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Tools & Store Tests

Home Depot vs Lowe's vs Menards: Same List, 3 Stores, 1 Winner

One list, three stores, same day. Deck screws, Liquid Nails, primer, a drill, 2x4s and plywood, scored on price, lumber, staff knowledge and checkout. Real receipts and a winner.

By John, HomePro Hero·November 7, 2026·Built and filmed by me
StoresHome Depot, Lowe's, Menards
Scored onPrice, lumber, staff, checkout
TestedSeptember 2026
WinnerMenards

So I asked, "What store do you shop the most?" Home Depot, Lowe's, Menards. So today we settle it. One list, three stores, all in the same day. And I'm going to name a winner.

The list

Some of the most common things I use on my DIY projects:

  • A one-pound box of 3-inch star drive deck screws
  • A tube of construction adhesive, of course, Liquid Nails
  • One gallon of interior primer
  • Each store's bottom of the line drill
  • Four 2x4s. I'm not cherry-picking. I'm taking the first four off the top of the stack.
  • A 4x8 sheet of 1/2 inch plywood

I'm scoring price, lumber quality, staff knowledge, and checkout. First place gets three points. Last place gets one point. The one in the middle gets two.

Home Depot

Home Depot is the baseline. Everything else gets measured against it.

  • Deck screws: 3-inch, one pound, star drive. $9.97
  • Liquid Nails: $3.48
  • Primer: I asked about brand new drywall and latex paint. "You need primer." About $29.98.
  • Drill: the Ryobi. So cheap it doesn't need to be locked up. Heck of a bargain on that drill.
  • 2x4s: really good. Four out of four.
  • Plywood: doesn't look great. Three ply, corners messed up, veneer kind of messed up, a little bit warped. I wouldn't pick this one.
  • Checkout: done like that. Customer service is pretty good in there.
  • Five items at shelf price: $130.21. With my military discount ($4.34 off): $125.87.

Lowe's

  • Screws: slim pickings, and not a good price.
  • Liquid Nails: $3.51
  • Primer: I asked the same question. He said this one is $16 a gallon, and showed me another brand at about $14 a gallon. That'll help seal it up. The one on my list was $30.98. That's more expensive.
  • Carts: I couldn't handle that front wheel. Switched carts, and that one was worse.
  • 2x4s: one good one. Look at the crack in those ones. Those are really bad, guys.
  • Plywood: not too bad. Little banged up corners. Veneer looks good. Three ply. Straight.
  • Drill: the cheapest one they had, a Craftsman with a battery and a charger.
  • Receipt: $207.32. I thought Home Depot was expensive. Usually Lowe's is my second favorite, but I don't know about now.

Menards

If you don't live in the Midwest, you may have never been in one of these. Full disclosure, going into this competition, Menards has been my favorite. It's got a humongous outdoor lumber yard and keeps a limited amount of wood inside.

  • Screws: 3-inch star bit, $8.97. That might be the low.
  • Liquid Nails: $3.47. Great price. Lowest yet.
  • Primer: same question. He didn't know, and agreed when I asked if I should ChatGPT it.
  • Drill: $99. This is where it falls apart on me, with the Ryobi at 59, the Craftsman at 79, and this one at 99. Different volts, different batteries, brushless, non brushless, three totally different tools. You saw what each one costs. You make up your own mind, but it's not going on the score.
  • 2x4s: first one off the stack, no. One good one, and it's still chewed up. Remember, these are the inside ones. I bet the outside ones are 10 times better.
  • Plywood: best panel of the three. Very nice veneer, all the corners look good, straight. It's a keeper.
  • Receipt: $242.04. They had an 11% rebate.

The scores

  • Lumber: Home Depot, with perfectly straight, great quality 2x4s. Menards and Lowe's led the way with the plywood, but only one good 2x4 out of four for both of them.
  • Staff knowledge: Lowe's. He explained it to me, and he showed me two different products I could use on my project. That's what you really want. Home Depot second: they answered the question, just didn't tell me what to get. Menards last.
  • Checkout: Menards killed it, 2 minutes 15 seconds. Home Depot second. Lowe's brought up the rear.
  • Price: five items, drills out of the picture, shelf price, no taxes, no discounts. Lowe's led the way, Menards right behind them, and Home Depot not too far behind those two.
  • Discounts: nobody should have to pay shelf. I get military discounts at both Lowe's and Home Depot. Menards has no military discount, but they had their 11% rebate sale, and it applies to everyone that walks through the doors.

The winner

That makes the winner Menards, on this particular date in September 2026.

Did your store get robbed? Let me know in the comments on the video.

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