Brandwave

Screwfix vs Toolstation:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Screwfix had more branded searches than Toolstation among plumbers merchants in the United Kingdom. Screwfix had about 1,300 branded searches, while Toolstation had 210. Screwfix made up 0.69% of all plumbers merchant searches we track, and Toolstation accounted for 0.11%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about plumbers merchants, Screwfix and Toolstation each appeared in two of the four answers. Toolstation was mentioned before Screwfix in two out of three answers that named either.

Among plumbers merchants in the United Kingdom in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Screwfix, about 6 searches for every 1 for Toolstation

Screwfix 1.3K searchesToolstation 210 searches

Who does AI mention more?

Both were mentioned in 2 of 4 answers.

Screwfix in 2 of 4Toolstation in 2 of 4

Who does AI recommend more?

Toolstation, named ahead of Screwfix in 2 of 3 answers

Toolstation first in 2Screwfix first in 1

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Top plumbers merchants in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and one Google AI Overview, Screwfix was mentioned in two out of four: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in the Google AI Overview. Toolstation was mentioned in two out of four: in two of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in the Google AI Overview. Toolstation was listed before Screwfix in two out of three answers that named either.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. City Plumbing1st
  2. Plumb Center2nd
  3. Toolstation3rd
  4. Screwfix4th
  5. Plumbase5th
  6. PTS–
  7. PlumbNation–
  8. Plumbing Superstore–
  9. BSS–

Mentioned by AI

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

  • City Plumbing4 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
  • Plumb Center4 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
  • Screwfix2 of 4Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
  • Toolstation2 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • Plumbase1 of 4Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • PTS0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • PlumbNation0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • Plumbing Superstore0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • BSS0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers

See every answer about plumbers merchants

4 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in United Kingdom on October 28, 2026.

Is Screwfix or Toolstation more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Screwfix and Toolstation by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all nine plumbers merchant brands we track, month by month, from searches in United Kingdom.

Screwfix and Toolstation among plumbers merchants in the United Kingdom, by month

Share of searches by month for Screwfix, Toolstation. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthCity PlumbingPlumb CenterPlumbasePTSPlumbNationPlumbing SuperstoreBSSScrewfixToolstation
Oct 202567%16.4%9%2.7%1.8%1.2%0.97%0.77%0.13%
Nov 202567%16.4%9%2.7%1.8%1.2%0.97%0.77%0.13%
Dec 202567%16.4%9%3.3%1.4%1.2%0.79%0.79%0.13%
Jan 202665.8%16.2%10.8%2.6%1.8%1.2%0.76%0.76%0.13%
Feb 202669.6%14%9.4%2.8%1.5%1.2%0.8%0.67%0.11%
Mar 202667.2%16.5%9%2.7%1.8%1.2%0.77%0.65%0.11%
Apr 202671.1%14.3%7.8%2.8%1.6%1%0.69%0.56%0.09%
May 202671.7%14.4%7.9%2.3%1.3%1%0.7%0.57%0.11%
Jun 202671.1%14.3%7.8%2.8%1.6%1%0.69%0.56%0.11%
Jul 202667.1%16.5%9%3.3%1.4%1.2%0.94%0.5%0.1%
Aug 202657.2%20.9%11.4%5.1%1.8%1.5%1.2%0.63%0.16%
Sep 202658.7%21.6%9.7%4.3%2.3%1.5%1%0.69%0.11%

Screwfix and Toolstation sell other things too, so only their searches that name this product count here, like “screwfix plumbing”.

How has the Screwfix and Toolstation comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings

How did search popularity change for United Kingdom plumbers merchants in September 2026?

2 changes

  1. Estimated monthly branded searches for Toolstation in the United Kingdom fell 34.4% over 12 measured months, from 320 to 210 in September 2026.

  2. Estimated monthly branded searches for Screwfix in the United Kingdom fell 31.6% over 12 measured months, from 1.9K to 1.3K in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

2 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Screwfix’s and Toolstation’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.

Screwfix

1 branded search term

  • screwfix plumbing

Toolstation

1 branded search term

  • toolstation plumbing

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among plumbers merchants

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