The Home Depot is rolling out express delivery nationwide, allowing customers to receive eligible orders in three hours or less. The service uses the company’s supply chain network and more than 2,000 U.S. stores as fulfillment hubs, according to a Tuesday press release. Pro and DIY customers can use the delivery service for a $7 flat fee in most major markets and a $10 flat fee in Los Angeles. A Home Depot spokesperson told sister publication Supply Chain Dive that no subscription or membership is required.
Speed and coverage
Express delivery eligibility covers thousands of SKUs, including plumbing, hardware, paint, and tools. The option appears on product pages and at checkout. The company’s executive vice president of interconnected retail, Jordan Broggi, said during the latest earnings call that the majority of these deliveries are happening in less than one hour. Broggi noted that the service has been operating in some markets for several months before the nationwide rollout.
While the new service promises three-hour delivery, the retailer has already been cutting delivery lead times. Executive vice president of merchandising Billy Bastek said Home Depot has reduced these times by 45% over the last 18 months. Bastek told analysts the company is encouraged by the performance in current markets and plans to expand population coverage and SKUs throughout the year.
The new option is available on the website and app. Customers can simply select the faster shipping method at checkout to secure the three-hour window. This streamlined process removes friction for shoppers seeking immediate solutions for their projects. The expansion aims to capture a larger share of the urgent repair market.
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Existing delivery options
In addition to the new express service, Home Depot operates a delivery center network for thousands of items in categories like lighting, vanities, and building materials. Working alongside local stores, this network delivers more than 65% of in-stock parcel products same day or next day. Fifty-five percent of in-stock big and bulky orders are delivered within two days.
The home improvement retailer also offers free same-day delivery on orders of $25 or more that are placed by a specific time. Next-day appliance delivery reaches 60% of the U.S. population. Senior executive vice president Ann-Marie Campbell told analysts the company has evolved its appliance delivery model to better serve direct purchases. Campbell noted that the company now stocks a select assortment of appliances that can reach customers next day in certain markets.
If Home Depot maintains this aggressive expansion of rapid fulfillment options, competitors in the home improvement sector may need to respond with faster delivery promises of their own. The sheer volume of stores acting as hubs gives the retailer a logistical advantage that could make rapid delivery a standard expectation rather than a premium perk for shoppers.
