I used to work at The Home Depot and often heard rumors of “penny items”, but unfortunately I didn’t work their long enough to ever actually see one. While it may sound too good to be true, they absolutely DO EXIST and they will indeed sell products for just one cent. These “hidden gems” are always unadvertised and not widely known, which makes them even more thrilling to find—especially for savvy Home Depot shoppers who know what to look for.

What Are Home Depot Penny Items?

Penny items are products that have been heavily marked down—usually to clear out discontinued, damaged, seasonal, or outdated merchandise.

When an item is reduced to $0.01 in Home Depot’s system, it’s essentially a signal to employees that the item should be removed from the shelves and either thrown out or returned to the vendor.

However, these items sometimes remain on the floor—and that’s when shoppers have the chance to snag them.

IMPORTANT NOTE ON PENNY ITEMS

Home Depot employees are NOT supposed to sell penny items to customers. If an associate sees a penny item on the shelf, they’re instructed to pull it immediately.

That means if you find one and it rings up for a penny, there’s a chance the cashier might not let you buy it. But below I’ve documented several ways to increase your odds of getting these deals; as long as you know how to go about it.

See Also: Employees Give Me 15 Clever ways to Save at The Home Depot

Why Do These Items Even Exist?

Retailers like Home Depot deal with massive amounts of inventory across thousands of stores.

When items become unsellable due to damage, recall, or discontinued status, they need to be cleared out.

The $0.01 price is a way for the inventory system to identify products that are no longer meant for sale.

Home Depot uses the penny price to alert employees to pull the item from the shelf and dispose of it. But in many cases, these products are forgotten or overlooked.

PRO TIP: SHOP DURING STORE RESET HOURS

From my days working at Home Depot, I know that they restock shelves early in the morning or late at night.

So I highly recommend going during off-peak hours (think 7 – 9 a.m. on a weekday or just after opening on a Sunday).

You’ll often catch items just before they’re pulled—or notice employees wheeling out carts of clearance or “go-backs” that may include penny items.

How to Find Penny Items at Home Depot

Finding penny items isn’t a guarantee, but with the right approach and persistence, you can get lucky.

Here’s how to increase your odds:

1. Learn to Read Price Tags

Home Depot uses yellow clearance stickers that can tell you a lot—if you know what to look for.

Most clearance items will be marked with a yellow (sometimes orange) sticker showing the reduced price.

KEY: Pay attention to the date printed on the tag.

If it’s an older date (usually several weeks or months old), and the item is still sitting on the shelf, there’s a chance it may have dropped further in price—possibly to a penny.

Also, look for clearance tags ending in either .06 or .03.

These often indicate markdowns:

Prices ending in .06 usually mean the item will be marked down again in 6 weeks from the date on the tag.

Prices ending in .03 indicates a final clearance, and the item will be pulled or dropped to a penny if it doesn’t sellout in 3 weeks from the date on the tag.

PRO TIP: HIT THE “DAMAGED” & “OPEN BOX” SECTIONS

Many penny items end up in the back corners of the store, like in the “Damaged Packaging”, “Open Box” or “Clearance Pallet” areas.

These are often overlooked by regular shoppers and sometimes ignored by employees too.

Scan every barcode—even if the item looks unappealing. That beat-up toolbox or dusty light fixture might scan for a penny OR provide great ammunition to negotiate a deal.

2. Scan Items with the Home Depot App

The Home Depot mobile app is one of the best tools for finding penny items.

You can use it to scan barcodes in-store of clearance items and check the current price.

If you scan an item and it comes up as $0.01, you’ve absolutely found a penny deal, now head to the self-checkout aisle and buy it quickly.

Just be aware that prices may vary by store, and the app occasionally lags in updating inventory.

PRO TIP: REVERSE SHOP FROM HOME

Before you even leave the house, use the Home Depot app to search for clearance items at your local store by typing in general terms like “clearance”, “discontinued” or “special buy”.

Narrow your store location and sort by price. If you see items listed for $0.01 or suspiciously low prices, take note of the SKU or UPC.

This saves a ton of time and helps you hunt with purpose once you get to the store.

