Is WD-40 Made in USA?
Last verified: March 2026 · Based on 6 verified products and public manufacturing evidence
Yes — Made in USA
WD-40 manufactures its products in the United States — specifically in San Diego, CA. Our verification team confirmed this through public manufacturing claims, factory records, and product listings.
Verification Confidence
Average confidence score across 6 verified products — scores ≥70% are shown on this site.
Manufacturing Details
- Made in
- San Diego, CA
- Headquarters
- San Diego, CA
- Location detail
- Specific city confirmed
- History
- Long-established (50+ years)
- Founded
- 1953
Verification Evidence
WD-40 Company has formulated and manufactured its flagship multi-use product in San Diego, California since 1953. Formula developed by Norm Larsen in 1953. Made in USA claim on core product lines. WD-40 Specialist series and original multi-use product manufactured in San Diego. Iconic American industrial product.
About WD-40
WD-40 has been formulated in San Diego, California since 1953, when Norm Larsen developed the water-displacing formula for the aerospace industry, creating the most recognized household lubricant in American manufacturing history.
Heritage & History
WD-40 was developed in 1953 by Norm Larsen, a chemist at the Rocket Chemical Company in San Diego, California. Larsen was working on a formula to displace water and prevent rust on Atlas missile components — the WD stands for Water Displacement, and 40 was the number of attempts before the formula succeeded. The product proved so effective that Convair aerospace engineers began smuggling cans out of the plant for personal use, leading Rocket Chemical to market it to consumers in 1958.
The WD-40 Company has been headquartered in San Diego since its founding, and the formula has remained in San Diego production for over 70 years. The original formulation — a trade secret never patented to prevent disclosure — has been refined but not fundamentally changed. This continuity of place and formula is unusual in consumer products.
Made in San Diego, California
WD-40 is formulated and filled at the San Diego production facility. The formula is a trade secret, but its documented performance characteristics — water displacement, rust prevention, lubrication, and penetration of seized fasteners — have been consistent across production batches for seven decades. This consistency is the result of maintaining production at the original San Diego facility with the same quality control standards that defined the aerospace-grade product.
The WD-40 Specialist line extends the brand into purpose-specific products: a PTFE dry lubricant, a penetrating catalyst, and a rust-removing soak. These products are also formulated in San Diego, representing the company's investment in developing more targeted chemistries for specific applications rather than relying solely on the original multi-use formula.
American-Made WD-40 Products
Frequently Asked Questions
Is WD-40 made in the USA?
Yes. WD-40 is made in the United States, manufactured in San Diego, CA. WD-40 Company has formulated and manufactured its flagship multi-use product in San Diego, California since 1953. Formula developed by Norm Larsen in 1953. Made in USA claim on core product lines. WD-40 Specialist series and original multi-use product manufactured in San Diego. Iconic American industrial product.
Where is WD-40 manufactured?
WD-40 manufactures its products in San Diego, CA. The company is headquartered in San Diego, CA.
Which WD-40 products are made in the USA?
We carry 6 verified American-made WD-40 products across Automotive. Every listing is linked directly to Amazon with verified manufacturing evidence.