Lowe’s Seasonal Savings Guide
d a free grill cover I didn’t even know was on promo. That’s when I started paying attention to how their seasonal deals actually work.
After a few years of tracking prices, chatting with store managers, and—yes—nerdily comparing receipts, I’ve turned Lowe’s seasonal patterns into a pretty reliable savings playbook. This is the guide I wish I’d had before paying full price for that first lawnmower.
The Big Picture: How Lowe’s Seasonal Pricing Really Works
In my experience, Lowe’s pricing isn’t random at all—it’s built around:
- Retail seasons (spring outdoors, summer projects, fall cleanup, holiday décor)
- Vendor funding (brands like DeWalt, Whirlpool, Scotts help fund promos)
- Inventory turns (they have to clear out seasonal stuff before the next wave)
Retail analysts have been pointing this out for years. Home improvement chains like Lowe’s and Home Depot see a massive seasonal skew in sales—spring and early summer are huge for lawn & garden and outdoor power equipment. A 2023 Lowe’s earnings report even highlighted “spring selling season” as a core growth driver.
Once you know what Lowe’s is trying to move and when, their promotions start to make a lot more sense.
Spring: The Super Bowl of Lowe’s Savings
Spring is when Lowe’s basically becomes a garden center with a hardware store attached. If you’re going to plan just one big shopping push, this is the season.
What I’ve Saved Big On in Spring
When I tested timing my purchases around spring sales, these categories consistently delivered:
- Mulch & soil: Around April, I’ve seen the classic 5 bags for $10 mulch promo almost every year. According to Lowe’s own ad archives, this has been a recurring doorbuster for more than a decade.
- Outdoor power equipment: Mowers, trimmers, blowers—especially battery platforms like EGO or Kobalt—often get $50–$100 off or bundle deals.
- Fertilizer & weed control: Lawn care brands like Scotts run aggressive rebates and instant discounts.
One year, I waited for the spring Black Friday-style sale (usually around late March/early April), and my front yard makeover bill dropped from about $420 in my cart estimate to $285 at checkout. Same cart. Just different week.
Strategy That’s Actually Worked for Me
- Study the weekly ad, then the app
I’ve noticed the Lowe’s app sometimes shows app-only prices or early access promos the printed circular doesn’t.
- Buy bagged goods in bulk, once
When mulch hit 5 for $10, I did the math. Buying 30 bags in one go saved me about $45 vs three smaller trips at regular price.
- Open-box and clearance corners
In my store, spring is when returned lawn equipment hits a tiny clearance area near the garden center. I grabbed a “refurbished” string trimmer for 40% off; the only issue was a torn box.
Downside: Spring is also when it’s easiest to overbuy project supplies because everything looks shiny and full of potential. I’ve learned to plan projects before stepping into the store or I start inventing “needs.”Summer: The Sneaky Mid-Season Deals
By summer, Lowe’s shifts from “Let’s build your dream yard” to “Let’s keep that yard alive and maybe upgrade your grill.”
Where I’ve Found Real Value in Summer
- Grills & outdoor cooking: Memorial Day and July 4th are the two big tentpoles. I bought a mid-range stainless grill for $399 that had been $499 the entire spring.
- Air conditioners & fans: Window units and portable ACs often see 10–20% off as heat waves hit.
- Paint promos: I’ve hit multiple “buy one, get one 50% off” or $10–$15 off gallon events around long weekends.
When I compared a grill’s price over 8 weeks (yes, I tracked it like a weirdo), it was full price in early May, then dropped around Memorial Day, went back up slightly, then dipped again near July 4th.
Pro Tip: Time Big Projects Around Holiday Weekends
In my experience, Lowe’s leans on holiday weekends in summer to juice sales. If you can:
- Plan interior paint jobs, small renovations, or outdoor furniture upgrades close to Memorial Day, July 4th, or Labor Day.
- Stack the sale with a Lowe’s credit card 5% off or military discount (more on stacking later).
Fall: The Clearance Goldmine
Fall is where Lowe’s quietly moves from “let’s grow things” to “let’s store and heat things.” If you like clearance stickers, this is your season.
My Best Fall Scores
- Outdoor furniture: I bought a patio set originally priced at $798 for $415 in late September. The tags showed a markdown progression over three weeks.
- Grills & smokers: As soon as the first fire pit displays come out, grills start sliding to clearance.
- Lawn & garden gear: Hose reels, some power tools, and leftover summer inventory often hit 30–75% off.
A former Lowe’s department supervisor told CNN Business in 2022 that end-of-season markdowns are built into their inventory plans—stores have limited storage space, so it’s genuinely cheaper to mark down and move bulky items.
