The Best Nail Guns, Tested and Reviewed

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Nail guns make quick work of fastening trim or framing a structure. We tested the top nail guns on the market. Find out which ones earned a spot in our lineup.

Whether you’re repairing a roof, redoing wood floors, or starting any other type of major do-it-yourself project, chances are you’ll want a nail gun (also called a nailer). This handy power tool drives nails or other small fasteners deep into the wood’s surface without splintering or harming the wood’s structural integrity.

We wanted to see which of today’s most popular nail guns would speed up our projects and drive nailsaccurately—so we decided to put them to the test. We tested a range of nail guns, including finish nailers, framing nailers, roofing nailers, siding nailers, and brad nailers.

Today’s nailers are tailored to specific tasks, and getting the correct type for a project is essential. Below, we provide the info on finding the best nail gun for your next project, plus full details on how the following models earned a spot in our hands-on tests.

BEST OVERALL: DeWalt 20V MAX 16 GA Angled Finish Nailer Kit
BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Porter-Cable 20V MAX 18 GA Cordless Brad Nailer Kit
BEST FRAMING NAILER: Milwaukee M18 FUEL 21-Degree Framing Nailer Kit
BEST BRAD NAILER: Bostitch Smart Point 18 GA Brad Nailer Kit and Nails
BEST SIDING NAILER: Bostitch 1¼-Inch to 2½-Inch Coil Siding Nailer
BEST FLOORING NAILER: Bostitch 2-in-1 Flooring Tool
BEST ROOFING NAILER: Metabo HPT 1¾-Inch Coil Roofing Nailer
BEST RAFTER FRAMER: DeWalt 20V MAX Cordless Framing Nailer Kit
BEST HEAVY-DUTY FRAMER: Ridgid Brushless Cordless 3½-Inch Framing Nailer
BEST CORDLESS BRAD NAILER: Ryobi ONE+ 18V Cordless Brad Nailer

The Best Nail Gun Options — Photo: Glenda Taylor for Bob Vila

Types of Nail Guns

The expression “the right tool for the job” has never been truer than with nail guns! Select one based on the task(s) and type of nailing project from this list of the most common types of nail guns.

Framing nail guns are the go-to for putting up a wood structure quickly and securely. A framing nailer offers the power and precision to hold everything in place for decades to come.
Finish nail guns are designed for installing trim, like baseboards, doorways, and chair rails. They can handle tougher projects too, like securing a standard floorboard to the drywall behind it.
Brad nail guns, which fire nails that are slightly smaller in diameter, called brads, are best for delicate trim and custom woodworking projects in which a larger nail might ruin the wood.
Flooring nail guns, also called “cleat nailers,” secure floor planks to the subfloor below. They speed up the flooring installation process and ensure that each nail is inserted at the correct angle.
Roofing nail guns are made to drive nails into roofing materials such as tar paper, asphalt, and shingles. They often come with cylindrical cases that hold coils of nails.
Palm nail guns are lightweight nailers that fit in the palm of the hand to deliver nails in tight corners and tricky angles on woodworking projects. While not practical for framing or large-scale projects, they come in handy in close quarters.
Pin nail guns are the same thing as brad nailers. They shoot small brads and are best suited to detailed trim work. Much of the time, they’re simply called “pinners.”

What to Consider When Choosing the Best Nail Gun

In addition to the size of nails that a nail gun accommodates, consider whether a battery or an air compressor powers the nail gun, how many nails the gun will hold, and whether it’s designed to shoot one nail at a time or allows the user to shoot nails rapidly. Accuracy is also important—no one wants to spend valuable time pulling nails that didn’t shoot correctly.

Power Source

Nail guns are powered by either batteries or by air compressors. Battery-powered nail gunsare cordless, pricier, and can deliver anywhere from 400 to 1,600 shots per charge. Because they’re not tethered to a cord, they can be used anywhere, but they can weigh a hefty 7 pounds or more.

Pneumatic nail guns are powered by air compressors, so they can continue shooting for as long as they’re plugged in and loaded with nails or brads. They weigh 2 to 5 pounds on average and are generally less expensive than, or comparable to, battery-powered nailers. Thanks to their light weight, easy handling, and long runtime, pneumatic nailers remain a popular choice.

Coil vs. Strip Nailer

Nail guns are classified as being either coil nailers or strip nailers (also known as stick nailers), terms that refer to how nails are housed inside the tool. Because coil nailers hold nails in a tight coil, they offer a larger capacity—up to 3,000 nails or more in a single coil. Stick or strip nailers hold nails in a straight line, so they hold fewer nails, typically less than 100, depending on the size of the nails.

