Category AI Visibility Report
Tools AI Visibility Report 2026: Top Brands & Buyer Topics in AI Search
Data updated 2026-08-27 · 30-day window · ChatGPT · Google AI Mode · Google AI Overviews
≈368,649
Est. AI queries / month
521
Buyer topics monitored
419
Brands on the AI shelf
68
Categories covered
Key insights
- Over the last 30 days, GEOly monitored 521 buyer topics in Tools across ChatGPT, Google AI Mode, Google AI Overviews — an estimated 368,649 AI queries per month.
- Milwaukee leads the AI shelf with 5.2% of brand mentions, followed by DEWALT (4.9%) and Makita (2.2%). The top three hold 12.3% combined — a shelf that has not consolidated yet, leaving a clear window for challengers.
- The highest-demand topic is “flare nut wrenches” (top keyword “flare nut wrench”, ~9,900 searches/mo).
- AI answers lean on reddit.com most (27.4% of citations) — earning presence on these sources is the shortest path to being recommended.
Brands AI recommends most
Share of brand mentions across AI answers in the last 30 days (Share of Model).
| # | Brand | AI mentions | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Milwaukee | 12,629 | 5.2% |
| 2 | DEWALT | 11,853 | 4.9% |
| 3 | Makita | 5,413 | 2.2% |
| 4 | Knipex | 4,436 | 1.8% |
| 5 | Klein | 4,242 | 1.7% |
| 6 | Wagner | 3,456 | 1.4% |
| 7 | Bosch | 3,402 | 1.4% |
| 8 | RIDGID | 3,378 | 1.4% |
| 9 | RYOBI | 3,375 | 1.4% |
| 10 | Grizzly | 2,673 | 1.1% |
What shoppers ask AI
Buyer topics monitored in this category, with estimated monthly AI queries and the top Google keyword behind each topic.
| Topic | Est. AI queries / mo | Top keyword | Search volume / mo |
|---|---|---|---|
| flare nut wrenches | ≈19,419 | flare nut wrench | 9,900 |
| strap wrenches | ≈16,919 | strap wrenches | 18,100 |
| box end wrenches | ≈14,641 | box end wrench | 9,900 |
| pliers wrenches | ≈11,481 | knipex pliers wrench | 8,100 |
| Cigarette lighters | ≈11,229 | cigarette lighters | 12,100 |
| crowfoot wrenches | ≈10,034 | crows foot wrench | 9,900 |
| Long lighters | ≈9,703 | grill lighters | 6,600 |
| Pipe lighters | ≈9,034 | pipe lighters | 4,400 |
| walk behind stump grinders | ≈8,655 | walk behind stump grinders | 9,900 |
| Fire escape ladders | ≈7,697 | ladders for fire escape | 6,600 |
| detail sanders | ≈7,462 | detail sanders | 6,600 |
| Platform ladders | ≈7,432 | platform ladder | 9,900 |
Sources AI cites in this category
Root domains AI engines cited most when answering category queries in the last 30 days.
| Domain | Citations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| reddit.com | 10,994 | 27.4% |
| bobvila.com | 3,625 | 9% |
| protoolreviews.com | 2,591 | 6.5% |
| homedepot.com | 1,398 | 3.5% |
| lowes.com | 730 | 1.8% |
| popularmechanics.com | 634 | 1.6% |
| techgearlab.com | 426 | 1.1% |
| finewoodworking.com | 392 | 1% |
Category reports inside
| Category | Est. AI queries / mo | Topics | Top brand in AI |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wrenches | ≈72,494 | 19 | GEARWRENCH |
| Pliers | ≈31,219 | 22 | Knipex |
| Lighters | ≈29,966 | 11 | Zippo |
| Ladders | ≈28,097 | 14 | Werner |
| Grinders | ≈22,729 | 24 | DEWALT |
| Hammers | ≈13,661 | 13 | Estwing |
| Sanders | ≈12,727 | 8 | DEWALT |
| Axes | ≈10,429 | 11 | Gränsfors Bruk |
| Heat Guns | ≈7,915 | 9 | Wagner |
| Paint Brushes | ≈6,649 | 6 | Princeton |
| Pipe Cutters | ≈5,890 | 10 | RIDGID |
| Band Saws | ≈5,486 | 10 | Grizzly |
