing giants battling for market share in the lucrative home improvement space, the competitive dynamic between Walmart and Home Depot provides important context as to why shoppers can‘t purchase Home Depot gift cards at Walmart.
In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll explore why Walmart doesn‘t sell Home Depot gift cards, how the two brands compete, alternative gift card options sold at Walmart, and where you can buy Home Depot gift cards instead.
Why Home Depot Gift Cards Are Not Sold at Walmart
Home Depot is one of Walmart‘s biggest head-to-head competitors when it comes to home improvement retailing. In 2020, Walmart generated $65 billion in U.S. revenue just from home and garden products [1], while Home Depot reported total sales of $108 billion [2].
With both companies aggressively vying for market share, Walmart has no incentive to essentially promote and support a major rival by offering Home Depot gift cards in their stores.
As consumer analyst Julie Ramhold explains:
"Big box stores like Walmart and Target aren’t going to offer gift cards for their competition because they don’t want to promote other companies over their own." [3]
By avoiding selling Home Depot gift cards, Walmart can better retain consumers within their own ecosystem of home improvement products and services.
Home Improvement Retail – A Huge Market
The total home improvement retail market in the U.S. was worth around $439 billion in 2020 [4]. This represents a massive opportunity for retailers like Walmart and Home Depot to compete for consumer dollars.
Home Depot leads the market with an estimated 25% market share in 2020 [5]. Walmart held around 15% share of home improvement sales [6].
Major Home Improvement Retail Brands by Market Share
| Brand | Estimated Market Share |
|---|---|
| Home Depot | 25% |
| Lowe‘s | 14% |
| Walmart | 15% |
| Ace Hardware | 6% |
| Menards | 5% |
Both Walmart and Home Depot are aggressively investing to grow their share of this lucrative market in the coming years. This further explains their strategic decision making, like Walmart not selling Home Depot gift cards.
How Do Walmart and Home Depot Compare?
Walmart and Home Depot have distinctly different offerings and shopper demographics within the home improvement market:
Product range – Home Depot has a wider range focused on hardware, tools, and building materials for home renovations. Walmart has a broader assortment including outdoor furniture, garden supplies, small appliances etc.
Pricing – Walmart is generally cheaper, leveraging their purchasing power and economies of scale. Home Depot focuses more on service than low prices.
Brand positioning – Home Depot is positioned as the expert destination for builders and serious DIYers. Walmart appeals to a wider mainstream audience for everyday home needs.
Store experience – Home Depot stores have knowledgeable associates and demo displays tailored to home builders. Walmart offers one-stop convenience but less personalized service.
How Walmart Competes With Home Depot
Walmart doesn‘t compete head-to-head with the depth of Home Depot‘s specialized home improvement offering. However, they do offer many goods for DIYers and home projects:
Broad assortment – Everything from paint and lumber to small appliances and outdoor furniture. One-stop convenience.
Lower prices – Leverages massive purchasing power to undercut competitors. Price matching also available.
Private label brands – Exclusive home brands like Expert Finish paint and Hometrendz furniture offer value.
Robust ecommerce – Comprehensive home improvement options available at Walmart.com with convenient delivery.
In-store convenience – Home improvement items can be purchased along with groceries and other everyday essentials.
By selling complementary products to Home Depot without directly promoting them through gift card sales, Walmart can attract DIYers on a budget without detracting from their own strengths.
Gift Card Options for Home Projects at Walmart
Gift cards make it easy to help DIYers and renovators fund their next home project. While Home Depot gift cards are not sold at Walmart, there are plenty of flexible gift card options that can be used to shop for home improvement supplies:
Walmart Gift Cards – With a wide assortment of home essentials at Walmart, their gift card allows flexibility across categories like hardware, outdoor furniture, tools, appliances etc. Cards can also be personalized.
Visa Gift Cards – Since Visa is accepted virtually everywhere, a Visa gift card can be used to purchase home renovation products at any retailer, including Home Depot. Maximum flexibility.
Lowe‘s Gift Cards – For DIYers who prefer shopping at Lowe‘s home improvement stores over Walmart or Home Depot.
Kobalt Tools Gift Cards – To purchase tools and accessories from Walmart‘s own exclusive Kobalt brand.
Ace Hardware Gift Cards – Support local Ace Hardware stores, which many DIYers favor for personalized service.
So while Home Depot gift cards specifically may not be an option, Walmart shoppers have no shortage of gift card choices to enable projects around the home.
Where To Buy Home Depot Gift Cards
Fortunately, while not sold at Walmart, authentic Home Depot gift cards can still be easily purchased through other major retailers including:
Target – Home Depot gift cards available in-store and online at Target.com across various denominations.
Kroger – Home Depot gift cards stocked at Kroger supermarket locations across the country.
Walgreens – Home Depot physical gift cards available in-store, with online eGift card options at Walgreens.com.
Dollar General – Select Dollar General stores sell set-value Home Depot gift cards.
Home Depot – Consumers can purchase both physical and digital Home Depot gift cards directly through their website or mobile app.
So getting a genuine Home Depot gift card to give as a thoughtful gift to a home DIYer is still convenient through multiple trusted national retailers, even if not at Walmart.
Convenience Can Lead to Brand Promotion
Retail analyst Priya Mistry of Euromonitor International notes how the convenience of purchasing major brand gift cards at stores like Walmart could lead to unwanted promotion of competitors:
"By offering branded gift cards for competing retailers, Walmart would effectively be promoting rival brands in their own stores. This could potentially steer shoppers away from Walmart‘s own home and garden offerings."
This expert perspective further highlights why you won‘t spot Home Depot gift cards on the racks at your local Walmart. Convenience for shoppers comes second to Walmart protecting its business interests.
The Takeaway – Shop Alternatives To Fund Home Projects
While Home Depot gift cards would be a convenient addition when shopping at Walmart, the reality is Walmart does not sell them due to competitive dynamics in the home improvement retail market.
However, Walmart does provide an array of flexible gift card options – like Visa, Walmart, and Kobalt Tools cards – that can help DIYers and renovators fund projects using Walmart‘s own home essentials assortment.
And Home Depot gift cards can still be easily purchased through Target, Kroger, Walgreens and other major national retailers. So grabbing a genuine Home Depot gift card to give as a thoughtful gift is still very convenient through multiple trusted retailers, even if not at your one-stop Walmart.
References
[1] https://corporate.walmart.com/media-library/document/walmart-2020-annual-report/_proxyDocument?id=00000171-a3ea-dfc0-af71-b3fea8490000[2] https://ir.homedepot.com/~/media/Files/H/HomeDepot-IR/2021-Proxy%20Statement.pdf
[3] https://www.nj.com/business/2016/12/bamboozled_why_cant_i_buy_a_home_depot_gift_card_a.html
[4] https://www.ibisworld.com/united-states/market-research-reports/home-improvement-retailing-industry/
[5] https://www.businessinsider.com/home-improvement-retailing-market-share-2019-1
[6] https://www.forbes.com/sites/walterloeb/2020/12/01/home-depot-and-lowes-face-new-competition-from-wayfair-and-walmart/?sh=773572df7f9b