Firing Mechanism

Nail guns all come with a single-deploy firing mechanism, but some also offer a rapid-deploy mode. In single mode, the user presses the tip of the nail gun firmly to the material and then squeezes the trigger to fire a nail. It’s a two-movement method: press then squeeze.

In rapid-deploy mode (also called bump mode), the user holds the trigger down and then pushes the gun’s tip to the material, which triggers a shot. This is the fastest way to shoot nails because the user doesn’t have to pull the trigger each time. Almost all framing, siding, and roofing nail guns have bump modes, and some finish guns (but not all) have them as well.

Nail Capacity

Nail capacity indicates the range of nail sizes the nailer will shoot. Nail guns are made to hold specific nail gauges, meaning nail thickness. For example, the nail gun might shoot 16-gauge nails (a standard finish nail size), but it will also shoot different lengths of 16-gauge nails. The range of nail lengths will be listed in inches, such as 1¼-inch to 2-inch.

When it comes to framing nail guns, the nails they accept can vary in thickness and length. Instead of using a gauge measurement, the gun will specify the actual nail thickness range, such as 0.113 inches to 0.148 inches. The nail length range will also appear, such as 2 inches to 3¼ inches.

Nail-Depth Adjustment

Early nail guns didn’t come with the ability to adjust the depth of the nail, but most of today’s models offer that feature, and it’s pretty handy. When installing trim, carpenters countersink the nails so the heads are just below the surface of the wood. This allows them to go back and fill the nail holes with putty to create a smooth, flat surface.

Nail-depth adjustments are just as necessary on framing nail guns where the nail heads should sit flush with the material when installing sheet materials such as plywood sheathing or subflooring. Roofing nailers, which are primarily pneumatic, don’t usually offer nail-depth adjustment, but the roofer can adjust the air pressure on the compressor to adjust the nail depth.

Angled Nail Rail

Some nail guns are listed as being “angled.” This just means the rail that holds the nail strips slants upward—toward the tool’s base. Most angled rails slope around 20 or 21 degrees, although some slope up to 34 degrees. They also require nail strips that correspond to the angle. For example, a 21-degree nail gun will only accommodate 21-degree nail strips.

This does not affect the angle at which the user shoots the nail, however. That’s controlled by the gun’s position when shooting. That said, an angled rail is handier in some nailing situations because the angle makes the tool more compact and easier to maneuver in tight spots.

Our Top Picks

We tested a whole lot of nail guns, and the ones in this lineup represent the best models on the market today. The following nailers vary by type—some are designed for building structures, and others are made for installing trim or shingles, or attaching siding to a house. Each one excelled in our hands-on tests, and we feel confident in their performance and power.

Best Overall

DeWalt 20V MAX 16 GA Angled Finish Nailer Kit

We didn’t set out to choose a finish nailer as our best pick, but the 16-gauge DeWalt angled finish nailer excelled in several areas. It’s not suitable for framing or installing shingles, but we felt it offered the best overall combination of features, power, and versatility.

DeWalt is a reputable manufacturer of both DIY and pro tools, so we were expecting this model to be a top performer, and it didn’t disappoint. After charging the battery fully, we loaded a strip of 20-degree 2½-inch 16-gauge nails in the rail. We shot nails into oak, walnut, and pine boards and, using the depth-adjustment feature, we changed the nailhead depth to suit the hardness/softness of the specific wood.

This finish nailer shot the nails flawlessly, even when we switched to bump mode and ran through the clip at a rapid pace. We then loaded a strip of 1¼-inch nails and continued testing. It shot the shorter nails just as smoothly as the longer ones. In all, we shot more than 250 nails, and the gun never jammed. That’s pretty impressive since some nail guns jam frequently when shooting in bump mode.

We found the DeWalt angled finish nailer easy to use and comfortable to hold with its rubberized grip and ergonomic shape. This powerful finish nailer is suitable for installing casing, baseboards, stair risers, or for any other project where finish nails are called for.

Product Specs

Nail size: 16 gauge; 1¼ to 2½ inches long
Power source: Battery
Model number: DCN660D1

Pros

Nail-depth adjustment allows user to switch between different woods and maintain accuracy
Angled nail rail for better maneuverability
Single-fire or multifire mode (bump mode) for a variety of jobs
Quick-clear jam release

Cons

Pricey

Get the DeWalt angled finish nail gun at Amazon, The Home Depot, or Ace Hardware.

