Lowe’s is bringing drone delivery to the home improvement market, partnering with DoorDash and Alphabet-owned Wing to get essential supplies to customers in as little as 20 minutes.
The pilot is now operating from a Lowe’s store in Matthews, North Carolina, near Charlotte. The move makes Lowe’s the first home improvement retailer to offer drone delivery for online orders, according to the company.
A Faster Way to Finish Home Projects
The service is designed around a familiar problem for DIY customers and contractors: a project can come to a stop because one small item is missing.
Through the DoorDash app, eligible customers can access a dedicated Lowe’s drone storefront and order selected products for delivery. The initial selection includes hand tools, paint products and household essentials such as tape, soap, batteries and cleaning supplies.
Wing drones can currently carry orders weighing about 2.5 pounds per flight, making the service particularly suited to smaller items that customers may need urgently.
Deliveries Can Arrive in About 20 Minutes
Lowe’s says eligible orders can reach customers in as little as 20 minutes, adding another fast-delivery option alongside its existing buy-online-pickup-in-store, curbside pickup and same-day delivery services.
For someone halfway through a repair or painting job, the ability to receive a forgotten tool or supply without driving back to the store could save both time and disruption.
DoorDash and Wing Bring the Technology
The pilot builds on the existing drone delivery operations of DoorDash and Wing in the Charlotte area. DoorDash has been expanding its use of drone delivery while also developing its own drone business through DoorDash Labs. In July, the company announced that it had received FAA Part 135 air carrier certification for its own commercial drone delivery operations.
Wing, which is owned by Alphabet, provides the aircraft and drone delivery technology for the Lowe’s pilot.
More Than 100 Products in the Initial Test
The program currently covers more than 100 eligible products, with Lowe’s focusing on lightweight items that can be transported quickly by drone. The retailer says the service is being tested as another way to remove delays from home improvement projects.
For Lowe’s, the pilot also offers a chance to see how aerial delivery can fit into its wider retail and technology strategy.
Drone Delivery Could Expand
The Matthews location is only the starting point for the service. Lowe’s has not announced a broader rollout schedule, but the company said the pilot is intended to test a new fulfillment method for its customers.
As drone technology becomes more integrated into retail logistics, Lowe’s experiment could provide another model for delivering small, time-sensitive products without relying entirely on traditional road-based delivery.
For customers, the biggest change is simple: a missing screw, tool or roll of tape may no longer require a trip back to the store.
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