Home Depot Return Policy (12 Reasons Why It’s Great)

Do you know what Home Depot’s return policy is? Well, you are at the perfect place to find the answer to such a question.

Home Depot is one of the most popular home improvement chains in the nation. Although their products are reliable, you might second guess the purchase and want to return it as a result. In that case, what does Home Depot’s return policy cover?

With Home Depot’s return policy, most items can be returned 90 days after the original purchase. Although the original receipt is recommended, it is not always required. Some exceptions and stipulations apply to specialty products.

Keep reading to learn more about Home Depot’s return policy, including coverage timeline, required items, return process, and more.

Table of Contents

Home Depot’s Return Policy

Home Depot has an extensive, straightforward return policy. According to their website, most new, unopened Home Depot purchased items can be returned within 90 days of the original purchase. There are some exceptions to this policy, which we will go over shortly.

If you have your receipt, Home Depot will be able to approve the return through exchange, refund, account credits, or store credit.

Most Home Depot locations will give you the choice between these return options, but some Home Depot locations will make the choice for you.

In the case that you do not have your receipt, Home Depot may be able to help you out. Any items purchased on a credit card or debit card can be tracked 30 days after the purchase.

However, you will only be allowed to be refunded in the form of store credit.

If you purchased a Home Depot product online and wish to return it, the original shipping fees and charges will be refunded as well.

Home Depot Coverage Timeframe

Most Home Depot products have a return policy window of 90 days. If there is an exception, it will be stated on your receipt.

Note that individuals who purchase items with the Home Depot consumer credit card, the Home Depot commercial road valving charge, and/or the Home Depot commercial account have an extended return policy window.

These individuals have up to 365 days from the date of purchase to return their items.

Required Items

Home Depot requires you to bring a few items to the refund for it to go smoothly. You will need a valid ID and a copy of the original receipt or shipping confirmation e-mail. If you used a credit card, bring that credit card.

In the case that the packaging is opened, bring the original packaging as well.

Home Depot understands that keeping up with the flimsy receipt can be hard. For this reason, Home Depot does offer an alternative for individuals who have lost their receipts.

Any items purchased through a credit card are kept in the Home Depot system for 30 days after purchase. Home Depot may be able to look up the purchase as a result.

After the 30 days have passed, the purchase will not be in Home Depot’s system any longer, unfortunately. The only exception is items purchased using the Home Depot Consumer Credit Card, Commercial Resolving Card, or Commercial Account.

These purchases are kept in the system for a year after purchase.

How long do I have to return Home Depot products?

The Home Depot returned window depends on the item you are returning. Most items can be
returned within 90 days of the initial purchase, but some items only have a
return window of 30 days whereas others have a return window of 365 days.

Do I need a receipt to return Home Depot purchase

Receipts are not required to return Home Depot purchases, but they are recommended. If
you do not have your receipt, you will need to return the product within 30
days of the initial purchase and bring your valid photo ID.

What do I need to return Home Depot purchase

In order to return Home Depot purchases, you will need the product, original packaging, and all
accessories that came in the packaging.

It’s best to have your receipt and the credit card used to purchase the item. If you do not have your
receipt, bring your photo ID.

Can I return opened Home Depot products?

Yes, you can return open Home Depot products as long as the product is still new and you
have the original packaging.

How can I return Home Depot purchases?

You can return Home Depot purchases by returning the product in-store, online, or
schedule a pick-up after talking to Home Depot’s customer support.

Return Policy Exceptions

Above, we covered Home Depot’s general return policy. Although this return policy applies to most Home Depot products, there are some exceptions. Here is a look at the different Home Depot return policy exceptions:

30 Day Return Policy

Some items must be returned within 30 days of purchase. These items include:

Area rugs
Consumer electronics, like TVs or computers
Furniture
Gas-powered equipment or tractors
Generators

Merchandise that Is Non-Refundable

There are also some items that are not eligible for return or refund. Some items that are nonrefundable at the Home Depot include:

Gift cards
Store credit
Product samples
Cut flowers or floral arrangements
Utility tractors
Whole house and stationary generators
Labor, delivery, or installation
Custom products, like blinds

Home Depot Retains the Right to Refuse Refund

Even though Home Depot is very lenient and fair with its return policy, the company still retains the right to refuse any return or refund.

Most refund refusals are due to the product being opened, used, and no longer in sellable condition. Additionally, items can be refused if the product is no longer within the return window or no proof of purchase can be found.

Return Policies by Product

To fully understand the Home Depot return policy, here’s a look at return policies by specific product.

