Plumbing distributors are companies that specialize in the wholesale distribution of plumbing supplies and equipment. They serve as a crucial link between manufacturers and retailers or contractors, ensuring that the right products are available when and where they are needed. These distributors typically carry a wide range of plumbing products, including pipes, fittings, valves, faucets, toilets, water heaters, and more.
Selecting the right plumbing distributor impacts a business’s ability to complete jobs efficiently and profitably. There are thousands of distributors in the United States alone––many operating nationally––so finding the best partner for your needs can be challenging.
One of the key benefits of working with plumbing distributors is their extensive product knowledge. They have a deep understanding of the various plumbing systems and components, allowing them to provide expert advice and guidance to their customers. Whether you are a retailer looking to stock your shelves or a contractor needing specific parts for a project, plumbing distributors can help you find the right products.
To find the top plumbing distributors, consider factors such as product range, customer service, delivery capabilities, and reputation in the industry. Online research, industry publications, and customer reviews can provide valuable insights into the performance and reliability of different distributors.
This article highlights ten distributors providing plumbers with high-quality products, reliable supply chains, and exceptional customer service. It also gives tips for evaluating and selecting the right distributor for your company.
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10 Top Plumbing Distributors
Get critical information about distributor locations, how long they’ve been in business, and their unique differentiators in the market.
1. Fergusson Enterprises
City: 1750+ Branch locations across North America
State / Providence: All 50 states, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec
Ferguson Enterprises is a leading distributor in North America of supplies for plumbing, HVAC, and more for both residential and commercial projects. Initially founded in the UK in 1953, Ferguson has grown to 35,000 associates working in over 1,750 locations across the United States and Canada.
Serving over 1 million customers, Ferguson simplifies complex projects with expertise, solutions, and investment in long-term customer relationships. Despite its large footprint, Ferguson still provides localized customer service, empowered and experienced associates, and high-quality products and services.
2. Watts Water Technologies
City: Global locations
State / Providence: Australia, Canada, Fiji, Germany, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay
Watts Water Technologies is a global water solutions manufacturer for residential, commercial, and industrial applications. Since 1874, Watts has created world-class designs for various products.
Investing in R&D and American manufacturing has allowed Watts to differentiate itself in the global market with superior products and services. With 140 years of expertise in water technologies, Watts maintains a commitment to quality and sustainability while delivering product lines to meet regional requirements worldwide.
3. Keller Supply
City: 70 locations across the Pacific Northwest
State / Providence: Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Utah, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, and Alaska.
Keller Supply is a family-owned plumbing wholesaler, supplying contractors and retailers with HVAC, pool, spa, and fire protection products since 1945. Customers with Keller experience convenient delivery backed by a comprehensive inventory, robust drop shipping operations, and an extensive distribution fleet.
Keller is one of the largest independent wholesales in the US and represents over 1,000 manufacturers, including Kohler. Over the past 75 years, they’ve continually invested in their facilities, technology, and team members to elevate service levels.
4. APR Supply
City: 35 locations with corporate headquarters in Lebanon, Pennsylvania
State / Providence: Pennsylvania
APR Supply is a 4th generation family-owned plumbing and HVAC wholesaler. Founded in 1922 (originally Lebanon Plumbing Supply Co.), APR distributes pipes, valves, fitting, heating and air conditioning supplies, and plumbing parts for residential and commercial use.
With competitive pricing and advanced technology for web orders, including GPS tracking and remote access capabilities, APR delivers 99.7% order accuracy, focusing on exceptional customer service.
5. Moen
City: North Las Vegas, NV; New Bern, NC; Kinston, NC; North Olmsted, OH
State / Providence: North America
Moen is a leading manufacturer of faucets, fillers, sinks, and plumbing fixtures for residential and commercial applications. With global locations and 65 years of experience, Moen is North America’s #1 faucet brand.
The company brings a thoughtful approach to design generated from customer insights to create products that benefit the plumbing industry—such as leak monitoring systems.
Get supplies with meaningful features, lasting value, and unparalleled reliability for kitchens, baths, and more.
6. Kohler
City: Locations across the United States
State / Providence: 22 states across the US
Kohler is a manufacturer of kitchen and bath products with a global presence. Since 1873, Kohler has offered plumbing fixtures and finishes, and their innovative collections now include products for the smart home, including programmable faucets, showers, and water monitoring systems.
As a distributor, Kohler has defined itself with superior manufacturing and an unwavering commitment to environmental sustainability, with robust support for contractors in the trades.
By manufacturing to a single level of quality, plumbers who use Kohler products benefit from simplified specs and installation on the job.
7. Delta
City: Available in cities worldwide
State / Providence: Global locations
Delta is a US-based manufacturer of residential and commercial faucets and plumbing fixtures. Founded in 1929, it brings over 90 years of experience designing products to transform how people interact with water.
The designs focus on improving the human experience, using water-saving technologies, and providing exclusive collections to professionals to empower unparalleled customer experiences for their trade partners.
By keeping dual priorities in mind to reduce environmental impact while enhancing home life, Delta defines itself as a manufacturer committed to social responsibility.
8. Elkay
City: Showrooms and distributors worldwide
State / Providence: Headquarters in Illinois, distribution in North America, Latin America, Asia Pacific, Europe, Middle East
Elkay is America’s number-one kitchen sink company, manufacturing stainless steel sinks, faucets, water delivery solutions, and commercial plumbing products.
