Are you finding it difficult to decide between Empire Today and Home Depot when it comes to your home improvement project? The competition between these two industry heavyweights can be quite perplexing for homeowners seeking to spruce up their floors.
My goal is to simplify things for you by offering a clear cost comparison of their services, helping you make informed decisions without breaking the bank.
Empire Today and Home Depot at a Glance
| Information | Empire Today | Home Depot |
| Year of Establishment | 1959 | 1978 |
| Headquarters | Northlake, Illinois | Atlanta, Georgia |
| Offers | Flooring, carpet and window treatments | Flooring, home appliances, and building materials |
| Parent Company | Charlesbank Capital Partners | The Home Depot Pro |
About Empire Today
Empire Today is a reputable company that excels in various home improvement services. They specialize in selling and installing flooring, window treatments, and bath and shower liners. This means they’re your go-to experts when it comes to sprucing up your home.
It provides a convenient shop-at-home service where customers can schedule appointments with representatives who bring flooring or carpet samples and offer free estimates.
Quick History
Empire Today began in 1959 as a family-owned business in Chicago called Empire Plastic Covers. It later changed its name to Empire Home Services and started offering carpets in 1965. In 2002, the flooring company was sold and renamed Empire Today.
It now operates in over 75 metropolitan areas across the US, providing various home improvement services, including flooring materials such as hardwood flooring, nylon carpet, vinyl, laminate, and ceramic, as well as window treatments and area rugs.
Manufacturing
Empire Today hasn’t been very forthcoming about where all its products are made, and this could be related to its recent acquisition by Charlesbank Capital Partners. This change in ownership may have led to some adjustments in how they handle such information.
However, they claim their laminate flooring products are made in the United States for superior finishes. The company’s emphasis on the US production of their laminate flooring implies that their other materials may not be made in the US.
Carpet and Flooring
Empire has a flooring and carpet sales approach that involves a salesman visiting your home to offer products, take measurements and install carpet. The salesman is friendly and not too pushy but may overcharge, so negotiation is necessary.
The carpet installer can get all the measurements accurately, despite the low-tech process. Empire’s local warehouses allow for next-day professional installation. In comparison to Home Depot’s carpet, Empire carpet is thinner, less soft, and less visually appealing.
Product Selection
Empire Today specializes in providing flooring services and offers a range of flooring options, including hardwood, carpet, vinyl, laminate, area rugs, and ceramic flooring.
They provide carpet installation services that involve the removal of old carpet and furniture and even have a carpet recycling program.
They also provide installation services for laminate, hardwood, vinyl flooring, and ceramic and offer area rugs that can be placed over the new flooring. The team removes furniture and old floors and will return the furniture once the installation is complete.
About Home Depot
Home Depot is a large American home improvement retailer and operates in various formats, including big-box stores, specialty stores, and online.
It offers a wide range of products and services, including construction materials, tools, appliances, furniture, decor, and home improvement services.
Additionally, the company has a strong corporate social responsibility program and is actively involved in various community initiatives and charitable causes.
Quick History
Home Depot, the largest home improvement retailer in the United States, provides an extensive selection of products, including but not limited to building materials, flooring supplies, and gardening supplies.
Thus, with its vast inventory, Home Depot serves as a one-stop destination for individuals seeking various home improvement needs.
It was founded in 1978 with the goal of becoming the biggest home improvement superstore, which it achieved by 2006. Home Depot has since expanded globally and operates in Guam, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, Mexico, and Canada.
It currently has 2,312 stores worldwide and generates $151.16 billion in revenue.
Manufacturing
Home Depot mostly sources its products from China, making it one of the largest importers of Chinese products in the United States.
Although Home Depot had previously announced plans to move its manufacturing out of China, there have been no changes in its manufacturing locations.
However, almost all of Home Depot’s lumber is sourced from within North America, with a majority coming from the United States and a small portion from Canada.
Carpet and Flooring
Home Depot has a lot of choices when it comes to new floors, even more than Empire Today. They have various options like rugs, carpets, hardwood flooring, laminate, vinyl, tiles, and even special floors for places like garages and gyms.
Plus, they also have things you need for installing carpet or flooring, like tools and supplies.
Product Selection and Tools
Home Depot has more things to choose from than Empire Today. Empire Today only sells floors or flooring material but Home Depot has everything for your home. If you need anything for a home project, Home Depot probably has it.
In addition to carpets and flooring, Home Depot has various tools and supplies for different home improvement projects, such as power tools, hand tools, hardware, paint, and more.
Appliances and Gardening Supplies
Home Depot has many home appliances like dryers, washing machines, and dishwashers. They have almost anything you need for your home. They also sell smaller things like light bulbs, lamps, and other things that make your house feel cozy.
Home Depot also has things for outside your home other than being just a carpet store. They have a big area for gardening, with seeds, plants, and tools for gardening, like lawnmowers.
Lumber Supplies
Home Depot has a lot of wood to choose from for people who are building or fixing things at home.
They have different kinds of wood sourced from the US, as well as special kinds of wood like hardwood and treated wood. They also have wood that’s good for outdoor things like decks and fences.
Fortunately, you don’t need to go to other carpet stores or flooring companies because Home Depot can also cut the wood for you in their store to save money.
More About Home Depot:
Pricing of Empire Today and Home Depot
It’s hard to compare how much things cost at Home Depot and Empire Today because they sell different things. When it comes to just carpets, Empire Today tries to charge more money than Home Depot.
