Which Home Depot departments penny most
Every item Penny Recon has tracked, grouped by store department. The numbers below are recalculated from the full list, including the archive, every morning, so they shift as the seasons turn.
The short version
Lighting and electrical leads with 50 of the 231 items we have tracked (22%), followed by plumbing and bath with 47 and outdoor, patio and garden with 33. By value, the highest median retail price is in ladders, at $269.00, which is why a single find there can be worth more than a whole cart from elsewhere. Among items reported more than once, lighting and electrical stay on the board longest, with a median of 33 days between the first penny report and the last. The most receipt-confirmed department is smart home and electronics, with 7 items backed by a register receipt we have checked.
All departments
| Department | Items tracked | Live now | Receipt-confirmed | Median retail | Median window | States |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lighting and electrical | 50 | 35 | 2 | $19.88 | 33 days | 28 |
| Plumbing and bath | 47 | 37 | 6 | $138.59 | 8 days | 19 |
| Outdoor, patio and garden | 33 | 29 | 4 | $37.97 | 18 days | 25 |
| Paint and building materials | 16 | 7 | 0 | $31.68 | n/a | 4 |
| Tool storage | 14 | 10 | 2 | $81.95 | 24 days | 34 |
| Workwear and safety | 13 | 10 | 1 | $27.78 | 7 days | 17 |
| Smart home and electronics | 11 | 7 | 7 | $132.99 | n/a | 10 |
| Floor care and cleaning | 10 | 8 | 2 | $149.50 | 13 days | 37 |
| Hardware and moving | 9 | 8 | 1 | $49.20 | 2 days | 13 |
| Hand tools and test equipment | 8 | 6 | 2 | $29.99 | 5 days | 18 |
| Home and decor | 7 | 3 | 0 | $45.68 | 14 days | 12 |
| Power tools and accessories | 5 | 1 | 1 | n/a | n/a | 0 |
| Ladders | 3 | 3 | 2 | $269.00 | n/a | 18 |
| Appliances and HVAC | 3 | 1 | 0 | $85.00 | n/a | 4 |
| Everything else | 2 | 2 | 0 | $6.73 | n/a | 2 |
Median retail uses only prices printed on a tag, a receipt or the product listing; items with no known price are left out. Median window is the time between an item's first and most recent penny report, counting only items reported more than once, and is shown when a department has at least three of them. Departments are assigned from the product name, so a handful of items may sit in a neighbouring category.
Department by department
Lighting and electrical
One of the deepest bays in the store, with frequent resets. Bulbs, fixtures and portable work lights migrate between slots and survive pulls for weeks. 35 items from this department are live on the list today.
- 800 Lumen LED Rechargeable Detachable Tripod Work Light · SKU 1012-388-248, $19.88 retail
- UltraBrite Hex Lights 16Pack 16.5 in./1.45ft Integrated LED Strip Light Fixture White Dimmable 16000LM 5000K Wall Remote · SKU 1014-119-123, $99.75 retail
- 100-Watt Equivalent ST19 Dimmable Clear Glass E26 Vintage Edison LED Light Bulb, Soft White 2700K (1-Pack) · SKU 1005-432-129, $12.47 retail
- 800 ft. 10-Gauge Solid SD Bare Copper Grounding Wire · SKU 712534, $347.00 retail
Plumbing and bath
Faucets, toilets and fittings are boxed and stacked deep, so one penny unit usually means the whole shelf rings the same. Finish changes generate a steady flow of discontinued variants. 37 items from this department are live on the list today.
- Bannister 31 in. Single Sink Dusk Bath Vanity with White Cultured Marble Top (Assembled) · SKU 1012-536-755, $379.00 retail
- Lassen 33 in. Drop-in Single Bowl Granite Composite Kitchen Workstation Sink in Matte Black with Faucet · SKU 1010-815-587, $499.00 retail
- Highline Arc The Complete Solution 2-Piece 1.28 GPF Single Flush Elongated Toilet in White (Seat Included) · SKU 1003-951-328, $239.00 retail
- Emery 33 in. Drop-In/Undermount Single Bowl 18 Gauge Stainless Steel Kitchen Workstation Sink with Accessories · SKU 1007-667-311
Outdoor, patio and garden
The most seasonal department in the store. Fire pits, patio pieces, hoses and string lights clear as the season ends and are consolidated onto pallets at the back of the garden centre. 29 items from this department are live on the list today.
- 5.2 lbs. Every Night Firelogs (4-Pack) · SKU 1007-466-112, $24.98 retail
- Crossridge 30 in. 50,000 BTU Antique Bronze Gas Fire Pit Table · SKU 1002-938-103, $179.00 retail
- 5/8 in. dia. x 100 ft. Contractor Grade Garden Hose · SKU 1015-053-805, $24.98 retail
- EcoBorder 4 ft. Brown Rubber Landscape Edging (1-Pack) · SKU 502689
Paint and building materials
Discontinued tile, trim and decking runs end up as partial pallets in the overhead rather than as a faced shelf. 7 items from this department are live on the list today.
Tool storage
Modular storage lines add and drop pieces constantly, and display walls hide loose stock above or behind them. 10 items from this department are live on the list today.
