Travis Perkins Review 2026: Builders' Merchant Services, Trade Accounts & Latest Business

Anyone who has ever started a building job knows the feeling. The plans are ready, the weekend is cleared, and then you realise you need timber cut to size, the right fixings, a delivery that actually turns up on time, and a price that doesn't wreck the budget. That is where a builders' merchant earns its keep.

In the UK, one of the biggest names in that world is Travis Perkins. If you have seen its yellow and green branches on a trading estate, or watched its lorries drop pallets of bricks on a driveway, you already know the brand. But what does it really offer today? And how is the business behaving in a tricky construction market?

This guide covers both sides. First, the practical side: products, services, trade accounts, delivery and the app. Then the business side, with the latest financial figures from the company's half-year results published on 4 August 2026. I've kept the language simple and flagged where numbers come from, so you can use this whether you are a tradesperson, a self-builder, a student of business or just curious.

One honest note first. When I tried to read the Travis Perkins homepage directly, it returned no readable text, so the service details below come from the company's own About Us and services pages and from published news coverage. Where I give figures, I say where they come from.

What Is Travis Perkins?

Travis Perkins plc describes itself as the UK's largest distributor of building materials. The Travis Perkins brand is its general builders' merchant, supplying timber, building materials, kitchens, plumbing and heating, landscaping, painting and decorating essentials and tools. The company's own site says it serves trade professionals and self-builders across the country through a network of more than 500 branches, and it also offers tool hire.

The wider group is bigger than the one brand you see on the high street. It also includes Toolstation, a tools and trade supplies retailer, and specialist businesses such as Benchmarx Kitchens and Joinery. That mix matters when you read the financial results later.

Why a Builders' Merchant Matters (Importance)

It keeps projects moving. Delays cost money on a building site. A merchant that can supply materials quickly keeps teams working.

It gives access to trade products and trade pricing. Account holders often get personalised prices that regular shoppers don't see.

It offers advice. Branch staff usually know the products. Asking which timber suits a deck, or which fixings suit a wall, can save expensive mistakes.

It supports the wider economy. Building supplies feed housing, repairs, infrastructure and commercial projects. When a merchant's sales rise or fall, it often reflects what is happening across construction.

It makes small jobs easier. Home improvers and self-builders can use the same network as professionals.

Products and Categories

Timber and Sheet Materials

Timber is in the company's name for a reason. Expect structural timber, decking, fencing, sheet boards and joinery materials. The site mentions timber cutting as one of its specialist services.

Building Materials

Bricks, blocks, cement, insulation, roofing materials and the everyday items needed to get a structure built and weatherproof.

Kitchens and Joinery

The company's materials mention Benchmarx Kitchens and Joinery, which signals that kitchen and joinery products are part of the offer.

Plumbing and Heating

Pipes, fittings, radiators, boilers and related parts for installers and renovators.

Landscaping

Paving, fencing, aggregates and garden construction materials.

Painting and Decorating

Paints, brushes, fillers and finishing supplies.

Tools and Equipment

Hand tools, power tools, and a tool and equipment hire service for jobs where buying kit does not make sense.

Services Beyond the Shelf

The company's trade services page highlights extras that go past simply selling products:

• Timber cutting to size.

• Brick matching to help repairs blend with existing walls.

• Tool and equipment hire.

• An estimating service to price up a project.

• Click and Collect within one hour on selected products ordered online, according to the site.

• Delivery options. Free branch delivery when you spend £100 including VAT, with the note that charges may apply for tool and equipment hire and for Benchmarx Kitchens and Joinery. Trade news coverage also reports that the company introduced national real-time delivery tracking, with text and email updates, a named two-hour delivery slot and proof of delivery.

• The TP App. Launched in 2021, it lets account holders order materials and check stock on the go.

Trade Accounts Explained

The site describes two main account types.

In simple terms, a credit account lets approved customers buy now and pay later under agreed terms, while a cash account suits those who prefer to pay as they go. Always read the account terms and check the current offers on the website before you apply.

Key Features

• Large branch network. More than 500 Travis Perkins branches, according to the company's site.

• Wide product range. From timber and bricks to plumbing and decorating.

• Multiple ways to shop. Online, in the app or at the branch.

• Fast collection. Click and Collect within one hour on eligible items.

• Specialist services. Cutting, brick matching, hire and estimating.

• Trade accounts. Personalised prices and account management tools.

• Delivery choice. Delivery day of choice, tracking updates and branch delivery for account customers.

• Sustainability focus. The site says it offers a selection of sustainable building products and services.

Benefits

Everything under one roof. For many jobs you can get materials, tools and hire kit from a single supplier, which saves time and phone calls.

Convenience. Ordering online or through the app, then collecting within the hour or booking a delivery, suits busy working days.

Trade pricing. Holding an account can unlock prices tailored to your business.

Local expertise. Branches know local needs, from weather conditions to common build styles.

Tracking and visibility. Real-time delivery updates help you plan your day and avoid waiting around.

