Home Depot Rental Hours 2022 (Early Pickup + Late Dropoffs) – The Complete Guide
As an experienced Home Depot seller and ecommerce consultant, one of the most common questions I‘m asked is: "What are the rental hours and late fee policies at Home Depot?"
It‘s an important thing to get right, becauselate fees can quickly eat into your budget. In this detailed guide, I‘ll share everything you need to know about Home Depot equipment rental based on my years of first-hand experience.
Overview of Key Home Depot Rental Policies
Before we dig into the details, here‘s a quick overview of Home Depot‘s rental operations:
- Rental centers are open 7 days a week during regular store hours
- You can return items anytime during open hours
- But large returns like trucks should be 1 hour before closing
- Late returns incur fees even if only 30 mins over
- Must return to original rental location, not other stores
Now let‘s explore early pickups, late dropoffs, and other rental best practices…
What Are Home Depot‘s Exact Rental Hours?
Home Depot rental centers operate during normal store hours:
Day | Opening Time | Closing Time |
---|---|---|
Monday-Saturday | 6am | 9 or 10pm |
Sunday | 7 or 8am | 8pm |
Christmas Day | Closed | Closed |
Hours can vary slightly by location. Some stores may open at 7am or close at 11pm.
Your best bet is to check your specific store‘s hours on the Home Depot website. You can also call the store directly to confirm.
Occasional holidays like Easter Sunday or Thanksgiving may have reduced hours. But rentals remain available every day except Christmas.
How Early Can You Pick Up Rentals?
Early birds can pickup equipment rentals starting at opening time each morning:
- 6am Monday-Saturday
- 7/8am on Sundays
I recommend arriving early if retrieving large items like trucks or lifts. You‘ll beat the crowds and have staff‘s full attention. Just keep in mind rental desks may still be prepping for the day.
If reserving online, you cannot pickup earlier than your scheduled timeframe. But in-store rentals are available first thing when doors open.
Bottom line: You can pickup equipment rentals starting at opening time each day. Just allow a few minutes for staff to become available.
How Late Can You Return Rentals?
Returns can be made up until closing time:
- 9 or 10pm Monday-Saturday
- 8pm on Sundays
However, for large returns like trucks, aim to arrive at least 1 hour before closing. This gives staff adequate time to:
- Inspect vehicles for damage
- Process return paperwork
- Refund your deposit
I also recommend avoiding returns in the last 30 minutes. Finalizing rental contracts and deposits can take 15-20 minutes. You don‘t want to delay staff trying to go home.
As a rule of thumb, treat the cutoff time for trucks and other large returns as 1 hour before posted closing times. For all other items, 30-60 minutes is sufficient.
What Are Home Depot‘s Late Return Policies?
Home Depot charges late fees based on the type of rental:
Rental Period | Late Fee |
---|---|
4 hour | Full daily rental rate after 4 hours |
Daily | 2 day rental rate after 24 hours |
Weekly | Full weekly rate per additional week |
4 week | Full monthly rate per extra week |
As you can see, late charges add up quickly. You can even incur fees if you return 30 minutes past due!
It‘s also considered late if you return equipment to the wrong Home Depot location. Make sure you go back to the original rental store.
My advice is to set multiple cell phone alerts for return times. And budget extra drive time in case of traffic or lines. Late fees are no fun, so diligently track rental periods.
Are Weekend Rental Returns Available?
Absolutely! Home Depot rental centers are open 7 days a week for returns:
- Saturday: 6am to 9/10pm
- Sunday: 7/8am to 8pm
This means you can return items any morning after a weekend rental. No need to hold onto equipment if your project finishes early.
Just keep in mind Sunday staffing is usually limited. For large returns like trucks, go at least 1 hour before closing as I suggested earlier.
Can You Return Rentals on Holidays?
Home Depot is closed Christmas Day, so no returns are possible then.
For other major holidays like Easter, Fourth of July, and Labor Day, most stores have reduced hours. You can return items during the open hours on those days.
For example, Easter Sunday hours tend to be 8am – 7pm. So plan returns accordingly.
Always check your specific location‘s holiday schedule online or by phone before visiting. Hours can shift annually.
Step-By-Step: How To Rent Equipment at Home Depot
Based on my experience, here is a step-by-step overview of the equipment rental process at Home Depot:
- Browse rental inventory online or in-store
- Select desired rental period: 4 hours, 24 hours, 1 week, or 4 weeks
- Pay refundable deposit via credit card – usually $10-$150
- Pick up equipment during store hours
- Use rental carefully to avoid damages
- Clean equipment thoroughly before returning
- Return to same Home Depot location within timeframe
- Wait for staff inspection and deposit refund
Home Depot rents everything from basic tools to trucks, carpet cleaners, lifts, scaffolding, and more. Inventory varies by location.
Online reservations guarantee availability, but in-store rentals are often available same-day without pre-booking.
When estimating rental timeframes, factor in:
- Drive time to and from store
- Small buffer to avoid late fees
- Store opening hours for pickup and dropoff
Carefully inspect equipment before leaving and document any prior damage. Thoroughly clean items before returning.
For full details, review Home Depot‘s Rental Policies Page. Let‘s now discuss how to avoid late returns…
6 Pro Tips to Avoid Lateness and Rental Fees
Based on my experience, here are 6 tips to dodge late returns and penalties:
1. Note exact rental time limits – Mark pickup and return times on a calendar. Set multiple phone alerts.
2. Build in buffer time – Budget extra drive time in case of traffic and store lines.
3. Return large items early – Come at least 1 hour before closing for trucks and other cumbersome returns.
4. Confirm return store – Double check you‘re going back to the original rental location.
5. Clean thoroughly beforehand – Don‘t lose deposit over rushed cleaning. Do this at home if needed.
6. Document prior damages – Note any existing defects during pickup so you‘re not liable.
If using for a weekend project, return first thing Sunday morning. Don‘t wait until the last minute!
Helpful Resources To Supplement This Guide
To complement this guide, here are some other helpful rental resources:
- Home Depot Rental Services Page – Official policies and FAQs
- Home Depot Rental Inventory – Search tool to check local availability
- Store Hours Lookup – Verify your store‘s hours
- Rental Price List – Estimate costs and deposits
Bookmark these pages for quick access whenever you need to rent equipment or vehicles from Home Depot.
The Bottom Line
I hope this detailed guide provides everything you need to know about equipment rental from Home Depot.
The key takeaways are:
- Extended hours 7 days a week
- Return anytime during store hours
- Come early for large item returns
- Avoid late fees with buffer time
- Double check original rental store
Let me know if you have any other Home Depot rental questions! I‘m always happy to share my experience as a long-time equipment renter and Home Depot seller.