How to Sell on Home Depot: The Complete Guide to Every Selling Route

If you have searched "how to sell on Home Depot," you have probably noticed the answers contradict each other. Some say it is a simple online marketplace like Amazon. Others describe an invitation-only supplier relationship. Both are partly right, because "selling on Home Depot" is not one program. It has three distinct routes, each with its own requirements, economics, and approval process.

This guide separates them clearly: the online marketplace and drop-ship program, becoming a first-party Home Depot supplier, and the newer creator and affiliate route. Whether you are a brand looking to list products on HomeDepot.com, a manufacturer hoping to get on store shelves, or a seller weighing whether Home Depot is worth the operational lift, this guide covers what each path requires and how to choose.

What Does "Selling on Home Depot" Actually Mean? Three Different Routes

Selling on Home Depot can mean one of three things: listing your products on HomeDepot.com as a third-party seller who ships directly to customers, supplying products wholesale for Home Depot to sell as its own inventory, or partnering as a content creator through Home Depot's affiliate program. These are separate programs with different applications, and confusing them is the most common mistake sellers make.

Home Depot is the largest home improvement retailer in the world, operating more than 2,000 stores across North America. That scale is why the selling opportunity is attractive, and why the pathways onto its platform are more structured than a typical open marketplace.

The Online Marketplace / Drop-Ship Program

This is the closest equivalent to selling on Amazon or Walmart Marketplace. Approved third-party sellers list products on HomeDepot.com, and when a customer orders, the seller (or their fulfillment partner) ships the product directly to the customer's home or to a Home Depot store for pickup. Home Depot does not take ownership of the inventory. This route is often referred to as Home Depot's drop-ship program, and it is the primary path for brands that want their catalog visible on HomeDepot.com without going through the wholesale buying process.

Becoming a Home Depot Supplier (First-Party / In-Store)

This is the traditional retail path: Home Depot buys your product wholesale and sells it as its own inventory, potentially both online and in physical stores. This route runs through Home Depot's merchandising organization rather than a self-serve portal. Home Depot actively recruits suppliers. In November 2025, it announced The Orange Exchange, an event hosting prospective merchandise suppliers onsite for targeted pitch sessions and product capability demonstrations, scheduled for February 19, 2026. Selected suppliers are assessed on criteria including market readiness, domestic production capacity, and fulfillment capabilities. U.S.-based small businesses can submit product proposals through Home Depot's official suppliers portal.

Home Depot Marketplace vs. Amazon and Walmart

For brands already selling on other marketplaces, the fastest way to understand Home Depot is by contrast. The table below compares the third-party online marketplace route specifically (not the wholesale supplier route) against the two largest open marketplaces.