Plumb Center vs Toolstation:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Plumb Center had more branded searches than Toolstation among plumbers merchants in the United Kingdom. Plumb Center had about 40,500 branded searches, while Toolstation had 210. Plumb Center made up 21.6% of all plumbers merchant searches we track, and Toolstation accounted for 0.11%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about plumbers merchants, Plumb Center appeared in all four answers and Toolstation in two. Plumb Center was mentioned before Toolstation in every answer.
Who do people search for more?
Plumb Center, about 193 searches for every 1 for Toolstation
Who does AI mention more?
Plumb Center, mentioned in every answer we collected
Who does AI recommend more?
Plumb Center, named ahead of Toolstation in every answer
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Top plumbers merchants in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and one Google AI Overview, Plumb Center appeared in all four answers. Toolstation was mentioned in two out of four: in two of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in the Google AI Overview. Plumb Center was listed before Toolstation in every answer.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
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
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best plumbers merchant in the UK for trade prices?”
Asked ChatGPT
“Where can heating engineers in the UK buy boilers and parts quickly?”
Asked ChatGPT
“Which UK plumbing suppliers deliver to site the next day?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“plumbers merchant”
Google showed no AI Overview for this search.
Searched Google, AI Overview
“plumbing supplies”
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 Plumb Center or Toolstation more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Plumb Center 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.
Share of searches by month for Plumb Center, Toolstation. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | City Plumbing | Plumb Center | Plumbase | PTS | PlumbNation | Plumbing Superstore | BSS | Screwfix | Toolstation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 67% | 16.4% | 9% | 2.7% | 1.8% | 1.2% | 0.97% | 0.77% | 0.13% |
| Nov 2025 | 67% | 16.4% | 9% | 2.7% | 1.8% | 1.2% | 0.97% | 0.77% | 0.13% |
| Dec 2025 | 67% | 16.4% | 9% | 3.3% | 1.4% | 1.2% | 0.79% | 0.79% | 0.13% |
| Jan 2026 | 65.8% | 16.2% | 10.8% | 2.6% | 1.8% | 1.2% | 0.76% | 0.76% | 0.13% |
| Feb 2026 | 69.6% | 14% | 9.4% | 2.8% | 1.5% | 1.2% | 0.8% | 0.67% | 0.11% |
| Mar 2026 | 67.2% | 16.5% | 9% | 2.7% | 1.8% | 1.2% | 0.77% | 0.65% | 0.11% |
| Apr 2026 | 71.1% | 14.3% | 7.8% | 2.8% | 1.6% | 1% | 0.69% | 0.56% | 0.09% |
| May 2026 | 71.7% | 14.4% | 7.9% | 2.3% | 1.3% | 1% | 0.7% | 0.57% | 0.11% |
| Jun 2026 | 71.1% | 14.3% | 7.8% | 2.8% | 1.6% | 1% | 0.69% | 0.56% | 0.11% |
| Jul 2026 | 67.1% | 16.5% | 9% | 3.3% | 1.4% | 1.2% | 0.94% | 0.5% | 0.1% |
| Aug 2026 | 57.2% | 20.9% | 11.4% | 5.1% | 1.8% | 1.5% | 1.2% | 0.63% | 0.16% |
| Sep 2026 | 58.7% | 21.6% | 9.7% | 4.3% | 2.3% | 1.5% | 1% | 0.69% | 0.11% |
Toolstation sells other things too, so only its searches that name this product count here, like “toolstation plumbing”.
How has the Plumb Center and Toolstation comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Plumb Center was ahead of Toolstation in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Plumb Center’s share of searches among plumbers merchants in the United Kingdom moved from 16.4% to 21.6%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 40.5K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Toolstation’s share of searches among plumbers merchants in the United Kingdom moved from 0.13% to 0.11%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 320 to 210.
How did search popularity change for United Kingdom plumbers merchants in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, Plumb Center gained share of searches among plumbers merchants in the United Kingdom, from 20.9% to 21.6%.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Toolstation in the United Kingdom fell 34.4% over 12 measured months, from 320 to 210 in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Plumb Center’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.
Plumb Center
1 branded search term
- plumb center
Toolstation
1 branded search term
- toolstation plumbing
Other head-to-heads among plumbers merchants
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