Lowe's launches drone delivery

Customers near the Lowe's store in Matthews, North Carolina can now order small items like paintbrushes and batteries for delivery by drone in as little as 20 minutes through DoorDash.

Why drones work for home improvement

A 2.5-pound weight limit means drones can't deliver large items, but they're perfect for essentials people forget mid-project: paint, batteries, hand tools, soap, and cleaners.

“Home improvement is an inherently friction-filled experience.”

Testing before scaling up

Lowe's hasn't decided whether to expand the pilot beyond Matthews. The company is focused on learning how customers respond and working out operational challenges before rolling out more broadly.

“We are making sure we're working out the kinks.”

Future advertising opportunities

Lowe's isn't yet considering ads on its drone delivery storefront, but executives see potential to use drones as advertising inventory down the road.

“I wouldn't rule that out.”

Real-world use cases

Drivers stuck in traffic can get same-day delivery since drones bypass rush hour congestion. Someone painting a room can order a new brush mid-project, or get batteries when a smoke detector starts chirping.

“Drone delivery lends itself really well to both pro customers and homeowner customers in the moments that they need us.”

Amazon and Walmart lead the race

Amazon's Prime Air will reach nearly 500 cities by end of 2026. Walmart expanded its Wing partnership to 20 regions and hit one million drone deliveries in May.

“Drone delivery isn't just a novelty. It's a service many customers count on multiple times per week.”

The stakes keep rising

As drone delivery becomes faster, retailers and brands must compete on speed, inventory, and presence at the moment of need. PwC projects drone deliveries will grow from 5 million to 808 million annual orders globally by 2034.