What started as a small, unassuming hardware store in North Carolina in the 1940s is now one of America's most popular home improvement retail chains. Lowe's stocks everything from paint to tools, home appliances, plants, carpets, lighting, and more.
If you're a DIYer or planning your next h or garden project, you may assume Lowe's is the place to go. But, as the retail experts we spoke to explain, there are some items that are never worth buying at the big chain. Whether they're overpriced, low-quality, or slim in selection, these products have alternatives elsewhere that you're better off with. Be a smarter shopper and get the most out of your home improvement budget by avoiding these common pitfalls at Lowe's.
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1 | Home decor
ShutterstockWe know, it's hard to resist when you see the fun, new seasonal decor greeting you at the entrance of Lowe's. But, our experts say to keep walking.
"The home improvement store isn't really known for its home decor, and with good reason—often the selection is very limited, without a lot of styles to choose from," says Julie Ramhold, a consumer analyst with the shopping comparison site DealNews.com, says home decor is a category to avoid when shopping at Lowe's.
"Additionally, the prices leave a lot to be desired: You can usually find better deals by shopping at places like T.J. Maxx or HomeGoods."
2 | Wall art
ShutterstockSimilar to home decor, wall art at Lowe's is a hard pass.
"There’s a very limited selection of styles and the prices aren’t worth it," says Real estate investor and HouseCashin founderMarina Vaamonde. She says stores like HomeGoods offer “a wider range of options and better deals.”
3 | Rugs
ShutterstockIf you're shopping at Lowe's for a new indoor or outdoor rug that's going to get a lot of foot traffic, think again.
"Lowe’s often uses cheaper synthetic materials to make a lot of their decor pieces, so they aren’t going to be the most high-quality or long-lasting," says Jeremy Yamaguchi, CEO of Lawn Love.
Instead, he suggests looking at At Home, Hobby Lobby, Wayfair, and even Target for a higher-quality selection.
4 | Small appliances
ShutterstockSophia Phillips, lifestyle expert at CouponBirds, says you should always skip the small appliances at Lowe's because their selection is limited compared to other retailers.
"For instance, the De'Longhi Livenza All-In-One Programmable Multi-Cooker costs $209.95 at Lowe's, but it's only $199.95 at Macy's," says Phillips.
Instead, she suggests buying smaller items at retailers like Kohl's, Amazon, and Macy’s.
5 | Turf
ShutterstockWhether you are trying to use less water or want to make a safe play area for your pets or kids, you should avoid buying turf at Lowe's.
“If you're planning to invest in an artificial lawn for your property, trust a reputable local company specializing in turf when it comes to purchasing and installing,” says Michael Levy of Dirty Turf. "Big box stores tend to carry a small selection of basic synthetic grass, but they won't have the variety of options needed to fit your needs."
6 | Flooring
ShutterstockNeed new flooring? That's a big job that you may want to enlist the help of local professionals for, rather than going the DIY from Lowe's route.
For starters, there have been complaints on Reddit from both employees and customers about the quality of flooring Lowe's sells. For instance, some brands claim they're 100% waterproof but turn out not to hold up in wet conditions.
Plus, Lowe's reportedly uses a third-party service for floor installation services, which means, if you get a poor-quality install job, Lowe's may not take responsibility and you'll have trouble getting a refund or fixes for free.
7 | Floor Models
Erin Deleon / ShutterstockOoh, steep discount on that shiny floor model! But, what are the odds it works... or won't break shortly after you get it home?
That's precisely what happened to one Lowe's customer who purchased a floor model Whirlpool washing machine only to have it not work. The experience sounded like a painful investigation to find out that the machine had been broken for years. Luckily, Lowe's accepted the return without a problem.
Of course, some employees said the floor models are usually a good deal, but if you want an appliance or home feature that looks and operates like new, you're better off avoiding them.
8 | Cleaning supplies
Shutterstock"The selection of cleaning supplies at Lowe's isn't very big compared to grocery stores, so your choices are already going to be limited,” explains Ramhold. “But even for the items that are there, prices usually aren't great either. You usually end up paying more at Lowe's for something like disinfectant wipes.”
Alex Williams, CFO of the retail shopping guide FindThisBest, agrees. "Lowe's is known for its extra charges on cleaning products—so much so that you could end up paying 10 percent more than the actual market rate."
9 | Batteries
ShutterstockBoth Ramhold and Phillips agree that you shouldn't buy batteries from Lowe's.
"Once again, the price just isn't as good as what you'll find elsewhere," Ramhold explains. "Typically you'll find more reasonable prices at big box stores like Target, but even grocery stores may have more affordable prices than Lowe's on things like batteries."
Phillips recommends shopping for batteries at Costco, where you'll get a discount for buying them in bulk.
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10 | Snacks and drinks
Shutterstock Most Lowe's stores have a selection of small snacks and bottled beverages near the register... for a reason.
They know you're hungry after your shopping trip, but you shouldn't satisfy your cravings at the home improvement store. "This is another item that's mainly there for convenience and to cater to impulse shoppers, so the prices aren't great," explains Ramhold.
