Hiring a professional to work on small home repairs can get expensive fast.
A 2025 Angi’s State of Home Spending Pulse report revealed that of the homeowners interviewed, 71% said they have postponed at least one home project this year, while 58% said they delayed projects because of high materials or labor costs.
With home repair costs weighing on many households and the rising trend of DIY home furnishing projects, spending is somewhere between maintaining and taking preventive measures to avoid costlier issues arising later.
Fixing a loose cabinet handle, a broken dresser, a wobbly chair, or a small outdoor project are the smaller everyday aspects of owning a house that many residents have either learned or are starting to learn.
And while these fixes may not always require a contractor, they still require the right tool.
And not every shopper feels comfortable walking into a home-improvement warehouse to figure out what they need; it can get overwhelming really fast.
That’s where Walmart is trying to move in.
The retail giant is expanding its hardware assortment with new exclusive and private-brand tools, giving shoppers another place to buy power tools, hand tools, and basic project items during a regular Walmart trip.
Walmart is not replacing Home Depot or Lowe’s for contractors, serious remodelers, or experienced do-it-yourself shoppers. But it does open a direct path for the retailer to compete for customers who need tools for smaller repairs and do not want a separate, intimidating trip to a specialty store.
“People who aren’t naturally handy still need basic tools, and Walmart’s new offerings will make it so they don’t have to hunt them down in Lowe’s and Home Depot, which can be intimidating stores for consumers who aren’t builders or DIY hobbyists,” said TheStreet Co-Editor-in-Chief Daniel Kline.
Walmart expands hardware assortment
Walmart said it is refreshing its hardware department with the exclusive launch of Greenworks Pro, a professional-grade line of power tools available only at Walmart.
The retailer is also expanding its Greenworks 24V POWERALL tools and broadening its Hyper Tough lineup with 12V and 20V brushless power tools and batteries, hand tools, and mechanic tools.
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The products are available in Walmart stores nationwide and on Walmart.com, while the Greenworks Pro line is also available through Walmart Business.
Courtney Carlson, senior vice president of merchandising at Walmart, said the launches reflect the company’s effort to bring innovative products and strong value to customers.
“From professional-grade tools to stylish, affordable home décor for families, these launches reflect how we’re continuing to evolve our assortment to better serve the needs of today’s customers,” said Carlson.
For Walmart, the strategy fits a familiar playbook.
The company already uses its scale, store base, and private brands to compete on price in groceries, household essentials, apparel, and home goods. Hardware gives it another way to capture more of the shopper’s basket.
A customer may come in for groceries, pharmacy items, pet food, or school supplies, and leave with a cordless drill, a toolbox, a set of hand tools, or a mechanic’s tool kit.
That matters because Walmart is trying to turn routine shopping trips into broader household trips, slowly becoming a one-stop shop for all things home.
Walmart challenges home-improvement rivals
Home Depot and Lowe’s remain much larger and more specialized players in home improvement.
Home Depot, which recently reported its first-quarter fiscal 2026, noted sales of $41.8 billion, up 4.8% from the prior-year period. Comparable sales also rose 0.6%, while U.S. comparable sales increased 0.4%.
These numbers show the scale Walmart is up against.
While Home Depot and Lowe’s serve contractors, homeowners, landlords, remodelers, and serious DIY customers, Walmart is trying to tap into the needs of its everyday customers, who are not professionals but still need quick access to basic tools at an affordable price.
The home-improvement market is also facing pressure, much like the grocery retail.
Home Depot CEO Ted Decker said the company’s underlying demand was similar to what it saw throughout fiscal 2025, despite “greater consumer uncertainty and pressure on housing affordability.”
Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies said the U.S. remodeling market soared above $600 billion after the pandemic and was expected to remain above that level through 2025. But the report also pointed to inflation and a shortage of skilled trade labor as challenges for the industry.
This helps explain why smaller repairs and everyday maintenance matter.
If shoppers are delaying major remodels, they may still need tools for basic fixes. Walmart can chase those shorter trips without matching the full depth of a home-improvement warehouse.
Walmart wants the casual DIY shopper
Walmart’s hardware expansion is not aimed specifically at shoppers who already spend weekends in Home Depot or Lowe’s.
It is aimed at customers who need a basic tool but do not know where to start.
That customer may not need lumber, contractor-grade materials, or a specialized department. They may only need enough to tighten, replace, assemble, hang, patch, or fix something simple at home.
For Walmart, that is a valuable lane.
Home Depot and Lowe’s have depth of expertise and strong relationships with professional customers. Walmart has convenience and familiarity.
The hardware expansion gives Walmart another way to compete with Amazon, since many shoppers already buy tools online. Walmart can offer some of that convenience while also putting tools in stores where shoppers can grab them during a normal trip.
For Home Depot and Lowe’s, Walmart’s move may not threaten their core Pro business. But it adds more competition for casual DIY shoppers and families trying to handle small repairs on a budget.
For customers, the change is simpler.
Walmart wants to make basic home repair feel less like a special trip and more like part of everyday shopping.
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