Brandwave

How popular isGrainger?

In September 2026, people searched for Grainger by name about 1.2 million times worldwide, about the same as the previous year. These searches made up 78% of all global PPE and safety gear supplier searches, placing Grainger first out of six suppliers. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about PPE and safety gear suppliers, Grainger appeared in all answers and was the most recommended of the six.

Search and AI answers in September 2026

Grainger is the most searched of 6 competitors and the 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, Grainger appeared in all four answers. Grainger is the 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 Grainger?

Grainger 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 Grainger and its closest rivals

Every comparison with Grainger

5 comparisons

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

3 findings
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for Grainger worldwide held steady at 1.2M.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Grainger’s share of searches among PPE and safety gear suppliers worldwide increased from 75.1% to 78%.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Grainger’s share of searches among PPE and safety gear suppliers worldwide peaked at 78.1% in July 2026 and was lowest at 74.7% in November 2025.

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 Grainger’s branded searches counted?

1 search term

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Grainger’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.

  • grainger

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How the Brand Demand Index is measured

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