3. Know Where to Look

Penny items can be found throughout the store, but there are a few key sections where you’re more likely to stumble upon them:

Seasonal departments: After each holiday or season, stores rush to clear out themed merchandise. Look in gardening, Christmas lights, Halloween decorations, and patio sections.

Lighting and fixtures: Outdated or discontinued lighting often ends up as penny items.

Tools and accessories: Older tool models, open-box items, or product lines being phased out may be marked down.

Paint and hardware: Mismatched paint and custom-tinted gallons that weren’t picked up by the customer are sometimes priced at a penny.

Don’t overlook end caps, clearance sections, or the very top and bottom shelves—these are hot spots for overlooked items.

PRO TIP: USE BAY NUMBERS TO FIND HIDING SPOTS

Using the Home Depot app or website, if you find an item marked down, check its Bay Number which is essentially its shelf location.

Sometimes a penny-priced item still shows “limited stock” but isn’t on the main floor—it might be in overhead storage or a returns cart nearby.

Knowing the bay number helps you narrow your search and spot out-of-place deals.

4. Join Penny Shopping Communities

There are entire online communities dedicated to penny shopping.

Facebook groups and even TikTok creators share intel about recent penny finds, item numbers (SKUs), or specific brands to look for.

Keep in mind that success can vary by region, and just because something is a penny in one store doesn’t mean it will be in another.

Still, having a list of items to keep an eye out for gives you a head start.

PRO TIP: “DEAD END” AISLES ARE GOLD MINES

Check the dead-end aisles—those random, quiet corners of the store with oddball shelving or overstock.

Employees sometimes stash penny items here temporarily while waiting for a manager to approve a pull.

These spots are rarely patrolled and can be full of surprises. Look especially behind big items like toilets, bathtubs, or pallets of tile—hidden treasure may be lurking.

Tips for Scoring Penny Items Successfully

Be discreet – If you find a penny item, quietly place it in your cart and head to self-checkout if possible. Drawing attention to a penny item increases the chance an employee will pull it before you can buy it.

Don’t argue – If an employee refuses to sell you a penny item, it’s best to move on. Store policy gives them the right to remove the item from sale.

Check often – Penny items change frequently, and it’s all about timing. The more often you check your local store, the more likely you are to find something.

Keep a list – If you follow a group or page that shares penny item barcodes or SKUs, save those numbers. You can type them into the app or bring them with you to check on your next visit.

Build rapport with employees – Sometimes, a friendly associate may give you a heads-up about upcoming markdowns or help you locate items you’re looking for. Be respectful and courteous—you never know who might tip you off to the next deal.

PRO TIP: SHOP DURING STORE EVENTS

During major clearance events (like after-holiday resets or inventory weeks), stores are more chaotic, and employees are stretched thin.

That’s the perfect time to blend in and scan freely without drawing attention.

Bonus Tip: Use your Home Depot credit card or loyalty account to stack savings if you do buy anything else on sale.

These Items Have Been Found for a Penny

Shoppers have scored all kinds of deals for a penny, including:

– Outdoor patio umbrellas

– Toolboxes

– Smart lightbulbs

– Christmas wreaths

– Fire pits

– Faucets

– Power tools

– Lawn and garden décor

– Tile and flooring samples

– Smoke detectors

These are just examples—Home Depot’s inventory is constantly shifting, and new penny items appear regularly.

PRO TIP: WATCH FOR “PHANTOM INVENTORY”

Sometimes the Home Depot app shows “Limited Stock” or even “Out of Stock” on items that are actually still in-store but just haven’t been pulled yet.

If you suspect something might be a penny item, ask (politely) if they can check the overheads or returns area.

Mention a “customer return” or “lost product” if needed—it might jog a memory and lead to a score.

Ask the Reader: Have you ever been lucky enough to snag a penny item at The Home Depot? What was the product and how did you pull it off?

By Kyle James

Kyle James( Owner/Founder )

I started Rather-Be-Shopping.com in 2000 and have become a consumer expert and advocate writing about out-of-the-box ways to save at stores like Amazon, Walmart, Target and Costco to name a few. I’ve been featured on FOX News, Good Morning America, and the NY Times talking about my savings tips. (Learn more)