For over 40 years, Harbor Freight has been America’s go-to source for affordable, high-quality tools and equipment. Headquartered in Calabasas, California and privately owned, Harbor Freight has grown from a small mail-order company into one of the nation’s largest retail tool chains.
Today, Harbor Freight has over 1,100 stores nationwide, offering more than 7,000 tools and accessories at the lowest prices, guaranteed. Our huge and growing selection includes everything from power tools, air tools and hand tools to tool boxes, tarps and moving supplies. Whether you’re a professional mechanic or a DIY home repair enthusiast, Harbor Freight has what you need to get the job done.
Our History
Harbor Freight was founded in 1976 by Eric Smidt, who started selling tools through mail-order catalogs out of his garage in North Hollywood, California. Eric’s passion was finding affordable, quality tools from around the world and passing the savings on to customers. This dedication to value established Harbor Freight’s reputation for quality tools at the lowest prices.
As the catalog business grew, Eric opened the first Harbor Freight retail store in 1980 in Lexington, Kentucky. The first SuperStore, carrying Harbor Freight’s full assortment of tools and equipment, opened in 1987 in Claypool Hill, West Virginia. Harbor Freight launched its eCommerce website and famous printed catalog in the late 1990s, making the huge selection available to everyone.
Harbor Freight opened dozens of new stores nationwide throughout the 2000s. Major distribution hubs were established on both coasts to ensure efficient shipping across the country. In 2013, Harbor Freight acquired 36 stores from another tool retailer, expanding our retail presence. With over 1,100 stores today, Harbor Freight continues to grow and bring our value and selection to more communities each year.
Our Customers
Our customers are smart shoppers who appreciate quality and value. They are auto enthusiasts, tradespeople, DIYers, hobbyists, artists, homeowners and everyone in between. Whether installing a stereo system or renovating the kitchen, Harbor Freight customers share a passion for fixing, building, making and saving money.
Our customers are:
- Auto repair technicians keeping vehicles on the road
- Construction crews building the backbone of America
- Manufacturing workers assembling products with care
- Machinists and metalworkers creating with precision
- Homeowners fixing, improving and saving their castles
- Hobbyists and makers bringing their visions to life
- Farmers and ranchers feeding the world tirelessly
- Auto enthusiasts making rides fast and flashy
- Artists sculpting works of imagination
- Students getting hands-on to learn skills
- Everyone who needs dependable tools at a great value!
Millions rely on Harbor Freight’s products to pursue their passions and livelihoods. We’re proud to be a small part of their success stories.
Why Customers Love Us
There are many reasons Harbor Freight customers are so loyal:
Quality: Our in-house team identifies and inspects tools to meet strict standards. All products must pass performance tests before being approved. Made to industrial specs, our hand tools often outperform famous brands.
Lowest Prices: Our huge purchasing volume means big savings, and we pass those directly to customers. You won’t find prices and freebies like ours anywhere else.
Huge Selection: Harbor Freight carries over 7,000 items, so you’re sure to find what you need. We constantly scour the earth for new tools to add.
Satisfaction Guarantee: If our tools don’t meet your highest standards, just return them, no questions asked. We stand behind what we sell.
Convenience: Our stores are located in neighborhoods nationwide so quality tools are always nearby. Our website makes the entire inventory accessible 24/7.
Service: Friendly, knowledgeable staff in each store provide helpful advice to find the right tools for any project or budget.
Value: Harbor Freight’s quality and freebies just can’t be beat! Customers can often get our tools for a fraction of what competitors charge. Why pay more for the same equipment?
The Harbor Freight team works every day to deliver on our promise of quality tools at ridiculously low prices. Our success stems from giving customers what they need while treating them right.
Our Products
Harbor Freight carries a full selection of equipment and accessories to outfit any workspace. Key categories include:
Power Tools: Power drills, miter saws, grinders, sanders, planers, routers, generators, compressors and more from brands like Hercules, Bauer, Predator, and Chicago Electric.
Hand Tools: Sockets, wrenches, pliers, screwdrivers, hammers, saws, clamps, punches and specialty tools of every type, as well as tool storage solutions. Major brands include Doyle, Warrior, Drill Master, Pittsburgh Professional and Central Machinery.
Air Tools: Impact wrenches, ratchets, sanders and other pneumatic tools, including grinders, drills, staplers, die grinders, nailers and more. Top brands like Central Pneumatic, Campbell Hausfeld and Earthquake.
Shop Equipment: Tool boxes, workbenches, floor jacks, hydraulic lifts, tire changers, welding machines, parts washers, arbor presses, band saws, cranes, log splitters and metalworking machinery. Trusted names like McGraw, Daytona, Chicago Electric and Central Machinery.
Automotive: Everything for auto maintenance and customization – jacks, lifts, ramps, creepers, tools, compressors, welders, generators, winches, inverters and jump starters. Brands such as Badland, Haul Master, Pittsburgh Automotive and Trailblazer.
Outdoor Equipment: Pressure washers, chainsaws, pumps, generators, augers, winches, log splitters, tillers, trimmers, outdoor tools and more for yard work and property maintenance. Trusted brands like Predator, Trailblazer and Bauer.
…and much more: Tarps, moving supplies, storage, material handling, electrical, hardware, abrasives, painting, welding, storage, outdoor living, hobby, specialty tools and any item a worker could need on the jobsite or at home. Harbor Freight has it!
In addition to hundreds of our own world-class branded tools, Harbor Freight also carries trusted names like DeWalt, Craftsman and Irwin to give customers the widest selection.
We also create partnerships to provide exclusive and specialty tools found only at Harbor Freight, so there’s always great new gadgets to discover in our stores and online.
Our People
The Harbor Freight team is a family dedicated to bringing value, selection, and service to our customers. We have over 20,000 employees nationwide, from our 500+ person headquarters serving all locations to the friendly faces welcoming shoppers at each local store.
Our diverse, talented team includes:
- In-Store:Sales associates, store managers, merchandisers, cashiers and service team members helping customers find the tools they need.
- Distribution Centers:Warehouse associates, inventory planners, and logistics coordinators getting product to stores efficiently.
- Purchasing:Sourcing specialists traveling the globe to find quality tools at great prices to stock our shelves.
- Marketing:Advertising, email, social media, and catalog teams showcasing our latest deals.
- Technology:Web developers, software engineers and IT professionals driving our industry-leading eCommerce experience.
- Product Development:In-house industrial designers, engineers and product testers ensuring our tools meet rigorous quality standards.
- Support Center:Finance, legal, human resources, analytics, real estate, merchandising and more corporate teams supporting major business functions.
- Executive Leadership:Setting the course for Harbor Freight’s continued growth and success.
Our unique company culture has been recognized on Fortune’s list of 100 Best Companies to Work For. We work hard and have fun doing it! Our people are driven by a shared mission – to be the best place for customers to buy tools.
If you’re interested in joining the Harbor Freight team, visit our careers page to explore open positions. We’re always looking for smart, energetic people to grow with us!
Our Brands
In addition to the flagship Harbor Freight Tools brand, we also design and manufacture our own quality lines of exclusive branded tools. Our major brands include:
Hercules: Professional-grade power tools designed to meet the demands of full-time use on the job site. Lifetime warranty.
Predator: Powerful, reliable generators, pressure washers, winches and engines priced far below competitors. Up to a 2 year warranty.
Doyle: A legacy hand tool brand known for strength, durability, and dependability. Covered by lifetime warranty.
Chicago Electric: Affordable power tools, welders, and shop equipment for DIYers. 90 day warranty.
Drill Master: General purpose hand tools for drilling, driving, gripping, and more. 90 day warranty.