Heating & Weatherization Deals
Fall is also when I’ve saved on:
- Space heaters & programmable thermostats
- Weatherstripping, insulation, and window film kits
Energy.gov has repeatedly pointed out that basic weatherization can shave 5–30% off energy bills, so catching these items on sale has a real payoff beyond the cart.
Downside: Selection gets thin fast. The best deals I’ve seen were often on that sun-faded floor model or the weird cushion color no one wanted.Winter: Appliances, Tools, and Holiday Hacks
Winter at Lowe’s is a strange but lucrative mix of:
- Big appliances
- Power tools
- Holiday décor
- Organization & storage
Appliance Deal Windows I’ve Tested
I tracked refrigerator prices for a friend remodeling their kitchen. Here’s what I noticed, which lines up with appliance industry reporting from sites like Consumer Reports:
- Black Friday / Cyber Monday: Some of the steepest discounting, especially on older model years.
- President’s Day & early-year sales: Another good window, especially for laundry pairs.
We ended up buying a mid-tier French door fridge in early December, stacking:
- Black Friday pricing
- A Lowe’s gift card promo (spend $X, get bonus card)
- Manufacturer rebate
Net savings: just under 30% off the listed regular price.
Holiday Decor & Storage
When I tested waiting on Christmas décor, the pattern was predictable:
- Before Christmas: 10–25% off select items
- Right after Christmas: 50% off
- Early January: 75% off on what’s left
I now buy next year’s lights and storage bins in that 50–75% window. The tradeoff: you have to be okay with limited colors/styles.
Stack, Don’t Just Settle: How I Layer Savings at Lowe’s
Here’s where the real fun starts. The seasonal promotions are good, but stacking them (strategically) is when the receipt starts to look satisfying.
Tactics I Actually Use
- Lowe’s MVPs Pro Rewards (even if you’re not “a pro”)
Signing up is free. I’ve gotten personalized offers (like 10% off a category) that combined with existing sales.
- 5% off with Lowe’s credit card
The everyday 5% off can usually stack with sale prices, though not always with other percentage-off coupons. I use it when I know I won’t be carrying a balance—interest will erase your savings fast.
- Price matching
Lowe’s will typically price match local competitors and major online retailers on identical items. I’ve shown a Home Depot price on my phone and had the cashier adjust it on the spot.
- Rebates & manufacturer promos
On big-ticket items like appliances or power tools, brands like Whirlpool, GE, DeWalt, and Bosch run rebates. It’s annoying paperwork, but I’ve received $50–$200 back multiple times.
Limitations to Expect:- Many promos can’t be combined with each other (e.g., a % off coupon and a special financing offer).
- Clearance and “Special Buy” items sometimes exclude extra discounts.
- Military discount doesn’t stack on certain promos or appliances, per Lowe’s own terms.
When You Should Not Buy at Lowe’s
To keep this honest, there are times I consciously skip Lowe’s:
- Commodities like generic screws, basic caulk, painter’s tape: Warehouse clubs or online bulk can beat them.
- Non-seasonal full-price tools right before a holiday: I’ve watched tools stay full price, only to drop 2–3 days before a major sale event.
- Certain plants early in season: Local nurseries sometimes have healthier stock at similar prices.
I still shop Lowe’s a lot; I just don’t assume it’s automatically the cheapest on every line item.
A Simple Seasonal Playbook You Can Steal
Here’s the rough calendar I keep in my head now:
- March–April: Stock up on mulch, soil, fertilizers, outdoor power, early patio deals.
- May–July: Grills, paint, AC units—time around holiday weekends.
- August–October: Patio sets, grills, garden tools, weatherization supplies.
- November–February: Appliances, tools, holiday décor, storage and organization.
Layer on:
- The Lowe’s app for digital coupons
- Price matching when you find a better deal
- Either the 5% card discount or a good rebate—whichever is worth more
When I tested following this rhythm for a full year, my rough savings versus regular shelf pricing (yes, I kept a basic spreadsheet) came out around 23% across all Lowe’s purchases. Not scientific, but enough to make it very worth the planning.
If you treat Lowe’s like a year-round seasonal game instead of a last-minute emergency stop, it can genuinely become one of the best value plays in your shopping rotation.
Sources
- Lowe’s Official Website – Weekly Ad & Deals - Current promotions and seasonal offers
- Lowe’s Companies, Inc. Annual Report 2023 - Discussion of spring selling season and category performance
- U.S. Department of Energy – Energy Saver: Weatherization - Data on savings from home weatherization measures
- Consumer Reports – How to Get the Best Deals on Appliances - Seasonal appliance pricing trends
- CNN Business – How Home Improvement Stores Lure DIY Shoppers - Insight into seasonal sales strategies at big-box home improvement retailers
