Harbor Freight and Home Depot are both popular stores for tools and home improvement supplies. But which one has the better prices overall? There are a few key factors to consider when comparing Harbor Freight and Home Depot prices.
In general, Harbor Freight is known for having very low prices but their tools can sometimes be lower quality. Home Depot has a wider selection of name brand tools that are higher quality but also more expensive. Harbor Freight focuses on inexpensive imports and house brands while Home Depot carries brands like DeWalt, Milwaukee, and Makita.
To get a true comparison of pricing between the two stores, we’ll look at specific product categories and do an item-by-item price comparison. We’ll also consider any additional factors like quality, selection, and availability. By the end, you should have a good sense of which store offers better values.
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Power Tools
Power tools like drills, saws, sanders and grinders are essential for any home workshop. Let’s see how Harbor Freight and Home Depot compare on pricing for key power tool categories.
Cordless Drill Drivers
Cordless drills are one of the most commonly used power tools. Here is a comparison of top-selling cordless drill/driver kits:
| Cordless Drill | Harbor Freight Price | Home Depot Price |
|---|---|---|
| Bauer 20V Cordless Drill Kit | $79.99 | $99.00 |
| Hercules 20V Cordless Drill Kit | $84.99 | – |
| Milwaukee M18 Fuel Drill Kit | – | $299.00 |
| DeWalt 20V Max XR Drill Kit | – | $199.00 |
For inexpensive cordless drills, Harbor Freight is clearly cheaper. Their Bauer branded 20V drill kit is $20 less than Home Depot’s comparable option. However, Harbor Freight lacks the higher end Milwaukee and DeWalt tools that Home Depot carries. Overall, Harbor Freight is better for basic cordless drills on a budget. Home Depot has the premium brands.
Circular Saws
Here is a comparison of corded circular saw prices:
| Circular Saw | Harbor Freight Price | Home Depot Price |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago Electric 7-1/4 in. Circular Saw | $79.99 | – |
| SKIL 7-1/4 in. Circular Saw | – | $59.98 |
| Makita 7-1/4 in. Circular Saw | – | $129.00 |
For a basic circular saw, Harbor Freight’s Chicago Electric model is $20 more than the SKIL saw at Home Depot. However, Harbor Freight doesn’t carry premium brands like Makita that Home Depot has available. For the lowest priced circular saw, Home Depot edges out Harbor Freight.
Angle Grinders
Here are top angle grinder prices:
| Angle Grinder | Harbor Freight Price | Home Depot Price |
|---|---|---|
| Bauer 4-1/2 in. Angle Grinder | $29.99 | – |
| DeWalt 4-1/2 in. Angle Grinder | – | $99.00 |
For a basic angle grinder, Harbor Freight is far less expensive at just $29.99 compared to DeWalt’s $99 model at Home Depot. However, the DeWalt grinder is higher performance. Harbor Freight wins again for budget-friendly prices on core power tools.
Power Tool Prices Summary
When looking at power tools, Harbor Freight has impressive pricing advantages in all the basic categories. They offer inexpensive cordless drills, circular saws and angle grinders at prices Home Depot can’t match with major brands like DeWalt and Makita. However, Home Depot does carry those premium tool brands that Harbor Freight lacks. Home Depot is the better option for high-performance power tools from industry leaders.
Hand Tools
Every workshop needs hand tools like hammers, wrenches, pliers and screwdrivers. Here is a comparison of prices on key hand tools at Harbor Freight and Home Depot:
Hammers
| Hammer | Harbor Freight Price | Home Depot Price |
|---|---|---|
| 16 oz. Curved Claw Hammer | $7.99 | $16.98 |
| 16 oz. Rip Claw Hammer | $6.99 | $14.98 |
Harbor Freight hammers are less than half the price of comparable hammers at Home Depot. The curved claw model is $9 less at Harbor Freight.
Pliers
| Pliers | Harbor Freight Price | Home Depot Price |
|---|---|---|
| 10″ Joint Pliers | $6.99 | $12.97 |
| 6″ Long Nose Pliers | $4.99 | $8.97 |
Once again, Harbor Freight pliers are a fraction of the Home Depot prices. Harbor Freight’s long nose pliers are nearly $4 cheaper.
Wrench Sets
| Wrench Set | Harbor Freight Price | Home Depot Price |
|---|---|---|
| 22 Pc. Combination Wrench Set | $18.99 | $39.97 |
| 11 Pc. Metric Combination Wrench Set | $7.99 | $21.97 |
Harbor Freight combo wrench sets are priced at less than half of the Home Depot versions. The 22 piece set is $21 cheaper at Harbor Freight.