With residential and commercial segments, Elkay set itself apart from the competition with innovative product designs, exceptional customer service, and support for professional contractors.
Creating high-quality products for over 100 years, Elkay continues to define its brand by delivering products for applications in settings including education, healthcare, and more.
9. American Standard
City: Showrooms and wholesalers in cities nationwide
State / Providence: States nationwide, excluding Alaska
American Standard is a leader in North American manufacturing of plumbing fixtures, faucets, and accessories for residential and commercial settings.
They offer professional tools for contractors, including a virtual room designer and easy technical document search.
With 145 years of operational experience, American Standard now devotes its legacy of creativity and ingenuity to eco-conscious and smart connected plumbing products such as water regulators. The company aims to create solutions that improve daily life for customers while protecting the environment.
10. Plumbers Wholesale Supply
City: Gadsden
State / Providence: Alabama
Plumbers Wholesale Supply is a wholesaler that supplies plumbing contractors and homeowners with affordable plumbing fixtures, water heaters, boilers, hydronic heaters, and more.
As a distributor, Plumbers Wholesale differentiates itself with an extensive inventory, long-standing vendor relationships, and an experienced staff. By pairing large contract capabilities with unparalleled in-store expertise, it’s a one-stop local shop for plumbing supplies.
Regardless of your plumbing operation's size and range of services, you will likely need more than one distributor—especially if you require industrial supplies. Knowing the top distributors in your industry gives you the flexibility to get the products you need, regardless of supply chain issues.
How Do I Choose a Plumbing Distributor for My Business?
Your success in the industry depends on providing customers with high-quality, affordable, and impeccably designed products when you need them.
A supply company is a partner in providing supplies and materials to help you complete jobs efficiently and profitably. Consider the following steps when choosing a distributor to partner with your organization.
Step #1: Understand the needs of your plumbing business
Before choosing a wholesale distributor, clearly define your requirements, such as:
Pipe types and sizes
Valves
Fittings
Fixtures
Specialty items
Plumbing business software can help you track your typical order amounts and frequency to ensure a distributor can meet your needs. When you reach out to a distributor, ask about their delivery times, the cost of rush delivery, and if they can deliver directly to job sites.
Step #2: Research multiple distributors
Don’t just pick the nearest distributor or the one on the top of every listicle. Compare suppliers with competitive pricing, extensive product selection, and reliable deliveries.
Stay open to both local and national options and collect options from fellow plumbers, online articles, trade publications, and more.
Purchase order software like ServiceTitan makes it easy to order from multiple distributors. Plumbing contractors can leverage their buying power, securing the inventory they need for various jobs—including new installations and repair parts—with streamlined orders.
ServiceTitan gives plumbers tools to improve efficiency and grow revenue within their existing client base. Key features include:
Purchase order management
Real-time stock visibility
Mobile app purchase orders
Streamline processes by implementing all-in-one software for business management.
Inventory management features from ServiceTitan enable contractors to easily track requests for supplies, purchase orders, inventory adjustments, and more.
Finding the right distributor for your needs is just one element of streamlining how you work to improve efficiency and ensure profitability at every level.
Pair reliable, high-quality distributors with business management software to ensure your purchase and inventory processes reflect industry best practices.
Step #3: Get quotes from different suppliers
When you’ve narrowed down a shortlist of distributors, request quotes so you’re able to compare:
Prices
Terms
Support
Delivery capabilities
Many distributors have online forms for requesting quotes, but you can also get them by calling or visiting retail locations in person. Getting multiple quotes is a small investment of time that can make a big difference in job costs.
Step #4: Evaluate distributor qualities
Cost isn’t the only thing that matters when finding a good distributor. Keep in mind delivery time and quality of support. Browse distributor websites and speak with a sales rep to evaluate their:
Product knowledge
Customer service capabilities
Warranties
Industry reputation
The right distributor will be available for questions, take the time to understand your needs, and invest in finding the best products for your projects.
Some additional factors to consider when choosing a plumbing distributor are:
Location: There are pros and cons to choosing a local versus a global distributor. You may need several distributors to meet all your needs.
Hours of operation: If you often work beyond traditional operating hours, you may want to find a distributor that provides night and weekend support.
Terms of payment: ServiceTitan integrates with Pricebook and Quickbooks, making it easy to manage vendor payments in the same platform where you manage inventory, generate purchase orders, and allocate resources to individual work orders.
The Right Distributor and Management Software Can Unlock New Profitability
Periodically reviewing your distributors can help ensure you’re still getting the best possible products at the right price and with the terms you need to stay profitable.
ServiceTitan empowers the same profit-driven decision-making by bringing all your operations into the same cloud-based platform, whether in the office or the field.
See how ServiceTitan improves your work by scheduling a demonstration of the software in action.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Finding great plumbing distributors you want to build long-term relationships with takes time. Here are some of the most common questions that arise during the process.
What is the largest plumbing wholesaler in the United States?
The largest plumbing wholesaler in the US is Ferguson Enterprises. It has over 1,750 locations nationwide, employs 35,000 associates, and generates upwards of $20 billion in annual revenue. Ferguson has established itself as a leading distributor with an extensive selection of products, a robust distribution network, and an unwavering commitment to customer relationships.
How many plumbing distributors are there in the US?
There are 3,223 plumbing distributors in the United States, a slight decline since 2022. Many are smaller local or regional distributors, with the fifty largest companies making up around 30% of industry revenue. With so many options available, a little research can help plumbing contractors find the ideal solution.
