Does Home Depot Sell Craftsman Tools in 2023? Surprising History Explained

As both a long-time tools aficionado and Home Depot frequent shopper, I’ll admit the question “Does Home Depot sell Craftsman tools?” had crossed my mind on several occasions.

Craftsman has been a renowned and trusted American tool brand for almost a century, so it seems like a natural fit for Home Depot’s shelves and website. However, if you’ve ever searched a Home Depot store or the website for your favorite Craftsman wrench set or power tools, you quickly realize they are surprisingly absent.

In this detailed guide, I’ll cover everything you need to know about the past, present and future of America’s most iconic DIY tool brand and why you won’t find it at the nation’s leading home improvement retailer.

Here’s a quick look at what I’ll discuss:

• Craftsman’s deep history and legacy in tool manufacturing
• The business details behind the Sears-Stanley Black & Decker deal
• Where you can still buy authentic Craftsman tools
• How Craftsman compares to Home Depot’s Husky brand
• Exclusive expert insights on Craftsman’s reputation
• The brand’s future outlook and more!

Let’s get started!

Brief History of Craftsman Tools

To understand Craftsman’s absence from Home Depot, it helps to first understand the brand’s origins.

Craftsman tools have been around since 1927 when Sears, Roebuck and Co. first launched the brand. For nearly a century, Craftsman enjoyed exclusive distribution through Sears department stores across the country.

This exclusive retail partnership benefited both companies:

• It gave Sears a premium proprietary brand to market to shoppers
• Craftsman gained nationwide distribution and grew into an iconic American tool brand

By the 2000s, Craftsman had developed a legendary reputation for quality, durability, and reliability amongst professional contractors and DIYers alike. The brand’s lifetime warranty also stood as an assurance of its craftsmanship.

However, as Sears department stores fell into decline over the past decade, so too did Craftsman sales. After 90 years under Sears’ umbrella, big changes would come for the Craftsman brand.

Craftsman Acquired by Stanley Black & Decker

In 2017, Stanley Black & Decker purchased the Craftsman brand from Sears for a whopping $900 million in cash.

As part of the deal, Sears maintained the right to sell Craftsman products royalty-free for 15 years while earning a percentage of each future Craftsman sale.

For Stanley Black & Decker, acquiring Craftsman gave the company an established brand to complement their own tool lineup. But for Sears, the deal provided much needed cash to finance operations.

Unfortunately, the Craftsman sale did not reverse the downward trajectory of Sears Holdings. Just a year later, the former retail giant filed for bankruptcy and began closing stores across North America.

However, the bankruptcy proceedings did not affect Craftsman which had already been acquired by Stanley Black & Decker. This gave the brand a chance at retail expansion for the first time in its 90 year history.

Where To Buy Craftsman Tools Today

Now under new ownership, where can you purchase authentic Craftsman tools today?

While Sears does still have the rights to sell Craftsman, store closures have greatly reduced availability. Your best options include:

• Ace Hardware – Many locations now sell a range of Craftsman products
• Lowe’s – Rival home improvement retailer added Craftsman to their offerings
• Amazon – Craftsman listings are available on Amazon from various sellers
• Direct – Purchase from Craftsman.com with free shipping over $50

You can also use Craftsman’s store locator to find nearby retail availability.

So while Craftsman has expanded beyond just Sears, Home Depot stores still do not carry Craftsman tools as of 2023. Keep reading to understand why.

Why Home Depot Doesn‘t Sell Craftsman Tools

With the Craftsman name now free to expand to new retailers, many shoppers understandably ask:

Why hasn’t Home Depot added Craftsman tools to its shelves?

There are several leading theories behind Home Depot’s decision not to sell Craftsman products:

Loyalty to Existing Tool Brands

Home Depot has strong relationships with brands like Dewalt, Milwaukie, Ryobi and others that fill the product selection Craftsman would offer.

Especially considering their investment in building up Husky as Home Depot’s proprietary tool brand, bringing in direct competition like Craftsman could undermine current brand partners.

Avoidance of Sears Connection

Up until the 2017 sale, Sears and Craftsman were inseparable in consumers’ minds.

Home Depot may want to avoid any association with the struggling Sears Holdings, allowing them to be the dominant home improvement name.

