Both have become popular Halloween shopping spots in recent years, due in part to the 12-foot-tall skeleton first sold by Home Depot in 2020.
After the massive decoration became popular, Lowe’s introduced a giant mummy in 2022 and a 13-foot-tall animatronic Jack Skellington this year.
The two stores have been competing ever since to offer the best outdoor decor – giant animatronics and more.
So, to kick off the spooky season, I visited both Lowe’s and Home Depot to see which had better deals. In my opinion, the winner was clear.
It made sense to me to feature Halloween decor here, as most of the items available are intended for outdoor use.
This also meant that the department was near one of the store’s entrances, making it easier to find.
I loved how you can see the actual size of these ornaments, with clear price tags showing how much each one costs.
Most inflatables depicted licensed characters such as Chucky and Stitch, while the light-up and animated decorations were more general Halloween designs, such as lanterns and ghosts.
Almost all of the decorations on this wall were available when I visited, which I appreciated.
The smaller inflatables retailed for about $35, which I felt was a fair price, while the larger ones cost upwards of $130.
The animation was quite impressive, although I noticed that it was all displayed above platforms, making it appear a bit larger than it actually was.
Most of the animations also had “try me” buttons attached to them, which allowed shoppers to see the decorations in action if they wanted to.
However, there was one group – two harvester-like creatures with musical instruments – moving and playing a rendition of “I Love Rock ‘N’ Roll” non-stop. I had only been shopping for a few minutes when I heard the song for the tenth time in a row, much to my dismay.
Each mover’s boxes are stacked behind the displays, allowing shoppers to load their carts with anything they want to buy.
Prices for these pieces ranged from $199 to $348 each. Although the prices were steep, the animation was impressive, in my opinion.
Not only were there clear price tags on each ornament, but some also had notes listing how many of that specific piece were left in the store.
There were pillows priced at about $17 — not far from what you’d pay at stores like Home Goods — and huge bundles of fake spider webs for $7.
I also noticed $13 garden flags, $22 banners, $2 window clings, and dozens of other items. I thought some items were reasonably priced and others were a bit high, but the range of decor was so impressive that I knew most shoppers could find something in their budget.
There were “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” lights for $25, a Ghost Face door ornament for $20, and even a life-sized animated Pennywise for $239.
I shop at Spirit Halloween often, and I know how often they sell popular movie merchandise. So I was thrilled to learn that I could find similar items at Lowe’s.
In addition to inflatable Mickey Mouse decorations and fall-themed Disney flags, there were also a plethora of “Haunted Mansion” themed items.
Inspired by the Disney theme park ride — not the 2023 movie — there were popular character animations, spooky lights, plush toys, and more.
As a huge fan of the series, I loved being able to shop for these items outside of any Disney park.
After walking into the Home Depot Garden Center, I entered the store and immediately found the Halloween section. With a huge animation show, it was hard to miss.
While Lowe’s had one main mobile display, Home Depot had two.
The latter store’s selection was also noticeably larger, the “Try Me” buttons were neatly arranged on the floor, and the prices were lower.
Small animations cost around $90 while most larger ones cost $249.
At the store I shopped at, I noticed a few moving boxes lined up on the floor and wall. However, most of the larger pieces like Jack Skellington were not present, meaning you would need an employee to retrieve them from the stock room for you.
In an email sent to Insider, a Home Depot representative said that “although it varies by store location,” Halloween and holiday cartoons are typically stocked in the aisles for shoppers to load into their own carts, depending on availability.
“Of course, our partners are always here to help you, if you need it!” They added.
There were a few generic inflatable decorations displayed on one wall and licensed Disney decorations in another section. However, compared to Lowe’s, Home Depot seemed to not be selling as many products.
In the store I visited, there were also a few boxes with no displays, which was disappointing because you couldn’t tell exactly how big they were or how puffy they looked.
“We offer a selection of inflatables at Home Depot locations, but this does not include our entire extensive collection, which can be found online,” a store representative told Insider. “Note that there are many Halloween items that are only available online.”
However, the prices have remained the same, with most of the smaller ones costing around $35 and the larger ones going for around $150.
I was drawn to a rack of pre-made lanterns for $15+, as some of the designs were truly unique.
But I quickly noticed that there were a lot of empty spots on the shelves, and I felt a little disappointed that I might have missed the coolest ones.
I especially liked the statue that was a combination of a bear, pumpkin, and skeleton. The ornament was unique and good quality for only $39.98, so I thought I’d buy it.
The welcome mats were $12.98, the lighted decorations cost about $25, and the fake animal skeletons cost about $13 — prices that I thought were a bargain in many cases.
Additionally, I noticed that some basic trim was cheaper at Home Depot. For example, wooden signs were about $25 at Lowe’s and $13 at Home Depot.
I really enjoyed shopping for Halloween decorations at both stores and will return in the future. However, I think there is a better selection of Halloween items at Lowe’s.
Sure, some things were a little more expensive there. But the decor seemed to be of high quality and the designs stood out from the decorations sold in other stores.
In my opinion, Home Depot had Lowe’s pace when it came to animation, but even then, there were a few unique elements at Lowe’s that really stood out to me, like the real-life Pennywise.
With over a month to go until Halloween, I’ll likely visit both stores again. But if I get caught up in a spooky celebration and only have time to shop at one, Lowe’s will have it.
