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For a city full of remodels, ADUs and century-old bungalows, Palo Alto has surprisingly few places to buy a box of screws. Our directory lists one general hardware store inside city limits: Hassett Ace Hardware on Alma Street. Two paint stores fill out the local picture. For anything bigger, residents drive a few minutes to a second Ace in Mountain View or to The Home Depot in East Palo Alto, just across US 101.
Because the in-town list is short, this guide includes those nearby stores and says where each one is. We checked every store on its own website or store page, or in our verified directory, in late October and early November 2026. Hours change with the seasons and on holidays, so check before a weekend project.
Hardware stores at a glance
| Store | Where | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Hassett Ace Hardware | 875 Alma St., downtown Palo Alto | Quick repairs, keys, screens, advice |
| Ace Hardware of Mountain View | 2555 Charleston Rd., Mountain View | Wider stock, early hours, sharpening |
| The Home Depot | 1781 E. Bayshore Rd., East Palo Alto | Lumber, appliances, rentals, big jobs |
| Sherwin-Williams | 411 Page Mill Rd., Palo Alto | Paint and stain, contractor supplies |
| California Paint | 360 S. California Ave., Palo Alto | Benjamin Moore paint, color advice |
| Hassett Ace, Redwood City | Woodside Plaza, Redwood City | A second Hassett store to the north |
Hassett Ace Hardware on Alma Street
Hassett Ace Hardware sits on a downtown corner at 875 Alma Street, a short walk from the Palo Alto Caltrain station. The store belongs to Hassett Hardware, a third-generation family company founded in 1957 that runs stores in Palo Alto, Redwood City, Belmont, San Mateo, Pacifica and Half Moon Bay. Hassett says its stores are members of the Ace cooperative rather than franchises. Its own page calls the Palo Alto shop one of its oldest and best-known locations.
The aisles are tight but deep. Expect paint, plumbing and electrical parts, fasteners, hand and power tools and cleaning supplies, plus a small garden section. The service list is the reason most people come in:
- Key cutting, lock rekeying and duplication of many key fobs
- Paint mixing and color matching from a sample
- Propane refills and tank exchange
- Window screen repair and replacement
- Knife sharpening and carpet cleaner rentals
- Recycling for household light bulbs and thermostats
The store page lists hours of 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. It also takes texts at 650-297-0626, which is handy for asking whether a part is in stock. Hassett warns that parking is limited. Locals park on a side street or ride a bike, since the store is a quick in-and-out stop rather than a place to load a truck.
Ace Hardware of Mountain View
About 10 minutes southeast, Ace Hardware of Mountain View at 2555 Charleston Road is a larger store run by Westlake Ace Hardware, a chain based in Kansas. It is the better bet when you need a wider choice of the same item or want to shop early. Its store page lists 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday, with closures on Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas.
The services list is long. It includes key duplication and car key programming, mower and chainsaw blade sharpening, knife sharpening, propane exchange, pet tag engraving, carpet cleaner rental and recycling for bulbs and batteries. The store also takes back leftover paint through PaintCare, the state's paint stewardship program. In season it sells barbecues and Christmas trees. Charleston Road is close to the Shoreline business park, so mornings can be busy with contractors.
The Home Depot in East Palo Alto
For lumber, drywall, appliances, flooring or a rented truck, the nearest home center is The Home Depot at 1781 East Bayshore Road in East Palo Alto. It anchors the Ravenswood 101 center, which our Ravenswood 101 guide covers in detail. The store page lists 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday.
Beyond the aisles, the store lists a tool rental center, pickup and box truck rental, a garden center, a Pro Desk for contractors, kitchen and flooring showrooms, key cutting, propane exchange and in-store recycling. Online orders can be picked up in the store or at the curb. Some items qualify for same-day delivery. From downtown Palo Alto, take University Avenue across the freeway and turn onto East Bayshore Road.
Paint stores
Both hardware chains mix paint, but Palo Alto also has two dedicated paint stores near California Avenue.
- Sherwin-Williams: the national chain's own store at 411 Page Mill Road, near the California Avenue Caltrain station. It opens at 6 a.m. on weekdays for painters and has staff who speak English and Spanish.
