Best Hardware Stores in Illinois
100 stores compared · avg 4.4★ · 70,054 reviews · updated May 2026
Illinois has 56 locally-owned and franchise hardware stores plus 51 big-box locations across 4 national chains (Home Depot, Lowe's, Menards, Harbor Freight). Together they hold an average Google rating of 4.4 stars from 70,054 customer reviews. The highest-rated locally-owned option is Crafty Beaver.
Local & Specialty Hardware Stores in Illinois
Independently-owned hardware stores and co-op franchises (Ace, True Value, etc.) — the places with unique inventory and local know-how.
| Store | Rating | Reviews | City | Website | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crafty Beaver | 4.7★ | 592 | Chicago | Visit | View → |
| Phillips Ace Hardware | 4.7★ | 580 | Valparaiso | Visit | View → |
| Clark-Devon Hardware | 4.5★ | 721 | Chicago | Visit | View → |
| Elston Ace Hardware | 4.4★ | 729 | Chicago | Visit | View → |
| Southwest Ace Hardware | 4.6★ | 533 | Chicago | Visit | View → |
| Hyman's Ace Hardware | 4.5★ | 561 | Chicago | Visit | View → |
| Handyman Hardware | 4.7★ | 427 | Saint Louis | Visit | View → |
| Ziegler's Ace Hardware | 4.4★ | 632 | Elgin | Visit | View → |
| Gordon's Maple Ace Hardware | 4.6★ | 415 | Chicago | Visit | View → |
| Southside True Value Hardware | 4.9★ | 284 | Saint Louis | Visit | View → |
| Bridgeport Ace Hardware | 4.4★ | 423 | Chicago | Visit | View → |
| Tri-B Hardware Supply | 4.7★ | 279 | Rockford | Visit | View → |
| DeJay's Ace Hardware | 4.6★ | 304 | Chicago | Visit | View → |
| JC Licht TrueValue Hardware | 4.7★ | 258 | Chicago | Visit | View → |
| Steve's Ace Hardware | 4.5★ | 315 | Dubuque | Visit | View → |
All Local & Specialty Stores
Crafty Beaver
4.7★ · 592 reviews · Chicago
Phillips Ace Hardware
4.7★ · 580 reviews · Valparaiso
Clark-Devon Hardware
4.5★ · 721 reviews · Chicago
Elston Ace Hardware
4.4★ · 729 reviews · Chicago
Southwest Ace Hardware
4.6★ · 533 reviews · Chicago
Hyman's Ace Hardware
4.5★ · 561 reviews · Chicago
Handyman Hardware
4.7★ · 427 reviews · Saint Louis
Ziegler's Ace Hardware
4.4★ · 632 reviews · Elgin
Gordon's Maple Ace Hardware
4.6★ · 415 reviews · Chicago
Southside True Value Hardware
4.9★ · 284 reviews · Saint Louis
Bridgeport Ace Hardware
4.4★ · 423 reviews · Chicago
Tri-B Hardware Supply
4.7★ · 279 reviews · Rockford
DeJay's Ace Hardware
4.6★ · 304 reviews · Chicago
JC Licht TrueValue Hardware
4.7★ · 258 reviews · Chicago
Steve's Ace Hardware
4.5★ · 315 reviews · Dubuque
Ace Hardware
4.6★ · 277 reviews · Princeton
Gordon's Norwood Park Ace Hardware
4.4★ · 348 reviews · Chicago
Oriole Park Ace Hardware
4.3★ · 394 reviews · Chicago
Buikema's Ace Hardware
4.4★ · 322 reviews · Naperville
Andersonville Hardware Store
4.8★ · 197 reviews · Chicago
New Market Hardware Company
4.6★ · 236 reviews · Saint Louis
Schneider True Value
4.9★ · 165 reviews · Saint Peters
Gordon's Ace Hardware - Orleans
4.5★ · 259 reviews · Chicago
King's Hardware
4.6★ · 229 reviews · Chicago
Ace Hardware
4.6★ · 224 reviews · Champaign
Ace Hardware
4.8★ · 165 reviews · Chicago
Uptown Ace Hardware
4.4★ · 259 reviews · Chicago
Whaler Brother's True Value Hardware
4.7★ · 178 reviews · Chicago
H&B True Value Hardware
4.7★ · 178 reviews · Chicago
Edgebrook Ace Hardware
4.3★ · 281 reviews · Chicago
Will Cook Ace Hardware
4.6★ · 192 reviews · Homer Glen
Lakeview Ace Hardware
4.4★ · 243 reviews · Chicago
Ace Hardware
4.2★ · 314 reviews · Saint Louis
Do it Best
4.7★ · 147 reviews · Champaign
Englewood Hardware & Paint
4.6★ · 155 reviews · Chicago
True Value
4.6★ · 132 reviews · Springfield
Rick's Ace Hardware
4.6★ · 127 reviews · Saint Louis
A-Z Ace Hardware
4.4★ · 138 reviews · Chicago
Smolka True Value Hardware
4.8★ · 91 reviews · Chicago
Yu Hardware
4.7★ · 99 reviews · Chicago
Ace Hardware
4.4★ · 132 reviews · Owensboro
Midwest True Value Hardware
4.5★ · 115 reviews · Chicago
True Value Hardware
4.7★ · 92 reviews · Chicago
Alvarez Hardware
4.7★ · 92 reviews · Chicago
Kuhl's Hardware
4.4★ · 115 reviews · Chicago
Jay's True Value Hardware
4.6★ · 82 reviews · Chicago
Polski True Value Hardware
4.8★ · 68 reviews · Chicago
True Value
4.9★ · 62 reviews · Owensboro
Joe Harris Paint & True Value Hardware Store
4.4★ · 97 reviews · Chicago
Ace Hardware
3.9★ · 174 reviews · Naperville
John's Hardware & Bicycle Shop
4.2★ · 105 reviews · Chicago
Grummert's Hardware
4.7★ · 54 reviews · Sterling
Aniol's True Value Hardware
4.9★ · 45 reviews · Chicago
Acme Lumber & Building Supply
4.6★ · 55 reviews · Chicago
Aranoff True Value Hardware
3.7★ · 64 reviews · Chicago
Metro Hardware
4.1★ · 33 reviews · Chicago
Big-Box Hardware Chains in Illinois
National chains with multiple locations across Illinois. One row per brand — click the top-rated location for details.
| Brand | Locations | Avg Rating | Total Reviews | Top-rated location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home Depot | 13 | 4.2★ | 17,340 | The Home Depot, Naperville · 4.2★ → |
| Lowe's | 11 | 4.1★ | 16,330 | Lowe's, Saint Louis · 4★ → |
| Menards | 16 | 4.2★ | 15,769 | Menards, Chicago · 4.4★ → |
| Harbor Freight | 11 | 4.4★ | 7,357 | Harbor Freight Tools, Springfield · 4.5★ → |
Hardware Stores in Nearby Cities in Illinois
Frequently Asked Questions
How many hardware stores are in Illinois?
Illinois has 56 locally-owned and franchise hardware stores plus 51 big-box locations across 4 national chains (Home Depot, Lowe's, Menards, Harbor Freight), with an average Google rating of 4.4 stars.
What is the top-rated locally-owned hardware store in Illinois?
Crafty Beaver in Chicago is currently the highest-rated locally-owned or franchise hardware store in Illinois, at 4.7 stars from 592 reviews.
Which big-box hardware chains operate in Illinois?
Home Depot (13 locations), Lowe's (11 locations), Menards (16 locations), Harbor Freight (11 locations).