Merits and Demerits

Who Is It For? (Scope)

• Builders, joiners, plumbers and decorators who need regular supplies and trade pricing.

• Small contractors who want an account, delivery tracking and an app.

• Self-builders and renovators planning bigger projects.

• Landscapers and fencing contractors needing timber, paving and aggregates.

• Housing and property teams buying materials at scale.

• Homeowners tackling serious DIY who want trade-quality materials.

The scope also reaches into infrastructure and specialist work through the wider group, which the company highlights as a source of resilience.

The Business Snapshot: Latest Figures

Because you asked for current business data, here are the headline numbers from Travis Perkins plc's half-year results for the six months to 30 June 2026, announced on 4 August 2026. Figures are from the company's results announcement and trade and financial coverage of it.

Segment and Operating Highlights

• Gross margin: a results presentation summary reports gross margin improving by about 100 basis points to 27.4% from 26.4%.

• Merchanting like-for-like sales: down 1.2%, an improvement on the 2.1% decline reported in the previous first half.

• Toolstation UK: like-for-like revenue up 2.4%, performing in line with expectations according to the company.

• Toolstation Benelux: like-for-like revenue down 6.5%, with trading described as challenging.

• Branch network: one financial summary says the group closed 11 smaller General Merchant branches and opened three, taking its Merchanting network to 719 branches. Note that this figure covers the wider Merchanting network, which is different from the "over 500" Travis Perkins branches quoted on the retail site.

• Toolstation Club: reported at 900,000 members after attracting 200,000 new customers in the half.

• Property: property profits of £5 million with £19 million of cash proceeds, and about £70 million of net property receipts in the half, according to the earnings call.

• Investment: management said it expects to invest over £30 million in fleet renewal in the merchant business, as well as in branch refreshes.

What Do the Numbers Mean in Plain English?

Let's translate.

Sales dipped slightly. Revenue fell by 1.8%. The company says that came from lower volumes in tough market conditions and from selling its Staircraft business last year, partly cushioned by higher building material prices.

Profit held steady. Underlying operating profit stayed at £62 million, which in a weak market counts as resilient. Including property profits, it rose.

The company is earning a bit more on each sale. The reported rise in gross margin suggests better pricing, a better product mix and savings from buying. Management describes this as early progress in turning around its General Merchant business.

The balance sheet is stronger. A year ago the group had net debt of £103 million. Now it reports net cash of £55 million before lease obligations. That gives it more breathing room.

Shareholders still get a dividend. The interim dividend is 4.0p per share, though one summary notes that the interim payment fell compared with before.

Mixed performance across the group. Toolstation UK is growing, while Toolstation in the Benelux region is struggling and the core merchant is still working through a turnaround.

The outlook is cautious. One summary of the results says the company expects similar trading in the second half. For a business so tied to housebuilding, repairs and infrastructure, that fits the wider market.

The Market Behind the Business

Travis Perkins does not trade in a vacuum. The company itself describes challenging UK construction conditions. Coverage of its results points to weakness in new-build housing, partly balanced by improving demand for infrastructure projects through its specialist businesses.

That is a useful reminder if you are a customer. Material prices, lead times and even branch availability can shift with the wider construction cycle. If you are a business reader, it shows why margin management, cash discipline and property sales matter so much to a merchant: when volumes are soft, how efficiently you run the business becomes the difference between coping and thriving.

Smart Buying Tips for Builders and Home Improvers

1. Plan your materials list early. Measure twice, then add an allowance for waste, especially for tiles, flooring, plasterboard and timber.

2. Ask about trade accounts. If you buy regularly, an account with personalised pricing can be worth the paperwork.

3. Check stock before you drive. Use the app or website, or call the branch, so you don't make a wasted trip.

4. Use Click and Collect for small urgent jobs. The site promotes collection within an hour on eligible products.

5. Book deliveries with care. Know the access to your site, where pallets can be dropped and who will be there to receive them.

6. Mind the £100 delivery threshold. The free branch delivery offer is tied to a minimum spend, so combining items into one order can help. Check whether your items are excluded, such as tool hire.

7. Store materials properly. Keep timber dry and off the ground, protect plasterboard from damp, and cover cement and sand.

8. Compare, don't assume. Even with trade pricing, check a couple of other quotes on large orders.

9. Keep records. Save order confirmations, delivery notes and receipts for returns, warranties and tax records.

10. Think safety. Use correct lifting methods, wear the right protective gear and follow product guidance, especially with cement, cutting tools and treated timber.

Final Thoughts

Travis Perkins is a big, established name that tries to make building work easier: a wide range of materials, a large branch network, trade accounts, delivery tracking and an app. For customers, its biggest strengths are convenience, range and services like cutting, hire and fast collection.

For anyone watching the business side, the story is one of steady rather than spectacular progress. Revenue slipped, profit held, margins improved and the balance sheet strengthened, all in a construction market that remains tough. The turnaround is still a work in progress.

Whichever angle matters to you, the sensible approach is the same. Check current prices and terms on the live site, compare where it counts, and treat the figures here as a snapshot in time.

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