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Hardware and Building Supplies Retailing in Australia Industry Data and Analysis
Shifts in discretionary income, construction activity and capital expenditure on private properties have all influenced hardware and building supplies retailers’ performances in recent years. Since 2022, rising interest rates and cost-of-living pressures have dampened consumer spending and building activity, pushing down industry revenue. Pressures on construction companies' profit margins have driven them to increasingly buy in bulk from wholesalers rather than retailers, threatening demand. Larger retailers like Bunnings have increased market share through store expansion and investment in online sales channels. Smaller retailers have formed or joined buying groups to gain better procurement terms and remain competitive in a market increasingly dominated by big-box chains. Industrywide revenue is estimated to have fallen at an annualised 1.3% over the five years through to 2025-26, and is expected to total $31.3 billion in 2025-26, following an anticipated revenue increase of 2.9% in the current year as economic conditions improve and construction activity rebounds.
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What's included in this industry analysis
IBISWorld's research coverage on the Hardware and Building Supplies Retailing industry in Australia includes market sizing, forecasting, data and analysis from 2015-2030. The most recent publication was released September 2025.
About this industry
What's this industry report about?
The Hardware and Building Supplies Retailing industry in Australia operates under the ANZSIC industry code G4231. Industry operators retail hardware and building supplies to households and tradespeople. These retailers stock a range of goods including hardware, timber, tools, paint, plumbing supplies and garden tools. The industry excludes companies that primarily retail garden supplies such as plants, seeds and soil. Related terms covered in the Hardware and Building Supplies Retailing industry in Australia include point of sale (pos), wholesale bypass, big-box stores, diy and click-and-collect.
What's included in this industry?
Products and services covered in Hardware and Building Supplies Retailing industry in Australia include Tools and equipment, Timber and Building supplies.
What companies are included in this industry?
Companies covered in the Hardware and Building Supplies Retailing industry in Australia include Wesfarmers, Metcash and Bowens Timber & Hardware.
Performance
What's included in the Performance chapter?
The Performance chapter covers detailed analysis, datasets, detailed current performance, sources of volatility and an outlook with forecasts for the Hardware and Building Supplies Retailing industry in Australia.
Questions answered in this chapter include what's driving current industry performance, what influences industry volatility, how do successful businesses overcome volatility, what's driving the industry outlook. This analysis is supported with data and statistics on industry revenues, costs, profits, businesses and employees.
Products & Markets
What's included in the Products and Markets chapter?
The Products and Markets chapter covers detailed products and service segmentation and analysis of major markets for the for the Hardware and Building Supplies Retailing industry in Australia.
Questions answered in this chapter include how are the industry's products and services performing, what are innovations in industry products and services, what products or services do successful businesses offer and what's influencing demand from the industry's markets. This includes data and statistics on industry revenues by product and service segmentation and major markets.
Geographic Breakdown
What's included in the Geographic Breakdown chapter?
The Geographic Breakdown chapter covers detailed analysis and datasets on regional performance of the Hardware and Building Supplies Retailing industry in Australia.
Questions answered in this chapter include where are industry businesses located and how do businesses use location to their advantage. This includes data and statistics on industry revenues by location.
Competitive Forces
What's included in the Competitive Forces chapter?
The Competitive Forces chapter covers the concentration, barriers to entry and supplier and buyer profiles in the Hardware and Building Supplies Retailing industry in Australia. This includes data and statistics on industry market share concentration, barriers to entry, substitute products and buyer & supplier power.
Questions answered in this chapter include what impacts the industry's market share concentration, how do successful businesses handle concentration, what challenges do potential industry entrants face, how can potential entrants overcome barriers to entry, what are substitutes for industry services, how do successful businesses compete with substitutes and what power do buyers and suppliers have over the industry and how do successful businesses manage buyer & supplier power.
Companies
What's included in the Companies chapter?
The Companies chapter covers Key Takeaways, Market Share and Companies in the Hardware and Building Supplies Retailing industry in Australia. This includes data and analysis on companies operating in the industry that hold a market share greater than 5%.
Questions answered in this chapter include what companies have a meaningful market share and how each company is performing.
External Environment
What's included in the External Environment chapter?
The External Environment chapter covers Key Takeaways, External Drivers, Regulation & Policy and Assistance in the Hardware and Building Supplies Retailing industry in Australia. This includes data and statistics on factors impacting industry revenue such as economic indicators, regulation, policy and assistance programs.
Questions answered in this chapter include what demographic and macroeconomic factors impact the industry, what regulations impact the industry, what assistance is available to this industry.
Financial Benchmarks
What's included in the Financial Benchmarks chapter?
The Financial Benchmarks chapter covers Key Takeaways, Cost Structure, Financial Ratios, Valuation Multiples and Key Ratios in the Hardware and Building Supplies Retailing industry in Australia. This includes financial data and statistics on industry performance including key cost inputs, profitability, key financial ratios and enterprise value multiples.
Questions answered in this chapter include what trends impact industry costs and how financial ratios have changed overtime.
Industry Data
What's included in the Industry Data chapter?
The Industry Data chapter includes 10 years of historical data with 5 years of forecast data covering statistics like revenue, industry value add, establishments, enterprises, employment and wages in the Hardware and Building Supplies Retailing industry in Australia.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the market size of the Hardware and Building Supplies Retailing industry in Australia in 2026?
The market size of the Hardware and Building Supplies Retailing industry in Australia is $31.3bn in 2026.
How many businesses are there in the Hardware and Building Supplies Retailing industry in Australia in 2025?
There are 6,183 businesses in the Hardware and Building Supplies Retailing industry in Australia, which has grown at a CAGR of 1.6 % between 2020 and 2025.
How may import tariffs affect the Hardware and Building Supplies Retailing industry in Australia?
The Hardware and Building Supplies Retailing industry in Australia is unlikely to be materially impacted by import tariffs with imports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.
How may export tariffs affect the Hardware and Building Supplies Retailing industry in Australia?
The Hardware and Building Supplies Retailing industry in Australia is unlikely to be materially impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.
Has the Hardware and Building Supplies Retailing industry in Australia grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Hardware and Building Supplies Retailing industry in Australia has been declining at a CAGR of 1.3 % between 2020 and 2025.
What is the forecast growth of the Hardware and Building Supplies Retailing industry in Australia over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Hardware and Building Supplies Retailing industry in Australia is expected to grow.
What are the biggest companies in the Hardware and Building Supplies Retailing industry in Australia?
The biggest companies operating in the Hardware and Building Supplies Retailing industry in Australia are Wesfarmers, Metcash and Bowens Timber & Hardware
What does the Hardware and Building Supplies Retailing industry in Australia include?
Timber and Tools and equipment are part of the Hardware and Building Supplies Retailing industry in Australia.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Hardware and Building Supplies Retailing industry in Australia?
The company holding the most market share in the Hardware and Building Supplies Retailing industry in Australia is Wesfarmers.
How competitive is the Hardware and Building Supplies Retailing industry in Australia?
The level of competition is moderate and increasing in the Hardware and Building Supplies Retailing industry in Australia.
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