Plumbase vs Toolstation:Which is more popular in the United Kingdom?
In September 2026, Plumbase had more branded searches than Toolstation among plumbers merchants in the United Kingdom. Plumbase had about 18,100 branded searches, while Toolstation had 210. Plumbase made up 9.7% of all plumbers merchant searches we track, and Toolstation accounted for 0.11%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about plumbers merchants, Toolstation appeared in two of the four answers and Plumbase in one. Plumbase and Toolstation were each mentioned first in one of the two answers that named either.
Who do people search for more?
Plumbase, about 86 searches for every 1 for Toolstation
Who does AI mention more?
Toolstation, mentioned in 2 of 4 answers, Plumbase in 1
Who does AI recommend more?
Each is named first in 1 of 2 answers.
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Top plumbers merchants in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and one 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. Plumbase was mentioned in one out of four: in one of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in the Google AI Overview. Plumbase and Toolstation were each listed first in one of the two answers that named either.
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 Plumbase or Toolstation more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Plumbase 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 Plumbase, 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 branded search for Plumbase and Toolstation changed in the United Kingdom over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Plumbase was ahead of Toolstation in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Plumbase’s share of searches among plumbers merchants in the United Kingdom moved from 9% to 9.7%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 22.2K to 18.1K.
- 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, Plumbase lost share of searches among plumbers merchants in the United Kingdom, from 11.4% to 9.7%.
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 Plumbase’s and Toolstation’s branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Plumbase’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.
Plumbase
1 branded search term
- plumbase
Toolstation
1 branded search term
- toolstation plumbing
Other head-to-heads among plumbers merchants
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