- Packout 19.5 in. W x 14.7 in. H x 14.5 in. D Cabinet in Red (1-Piece) · SKU 1007-712-596, $149.00 retail
- Milwaukee PACKOUT 22.3 in. Black Resin Racking Kit with Metal Reinforced Frame and Integrated Handle · SKU 1005-874-031, $179.00 retail
- LINK Tool Organizer Shelf · SKU 1006-743-986
- PACKOUT 22 in. Modular 4-Drawer Tool Box with Metal Reinforced Corners and 50 lbs. Capacity · SKU 1010-073-922, $219.00 retail
Workwear and safety
Gloves and safety gear are sold in many sizes, each its own SKU. When a line changes, every size clears separately, so check the whole glove wall. 10 items from this department are live on the list today.
- Large Anti-Vibration Work Glove · SKU 1012-951-111, $29.97 retail
- Large High Visibility Level 2 Cut Resistant Polyurethane Dipped Work Gloves (3-Pack) · SKU 1005-308-995
- Essential 32 in. x 9 in. Cooling Towel · SKU 1015-301-507
- Large Polyurethane Grip Work Gloves (4-Pack) · SKU 1005-706-244, $10.97 retail
Smart home and electronics
Smart home products turn over with model years rather than seasons. When a new generation of camera or doorbell launches, the outgoing one clears, often in several colours at once. 7 items from this department are live on the list today.
- Wireless TV Headphones in Black · SKU 1003-565-875, $35.98 retail
- Floodlight Cam Wired Pro - Smart Security Video Camera with 2-LED Lights, Dual Band Wi-Fi, 3D Motion Detection, White · SKU 1006-104-733, $229.99 retail
- Ring Battery Doorbell Pro-Smart Wireless Doorbell Camera · SKU 1010-043-890
- Video Doorbell Wired Smart WiFi Doorbell with HD Video, Motion Detection and Night Vision · SKU 1006-029-225
Floor care and cleaning
Vacuums and carpet cleaners clear in model-year batches. The boxes are bulky enough to end up on the floor or the overhead rather than the shelf. 8 items from this department are live on the list today.
- ONE+ HP 18V Brushless Bagless Cordless Pet Mesh Filter Stick Vacuum Cleaner (Tool Only) · SKU 1009-074-829, $199.00 retail
- ONE+ 18V Cordless 6 Gal. Wet Dry Vacuum (Tool Only) · SKU 1008-625-777, $159.00 retail
- POWERSERIES+ 20-Volt MAX Lithium-Ion Cordless Bagless Stick Vacuum Cleaner · SKU 1006-967-311, $99.99 retail
- Professional Series SmartWash Advanced Automatic Corded Carpet Cleaner Machine, Auto Mix, Auto Dry, Deep Clean, FH52023V · SKU 1003-075-147, $238.86 retail
Hardware and moving
A long tail of small items: locks, fittings, hand trucks and storage bins. Easy to overlook and rarely re-tagged. 8 items from this department are live on the list today.
- 800 lbs. Capacity 2-in-1 Convertible Hand Truck · SKU 1008-631-746, $159.98 retail
- 7 Gal. Black Rectangular Trash Can · SKU 1004-512-186, $8.39 retail
- Pinecrest Place Oak 22 MIL x 8.7 in. W x 48 in. L Click Lock Waterproof Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring (20.1 sq. ft./case) · SKU 1010-435-396, $66.12 retail
- 800 lb. Capacity D-Handle Hand Truck · SKU 168674, $79.00 retail
Hand tools and test equipment
Small, hung on pegs and rarely re-tagged. Scanning on a hunch pays off here more than anywhere else. 6 items from this department are live on the list today.
- Gerber Gator Machete Jr with 10.75 in. Blade (Sheath Included) · SKU 1001-411-556, $31.87 retail
- 9 in. Power-Lever Steel Blade Telescoping Steel Handle Hedge Shears · SKU 1001-075-072, $34.99 retail
- M- Spector 4 ft. Inspection Camera Scope · SKU 1008-470-746, $129.00 retail
- Block Sharpener · SKU 1008-056-907, $20.97 retail
Home and decor
Décor rotates hard with the seasons and tends to collect on clearance racks near the front of the department. 3 items from this department are live on the list today.
- FRAMEWORK Customizable Workbench Kit – Garage Wood Work Table · SKU 1014-920-208, $69.98 retail
- Harmony Sable 24 in. x 24 in. Brown Wood Slat Decorative Acoustic Sound Absorbing Panels (4-Pack/15.5 sq. ft.) · SKU 1014-928-574, $69.98 retail
Power tools and accessories
Bare tools and accessory sets clear when a kit or bundle replaces them. Accessories are small and easy to miss on peg hooks. 1 item from this department is live on the list today.
- SHOCKWAVE Carbide Hammer Drill Bit Set (10-Piece) · SKU 1008-152-079
Ladders
Few in number but high in value. Ladders are oversized, rarely carry a shelf clearance tag, and tend to end up staged near receiving or in the overhead. 3 items from this department are live on the list today.
- 18ft Reach Aluminum 6-in-1 Multi-Max Pro Multi-Position Ladder, 375lbs. Load Capacity Type IAA Duty Rating · SKU 1009-743-788, $259.00 retail
- 5-in-1 Multi-Position Pro 26 ft. Reach Aluminum Telescoping Multi Position Ladder, 375 lb. Load Capacity Type IAA Duty · SKU 1004-552-787, $389.00 retail
Appliances and HVAC
Rare as penny items, and when they appear it is usually a floor model or an orphaned package component, which stores are less likely to sell. 1 item from this department is live on the list today.
How to use this
A big department is not automatically the best one to hunt. Lighting and plumbing produce a lot of finds because they are huge, deep bays with constant resets. Smaller departments with a high median retail are where the time-to-value is best. Pair this page with the seasonal calendar to decide where to spend your time this month.