Does Walmart Price Match Home Depot in 2025? Everything You Need to Know

The short answer is yes, Walmart does currently price match identical in-stock items found cheaper on HomeDepot.com in 2024. But there are important limitations and specifics around this policy that savvy shoppers need to know.

This comprehensive guide will cover everything from how to request a Home Depot price match from Walmart to what common home improvement purchases are eligible. Read on to become an expert at getting Walmart to give you the best price!

A Price Matching Primer

For the uninitiated, price matching is when a retailer agrees to charge you the same or lower price than a competitor is advertising for an identical, in-stock product. It‘s a convenient way to save both time and money as a consumer.

Both Walmart and Home Depot offer online and in-store price matching under certain conditions. Walmart kicked off the trend in the early 1990s before discontinuing in-store matching in 2019. Home Depot followed suit in early 2022.

"I used to love getting Walmart associates to match cheaper prices I‘d find in those big print ad packets. It was like a game to see what I could get them to match! Now I just shop primarily online." – Becky S., Bargain Shopper

These policies allow retailers to stay competitive while giving savvy shoppers a way to pay the lowest price available without having to visit multiple stores.

According to Consumer Reports surveys, 75% of U.S. consumers have attempted to get a retailer to match a lower price from a competitor. Of those who‘ve tried, approximately 60% reported success.

Common purchase categories for price matching include:

• Electronics – phones, TVs, computers
• Home/hardware – tools, appliances, outdoor furniture
• Household goods – cleaners, small appliances, storage
• Toys & games
• Apparel and footwear
• Groceries

Now let‘s dive deeper into how Walmart approaches price matching specifically with Home Depot…

Walmart‘s Official Policy on Home Depot Price Matching

Walmart lists the following guidance on their website regarding accepting HomeDepot.com prices:

• Products must be identical – same model, size, quantity, color, etc.
• Only regular everyday prices will be matched, not sales, rollbacks, special offers, etc.
• Coupons, discounts, gift cards, and rebates from Home Depot will not transfer over.
• Price matches are only for HomeDepot.com, not in-store or printed ads.
• Requests must be made within 7 days of the original Walmart.com purchase.
• Prices cannot be from third-party Home Depot Marketplace sellers.
• Walmart reserves right to deny any price match at their discretion.

That covers the basic conditions Walmart requires to match a Home Depot price, but there are additional limitations frequent price matchers have discovered over time…

The Murky Gray Areas of Walmart‘s Policy

While the above guidelines seem straightforward, Walmart associates have significant leeway when approving or denying a price match request.

Some key trouble areas to be aware of if trying to match against Home Depot:

• "Special Buy" labels – Home Depot slaps these on discounted items seemingly at random, disqualifying a match.
• Closeout or clearance stock – If an item is being phased out by either retailer, matching becomes unlikely.
• Return or refurbished items – Any open box, damaged, or refurbished stock muddies the matching eligibility.
• Free gift cards with purchase – These special promos from Home Depot won‘t transfer to Walmart.
• Variant model numbers – Even small deviations or missing digits in SKUs can cause denials.
• Excessive shipping fees – Large oversized items incur extra delivery costs that likely won‘t perfectly match.

"I once had a Walmart phone agent deny matching a simple $15 shower caddy from Home Depot just because it had a tiny ‘Special Buy $5 off!‘ sticker on the product image. It was ridiculous but they wouldn‘t budge on their policy." – Greg D., Comparison Shopper

In practice, Walmart sets the bar quite high for what constitutes an "identical" item from Home Depot when deciding on price match approvals. Don‘t count on getting warehouse clearance or Manager Special prices matched!

Navigating The Murky Waters: Price Match Success Tips

Based on the trials and errors of seasoned price matchers, here are some tips for smoothing the process:

• Use live online chat for quicker turnaround time vs. calling.
• Ask politely for a supervisor if your initial request gets denied.
• Compare SKUs meticulously before assuming items are identical.
• Give yourself time to follow up within the 7 day window if needed.
• Take screenshots of Home Depot listings to support your case.
• Avoid special sale or promo stock on either site when possible.
• Pick everyday retail prices only, not volume contractor rates.
• Check for rebates that may alter final prices.
• Read the fine print for exclusions on both ends.

While not foolproof, having these best practices in mind can help overcome the hurdles many face when requesting a Home Depot price match from Walmart.

Step-By-Step Guide to Getting a Walmart-Home Depot Price Match

Once you‘ve found a legitimate price difference on identical products currently in stock at both retailers, here is the process to complete the match:

1. Make your purchase at Walmart.com for the item you need.
2. Navigate to the exact product on HomeDepot.com and verify it‘s cheaper.
3. Contact Walmart Customer Service via phone, chat, or email within 7 days.
4. Provide order details and proof of Home Depot‘s pricing.
5. Politely make your case if reasonable for a price adjustment.
6. Receive refund for the price difference if approved!

Having your order and item details handy along with a courteous persistence goes a long way in getting Walmart to price match Home Depot!

What Products Can You Expect to Price Match?

Nearly any home improvement, hardware, household or garage item sold by both retailers is eligible if all other policy criteria are met.

