It doesn’t matter if you’re a DIYer, an amateur, or a professional craftsman, hardware stores are the go-to place to find a variety of your needs for projects. Hardware stores sell hardware for home improvement purposes, some of the things you can find include building materials, power tools, plumbing supplies, electrical supplies, paint, lawn and garden products, and more! However, it can be difficult to figure out which hardware store is right for you because there are so many to choose from. A good hardware store will cater to everything on the handiness spectrum. This means they offer the right tools, the right supplies, advice on how to use said tool and supplies, as well as the best way to complete a project. Here are The Top 8 Hardware Stores for Woodworkers and DIYers to help you find the best hardware store for your needs.
Before we begin, are you looking for some general information on tools like miters saws, chainsaws, table saws, etc? Check out our complete resource guides on Miter Saws, Table Saws, Chainsaws, Band Saws and Circular Saws. These guides have all the information you need. You will be able to find history, the different types of the tool, the top brand sold, and more!
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1. Woodcraft
Woodcraft started in 1928. Woodcraft stores are known for specializing in tools needed by professional woodworkers, craftsmen, and hobbyists. Woodcraft’s product selection is one of the nation’s largest. Woodcraft is also known for teaching woodworking, they teach over 13,000 classes a year. This makes them a great option for woodworkers and DIYers.
Why you should shop at Woodcraft:
- Specializes in tools for woodworkers and DIYers.
- Supports smaller stores with the same goals as woodworkers and DIYers.
- If you purchase products online you can get free shipping or free pick-up
2. Menards
Menards began in 1958 and was founded by John Menard Jr. Their lumber selection has a variety of manufacturers and offers longer lengths compared to other hardware stores. Menards also offers a decent selection of plumbing tools, power tools, lawn and garden maintenance, and more! This makes Menards a great option for woodworkers and DIYers.
What you should shop at Menards:
- Fair prices
- Best place to buy lumber
- Offers a wide range of products
- One of the most recognized hardware stores for the best customer service
- Menards only allows you to order items and pick them up in-store, you can’t get anything shipped from them.
3. Home Depot
Home Depot is the largest home improvement retailer in the United States. The Home Depot began in 1978 and was co-founded by Arthur Blank, Bernard Marcus, Pat Farrah, and Ron Brill. Home Depot offers a wide variety of products that can help with any situation you run into. They offer building materials, power tools, plumbing tools, lawn and garden care, pool supplies, cleaning products, holiday decorations, and so much more. If you’re a woodworker or DIYer. this is a great option for you because you will be able to find everything you need to complete your projects. Another great thing about Home Depot is their lumber. Their lumber is labeled as some of the best you can buy. This in itself is a good enough reason to shop at Home Depot if you love to create.
Why you should shop at Home Depot:
- Fair prices
- Convenient locations
- Offers a significantly large number of products
- Highly rated on products like paint and lumber
- Home Depot offers free in-store pick up, free delivery, and the ability to search by image or voice through the app.
4. Lowes
Lowes is the second-largest home improvement retailer in the United States behind Home Depot. Lowes started in 1921 by I. S. Lowe. Just like Home Depot Lowes offers a wide variety of products that can help you with any home issues you run into. They offer building materials, power tools, plumbing tools, lawn and garden care, cleaning products, holiday decorations, and more. However, do keep in mind that Lowes does have smaller sections. Also, Lowes is geared more towards DIYers than professionals. Lowes is still a great option for woodworkers and DIYers. because you will still be able to find everything you need to complete your projects.
Why you should shop at Lowes:
- Fair prices
- Convenient locations
- Offers a wide range of products
- Offers free in-store pickup
5. Ace Hardware
Ace Hardware started in 1924. Ace tends to lean towards the smaller size when it comes to their stores. They offer products that are most commonly needed. They do offer building materials, power tools, plumbing tools, lawn and garden care, cleaning products, and more. However, these departments will have less to choose from in comparison to hardware stores like Home Depot and Lowes. Ace Hardware is a great option for woodworkers and DIYers because since Ace is a smaller chain store you will be able to find local products you wouldn’t be able to find in the most popular hardware stores.
Why you should shop at Ace Hardware:
- Great store for local needs
- Fair prices
- Best for buying products in small quantities
- Offers free in-store pickup
6. Building Materials & Construction Services (BMC)
BMC was founded in 1980. BMC is another great hardware store for
woodworkers and DIYers. They are another smaller hardware store that sells items that are most commonly needed. They sell lumber, building materials, doors, windows, and flooring. BMC is mostly popular among the more professional costumers, this means all the professionals out there will most likely be able to find what they’re looking for. They do cater to the more novice customers as well, at BMC you can find specialists to help you with whatever you need.
Why you should shop at BMC:
- Great store for building supplies
- Caters to professionals, but is also novice friendly
- Fair prices
- You can only purchase products from them in person
7. Do it Best
Do it Best was founded by Arnold Gerberding in 1945. It is known for its hardware, lumber and building materials. Additionally, Do it Best is considered one of the best alternatives to large hardware stores. They still provide the same things you would expect at larger hardware stores. Do it Best has recently become more focused on online sales. They made online purchasing options available for products that were previously only available in stores. This makes it a great option for woodworkers and DIYers. because you’re able to purchase anything you need right at the tips of your fingers. This allows you to manage your time better and work on other projects.
Why you should shop at Do it Best:
- A great alternative to larger home improvement stores
- Fair prices
- They offer products that you can buy online that other stores only allow you to buy in-person
- Offers free in-store pickup
8. 84 Lumber
84 Lumber started in 1956 by Joseph Hardy. Their stores are known for selling building materials. 84 Lumber provides other services as well, they provide operations that focus on all areas of building. They’re a smaller store only offering around 10,000 products in their stores. However, they’re a great option for woodworkers and DIYers.
Why you should shop at 84 Lumber:
- Specializes in building supplies
- Provides great care for its customers on a more personal level
- Offers professional services not often found at other hardware stores
These are The Top 8 Hardware Stores for Woodworkers and DIYers! We hope that this list helped you learn more about The Top 8 Hardware Stores for Woodworkers and DIYers. Do you have a favorite store from this list? Have you heard of all of these hardware stores? If not, if possible are you going to try any of them out? We would love to hear your thoughts, please feel free to leave a comment! Check out our other guide, The Top 10 Website Platforms for Woodworkers and Makers.
