Praktiker AG was a German hardware store chain which operated in Europe.

It was spun off under the name Praktiker Holding in November 2005 and listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.

In contrast to most of its German competitors, the company grew up by buying up various small DIY chains and building material stores.

After Metro AG's withdrawal as shareholder in 2006, the company experienced an existential crisis and posted high losses for years.

On July 10, 2013 Praktiker AG filed for insolvency at the Hamburg district court the following day for the eight domestic subsidiaries, including Extra Bau+Hobby.

In 2016 two German businessmen acquired the naming rights and opened under praktiker.de a home improvement online store.

Because of the insolvency applications in July 2013 all those plans are stopped, with 54 former Praktiker stores already transferred to Max Bahr outlets.

The companies Hellweg and Globus failed to reach an agreement with the Royal Bank of Scotland to buy 59 Max Bahr stores in November 2013.