Home Depot Affiliate Program: How It Works, Payment Details & More

If you’re in the do-it-yourself blogosphere, chances are you’re familiar with Home Depot.

Like many top companies, Home Depot offers an affiliate program.

Affiliate programs are the preferred method of passive income for many bloggers.

If you’re wondering whether Home Depot’s program is a match for you, then you’re in the right place.

Here’s a deep dive into the Home Depot affiliate program: how it works, payment details, how to join, and more.  

Does Home Depot Have an Affiliate Program?

Yes, Home Depot has an excellent affiliate program.

It’s perfect for do-it-yourselfers, interior designers, remodelers, and other crafters who share their work on the web.

If you use Home Depot materials, you should get acquainted with their affiliate program, whether you work on projects big or small.

What Is the Home Depot Affiliate Program?

The Home Depot affiliate program works like any affiliate program, it allows you to earn money by promoting their products.

Anyone can apply to become an affiliate of Home Depot.

Once accepted, you’ll be able to earn passive income every time someone buys a Home Depot product that you recommended on your site.

How Does the Home Depot Affiliate Program Work?

Every time you successfully promote a product sold by Home Depot, you’ll receive a commission from that purchase.

Home Depot provides you with unique codes and links so they know a buyer was directed to their store by your website.

The buyer needs to use your affiliate link, you can’t just say, “buy this at Home Depot.”

Once you reach a certain commission threshold, you’ll receive a payout from Home Depot.

Is the Home Depot Affiliate Program Free?

The Home Depot affiliate program is free to join. Any real affiliate program should be free to join.

After all, they get free advertising no matter the size of your audience.

There’s very little risk in becoming an affiliate. It costs you nothing and can potentially generate income.

Of course, how much you earn will depend on your audience’s strength, engagement, and reach.

What Products Can You Promote For the Home Depot Affiliate Program?

The great thing about the Home Depot affiliate program is that most of its products are eligible for affiliate commissions.

They’re a huge business, so that’s over 500,000 items.

Diverse creators like people doing full-scale home remodels or even those doing small kid-friendly crafts can buy what they need.

We will highlight their top product categories below if you’re unfamiliar with the full breadth of Home Depot’s offerings.

Appliances

The Home Depot has a large appliance department.

Appliances are a big-ticket item on which Home Depot affiliates earn a 1% commission.

If you run a popular cooking blog, you can recommend your stove if Home Depot carries it.

If you’re all about home remodels, you can recommend a new laundry room for one of their washers/dryers.

Appliances are relevant to many bloggers, and you can find a wide variety here.

Tools

If you’re a DIYer, then you need tools. Home Depot has a vast tool department.

You can shop for power tools, gardening tools, hand tools, woodworking, and welding tools.

There are also tool accessories like toolkits and tool storage.

Whatever your DIY niche Home Depot probably sells something that you already use yourself.

Smart Devices

The Home Depot affiliate program is appealing to makers and doers.

However, it’s not limited to this area.

You may, for example, want to consider joining if you run a tech blog.

Home Depot sells an array of smart devices for the home.

If you review these devices, you can earn a commission whenever you successfully promote them.

Furniture

The furniture selection is vast.

If you are an interior designer or simply a home design appreciator, you’ll want the ability to promote Home Depot’s furniture catalog.

Again, most of their store inventory falls under the affiliate program.

There is so much here to choose from that it’s overwhelming.

You’ll find something your site’s audience will love.

Home Decor

Home decor is another notable entry for an interior design enthusiast.

Everything you need to decorate a home is here in one place.

There are small items like candles and picture frames and large things like wall coverings and glassware sets.

Select home decor items offer an 8% commission for affiliates.

The items the rate applies to are subject to change, so check when promoting.

Other Things You Can Promote With This Program

There are literally half a million things you can promote as an affiliate of Home Depot.

We’ve only barely scratched the surface.

They have anything you need to redo a home, like paint, paint tools, tiles, wallpaper, rugs, landscaping equipment, lights, lightbulbs, the screws to screw the light fixture to your wall, and so much more.

If you have any niche for building, design, or home projects, then Home Depot probably carries what you need and can promote it.  

What Products Are Excluded From the Home Depot Affiliate Program?

Very little is excluded from Home Depot’s affiliate program.

However, you cannot earn a commission from gift card purchases, installation services, custom-created products, select special orders, or in-store purchases.

How Much Do Home Depot Affiliates Make?

What you earn as a Home Depot affiliate is highly variable.

The average number will change based on the size of your website and the types of products you promote.

Even if your audience constantly uses your affiliate links, a 1% commission on a $500 cookware set is much more than the same commission rate on a $20 candle or decorative wreath.

You should look at other high-paying affiliate programs to decide if this commission rate is best for you.

Home Depot Affiliate Program Commission Rates

Home Depot doesn’t put many limitations on what products an affiliate can earn commissions on.

Pretty much anything sold online can be promoted by an affiliate from any of their 20 product categories.  

Currently, there are two commission rates.

The current affiliate commission is 1% on products via mobile and online pick-up in-store orders.

