I find Lowes cleaner and better organized and stocked. It is more
geared to the home owner, more typical retail. Home Depot is a bit
more geared towards contractors.

My local Lowes and Home Depot are mostly interchangeable. They carry most
of the same items, though Lowes does focus a bit more on "presentation"
with nice displays. Home Depot tends to have items in generic boxes with
tiny labels.

I don't care much for the organization at Lowes though.

Pouring footings for a deck or something? The concrete mix and metal
brackets are on the left end of the store. Anchor bolts? They're clear on
the other side of the store in the hardware section.

Installing a drainage system for your gutters or yard? The fittings and
drains are on the left end of the store in the plumbing section. If you
want the perforated drain pipe, you have to go to the other end of the
store, outside in the garden area.

Tiling a floor or wall? The tiles and mortar are at the back of store.
Cement or Hardibacker are at the front of the store with the plywood.

Most shopping trips for a project require walking back and forth from one
end of Lowes to the other to get the items you need. Home Depot tends to
group similar items together (not always!) so it's quicker to get in and
out when you're working on a project.

Also, Home Depot rents tools. Lowes does not.

Anthony Watson
Mountain Software
www.mountain-software.com/about.htm