| Table Saws | ≈5,424 | 11 | SawStop |
| Oscillating Multi-Tools | ≈5,389 | 6 | Milwaukee |
| Utility Knives | ≈5,388 | 8 | Milwaukee |
| Wire Strippers | ≈5,283 | 6 | Klein |
| Step Stools | ≈5,259 | 12 | Gorilla |
| Augers | ≈5,218 | 17 | StrikeMaster |
| Soldering Irons | ≈5,149 | 10 | Hakko |
| Circular Saws | ≈4,922 | 7 | DEWALT |
| Lathes | ≈4,908 | 8 | Grizzly |
| Squares | ≈4,864 | 6 | NewTechWood |
| Crimping Tools | ≈4,649 | 13 | Klein |
| Paint Rollers | ≈4,425 | 14 | Wooster |
| Hand Trucks | ≈4,339 | 7 | Magliner |
| Paint Sprayers | ≈4,165 | 10 | Graco |
| Hand Planes | ≈3,664 | 6 | Lie-Nielsen |
| Log Splitters | ≈3,483 | 8 | Champion |
| Gas Detectors | ≈3,419 | 8 | Kidde |
| Barometers | ≈3,287 | 6 | Weems & Plath |
| Moisture Meters | ≈3,265 | 6 | Wagner |
| Plungers | ≈3,243 | 5 | Korky |
| Miter Saws | ≈2,908 | 8 | DEWALT |
| Grease Guns | ≈2,882 | 6 | Milwaukee |
| Pry Bars | ≈2,846 | 7 | Mayhew |
| Drill Presses | ≈2,485 | 7 | WEN |
| Mallets | ≈2,133 | 12 | INNOVATIVE |
| Work Lights | ≈2,005 | 12 | Milwaukee |
| Infrared Thermometers | ≈1,870 | 5 | Braun |
| Staple Guns | ≈1,867 | 6 | Arrow |
| Micrometers | ≈1,859 | 7 | Mitutoyo |
| Planers | ≈1,798 | 6 | DEWALT |
| Polishers | ≈1,632 | 5 | Rupes BigFoot |
| Nippers | ≈1,557 | 8 | Staleks Pro |
| Hand Saws | ≈1,498 | 11 | Corona |
| Saw Horses | ≈1,331 | 9 | BORA |
| Bolt Cutters | ≈1,171 | 7 | Knipex |
| Weather Stations | ≈896 | 8 | Ambient Weather |
| Tile Cutters | ≈589 | 5 | Rubi |
| Anvils | ≈317 | 5 | VEVOR |
| Airbrushes | — | 3 | Iwata |
| Anemometers | — | 3 | Kestrel |
| Calipers | — | 4 | Mitutoyo |
| Caulking Guns | — | 4 | Milwaukee |
| Cement Mixers | — | 4 | Kushlan |
| Framing Nailers | — | 4 | Metabo HPT |
| Geiger Counters | — | 1 | GQ |
| Glass Cutters | — | 2 | Toyo |
| Hacksaws | — | 2 | Milwaukee |
| Impact Drivers | — | 2 | Milwaukee |
| Ph Meters | — | 3 | Apera |
| Pickaxes | — | 2 | Fiskars |
| Pipe Benders | — | 3 | Rogue Fitness |
| Post Hole Diggers | — | 4 | Earthquake |
| Reciprocating Saws | — | 3 | Milwaukee |
| Sound Level Meters | — | 4 | NTi Audio |
| Stud Finders | — | 4 | Franklin Sensors |
| Work Platforms | — | 4 | Werner |
FAQ
Which brands do AI assistants recommend most for tools?
Over the last 30 days the top brands by AI mention share are: Milwaukee (5.2%), DEWALT (4.9%), Makita (2.2%), Knipex (1.8%), Klein (1.7%). Data from GEOly's continuous monitoring across ChatGPT, Google AI Mode, Google AI Overviews.
How many people ask AI about tools?
GEOly estimates ~368,649 AI queries per month in this category across 521 buyer topics, led by “flare nut wrenches”.
Which sources do AI engines cite for tools?
The most-cited domains are: reddit.com, bobvila.com, protoolreviews.com, homedepot.com, lowes.com. Building brand presence on these sources is the most direct way to win AI recommendations.
Methodology
GEOly continuously runs category buyer prompts across ChatGPT, Google AI Mode, Google AI Overviews and records which brands are mentioned and which sources are cited. Figures aggregate a 30-day window; AI query volumes are modeled estimates from keyword demand and AI-adoption share. Data: GEOly MCP Server, updated 2026-08-27.
See your brand inside this category
GEOly tracks how ChatGPT, Google AI Mode and Google AI Overviews mention, rank and cite your brand against every competitor above — and what to fix to win the AI shelf.