It is also 1% on appliances.

If this sounds low, you can compare it with the highest-paying affiliate programs to see if there’s a better fit.  

There is an 8% commission rate on select home decor products.

While that is a higher rate, home decor tends to have lower value items, and the rate doesn’t apply to every product in the category.

The commission process is simple.

On any qualified sale made using your affiliate link, you’ll earn 1%-8% of the sale, depending on the product.

This will be paid by check or direct deposit once you meet an earning threshold.

A qualified sale is any sale that wasn’t canceled, declined, or returned.

How Long Does The Home Depot Cookie Last?

Home Depot’s cookie duration is one full day.

If a user clicks a homedepot.com link on your site and places an order within 24hrs of that click, then you will earn the commission on that order.

While it’s not unusual, 24hrs is a bit short. It’s how long you have for your audiences to be curious about a product to turn into a sale.

If one of your website’s users makes a purchase from Home Depot after 24hrs, without clicking on your affiliate link again, you won’t earn the commission.

How Do You Get Paid From Home Depot?

Home Depot pays its affiliates via check or direct deposit.

Checks are issued when you reach a minimum of $100.

If you signed up for a direct deposit, the minimum payout is $50.

Direct deposit should have a faster turnaround than waiting for a mailed check.

Unfortunately, Home Depot does not currently offer payments through popular apps like PayPal or Venmo.

When Does Home Depot Pay Affiliates?

It can take a long time to start seeing money from Home Depot based on your website’s popularity and engagement.

Views don’t always equal purchases.

You won’t see any money until you reach the minimum threshold of $50-$100. You can track how you’re doing via the Impact Platform.

Once you reach the minimum threshold to trigger a payment, you should see monthly payments.

Payments are processed on or around the 20th of every month, and they are based on your earnings of the previous month.

The 30-day cycle allows time to make sure all purchases are qualified purchases- that no declines or returns were made on an item during this time.

You should see monthly income from the Home Depot affiliate program if you have a good enough following and users who listen to you.

What Marketing Materials And Promotional Tools Are Available?

Home Depot provides everything you need to start promoting its products.

You’ll access a daily product data feed to help you decide what products to promote.

You also get a wide variety of banner ads and text links to choose from.

As an affiliate, you also have the support of homedepot.com affiliate account managers and tech support provided by the Impact platform.

The Impact app allows you to see daily reports that include information on impressions, click-throughs, and commissions earned.

You can use Impact’s information to see which products do better than others, which will help you make promotional decisions.

Do cheaper products yield higher click-throughs?

Then push those.

You can make better marketing decisions when you understand your audiences’ habits.  

Who Should Join the Home Depot Affiliate Program?

There are many bloggers out there who benefit significantly from joining the Home Depot affiliate program.

If you’re in the home improvement arena, you can promote Home Depot’s products instead of selling niche products of your own.

They have hundreds of thousands of products to promote across multiple categories.

We already discussed this a little, but let’s get more detailed about who the ideal Home Depot affiliates are.

Product Reviewers

Bloggers who review physical products will find something valuable to their audience at Home Depot.

If you’re someone who makes things, designs spaces, or promotes DIY projects, then this is an excellent affiliate program for you.

Everything from suitable curtains to the tools to hang them with is available at Home Depot.

Designers

Home Depot is synonymous with home improvement, but this doesn’t just mean construction or renovation.

If your blog is about, for example, choosing the right design elements for a given room, then you’ll find those things at Home Depot.

They carry the full suite of items needed to design a space; home decor, furniture, appliances, paint, tiles, light fixtures, etc.  

DIYers

Even if your blog isn’t about product reviews or promotion, people like to know what tools and materials their favorite DIYers use.

If you show people how to build a shelf, they’ll want to know your favorite power tools.

It’s natural for people learning a skill to want to follow along.

As an affiliate, you can earn income just by directing people to Home Depot to outfit themselves with the same things you already know you love.

Is the Home Depot Affiliate Program Worth It?

The Home Depot affiliate program will be right for some people and not others.

After all, there are other home improvement stores out there.

Let’s go over the pros and cons of Home Depot’s program so you can make an informed decision.

Pros of the Home Depot Affiliate Program

Here are the major pros of Home Depot’s affiliate program:

• Home Depot is well-established and trusted: You won’t have to do much work convincing or educating your audience about product quality.
• Large product catalog: You can find the best-fit items for any home-improvement niche your blog covers.
• High-cost items: A 1% commission can have a large payoff.
• High commission on low-cost items: You can maximize profits. 8% commission on a bulk buy of decorative tea candles will work out well for you.
• Monthly payout: Once you get going, you can earn a regular income.

Cons of the Home Depot Affiliate Program

Here’s why you may want to shop around other affiliate programs:

• Limited scale: There are many places Home Depot doesn’t ship to. If your site’s audience is outside the United States, they probably can’t get Home Depot products.
• Niche: Home Depot is a giant in home improvement. However, if your blog has multiple subjects, they may not be the right fit for you.
• Short, one-day cookie duration: If someone decides to buy a product two days after seeing it on your site, you won’t get the commission.
• Low commission rates overall: You can make good money here but need a very engaged or specific audience. And other brands have higher commissions.
• Check or direct deposit for payout: Paypal or Venmo aren’t options.