Home Depot Return Policy on Major Home Depot Appliances

Major home appliances include refrigerators, freezers, washers, dryers, dishwashers, ranges, and some microwaves. It is important that you follow Home Depot’s specific major appliance return policy if you want to return one of these items.

Before you accept delivery or take the item home, the items should be inspected for any defects or damage. If you see any, contact the driver or worker right away.

If you don’t see any until after the product has been removed from the store, you must call Home Depot within 48 hours of the delivery or pickup time. Call 1-800-455-3869 to talk to a representative.

Home Depot Return Policy on Hazardous Materials

Any hazardous materials purchased at Home Depot cannot be returned through the mail. Some examples of potentially hazardous materials include lawnmowers, leaf blowers, or other appliances that use flammable liquids or gases.

Even if the liquids and gases have been drained, you still cannot return the item through the mail. You will be able to return the items at the store, though.

Home Depot Return Policy on Home Depot Plants

Home Depot has an everyday guarantee. As such, all perennials, trees, and shrubs purchase at Home Depot come with a one year guarantee.

If you purchase any live goods that are damaged or dead, talk to customer support at 1-800-430-3376 within three days of the delivery. Home Depot will send a replacement for free.

Home Depot also offers an exclusive growth of garden guarantee. This guarantee applies to Bonnie plants. If your Bonnie plants do not grow between March and October, you can get a refund. The purchase must be within the last 12 months to be eligible.

Note that this policy does not apply to floral arrangements or cut flowers.

Return Policy on Home Depot Paint

Home Depot offers a paint satisfaction guarantee policy. If you are not satisfied with your paint for any reason, bring the paint and receipt back to the store within 30 days of purchase.

Home Depot will correct the paint or give you a comparable can of paint instead.

Not all paint falls under this category, though. The policy excludes liquid stains, color samples, nonstock products, application issues, labor or installation, and third parties.

Home Depot reserves the right to limit this guarantee if managers suspect fraud or policy abuse.

Damaged or Missing Order

If you order an item online and it arrives damaged, incomplete, or in need of replacement parts, Home Depot will resolve the issue.

Contact customer support at 1-800-430-3376 within 30 days of delivery.

What About Home Depot Items Purchased Through a Third-Party Vendor?

Note that the Home Depot return policy does not apply to Home Depot products purchased through third-party vendors or marketplace sellers.

Instead, the Home Depot policy only applies to items purchased through Home Depot specifically.

If you purchased a Home Depot product through a third-party vendor, you will need to learn about that vendor’s return policy instead.

When In Doubt, Read the Receipt

If you do not know which policy your product falls under, grab your receipt and read the fine print. Home Depot’s return policy will be printed on the receipt for an easier reminder.

Ways to Return Home Depot Items

Home Depot makes it easy to return items. There are three ways that you can return purchased Home Depot items. Let’s take a look at each option.

Home Depot Return Policy to Store

The easiest and fastest way to return items to Home Depot is to return the product at the store. Bring the product, all accessories, original packaging, and original receipt to the store to be issued a refund or exchange.

Home Depot uses a third-party refund verification system. All returns, regardless of whether you have the receipt, are subject to this verification system approval.

If you do not have your original receipt, you will need a valid driver’s license or government-issued ID. If the refund is approved, you will only be eligible for store credits.

Home Depot Return Policy Online

Don’t feel like going into a store? No problem, Home Depot offers online returns. You will need to call Home Depot’s customer support at 1-800-455-3869.

During this phone call, customer support will help schedule a pickup time with USPS for your returned items and get the process started.

Return at the Home Depot Design Center

If you want to return a product from the Home Depot design center, it must be purchased at an in-store location.

You will not be able to return the product if it was purchased on Home Depot’s website or at one of the warehouse stores.

In-Store Return Exceptions

There are some exceptions to be aware of if you return a product in-store.

Items Purchased with Store Credit

You will only be refunded in store credit if the original purchase was made using store credit or a gift card. Make sure to bring a driver’s license or government-issued ID if you know your product was purchased with store credit.

Returns without Receipt

As we’ve already covered, Home Depot may approve a return, even if you do not have the original receipt, but the refund will be issued in-store credit only. More so, the store credit refund will be issued at the lowest advertised price.

Large Orders

Large orders include purchases exceeding $1000. If you have a purchase that is $1000 or more, you may have to wait a bit longer for the refund.

The refund will come in the form of a check sent from Home Depot’s corporate office.

Special Order Returns

Not all special orders are eligible for return or cancellation, but some are. If your special order can be returned, there may be a 15% restocking fee.