- California Paint: a Benjamin Moore dealer at 360 South California Avenue, run by a Bay Area company founded in 1936. It also sells stains, wallpaper samples and blinds and offers color consultations on Saturdays.
Bring a chip of the old color if you are matching a wall. Ask about low-VOC lines for bedrooms and nurseries. Leftover latex and oil paint should not go in the garbage cart. Take it back through PaintCare or use the city's household hazardous waste program.
Which store for which job
| Job | Where to start |
|---|---|
| Copy a house key or fob | Hassett Ace, Ace Mountain View |
| Fix a torn window screen | Hassett Ace |
| Sharpen mower or chainsaw blades | Ace Mountain View |
| Rent a carpet cleaner | Hassett Ace, Ace Mountain View |
| Rent a truck or large tools | The Home Depot |
| Buy lumber, drywall or an appliance | The Home Depot |
| Match a paint color | Any of the three, or a paint store |
| Swap a propane tank | Any of the three |
Before you start a project
Small repairs need no paperwork, but many projects in Palo Alto do. Replacing a water heater, adding a circuit, changing a window size or building a deck can all require a permit from the city's Development Services department. Our building permits guide explains when you need one. Older homes in historic districts face extra review on exterior changes.
If you are swapping gas appliances for electric ones, City of Palo Alto Utilities pays rebates for heat pump water heaters, heat pump heating and induction cooking. Read our home electrification rebates guide before you buy, since some rebates need an application within 90 days of the final inspection. Earthquake straps for water heaters and furniture anchors are cheap at any hardware store and worth fitting. Our earthquake safety guide lists what to secure first.
Good to know
- Hassett Ace takes texts about stock, which saves a wasted trip.
- The Mountain View Ace closes on Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas and keeps shorter hours on Memorial Day, Independence Day and Labor Day.
- Home Depot opens at 6 a.m. on weekdays and Saturdays, the earliest of the group.
- Hassett also has a store in Redwood City at Woodside Plaza, next to Lucky, if the Palo Alto shop is out of a part.
Tips for a smoother trip
- Bring the old part. A broken faucet cartridge or a hinge in your pocket gets you the right replacement faster than a photo.
- Go early on weekends. Saturday mornings are the busiest time at every store, especially in spring.
- Measure twice. Screen repair, blinds and cut lumber are priced by size. Write the numbers down before you leave home.
- Think about transport. Plywood sheets do not fit in most cars. Home Depot rents trucks by the hour. For a longer project you can also compare rental cars and vans.
- Ask for help. Staff at the smaller Ace stores often know which brand of fitting matches an older house.
For furniture, lighting and decor once the work is done, see our home and design stores guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is there an Ace Hardware in Palo Alto?
Yes. Hassett Ace Hardware at 875 Alma Street in downtown Palo Alto is part of Hassett Hardware, a family-owned Peninsula company founded in 1957. It lists hours of 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. A larger Ace store run by Westlake Ace Hardware is at 2555 Charleston Road in Mountain View.
Where is the nearest Home Depot to Palo Alto?
The Home Depot at 1781 East Bayshore Road in East Palo Alto is the closest. It sits in the Ravenswood 101 center just across US 101 from Palo Alto. Its store page lists 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday, plus a garden center, tool and truck rental and a Pro Desk.
Where can I get keys cut in Palo Alto?
Hassett Ace Hardware on Alma Street cuts most house and apartment keys and duplicates many key fobs. The Mountain View Ace lists key duplication and car key programming. The Home Depot in East Palo Alto also lists key cutting.
Can I exchange a propane tank in Palo Alto?
Yes. Hassett Ace Hardware on Alma Street offers both propane refills and tank exchange. The Mountain View Ace and the East Palo Alto Home Depot list propane exchange. Bring an empty tank with its valve closed.
Where can I recycle light bulbs and batteries near Palo Alto?
Hassett Ace Hardware accepts household light bulbs and thermostats for recycling, but not bulk loads from contractors. The Mountain View Ace lists bulb and battery recycling. For paint, solvents and other hazardous waste, use the city's household hazardous waste program.