Hand Tool Prices Summary
Across all categories of basic hand tools that every DIYer needs, Harbor Freight is consistently and significantly less expensive than Home Depot. Harbor Freight’s extremely low prices on their Pittsburgh hand tools make them the clear choice over Home Depot for hammer, pliers, wrenches and other hand tools.
Tool Storage
Having proper tool storage at home is key to keeping all your tools organized and secure. Here is a price comparison of popular tool storage options:
Toolboxes
| Toolbox | Harbor Freight Price | Home Depot Price |
|---|---|---|
| 26 in. x 22 in. Top Chest | $159.99 | $298.00 |
| 72 in. 18 Drawer Roller Cabinet | $399.99 | $849.00 |
For toolboxes and roller cabinets, Harbor Freight’s prices are less than half of Home Depot on comparable items. The 26″ top chest is $138 cheaper at Harbor Freight. And the large 72″ roller cabinet is $449 less at Harbor Freight.
Tool Bags
| Tool Bag | Harbor Freight Price | Home Depot Price |
|---|---|---|
| 16 in. Tradesman Tool Bag | $6.99 | $14.98 |
| 21 in. Rolling Tool Bag | $29.99 | $39.97 |
For basic tool bags, Harbor Freight maintains a solid price advantage over Home Depot. The 16″ tradesman bag is just $7 at Harbor Freight compared to $15 at Home Depot.
Tool Storage Prices Summary
On toolboxes, cabinets, chests and tool bags, Harbor Freight is clearly the price leader over Home Depot. Harbor Freight’s tool storage items are consistently priced 50% or more below comparable items at Home Depot. For keeping tools locked up safe and secure, Harbor Freight is the top choice on price.
Tarps
Tarps are essential for protecting items from the elements. Here is a price breakdown on tarps at Harbor Freight vs. Home Depot:
| Tarp Size | Harbor Freight Price | Home Depot Price |
|---|---|---|
| 6 x 8 ft. Tarp | $5.99 | $8.98 |
| 10 x 12 ft. Tarp | $9.99 | $14.98 |
| 12 x 16 ft. Tarp | $19.99 | $29.98 |
Across all common tarp sizes, Harbor Freight comes in at roughly 25% cheaper than Home Depot. The pricing difference becomes more significant as the tarps get larger. For a 12 x 16 ft. tarp, Harbor Freight is $10 less than Home Depot.
Pricing for Other Categories
Beyond the major categories covered already, here is a brief overview of how Harbor Freight and Home Depot pricing compares in some other areas:
– **Clamps**: Harbor Freight clamps and vises are about 40% cheaper than Home Depot.
– **Saws**: Table saws and miter saws run 25-30% less at Harbor Freight.
– **Generators**: Home Depot has a better selection but equivalent models run around 15% less at Harbor Freight.
– **Welders**: Harbor Freight welders are generally half the price or less than Home Depot.
– **Compressors**: Home Depot has competitive pricing on air compressors compared to Harbor Freight.
– **Ladders**: Step ladders are 20% cheaper at Harbor Freight. Extensions ladders are similarly priced.
– **Hand trucks**: Basic hand trucks are priced about 35% less at Harbor Freight than Home Depot.
So for categories like clamps, saws, generators, and welders, Harbor Freight maintains a solid pricing edge over Home Depot. For ladders, compressors and hand trucks, the pricing is more even between the two retailers.
Additional Factors to Consider
When choosing between Harbor Freight and Home Depot, pricing shouldn’t be the only factor. Here are some other considerations:
– **Selection**: Home Depot has a vastly larger selection across all categories. Harbor Freight focuses on core tools for DIYers.
– **Quality**: Home Depot carries more high-end brands known for quality like DeWalt, Milwaukee and Makita. Harbor Freight tools can be hit or miss.
– **Availability**: Home Depot has around 2200 stores compared to Harbor Freight’s 1100 stores, so availability favors Home Depot.
– **Service**: Home Depot generally receives higher marks for customer service over Harbor Freight.
So for shoppers focused solely on price, Harbor Freight is very compelling. But for selection, quality, availability and service, Home Depot has some advantages that are worth paying a bit more for in many cases. It depends on your priorities.
Conclusion
When making a direct price comparison on tools and hardware, Harbor Freight is consistently less expensive than Home Depot across most categories. For basic tools, Harbor Freight’s prices are often 40-60% cheaper than the same or comparable items at Home Depot.
However, Home Depot does offer larger selection of name brand tools, wider availability, and better service. Additionally, Home Depot price matches any identical items currently advertised for less by a competitor.
So while Harbor Freight generally has the rock bottom prices, Home Depot price matches on identical items. And Home Depot may still be worth shopping at for the quality brands and customer service advantages despite their higher baseline pricing. It ultimately depends on your specific needs and priorities as a shopper. But in a pure price battle, Harbor Freight still wins out more often than not.