You also must return the special order at the same store where the purchase was made.

Home Depot Return Policy FAQS

Does Home Depot Deny Returns?

Home Depot does deny returns if they violate the return policy. If you attempt to return an item outside of the appropriate return window, Home Depot will not accept the return.

There are even some products that cannot be returned at all, with or without a receipt so these will be denied every time.

Although Home Depot accepts returns without a receipt, these returns are more likely to be denied and can be for any reason that the management sees fit in order to avoid profit loss.

Additionally, the Home Depot uses a computer program that approves or denies returns based on past return history. If a return is flagged by the system, it is not viable for return.

Does Home Depot Have a 180 Day Return Policy?

Home Depot’s return policy window is 180 days for most products. There are some exceptions to this rule. For example, major appliances have a two day window, and delivered plants have a three day return time frame.

Other items have a longer return window such as harvestable Bonnie plants bought with Miracle Gro soil. Customers who use Home Depot consumer or commercial credit accounts to pay for their purchases also have a full year to return most items.

Before attempting a return to Home Depot, double check the exceptions to the return policy to see if the item you intend to return does not fall within the 180 day return policy time frame.

Can I Return a Dead Plant to Home Depot?

Dead plants can be returned to the Home Depot for a refund or exchange. If they are perennials, shrubs, or trees that were dead upon delivery, you have three days to arrange for a return.

Most outdoor plants that are meant to last longer than a year have a 365 day return window as long as you present the receipt at the time of return.

Houseplants, succulents, and flower bushes have a ninety day return window. As long as they are returned within the appropriate timeframe, almost any plant can be returned to the Home Depot if it is dead.

Can I Return Mixed Paint to Home Depot?

You cannot get a refund on your mixed paint from the Home Depot if you are not satisfied with it; however, they can accommodate exchanges.

As long as you bring in your receipt within thirty days of purchase, Home Depot can exchange it for a comparable paint can or correct the color so that it meets your needs.

Unfortunately, already mixed paint is not a sellable item, which is why Home Depot will not refund your purchase.

However, their policy aims to ensure customer satisfaction so that you walk away with a paint color that you are happy with.

Can I Return Cut Wood to Home Depot?

Once you cut a piece of wood purchased from the Home Depot, they cannot accept it as a return. Cut wood is considered unsellable and they cannot accept a return that would be considered a sure loss of profit.

If you purchased the wrong size or grain wood and you realize your mistake before you cut the wood, Home Depot will happily take it back if you have the receipt as proof of purchase.

Don’t be surprised if an associate measures the wood before accepting the return to ensure that the piece has not been cut.

What Does Home Depot Do With Dying Plants?

Unfortunately, Home Depot throws away all of the dead and dying plants that are left unsold or returned to the store.

They cannot sell them at a discounted price for fear of encouraging customers to damage plants in order to get a good deal.

All plants that are deemed unsellable get crushed and compacted into bales. The store receives credit from the plant dealer for all of the plants that could not be sold.

As a corporate rule, managers cannot choose to dispose of dying plants any other way unless approved by the corporate heads of Home Depot.

Do Returns Hurt Your Credit?

Multiple returns can hurt your credit with Home Depot in two ways. First, after too many returns without a receipt, the Home Depot will not allow you to continue returning items.

Alternatively, too many returns can also get flagged in the Home Depot’s fraudulent scanning system and prevent you from returning anything.

The reason why Home Depot keeps track of non-receipted returns and total returns is to avoid profit loss by scammers who are looking to make a buck off of the company.

Ultimately, if you don’t want to get flagged in the system, do your best to avoid multiple returns.

Why Do They Scan Your ID When You Return Something?

The Home Depot scans your ID in order to track the number and nature of the returns you make to the store.

They have a computer system that calculates the probability of fraudulent returns based on when you return an item, how much your refund was, and whether or not you had your receipt.

In order to avoid profit loss, the Home Depot needs to keep track of all of the returns made to stores. In their policy, they state never to sell your information to a third party and only claim to keep the information in a secure place for their own uses.

Final Thoughts

As you can see, Home Depot’s extensive policy covers practically any item you could wish to return. Not only that, but Home Depot’s return policy is one of the easiest and most reliable around.

In most cases, you have 90 days to return products, but there are some exceptions to the timeframe. Receipts and original packaging are recommended, but you can sometimes return the products for store credit without the receipt.

We hope that this complete guide has allowed you to master the Home Depot return policy. If you have any other questions about their policy, contact Home Depot customer service for assistance.

References

https://www.homedepot.com/c/Return_Policy