Remember the last time you were hammering a few nails into your wall. You were vibrating through your palms for every strike you make, leaving you feeling stiff and sore. And, indeed, it is quite risky to drive a nail home using a hammer. Nonetheless, with technological advancements available, there are innovative nail guns now that will ensure your safety.

However, the wide variety of nail guns in the market has made it quite challenging for interested buyers to know what type and model of a nail gun to purchase. To help make your work easier, we reviewed the top five best nail guns in the market.

Our review carried extensive research on several nail guns in the market, together with the collective expertise of different professionals. We have also listed essential factors that you need to consider when in the market for the best nail gun, together with some of the most frequently asked questions. Lastly, do not forget to click on the button below each product to get their latest Amazon deals.

Best Nail Guns Comparison & Rating

Nail Guns

Features

DEWALT Brad Nailer Kit, 18GA, 5/8-Inch to 2-Inch (DWFP12231)
  • 70 - 120 PSI
  • tool-free jam release mechanism
  • pneumatic
  • 60 to 100 PSI
  • 1/4-inch 18 NPT air inlet
  • quick release 100-nail capacity magazine
STANLEY Nail Gun, Electric Staple, 1/2-Inch, 9/16-Inch and 5/8-Inch Brads (TRE550Z)
  • quick-jam-clear mechanism
  • flush-nose design
  • unique dual power lever
PORTER-CABLE 20V MAX Cordless Brad Nailer Kit, 18GA (PCC790LA)
  • 1300 nails per charge
  • tool-free stall release lever
  • depth adjustment window
Hitachi NT50AE2 18-Gauge 5/8-Inch to 2-Inch Brad Nailer
  • selective actuation
  • elastomer grip
  • 360-degree adjustable exhaust port

1. DEWALT Brad DWFP12231 Nail Gun

DEWALT Brad Nailer Kit, 18GA, 5/8-Inch to 2-Inch (DWFP12231)
Specifications:
98% Overall

Dimensions

13.03 x 3.74 x 13.09 inches

Weight

5.06 pounds

Power Source

Pneumatic

Material

Steel

97%
durability
98%
performance
98%
quality
98%
features
Pros:
  • Comes with a comfortable rubber grip that helps in preventing it from slipping whenever it is being used.
  • Sports an operating pressure of 70 - 120 PSI.
  • Lightweight design that makes it easy to handle. This nail gun also comes with a small nose tip that enables one to have a better view of your work.
  • There are LED lights that help in indicating the nail jam. This gun also has high adaptability to different functions which are its main selling points.
  • Very simple to switch between two modes as you have to flick a well-labeled switch base of the gun. Reducing or increasing the drive depth is very simple.
  • Weighs 5.06 pounds which makes it light hence easy to handle with just one hand. Its ergonomics is also second to none.
Cons:
  • The trigger safety sometimes needs repositioning the tool to allow trigger.
Final Take:

DEWALT Brad nail gun is a perfect tool that features a long-life maintenance-free motor, keeping it from staining the work surface. The body is made of magnesium that ensures it delivers a strong yet lightweight design. It also comes with a tool-free depth of drive adjustment with detents that provides a proper nailhead setting and a tool-free jam release mechanism. The kit comes with a carrying case and user manual where you can always refer to how to operate or set-up the gun. The unit is made to drive up to 18 gauge nails from 5/8" to 2" in length.

2. WEN 61720 Nail Gun

Specifications:
97% Overall

Dimensions

9.85 x 9.65 x 2.2 inches

Weight

3.3 pounds

Power Source

Air-powered

Material

Iron

95%
durability
98%
performance
96%
quality
98%
features
Pros:
  • Comes with a sizeable magazine that allows you to stack up to 100 brads to ensure it maintains the workflow very well.
  • The magazine has a window that reveals the remaining brads. It will help keep you from running the work surface with dry fire. 
  • Made of ergonomic design and is lightweight.
  • Comes with a very comfortable rubber grip making it easy on the hand. It enables one to use it for longer hours.
  • Easy to control the exhaust release direction by rotating the adjustable exhaust port. It makes this nail gun very easy to use and improves the quality of the final finish.
Cons:
  • Leaves two marks in the wood due to the extra staple channel
Final Take:

WEN 61720 nail gun offers a reliable and versatile all-in-one compact design. It can comfortably fit 18-gauge brads that range from 5/8 to 1-5/8 inches in length. It comes with a spring-loaded magazine that makes easy and quick reloads with enough space to hold up to 100 nails. It comes with a lightweight body and has a rubber-lined handle limit during long working hours. It has an operating pressure ranging from 60 to 100 PSI as the gun consumes 0.5 CFM of air per nail at 90 PSI.