Best Bang for the Buck

Porter-Cable 20V MAX 18 GA Cordless Brad Nailer Kit

Trim carpenters don’t have to spend a lot to get a reliable brad nailer or pinner. The Porter- Cable 18-gauge brad nailer offers everything needed to install small or delicate trim and comes at an attractive price point.

We charged the Porter-Cable’s battery, loaded a strip of 2-inch 18-gauge nails, and started testing. We shot the nails into hardwood and softwood, and we used the tool’s nail-depth adjustment as we switched between woods of various hardness to ensure the heads of the nails ended up just below the surface of the wood.

The Porter-Cable shot nails smoothly and accurately. The gun jammed once when we were firing nails into knots in oak (something carpenters intentionally avoid to keep a nail gun from jamming), but the tool’s jam-release level made it simple to remove the jammed nail and continue testing. In all, we ran more than 200 nails through this brad nailer, and we were impressed at its accuracy and power. It performed just as well when we tested it with shorter ⅝-inch nails.

The only downside to this brad nailer is the lack of an angled nail rail. It still works very well, but an angled rail would make it easier to use in tight spots. Still, for the price, this is a top performer for anyone who needs to install ceiling cove or other delicate trim. It does not have a bump mode, but many brad nailers do not, and that is not a detriment in a brad nailer where precision is more important than speed.

Product Specs

Nail size: 18 gauge; ⅝ to 2 inches long
Power source: Battery
Model number: PCC790LA

Pros

Affordable nail gun for the power and precision
Good nail-depth adjustment adapts to various wood densities
Quick-clear jam release makes removing stalled nails easy

Cons

Not an angled nailer, so not as handy in tight spots

Get the Porter-Cable nail gun at Amazon, Ace Hardware, or Acme Tools.

Best Framing Nailer

Milwaukee M18 FUEL 21-Degree Framing Nailer Kit

When it comes to shooting framing nails accurately, the Milwaukee M18 FUEL 21-Degree Framing Nailer Kit is a top achiever. After fully charging the battery, we loaded a strip of 2-inch framing nails and started testing by shooting the nails through ⅝-inch plywood stacked on 2×4 pine boards.

This framing nailer shot the nails powerfully into the wood—a little too powerfully (the heads were sinking), so we adjusted the depth gauge and were able to shoot the nails so the heads were flush with our plywood. We ran more than 100 two-inch nails through the gun and then tested 3-inch framing nails on stacked 2x4s. We switched the gun into bump mode and shot the nails at a rapid pace. This Milwaukee model is powerful. We didn’t experience any problem with nails not sinking as far as we wanted. The 21-degree angle of the nail rail also made the tool more compact and easy to use when nailing between 16-inch wall studs, a standard size spacing for both studs and joists.

It would have been nice to have a quick jam release, but a lot of framing nailers don’t include those, so when we had a jam in bump mode, we just removed the nail strip, used the on-tool wrench to open the front panel, and then pulled the jammed nail out with needle nose pliers.

Product Specs

Nail size: 0.113 to 0.148 inches in diameter, 2 to 3½ inches long
Power source: Battery
Model number: 2744-21

Pros

Shoots up to 3½ -inch nails, longer than many other framing nailers
Angled nail rail for better maneuverability
Rapid bump mode makes quick work out of tasks like attaching subflooring to joists
Good nail-depth adjustment adapts to various wood densities

Cons

Doesn’t have a quick-clear jam release
Pricey

Get the Milwaukee nail gun at The Home Depot, Acme Tools, or Northern Tool + Equipment.

Best Brad Nailer

Bostitch Smart Point 18 GA Brad Nailer Kit and Nails

We have long admired Bostitch nailers and staplers, and this powerful little brad nailer was no exception. We connected it to our compressor via a hose; inserted a strip of 18-gauge 2-inch nails; and tested the gun on oak, walnut, and pine boards. It has an easy-dial depth adjustment we used when we switched between different hardnesses of wood, and we were able to shoot brads consistently with the heads just slightly countersunk, which is what we were hoping to do.

We shot more than 200 brads, switching back and forth between 2- and 1-inch lengths. The Bostitch didn’t jam in all that time, but if it had, we would have removed the jammed nail via its handy quick-clear jam release.

The Bostitch brad nailer doesn’t come with an angled nail rail, which would have been handy when we were shooting nails in tight spots, but it’s highly reliable, and it even comes with a bump (multifire) mode. Realistically, a bump mode isn’t often called for on a brad nailer since this type of nail gun is used chiefly for installing trim, which is a precise task that doesn’t lend itself to rapid firing.

The Best Nail Guns, Tested and Reviewed

Types of Nail Guns