23 Home Depot Sales Shopping Hacks You Need to Know (Return Dead Plants Within a Year!)

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Read our top Home Depot sales shopping tips & tricks!

display of Home Depot store front

Save on all your projects at The Home Depot!

We’re sharing the best Home Depot sales shopping hacks so you can save year-round without having a Home Depot promo code! Here’s how…


1. Get a $5 OFF Home Depot discount code on your $50 home purchase.

laptop with 5 dollar off coupon on screen

Sign up for Home Depot Mobile Alerts, and you’ll get a Home Depot promo code coupon on your mobile device good for $5 OFF your $50 in-store purchase, valid for approximately one month after signing up.

If you’ve signed up for mobile offers in the past, text STOP to 65624, and you can sign up again.


2. Green thumbs should join the Garden Club so you can receive $300+ in annual savings.

potted plants hanging from greenhouseBy joining The Home Depot Garden Club when you opt-in for text offers AND emails, you’ll get access to over $300 in annual savings. You’ll also get monthly lawn and garden ideas tailored to your region, outdoor project planning tools, and more!

Hip Tip: When that Home Depot coupon arrives via email, don’t click on it more than three times, or you’ll lose access to it.


3. Sign up for their FREE Pro Xtra Loyalty Program to save.

paint roller with blue paint rolling on white wall

Also, if you’re making large purchases, consider signing up for the free Pro Xtra Loyalty Program, where members can score incredible discounts such as up to 20% off paints, stains, primers, member-only sales, and more! Best of all, it’s free to join.


4. Save 5% when you opt for The Home Depot Subscription Service.

Honeywell Ait Filters

If you find you’re often running to The Home Depot for specific items, you can schedule convenient repeat deliveries with a Home Depot subscription. Every order will also ship for free! Note that you can pause or cancel your Home Depot subscriptions at any time similar to how Amazon Subscribe & Save works.


5. Whatever you do, don’t miss the Black Friday sales. 

poinsettias at home depot with dollar ninety eight sale

Many stores have incredible Black Friday stores that seem to be happening earlier and earlier each year. Still, you can get some serious steals at The Home Depot, like under $2 poinsettias, under $3 Christmas lights, 70% OFF mattresses, tools, holiday decor, and more!

Check out last year’s Home Depot Black Friday deals.


6. Score patio pavers towards the end of March for just 25¢ each. 

brick pavers stacked up outside

Historically, you can expect to see some deep discounts on brick and concrete pavers at The Home Depot by the end of March, just in time for spring projects! On March 28th last year, Home Depot concrete pavers were just 25¢ each. Just keep in mind this sale tends to be for a limited time only, so be sure to plan your project now so you’re prepared for when the sale happens!

Hip Tip: Check out all the other best March sales, deals, and freebies to shop in March!


7. In April, The Home Depot’s Spring Sale will have the best deals on outdoor and garden essentials. 

turf builder sales sign outside at the home depot

Last year, The Home Depot had a pre-sale for their Spring Savings Event, so there was a second wave of even hotter deals to kick off the first week of April. This is the perfect time to stock up on outdoor and garden essentials. Plus, these big discounts are available both in-store and online! Expect to see deals on mulch, flowers, pavers, grass seed, wheelbarrows, charcoal, ladders, and more!

Hip Tip: Check out the other top April sales we recommend shopping.


8. Take advantage of the Low Price Guarantee.

row of silver faucets on store aisle

For in-store purchases, if you find a current lower price on an identical, in-stock item from any retailer, you’ll want to take advantage of The Home Depot Guaranteed Low Price. Simply bring the ad, printout, or photo with you to a register for validation. Note that this guarantee excludes seasonal, discontinued, obsolete, clearance, distressed, or going-out-of-business sale merchandise and other exclusions listed here.

For online purchases, HomeDepot.com will match the price of items plus shipping costs. Note that the items you are price-matching must be available from the competitor to ship to your location as well.


9. Scope out The Home Depot clearance sections first.

store shelf at home depot with yellow clearance tags

When heading in-store, be sure to browse through the clearance sections in various departments of the store for discounts of 75-80% off or more (these items will be marked with yellow tags). Also, be sure to look for Reduced Tag Savings with 10% discounts on top! These items are usually floor models or store-return items in workable condition but may have a missing part or small flaw.

