Why This Matters to Distributors: Lowe’s is testing drone delivery for small, time-sensitive orders, another step in the home improvement retailer’s effort to get products to contractors and consumers faster.
Lowe’s has launched a drone delivery pilot in North Carolina that allows customers to order small tools, paint supplies, and other products for delivery directly to homes and jobsites.
The Mooresville, North Carolina-based home improvement retailer is offering the service from its store in Matthews, near Charlotte, through partnerships with DoorDash and Wing, Alphabet’s drone delivery company.
Customers order through a dedicated Lowe’s storefront in the DoorDash app. Drone delivery automatically appears as an option for eligible addresses near the Matthews store, according to Lowe’s.
The initial assortment includes hand tools, paint products and household supplies such as tape, batteries, and all-purpose cleaner. Wing drones can carry orders weighing about 2.5 pounds per flight, limiting the service to small products and orders.
Lowe’s is positioning the service primarily for customers who need a tool or supply after a project or job is already underway. The service could reduce the need for contractors and consumers to leave a jobsite or home to pick up a missing item.
“By piloting drone delivery, we’re addressing a real project pain point with an innovative solution that is integrated into the retail journey,” Seemantini Godbole, Lowe’s chief information and AI officer, said in announcing the program.
The pilot adds drone delivery to Lowe’s existing fulfillment options, which include same-day delivery, curbside pickup, and online ordering with in-store pickup.
The Matthews program also extends existing drone delivery operations in the Charlotte market. Wing and DoorDash have been developing drone delivery services in the area, allowing Lowe’s to use an existing delivery network rather than build its own drone operation.
Lowe’s did not announce plans or a timetable for expanding drone delivery to additional stores or markets.
The test comes as Lowe’s continues to invest in technology and fulfillment capabilities for professional contractors and consumers. Lowe’s operates with more than 1,750 home improvement stores, 540 branches and 120 distribution centers and generated more than $86 billion in fiscal 2025 sales, according to the company.
Lowe’s also has expanded its use of artificial intelligence in stores and online. The company said its Mylow customer assistant and Mylow Companion, an AI assistant for store employees, have answered more than 25 million questions since their introduction in 2025.
The drone pilot is focused on a narrow segment of Lowe’s business because of current payload limits. But it gives the retailer another way to handle small, urgent orders that traditionally could require a customer or contractor to make another trip to a store.
Do not miss any content from Distribution Strategy Group. Join our list.
Share this article:
