RANKED: 2024 AMERICA’S MOST TRUSTED HOME IMPROVEMENT STORE BRAND 

What are the Best Home Improvement Store Brands? 

When embarking on a home improvement endeavor requiring tools, construction materials, appliances, or design assistance, visiting a dedicated home improvement retailer is often in order. On the other hand, for those seeking products to enhance their home decor or everyday household items, a big box department retailer may be the go-to destination. Customers frequently lean towards established brand names in these decisions, which heavily influence their shopping choices. This leads to the question: which specialty home improvement store commands the highest level of consumer trust?

The 2024 America’s Most Trusted Study

Over a decade ago, the America's Most Trusted® study was launched to enlighten brands about the influence of trust on consumer buying choices. Brands with acumen understand that consumer trust is pivotal for their prosperity. In January, the study unveiled its latest results. This multiyear research initiative has evolved into the ultimate authority on brand trust.

Developing brand trust with customers is essential to ensuring that they return to a brand. It is based on their confidence that the brand can fulfill its promises. Customers are more likely to purchase or recommend a brand if they trust it. Brand trust can also build customer loyalty because customers are more likely to remain loyal to a brand they trust.

Every year, Lifestory Research shares the results of the America's Most Trusted® study. The survey we conduct every year involves surveying thousands of people about their perceptions of and experiences with different brands. While shopping for specific products, people are surveyed to find out how much they trust specific brands. Our Net Trust Quotient Score is validated for this study. 

Net Trust Quotient Scores (NTQS) are used to determine whether a product meets customer expectations compared to competing brands within a specific product category by assessing the level of trust customers hold for a particular brand within a particular product category. With this trust metric, consumer-driven insights are provided using social and opinion science research practices that adhere to the highest standards of consumer research.

What are the top home improvement store brands people trust the most? 

2024 America’s Most Trusted Home Improvement Store

The Lifestory Research 2024 America’s Most Trusted® Home Improvement Store Study found Home Depot to be the most trusted brand among people. With the Net Trust Quotient Score of 114.6, Home Depot had the highest trust rating among the most popular store brands in the study. This is the third-year shoppers have chosen Home Depot as the annual study's most trusted specialty retail home store.

The Lifestory Research 2024 America’s Most Trusted® Home Improvement Store ranking is based on 6,005 opinions of people surveyed in the United States over the last 12 months. Home Depot, Lowes, Costco, Ace Hardware, Target, Best Buy, Sam's Club, Bed Bath & Beyond, and Walmart were the most trusted store brands.  

Inclusion in the rankings was contingent upon a brand's level of recognition and the volume of available consumer judgments. This ensures that the rankings are based on a solid body of information. Our methodology employs strict statistical criteria, such as a 95% confidence level with no more than a 3% margin of error, to secure the accuracy of our findings. Furthermore, we require a significant sample size to uphold the validity and reliability of the survey data. The Specialty Home Store study excluded brands that did not meet this condition.

The top brands ranked in the 2024 America’s Most Trusted® Home Improvement Store study is listed below.

TOP 9 Home Improvement Stores – 2024 Study

1Home Depot114.6★★★★★
2Lowes112.1★★★★
3Costco109.0☆☆☆
4Ace Hardware107.5☆☆☆
5Target106.7☆☆☆
6Best Buy106.6☆☆☆
7Sams Club100.7☆☆
8Bed Bath & Beyond100.3☆☆
9Walmart96.5☆☆

 

No promotional use or advertising can be made of America's Most Trusted® survey results without the express prior written consent of Lifestory Research. America's Most Trusted® is a registered trademark of Lifestory with all rights reserved.

The America’s Most Trusted® study is an annual study examining brand trust across many product categories.  Results for this product category and others from prior years of the study can be found here. Further details of the annual study are on the survey methodology page of this website. Additional insights and questions are answered in our frequently asked questions.  

Lifestory Research America's Most Trusted® Study results are based on survey responses and should not be considered legal or financial advice. Your experiences may vary.  For details, see our Terms of Use and Legal Notices on the Lifestory Research website.

Brands Ranked in Study

The Lifestory Research America’s Most Trusted® study is focused on measuring consumers' opinions of the most recognized brands in the market. In the study, consumers rate the quality of a brand, their likelihood of recommending the brand to others, how favorable they feel about the brand, how they rate the reputation of the brand, and their trust in the brand.

Here, we provide information on the brands in the 2024 America’s Most Trusted® study. The brands are presented in the order they ranked in the 2024 America’s Most Trusted® study.

  1. Home Depot:
    Home Depot is a multinational home improvement retailer headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Founded in 1978, the company operates a vast network of stores, offering a wide range of home improvement and construction products. Home Depot is known for its large warehouse-style stores catering to professional contractors and do-it-yourself homeowners.

  2. Lowes:
    Lowe's Companies, Inc. is a major American home improvement retailer headquartered in Mooresville, North Carolina. Established in 1946, Lowe's operates a chain of retail stores that provide a variety of products for home improvement, including tools, appliances, and building materials. Lowe's is a competitor to Home Depot and is known for its customer-centric approach.

  3. Costco:
    Costco Wholesale Corporation is a membership-based retail giant with diverse products, including home improvement items. Headquartered in Issaquah, Washington, USA, Costco was founded in 1983. While not solely a home improvement store, Costco offers a selection of tools, appliances, and furniture in addition to its primary focus on groceries and general merchandise.

  4. Ace Hardware:
    Ace Hardware Corporation is a cooperative of independently owned and operated hardware stores. Founded in 1924, the company's headquarters is in Oak Brook, Illinois, USA. Ace Hardware stores are known for their community-focused approach and provide a wide range of home improvement products, including tools, paint, and hardware.

  5. Target:
    Target Corporation is a general merchandise retailer, and while not exclusively a home improvement store, it offers various products in that category. Founded in 1902, Target is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The company operates a store chain that provides a diverse selection of home goods, including furniture, decor, and home improvement tools.

  6. Best Buy:
    Best Buy Co., Inc. is a multinational consumer electronics retailer headquartered in Richfield, Minnesota, USA. Founded in 1966, Best Buy specializes in electronics and appliances. While not primarily a home improvement store, Best Buy offers a range of products for the home, including appliances, smart home devices, and home theater systems.

  7. Sam's Club:
    Sam's Club is a membership-based retail warehouse owned by Walmart Inc. Headquartered in Bentonville, Arkansas, USA, Sam's Club was founded in 1983. The stores provide bulk products at discounted prices, including home improvement items such as tools and appliances.

  8. Bed Bath & Beyond: Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. is a retail chain specializing in home goods headquartered in Union, New Jersey, USA. Established in 1971, the company operates stores that offer a variety of products for the home, including bedding, kitchenware, and home decor. While not exclusively a home improvement store, Bed Bath & Beyond provides a range of items for home improvement projects.

  9. Walmart:
    Walmart Inc. is a multinational retail corporation headquartered in Bentonville, Arkansas, USA. Founded in 1962, Walmart is one of the largest retailers globally. While offering diverse products, Walmart provides home improvement items, including tools, hardware, and appliances, in its stores and online.

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