Conclusion: Is The Home Depot Affiliate Program Worth It?

Overall yes. But it won’t be for everyone.

You need to consider some definite points about your site and audience habits.

If you know you have a dedicated home improvement audience, chances are you’ll do well with this program.

Home Depot is already the go-to store for many home improvement enthusiasts.

If this sounds like your audience, they will likely use your referral link if they shop there anyway.

You may do better with an alternative program if you have a broader site category.

For example, Amazon has many home improvement items to promote and everything else in the world.

Make sure you understand your site and audience before making a final decision.

How To Join the Home Depot Affiliate Program

If you’ve decided the pros outweigh the cons, great! Here’s how to sign up for the program.

Requirements to Join the Home Depot Affiliate Program

Applying to the Home Depot affiliate program is easy.

The only requirement is that you have a live site at the time of the application.

It seems anyone with a functioning site can join.

They say they can refuse membership to the program for any reason, but they don’t specify what those reasons might be.

It isn’t stated if your site needs a specific audience size or monthly views.

You’ll know if you meet the requirements by whether you’re accepted or rejected to the program.

How To Apply [Step-by-Step Tutorial]

Here’s how to apply to the Home Depot affiliate program. It’s short and simple:

1. Visit this page and click sign up now.
2. Fill out the simple application. You’ll be asked for your info and your site’s info.
3. Agree to the terms and conditions.
4. Click “submit application.” That’s it.  

How Long Does it Take to Get Approved for the Home Depot Affiliate Program?

Applications are usually processed in under three weeks.

After that time, you should either get an email with your affiliate link, or you’ll get a rejection notice.

The acceptance email should also give you an orientation of sorts.

How to use the Impact Platform, place banner ads, etc., should be covered.

Does Home Depot Support the Affiliate Program?

Home Depot does offer support to its affiliates.

They have affiliate account managers if you need direct help.

The only information they give on tech support is that you get this through the Impact platform.

The Impact app gives you detailed website data, which helps you make better promotional choices.

If you need technical help for your site, you will still need to go through your service provider.

How To Make Money With the Home Depot Affiliate Program

If you want to thrive as a Home Depot affiliate, here are some tips and advice on how to build success.

1. Build Your Audience

If you want to make any money as an affiliate, you need a good-sized audience.

The more eyes on your site, the more chances to make a referral.

Some common ways to build your site include using the top SEO tools, email marketing, and campaign tracking.

There are endless affiliate marketing tools, and there are likely some you aren’t using already.

2. Provide High-Value Content

If you have an audience, great! To keep them interested and continue to grow, you need high-value content.

Once you become a Home Depot affiliate, you shouldn’t suddenly turn to all product promotions all of the time.

Sales-y language itself can be a turnoff. Instead, show yourself using a product and explain why you use it over others.

Talk about design, quality, whatever drew you to it.

For websites in specific niches, it’s essential to understand why your site fills that niche so users crave the content.

3. Be Upfront

It’s fair to expect money to promote products, but you must let your audience know what you’re doing.

If you’re an affiliate, you must put an affiliate disclosure notice somewhere on your site.

Aside from the legal implications, no one likes to be tricked.

4. Understand Your Audience

People won’t buy things without some need for them.

Home Depot has a huge selection of products.

Even if your audience loves home improvement, they may not use everything Home Depot offers.

Use Home Depot’s affiliate support tools to track what does well and what doesn’t.

You can maximize revenue by recommending the right products at the right time.

Alternatives To the Home Depot Affiliate Program

Doing your research is essential. Before committing to Home Depot, compare and contrast affiliate programs from similar providers.

Here are some competitive affiliate programs from businesses like Home Depot.

1. Target Affiliate Program

You may want to consider the Target affiliate program if your site focuses outside the home improvement niche.

Target overlaps with Home Depot, like home decor and basic home care tools.

But, they’re a big box store with electronics, games, clothing, and more.

The commission rate is similar so consider Target if the additional categories match your audience.

2. Lowe’s Affiliate Program

Lowe’s affiliate program is very similar to Home Depot.

Their product offerings are also very similar.

Sometimes audience makes the difference.

If your followers are located in an area with more Lowe’s than Home Depots, they will likely have more brand loyalty to the store they know best.

3. Home Decor Affiliate Programs

While Home Depot has a vast home decor selection, they are most known for home improvement.

If your niche is more about home decorating, then you may want to look at some specific home decor affiliate programs. 

Frequently Asked Questions

If you still have questions, here are the most asked we see from readers about home improvement affiliates.

Wrapping Up

If you have a home improvement-focused blog with a dedicated audience, you can do well as a Home Depot affiliate.

The variable commission rates let you consider the best products to spend your time on.

Home Depot brand is well-known and trusted and has a wide product range.

There’s a lot you can do with their catalog.