But how big the area that you want to cover, what kind of carpet you choose, and what your floor is like now will all affect how much you end up paying at either place.
Carpet
Typically, when you’re looking for a high-quality carpet at Empire Today, you can expect to pay between $3 and $5 for each square foot.
But keep in mind that the price can go up if you’re opting for premium options or additional features such as stain resistance, extra plushness, or an extended warranty.
These added perks can nudge the cost a bit higher, but they can also enhance the overall value of your carpet investment.
To get a more accurate estimate of the carpet cost at Empire Today, customers can schedule a free in-home consultation with a flooring professional.
When you’re shopping for carpet at Home Depot, the cost can fluctuate based on two main factors: the type of carpet you choose and the size of the space you’re looking to cover. Generally, you’ll find prices spanning from 50 cents to $1.74 for each square foot.
It’s important to remember that the final price will be determined by these variables, so it’s wise to carefully consider both your carpet preferences and the dimensions of your area before making a purchase.
Between Empire Today vs Home Depot prices, the latter clearly has more carpet options, lower prices, and offers the option to install the carpet by yourself.
Flooring
Empire Today has a lot of different offers in terms of flooring options. They have fancy floors like hardwood and tile, but those cost more money. Based on most customers’ experiences, Empire Today costs more than Home Depot.
On the other hand, Home Depot has everything you need for flooring, and they usually have lower prices because they are a big store. Putting in hardwood and tile can cost more, but if you buy from Home Depot, you can choose to install it yourself.
Material Prices Compared to the National Average of Home Depot
- Indoor carpet: Home Depot ranges from $0.50 to $1.74 per square foot, while the national average is between $2 to $7 per square foot.
- Tile: Home Depot ranges from $1.10 to $18.42 per square foot, while the national average is between $0.50 to $35 per square foot.
- Wood laminate: Home Depot ranges from $0.94 to $4.09 per square foot, while the national average is between $1.50 to $3 per square foot.
- Vinyl plank: Home Depot ranges from $1.59 to $7.79 per square foot, while the national average is between $1 to $6 per square foot.
- Solid hardwood: Home Depot ranges from $3.99 to $6.78 per square foot, while the national average is between $6 to $12 per square foot.
- Engineered hardwood: Home Depot ranges from $3.57 to $9.99 per square foot, while the national average is between $10 to $13 per square foot.
- Bamboo: Home Depot ranges from $3.59 to $8.62 per square foot, while the national average is between $2 to $11 per square foot.
In-Home Estimate of Empire Today
The Home Depot sells materials for your home at lower prices than other stores across the country. You can easily see the prices of materials online or by visiting one of their stores.
On the other hand, if you want to know the prices of materials at Empire Today, you need to ask someone to come to your house, like their flooring and carpet installers to give you an estimate.
Subcontracted Labor
Both Empire Today and The Home Depot ask other people to do the work of putting in your new carpet or flooring. These people are called subcontractors [1]. It can be cheaper for companies to use subcontractors because they don’t have to pay as much for things like benefits.
Options for Financing
The Home Depot and Empire Today offer two ways to finance your new flooring. The first way is a credit card that lets you pay over time. The second way is a loan that lets you borrow up to $55,000 and pay it back over 6 months or more.
Empire Today also has two options: The first lets you pay off your balance in 12 months without any extra charges. The second charges you 11.99% interest if you take up to 48 months to pay it back.
Service Plan for Potential Damages
Empire Today has a special plan that helps you protect your flooring from damage that happens after the warranty ends. Empire Today’s plan covers things like scratches, stains, and snags.
Unfortunately, there is no information online about how much this plan costs, so you’ll have to call or get an in-home estimate to find out.
Additional Costs You May Incur
Empire Today and The Home Depot might charge additional fees for flooring service and a carpet job besides materials and labor. The Home Depot charges for in-home measurements and flooring installation.
Empire Today doesn’t mention fees, but some customers that had carpet installed experienced surprise fees for flooring and carpet removal. So it’s important to keep these extra costs in mind when buying carpet or planning a flooring project.
Warranty
Empire Today and Home Depot both offer limited warranties for their flooring services, but Home Depot’s warranty is generally better. Empire Today offers a one-year limited warranty that covers defects due to an installation problem.
Meanwhile, The Home Depot offers a more extensive warranty that varies depending on the material selected, ranging from a limited lifetime warranty to a limited 10-year light commercial warranty.
Customer Service
Home Depot generally receives positive reviews for its great customer service. Empire Today’s customer service ratings range from 1.36 to 4 out of 5 stars, while Home Depot typically receives a 4 out of 5-star rating for their customer service.
Next Read: Home Depot and Lowe’s Comparison
Conclusion
When weighing Empire Today’s prices against those of Home Depot, it becomes evident that Home Depot emerges as the more favorable choice, taking all aspects into account. Nevertheless, price comparisons can be a bit intricate because these two companies employ distinct pricing systems and promotional strategies.
In the end, I strongly advise conducting thorough research and conducting a comprehensive comparison of both companies’ prices and services. This approach will ensure that you make an informed decision that aligns perfectly with your unique requirements and personal preferences.
Robert Johnson is a passionate furniture maker & carpenter, sought after for his knowledge on the craft.
You’ve probably seen his down-to-earth wisdom in USA Today, Bobvila, Family Handyman, and The Spruce, where he has shared commentary and guidance on various woodworking topics.
Robert is the brain behind Sawinery, where he aims to share tips, tricks, and a passion for all things carpentry.
