Home Depot vs Menards:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Home Depot had more branded searches than Menards among hardware store brands in the United States. Home Depot had about 30.4 million branded searches, while Menards had 6.1 million. Home Depot made up 56.9% of all hardware store brand searches we track, and Menards accounted for 11.4%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about hardware store brands, both Home Depot and Menards appeared in all three answers. Home Depot was mentioned before Menards in every answer.
Who do people search for more?
Home Depot, about 5 searches for every 1 for Menards
Who does AI mention more?
Both are mentioned in every answer we collected.
Who does AI recommend more?
Home Depot, named ahead of Menards in every answer
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Top hardware store brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions, both Home Depot and Menards showed up in all three answers. Home Depot was listed before Menards in every answer.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
- Home Depot1st
Lowe's2nd
Ace Hardware3rd
Menards4th
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Home Depot3 of 3Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answers
- Lowe's3 of 3Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answers
- Menards3 of 3Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answers
- Ace Hardware3 of 3Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answers
See every answer about hardware store brands
3 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which hardware store brand should I shop at in the US?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best hardware store brands in the US?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best hardware store brand in the US for home repairs?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“home improvement store”
Google showed no AI Overview for this search.
Searched Google, AI Overview
“cheap hardware store”
Google showed no AI Overview for this search.
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in United States on October 19, 2026.
Is Home Depot or Menards more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Home Depot and Menards by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all four hardware store brands we track, month by month, from searches in United States.
Share of searches by month for Home Depot, Menards. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Home Depot | Lowe's | Menards | Ace Hardware |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 56.1% | 25.1% | 11.3% | 7.5% |
| Nov 2025 | 57.3% | 25.6% | 9.4% | 7.7% |
| Dec 2025 | 60.1% | 22% | 9.9% | 8.1% |
| Jan 2026 | 57.3% | 25.6% | 9.4% | 7.7% |
| Feb 2026 | 57.3% | 25.6% | 9.4% | 7.7% |
| Mar 2026 | 58.1% | 25.9% | 9.6% | 6.4% |
| Apr 2026 | 56.9% | 25.4% | 11.4% | 6.3% |
| May 2026 | 56.1% | 25% | 11.3% | 7.5% |
| Jun 2026 | 53.8% | 24.1% | 13.2% | 8.9% |
| Jul 2026 | 56.1% | 25.1% | 11.3% | 7.5% |
| Aug 2026 | 56.1% | 25.1% | 11.3% | 7.5% |
| Sep 2026 | 56.9% | 25.4% | 11.4% | 6.3% |
How has the Home Depot and Menards comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Home Depot was ahead of Menards in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Home Depot’s share of searches among hardware store brands in the United States moved from 56.1% to 56.9%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 30.4M.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Menards’ share of searches among hardware store brands in the United States moved from 11.3% to 11.4%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 6.1M.
How did search popularity change for United States hardware store brands in September 2026?
1 change
In September 2026, Home Depot gained share of searches among hardware store brands in the United States, from 56.1% to 56.9%.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Home Depot’s and Menards’ names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Home Depot
1 branded search term
- home depot
Menards
1 branded search term
- menards
Other head-to-heads among hardware store brands
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