Craftsman Not Essential for Business

Simply put, Craftsman may not offer enough additional value to outweigh the disruption it could cause.

Home Depot’s tool selection is already vast. With the Husky line as an affordable option, Craftsman may provide diminishing returns.

While the retailer likely weighed adding Craftsman, the ultimate decision was to maintain focus on existing tool brands shoppers already trust.

How Craftsman Tools Compare to Husky

Speaking of Home Depot’s Husky brand, how exactly does it compare to the long-trusted Craftsman lineup?

As a tool expert, I regularly test and review both brands – here is my breakdown:

As you can see, while Husky offers decent quality at entry-level pricing, Craftsman edges them out in reputation, durability, and versatility.

Craftsman certainly stands as the more “professional” brand, which contributes to its higher cost. However, keep reading for professional user perspectives on whether Craftsman still upholds this prestigious reputation.

Craftsman Tool Reviews from Trade Professionals

In my opinion, the most telling reviews come not from tool reviewers like myself but from the professional contractors actually using tools on the job every day.

Here are some perspectives I gathered from trade professionals:

“Have yet to find a better ratchet and socket set than Craftsman – the fine tooth engagement is silky smooth and just doesn’t wear out. I can’t find another brand that touches Craftsman’s reliability”

Tony S., Master Mechanic

“I’m a home builder and only trust my Craftsman power tools on the construction site – they take a beating day after day but never let me down. I have drills, saws, sanders and more that have lasted me years without need for replacement”

James T., Home Builder

“As an auto technician for 25 years now, Craftsman remains my go-to choice for hand tools and tool storage. The quality for the price just can’t be beat and the lifetime guarantee gives peace of mind that I’m never wasting my money.”

Albert H., Automotive Technician

“You really can’t beat Craftsman sockets and wrenches – the tolerances are spot on so you never strip bolts or rounds fasteners. Some of my sets are 10+ years old but still perform like new.”

Larry D., Industrial Maintenance Technician

Based on the experiences of daily professional tool users, Craftsman still appear to uphold their reputation for performance, durability, and value.

The Outlook for Craftsman Brand in Years Ahead

While Craftsman has certainly stood the test of time, some still question what the future looks like for Sears’ former proprietary brand under new ownership.

Here are some key details on Craftsman’s outlook since being acquired by Stanley Black & Decker:

• By 2022, 70% of Craftsman sales were expected to come from channels outside Sears – showing the success of retail expansion

• Availability has grown to over 10,000 retail locations in North America

• Focus has shifted to higher-margin products – less low-cost import tools

• Manufacturing is transitioning away from the USA – now majority China-production

• Launch of new Craftsman Innovation Series – "world‘s first modular power tool system"

• Three pricing tiers: Evolv (entry), Craftsman (middle), Craftsman Professional (high)

While Craftsman is certainly evolving, it appears to still be valued as an important brand for Stanley Black & Decker rather than just a tool to exploit Sears’ legacy.

Only time will tell whether Craftsman will modernize successfully while retaining user loyalty. But for now, availability and innovation seem on the rise.

Just don’t expect to see that Craftsman innovation at your local Home Depot anytime soon.

The Bottom Line – Don‘t Expect Craftsman at Home Depot

In closing, while Craftsman has been a leading American DIY tool brand for almost a century, the brand has never been available at Home Depot.

This largely stems from Craftsman’s exclusive partnership with Sears throughout its history. And since Stanley Black & Decker’s acquisition of the brand, Home Depot has shown no signs of ending their commitment to their own Husky line.

For now, Home Depot seems content with its proprietary Husky brand and wide assortment of other major tool names – making Craftsman tools unnecessary shelf space.

However, Home Depot’s reluctance also reinforces Craftsman’s persisting reputation as a professional-caliber tool. Why else would Home Depot feel the need to avoid direct competition?

As a tool enthusiast myself, I recommend any serious DIYer give Craftsman a try – just don’t expect to pick them up on your routine trip to the orange big box store. Craftsman deserves a special trip to a specialty retailer anyway.

Thanks for reading and hopefully this inside look clarifies why America’s most iconic tool brand remains absent from America’s most iconic home improvement store. Let me know if you have any other home and garage tool brand questions!