Brandwave

How popular isFastenal?

In September 2026, people searched for Fastenal by name about 246,000 times worldwide, an 18.3% decrease from the previous year. These searches made up 15.7% of all global PPE and safety gear supplier searches, placing Fastenal second out of six suppliers. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about PPE and safety gear suppliers, Fastenal appeared in three of the four answers and was the second most recommended of the six.

Search and AI answers in September 2026

Fastenal is the second most searched of 6 competitors and the second most recommended in AI answers.

  1. GraingerShare of searches 78%Mentioned in 4 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
  2. FastenalShare of searches 15.7%Mentioned in 3 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd
  3. Steel BlueShare of searches 3.9%Mentioned in 0 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations –
  4. MSC Industrial SupplyShare of searches 1.4%Mentioned in 3 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 3rd
  5. Total SafetyShare of searches 0.77%Mentioned in 0 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations –

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Top PPE and safety gear suppliers in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and one Google AI Overview, Fastenal was mentioned in three out of four: in all three ChatGPT answers, but not in the Google AI Overview. Fastenal is the second most recommended of the six.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Grainger1st
  2. Fastenal2nd
  3. MSC Industrial Supply3rd
  4. Steel Blue–
  5. Total Safety–
  6. ProChoice–

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Grainger4 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
  • Fastenal3 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • MSC Industrial Supply3 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • Steel Blue0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • Total Safety0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • ProChoice0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers

See every answer about PPE and safety gear suppliers

4 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 21, 2026.

Which PPE and safety gear suppliers compete with Fastenal?

Fastenal against PPE and safety gear suppliers worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Grainger, Fastenal, Steel Blue. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthGraingerFastenalSteel BlueMSC Industrial SupplyTotal SafetyProChoice
Oct 202575.1%18.5%3.7%1.7%0.74%0.27%
Nov 202574.7%18.4%4.5%1.4%0.74%0.33%
Dec 202574.7%18.4%4.5%1.4%0.74%0.27%
Jan 202675.3%18.6%3.7%1.4%0.75%0.22%
Feb 202675.3%18.6%3.7%1.4%0.75%0.22%
Mar 202674.7%18.4%4.5%1.4%0.74%0.22%
Apr 202675.3%18.6%3.7%1.4%0.75%0.22%
May 202678%15.7%3.9%1.4%0.77%0.23%
Jun 202675.3%18.6%3.7%1.4%0.75%0.22%
Jul 202678.1%15.8%3.9%1.4%0.63%0.19%
Aug 202678%15.7%3.9%1.4%0.77%0.23%
Sep 202678%15.7%3.9%1.4%0.77%0.23%

  1. 1.Grainger

    78%

    Held 1st. 1.2M estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

  2. 2.Fastenal

    15.7%

    Held 2nd. 246K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

  3. 3.Steel Blue

    3.9%

    Held 3rd. 60.5K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

  4. 4.MSC Industrial Supply

    1.4%

    Held 4th. 22.2K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

  5. 5.Total Safety

    0.77%

    Held 5th. 12.1K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

  6. 6.ProChoice

    0.23%

    Held 6th. 3.6K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

Compare popularity between Fastenal and its closest rivals

Every comparison with Fastenal

5 comparisons

How has branded search demand for Fastenal changed worldwide over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for Fastenal worldwide fell from 301K to 246K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Fastenal’s share of searches among PPE and safety gear suppliers worldwide decreased from 18.5% to 15.7%.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Fastenal’s share of searches among PPE and safety gear suppliers worldwide peaked at 18.6% in January 2026 and was lowest at 15.7% in May 2026.

How did search popularity change for PPE and safety gear suppliers worldwide in September 2026?

3 changes

  1. Estimated monthly branded searches for Fastenal worldwide fell 18.3% over 12 measured months, from 301K to 246K in September 2026.

  2. Estimated monthly branded searches for ProChoice worldwide fell 18.2% over 12 measured months, from 4.4K to 3.6K in September 2026.

  3. Estimated monthly branded searches for MSC Industrial Supply worldwide fell 18.1% over 12 measured months, from 27.1K to 22.2K in September 2026.

How are Fastenal’s branded searches counted?

1 search term

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Fastenal’s name. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for this branded term can be used to understand whether interest in the brand is growing, holding steady, or fading.

  • fastenal

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How the Brand Demand Index is measured

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