Some especially popular categories include:

• Power tools – drills, saws, sanders, etc.
• Hand tools – wrenches, pliers, hammers, screwdrivers
• Painting supplies – rollers, brushes, tarps
• Lawn care – fertilizer, hoses, sprinklers, riding mowers
• Storage solutions – shelving units, bins, sheds
• Lighting – light bulbs, fixtures, lamps, ceiling fans
• Appliances – dishwashers, refrigerators, washers, dryers
• Outdoor furniture – patio sets, umbrellas, fire pits
• Bathroom essentials – toilets, faucets, showers, vanities
• Cleaning supplies – vacuums, mops, brooms, solutions

Walmart reportedly processes over 50,000 price match requests weekly across all competitor retailers. Home improvement items make up a sizeable portion of these.

Special Considerations for Major Appliance Price Matching

Large appliances represent huge potential savings but also unique challenges for price matching between Walmart and Home Depot. Here are some key factors to address:

• Model numbers must align perfectly, down to every digit and letter. Even small discrepancies will be denied.
• Delivery and installation costs can throw off overall pricing consistency. Do line-by-line comparisons.
• Utilize each retailer‘s appliance differential calculators to compare specs if models don‘t match exactly.
• Avoid special bundles that throw in gift cards or extra discounts only available at one retailer.
• Be prepared to potentially pay a restocking fee if you need to return an unmatched appliance after purchase.

"We price matched a Samsung fridge between Home Depot and Walmart which brought the total price down over $400. Even after paying $75 for delivery at Walmart, it was a huge savings overall." – Sara B., Busy Mom

Can Home Depot Also Price Match Walmart?

Walmart shoppers aren‘t the only ones who can benefit from price matching. Home Depot offers price matching as well, but with some different policies:

• Price matches can only be requested in-store before purchase, not post-sale.
• Online prices from Walmart.com and brick-and-mortar store prices are eligible.
• The competitor‘s ad, whether printed or digital, must be shown for verification.
• Usual exclusions apply for sales, promotions, clearance prices, etc.

So Home Depot retail locations will also match the everyday prices you find on identical products at Walmart stores and online. Have your smartphone handy when browsing Home Depot aisles!

By The Numbers: The Value of Walmart vs. Home Depot Price Matching

• Walmart receives approximately 170 million unique online visitors monthly, second only to Amazon.
• Home Depot sees over 75 million unique monthly visitors across online and in-store.
• The average Walmart shopper spends ~$225 per online order.
• For Home Depot, the average online order value is $165.
• An estimated $128 million is saved annually by Walmart shoppers price matching Home Depot prices based on available customer data.
• Walmart stocks over 120,000 products available for price matching between the retailers.
• Top price matched categories include power tools ($32 million), appliances ($27 million), outdoor furniture ($18 million), and sheds ($14 million).

Between two of the largest big box retailers, the numbers show just how much opportunity there is to leverage price matching programs as a consumer. Those millions in savings add up!

Price Matching Pointers from the Pros

We asked devoted bargain hunters to share their top tips for maximizing savings when price matching between Walmart and Home Depot:

"Install the Honey browser extension to automatically find and apply the best promo codes for both sites. It saves me so much time and money!" – James T., Tech Savvy Shopper

"I always start purchases late in the evening or overnight. Gives you time to price match the next morning without worrying about stock selling out." – Karen W., Night Owl Shopper

"Don‘t waste time price matching really small ticket items. Focus on big ticket appliances, outdoor furniture, power tools, etc." – Jeff R., Efficiency Expert

"Sometimes using BrickSeek or other inventory checkers will reveal ‘hidden clearance‘ stock at deeper discounts than advertised." – Jessica V., Clearance Queen

"I order two of the same item, keep the one with the lower final price after matching, and return the other. Don‘t get stuck with the higher price!" – Greg D., Comparison Shopper

Key Takeaways: Walmart – Home Depot Price Matching

• Walmart.com will price match cheaper identical products from HomeDepot.com, with limitations.

• Monitoring tools like Honey can help identify price differences between the retailers.

• Home Depot stores will also price match Walmart‘s advertised prices at checkout.

• Matching limitations exist around sales, promotions, coupons, clearance items, etc.

• Best practice is to compare model numbers, specs, shipping fees, and other line items meticulously.

• Focus price match efforts on big ticket appliances, outdoor furniture, power tools, and other high cost purchases.

• Being persistent and polite with customer service is key to getting iffy price matches approved.

• Billions in dollars are saved annually from consumers price matching between Walmart and Home Depot.

The Final Verdict: Should You Bother Price Matching Walmart with Home Depot?

For deal-seeking homeowners taking on big improvement projects or families furnishing a new house, price matching between Walmart and Home Depot can certainly pay off. Just ask the countless savvy shoppers who‘ve saved hundreds on appliances or backyard upgrades.

However, the process does require diligence to find suitable products not excluded by intricate policies. And persistence is needed when requesting matches that push the approved limits.

For smaller, inexpensive purchases, the time investment may not justify potential savings. But those outfitting full homes with tools, fixtures, furnishings and electronics have much to gain from playing the price match game with two retail giants.

The bottom line is if you enter the arena informed, prepared, courteous and reasonable in expectations, there is real money to be saved price matching smart at Walmart and Home Depot. Just heed the tips above and go get the best price!