Best shops for buying DIY products May 2012

DIY and gardening equipment shops rated

The UK's biggest survey of shops for DIY products - such as power tools and gardening equipment - reveals the best stores and the ones to avoid.

taster DIY

The Which? satisfaction table of 18 shops for buying DIY products and gardening equipment reveals the best and worst in the UK, as part of the Which? shops survey of more than 11,000 people. 

Sign in to see the shops ordered by customer score and to see how customers rated each shop on factors including price, product quality and service. 

Our table includes big chains such as B&Q and Homebase, and shops perhaps lesser-known for DIY products, including supermarkets. Find out the best and worst places to shop for DIY and gardening essentials such as drills and lawnmowers.

The table reveals customer scores and ratings for shops selling DIY and gardening equipment. Logged-in Which? members can discover which are the best and worst - if you're not already a member, discover the benefits of getting full access for one month for £1.

DIY and garden shops reviewed
ShopProduct rangeProduct qualityServiceStorePricingAfter sales and returnsCustomer score
ArgosSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only content
AsdaSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only content
B&QSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only content
DebenhamsSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only content
DobbiesSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only content
Garden Centre Group (ex-Wyevale)Subscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only content
HomebaseSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only content
IkeaSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only content
Independent department storesSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only content
Independent garden & DIY storesSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only content
John LewisSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only content
MorrisonsSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only content
Robert DyasSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only content
Sainsbury'sSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only content
TescoSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only content
The RangeSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only content
WickesSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only content
WilkinsonSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only content

How Which? rates DIY and gardening shops

The DIY and gardening category was part of the Which? shops survey, the biggest of its kind in the UK.

For the survey, Which? surveyed 11,274 members of the general public online between February and March 2012 about the shops they had visited in the past six months. Shoppers were asked how satisfied they were with shops they'd bought DIY and gardening supplies from and how likely they were to recommend those shops. These factors make up the Which? customer score.

Our survey respondents also rated DIY and gardening shops for 14 factors covering price, service, store environment, product quality, product range and after sales. These are shown as star ratings in our table of DIY and gardening shops and are made up of the factors below:

  • Service – staff knowledge about products, staff helpfulness and staff availability
  • Store environment – ease of finding products, tidiness of store, store environment and queuing time
  • Price – price, sales and special offers
  • Product quality – product quality and how well products last
  • Product range – range of products and products being in stock
  • After sales and returns

Other Which? shopping surveys

Take a look at the best and worst shops from the other categories in the Which? shopping survey, as voted for by more than 11,000 shoppers:

Which? works for you