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Hardware Stores in the US - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Brigette Thomas Brigette Thomas New York, United States Last Updated: September 2024 NAICS 44413

Revenue

$42.0bn

2024

$42.0bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$X.Xbn

Employees

157k

Businesses

12,889

Wages

$X.Xbn

Hardware Stores in the US industry analysis

The Hardware Stores industry has been notably influenced by several trends over the past five years. A surge in do-it-yourself (DIY) projects has increased traffic to hardware stores as consumers seek tools and supplies for home projects. Stores have responded by widening product lines and hiring knowledgeable staff capable of guiding DIY enthusiasts. Economic growth and a robust real estate market have also given the sector a boost, fueling demand for everything from basic building supplies to high-end tools.

Trends and Insights

  • Revenue for hardware stores has increased during the current period. Stores benefited from rising incomes and a jump in the popularity of DIY home projects.
  • Hand and power tools are a major product in hardware stores. They are used to make structural improvements in homes, businesses and other structures. Demand for these products is impacted by construction rates and home improvement activity.
  • The Southeast contains the largest share of the nation’s population. The high population increases home improvement activity, causing many hardware stores to crop up in the region.
  • Internal competition is intense as many hardware stores exist in the United States. Stores compete on price, product variety, quality and customer service.

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  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 3.6 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $42.0bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

A rise in DIY projects supported revenue growth

  • In recent years, the rise of home improvements and DIY trends has significantly benefited hardware stores.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Hardware Stores in the US
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Hardware stores will benefit from steady economic growth

  • Despite challenges related to high inflation, rising interest rates and recessionary fears, the US economy is expected to grow at a modest and steady pace during the outlook period.

Biggest companies in the Hardware Stores in the US

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue ($m)
2024
Profit ($m)
2024
Profit Margin (%)
2024
Ace Hardware Corporation
782.4
354.9
45.4
Bellingham Lumber
2.5
0.1
3.2

To view the market share and analysis for all 2 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Hardware Stores in the US
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Hardware, Power tools and equipment and Paint and sundries. Hardware is the largest segment of the Hardware Stores in the US.

Trends and Insights

Hardware is an essential product for this industry

  • Hardware tools and machinery include saws, multimeters, tape measures and cable testers. Hardware constitutes the largest product segment for the industry because items like tools, fasteners, building materials and locks are essential for property maintenance, home improvements and construction operations.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Companies in this industry primarily retail a broad range of new home renovation equipment and supplies. Hardware, plumbing, electrical and paint-related tools are the most commonly stocked goods.

What's included in this industry?

HardwarePlumbing fixtures and suppliesElectrical suppliesHand tools and equipmentPower tools and equipmentDimensional lumber and other building materials and suppliesPaint and sundries

Companies

Ace Hardware CorporationBellingham Lumber

Purchase this report to view all 2 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

BIG-BOX STOREDO-IT-YOURSELF (DIY)DO-IT-FOR-ME (DIFM)ELECTRONIC DATA INTERCHANGE (EDI)COOPERATIVE (CO-OP)MOM-AND-POP STOREPOINT OF SALE (POS)

Industry Code

NAICS 2017

NAICS 44413 - Hardware Stores in the US

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Revenue for hardware stores has increased during the current period. Stores benefited from rising incomes and a jump in the popularity of DIY home projects.

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Hand and power tools are a major product in hardware stores. They are used to make structural improvements in homes, businesses and other structures. Demand for these product...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

The Southeast contains the largest share of the nation’s population. The high population increases home improvement activity, causing many hardware stores to crop up in the r...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each state
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each state in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each state accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each state accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each state in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across North America, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Internal competition is intense as many hardware stores exist in the United States. Stores compete on price, product variety, quality and customer service.

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Big hardware stores comprise a very small share of revenue. Regionalization and relatively low barriers to entry keep market share concentration low.

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of Ace Hardware Corporation's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Bellingham Lumber's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Ace Hardware Corporation, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Bellingham Lumber, and factors influencing its performance in the industry

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

Hardware stores are subject to a wide range of regulations imposed by federal, state and local governments. These include zoning and building laws and common safety and emplo...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Labor plays a vital role in hardware stores. Workers are necessary to arrange and stock product displays, process consumer transactions and assist consumers in finding produc...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Industry Multiples (2017-2022)
  • Industry Tax Structure (2017-2022)
  • Income Statement (2017-2022)
  • Balance Sheet (2017-2022)
  • Liquidity Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Coverage Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Leverage Ratios  (2017-2022)
  • Operating Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Hardware Stores in the US industry in United States in 2024?

The market size of the Hardware Stores in the US industry in United States is $42.0bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Hardware Stores in the US industry in 2024?

There are 12,889 businesses in the Hardware Stores in the US industry in United States, which has declined at a CAGR of 0.7 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Hardware Stores in the US industry in United States grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Hardware Stores in the US industry in United States has been growing at a CAGR of 3.6 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Hardware Stores in the US industry in United States over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Hardware Stores in the US industry in United States is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Hardware Stores in the US market in United States?

The biggest companies operating in the Hardware Stores market in United States are Ace Hardware Corporation and Bellingham Lumber

What does the Hardware Stores in the US in United States include?

Hardware and Plumbing fixtures and supplies are part of the Hardware Stores in the US industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Hardware Stores in the US in United States?

The company holding the most market share in United States is Ace Hardware Corporation.

How competitive is the Hardware Stores in the US industry in United States?

The level of competition is high and increasing in the Hardware Stores in the US industry in United States.

Related Industries

Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

Competitors

  • Home Improvement Stores in the US
  • Used Goods Stores in the US
  • E-Commerce & Online Auctions in the US
  • Mail Order in the US

Complementors

  • Hardware Manufacturing in the US
  • Tool & Hardware Wholesaling in the US

International industries

  • Hardware Stores in Canada
  • Hardware and Building Supplies Retailing in Australia
  • Hardware and Building Supplies Retailing in New Zealand
  • Hardware & Home Improvement Stores in the UK
  • Hardware & Home Improvement Stores in Ireland

View all industries in United States

Methodology

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Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in the US include: 

  • US Census Bureau
  • US Bureau of Labor Statistics
  • US International Trade Commission

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

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