Hip Tip: Rumor has it that clearance prices ending in $.06 indicate that these items have hit their second markdown cycle and have six weeks left until the next price change, while clearance prices ending in $.03 indicate a final price reduction. If these items don’t sell within three weeks from when the yellow tag was first printed, they may be pulled from the shelves and donated to charitable organizations.


10. Get a full refund for up to a year on many plants if they die.

an image of the garden department where the home depot 4th of july plant sale is underway

Don’t fret over a costly dead plant. The Home Depot offers a 1-year guarantee on perennials, trees, roses, and shrubs, so if your plant dies within the first year of planting it, you can dig it up and bring it in-store for a store credit. All other plants have a 30-day guarantee.

If you purchase these items online (including, but not limited to, houseplants, perennials, trees, holiday trees, wreaths, and garlands) and they arrive damaged or dead, be sure to contact Customer Support at 1-800-430-3376 within three days of delivery and they will ship a replacement at no charge. This policy does not apply to cut flowers or floral arrangements.

hand holding a bonnie plant in aisle of plants

Also, whenever you use Bonnie plants with Miracle-Gro soils and/or plant foods, The Home Depot guarantees you’ll get a harvest! If your Bonnie plants do not produce during the growing season (March – October), you are entitled to a refund for your plant and Miracle-Gro purchase. Here’s a list of all eligible Bonnie Harvest Guarantee products.

Hip Tip: Usually, toward the end of the summer, you can find racks in the Garden Center with plants that are wilted or not as pretty as others for a fraction of the cost. The 1-year guarantee still applies! Don’t hesitate to buy these plants; you’ll save a bundle and can return it if it dies.


11. Save on wood scraps for small projects or get it cut for FREE.

pieces of lumbar on store floorIf you need a piece of wood for an upcoming project, don’t pass by the Cull Lumber rack at The Home Depot. This is where you’ll find leftover pieces of wood at up to an additional 70% OFF. Many of these pieces are leftover from cutting wood for other customers, but just keep in mind it could also consist of damaged wood and flawed boards, so it’s always great to give the pieces you plan to buy a thorough look.

It may already go without saying, but you can also get wood cut for FREE! Plus, other materials like rope, chains, wire shelving, window blinds, and electrical wire.


12. Register for the FREE kid’s workshops every month.

parent and kids making craft at Home Depot Kids Workshop

The Home Depot hosts Free Kids Workshops on the first Saturday of each month (and sometimes even more frequently!). To get in on this fun and free event, you will want to register online now, as spots are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Just scroll down to the “In-Store Kids Workshops” and click “Sign-Up” to register at your local store to see if spots are still available.

Check out our Home Depot Kids Workshop post to see what the next project will be!


13. Save on paint during holiday weekends even if you don’t have a color picked out yet.

paint sales sign at the home depot

One of the best times to purchase paint is during a holiday (like Memorial Day or the Fourth of July). They often offer $10 OFF one-gallon paint cans and $40 OFF 5-gallon paint buckets after the rebate! Remember, you can store paint for a pretty long time in a climate-controlled space.

Check for online Paint Offers at the Home Depot now!

Hip Tip: If you don’t have a color picked out yet, buy the uncolored paint during the deal. When you decide what you want down the road, bring it back, and they’ll add it for you then at no cost!

hand holding a can of paint in store

Also, if you’re not set on a specific paint color, be sure to check out the “Oops” paint section in-store. You’ll often find big savings on cans of paint that were either brought back by a customer or weren’t mixed well by the paint technician and ended up being the wrong color. It’s a great way to save on paint if you’re not super picky!


14. Shop the special buys for BIG savings.

hands typing on laptop with home depot special buys

Keep your eyes peeled for various special promotions throughout the store and also online. We’ve seen deals where you can get a free accessory or item whenever you purchase a qualifying product. If you’re shopping for Father’s Day or during major holidays, it’s almost always a great time to shop and save.


15. Drop your Penske moving truck off at The Home Depot and save 10-15% on your rental.

yellow penske truck out front of the home depot

When you book your one-way reservation online you can conveniently pick up or drop off your Penske rental at your local Home Depot. Even better, you can stack up to TWO discount codes if you call Penske and book over the phone.

AAA members can receive a 12% discount, college students 10% OFF, and military members can score 15% OFF. Plus, they often have a 10% discount for anyone at the top of their site. The Penske customer service is (844) 312-6408 if you’re ready to book now!


16. Rent tools for odd projects before buying.

tool rental sign at the home depot

With hundreds of tools and equipment available to rent at The Home Depot, they’ll likely have what you need without making a large “one-time-use” purchase. You can easily rent tools by hour, day, week, or month, so it’s worth checking The Home Depot’s inventory and rental rates to see if they have what you need for your project.

If you’d rather buy, you can consider purchasing their professional-quality used tools for a fraction of the cost! They leverage the professional-grade tools that cycle through their rental program and sell them while still in good working condition. These tools have been serviced between each rental to assure performance quality. Note that these items are sold “as-is.”


17. Take advantage of The Home Depot deal of the day sales and get it shipped to your home for free.

brown and red shades of earthgro mulch bags at Home Depot

Every day, HomeDepot.com offers different Special Buy of the Day sales on select items – such as door hardware, ceiling fans, kitchen accessories, mulch, and more. Even sweeter, these sale items qualify for free delivery to your home, too!

Plus, when shopping online, don’t overlook the Overstock section and New Lower Price items to save even more.


18. Check the online rebate center to score more Home Depot sales when you buy.

two appliances in store with the home depot rebate signs

Before making a large purchase, such as a major appliance, be sure to visit The Home Depot’s online rebate center to see what offers are available. You can easily search by typing in what you’re looking for and may find rebates for free products by mail, prepaid debit cards with purchases, and more.


19. Recycle batteries for free at The Home Depot.

AA batteries displayed in a batch

The Home Depot is partnered with Call2Recycle (a nonprofit battery recycling program), and there’s zero charge for you. Rechargeable batteries can be dropped off in Call2Recycle bins at the store. Any rechargeable battery that weighs up to 11 pounds and is under 300 watt hours is accepted.

Hip Tip: Here’s how to recycle everything!


20. Military members can get a 10% military discount in-store.

military couple with child and american flagThe Home Depot offers a 10% OFF Military Discount on eligible items every day if you’re an active service member, veteran, or military spouse. Just note that only Pro account admins can enroll in the Military Discount, and only one Military Discount can be applied per Pro account.

The Military Discount can’t be applied to select items, services, and fees. It includes, but isn’t limited to, some commodity products (including lumber, wire, and building materials), value-priced merchandise, appliances, special order items, tool rental fees, labor items, gift cards, and services, including freight and delivery.


21. Apply for Tax Exempt Purchases to shop tax-free online and in-store. 

the home depot holiday store front

Non-profit workers, teachers, government employees, and other eligible tax-exempt customers can apply for a Home Depot tax-exempt ID and skip the taxes on purchases. You can register online for immediate approval, and your ID number is recognized instantly at checkout. You’ll be able to use your status every time you shop in stores or online!


22. Bulk pricing can save you on over 4,000 eligible products. 

close up of bulk pricing sign on orange store shelf

This Home Depot savings hack is especially beneficial if you’re a contractor needing a large amount of a specific product like drywall, painter’s tape, air filters, and more! By shopping in the Bulk section online or checking in-store price tags, you can expect to save up to 25% OFF. Just keep in mind minimum purchases will be required.


23. Know what things to buy (and what to avoid).

behr paint stacked on floor in store

Some of the best things to buy at The Home Depot are Behr paint, patio furniture, lighting, ceiling fan fixtures, LED light bulbs, plants, Char-broil gas grills, and more.

Various cleaning supplies with coupons attached and Home Depot flyers

However, some of the worst things to buy include wall and home decor, cleaning supplies, kitchen accessories, Brinkmann grills, Home Legend flooring, select humidifiers, and HDX paper towels. Ensure you’re getting the most bang for your buck on these essentials where it makes sense.


Shop the best Home Depot coupons and sales now!


About the writer:

Sara is a self-taught blogger & photographer and brings 9+ years of experience to her craft. Her work has been featured in numerous esteemed publications, spanning building, travel, and fashion. Beyond her creative pursuits, Sara’s primary mission is to empower others to embrace a toxic-free & sustainable lifestyle.


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Comments 2

  1. Cathy

    Recycle your batteries at Staples and get $5 Staples Rewards each month.

    • Jessica (Hip Sidekick)

      Thanks for sharing, Cathy! πŸ€— We have a post on Staples Rewards (including the rollout of the new program) here, if you wanted to check it out. ❀️

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