3. Stanley TRE550Z Nail Gun

STANLEY Nail Gun, Electric Staple, 1/2-Inch, 9/16-Inch and 5/8-Inch Brads (TRE550Z)
Specifications:
95% Overall

Dimensions

5.9 x 3 x 3.6 inches

Weight

1.44 ounces

Power Source

Corded-electric

Material

Aluminum

94%
durability
97%
performance
96%
quality
94%
features
Pros:
  • Comes with an easy-to-use jam release mechanism that helps users save time whenever the nails get jammed.
  • The nail gun allows you to see the remaining staples/nails through the window. It helps in preventing you from scarring your work surface with dry fire.
  • Comes with a flat nose that helps you in controlling your output quality. It will ensure you shoot more accurately in tight spaces.
  • Very versatile in regards to the nails and staples array, hence, you can comfortably use it with brad nails of 5/8 inches and ½ 9/16 inches in length.
  • Uses an anti-jam mechanism that makes using this nail gun simple and fast.
Cons:
  • A bit expensive for the features it offers, but still a good investment given its great quality.
  • The top of the squeeze handle has a pinch point.
Final Take:

Stanley TRE550Z nail gun is made to deliver excellent driving power for different types of jobs. The dual power lever of this tool is well designed for use with both soft and hard materials. The flush-nose design of this nail gun helps solve the problem of stapling in tight spots with its contoured grip offering extra support on the task. This gun also comes with an anti-jam mechanism that helps in saving time on the job. It comes with an 8-foot power cord and uses Arrow T-50 heavy-duty staples or Sharpshooter TRA700 Series and 5/8-inch, 1/2-inch, and 9/16-inch brads.

4. Porter-Cable PCC790LA Nail Gun

PORTER-CABLE 20V MAX Cordless Brad Nailer Kit, 18GA (PCC790LA)
Specifications:
94% Overall

Dimensions

13.88 x 5 x 12 inches

Weight

5.9 pounds

Power Source

Battery-powered

Material

Plastic

93%
durability
95%
performance
95%
quality
94%
features
Pros:
  • Capable of shooting 18 gauge brads of 5/8 to two inches long as a specially designed motor well powers it.
  • Comes with a 1.5 Ah, 20 V rechargeable battery power motor instead of the gas-powered or compressor heavy-duty model.
  • Provides 1300 nails per charge when it is using a 4 Ah battery.
  • The wheel is on the side whenever nail jams happen. You can always release the affected nails using minimal fuss by pressing the button, lifting the clip close to the nose, and letting the defective pins out.
  • Comes with a tool-free depth of drive adjustment wheel that will allow one to move from one surface to another without putting off the nail gun.
  • Features a lock that is conveniently situated close to the trigger. You can always slide up to keep the gun from firing accidentally.
Cons:
  • Comes with LED lights on the side of the body, but not really impressive.
  • Bulky and heavy for its size which takes away mobility from the user.
  • The angle affects the performance of the nailer.
Final Take:

This Porter-Cable nail gun is 100% battery-powered. It doesn’t have the need for a hose, compressor, and costly gas cartridges. It is of a unique design that offers consistent firing power into different materials and climate conditions. It also features different tool-free settings that provide increased productivity and user safety. This unit's optimal center of gravity offer user comfort in various positions, giving you ease in each use.

5. Hitachi NT50AE2 Nail Gun

Hitachi NT50AE2 18-Gauge 5/8-Inch to 2-Inch Brad Nailer
Specifications:
92% Overall

Dimensions

10 x 9-3/16 x 2-3/8 inches

Weight

2.2 pounds

Power Source

Air-powered

Material

Aluminum

92%
durability
93%
performance
92%
quality
92%
features
Pros:
  • A very versatile tool that makes it perfect for both DIY enthusiasts and general contractors since it can fire the brad nails of between 5/8 inches and 2 inches in length with head sizes between 0.075 and 1.9 mm.
  • Takes in the air at the rate of 0.025 cubic feet per cycle at 100 PSI.
  • This nail gun handle is made of an elastomer grip that compliments the compact and light frame. It helps add comfort levels for those that are interested in using the tool for more extended periods.
  • Offers intermittent and continuous firing options that allow for the ability to pick between speed and accuracy.
  • The gun comes with a carrying case. There is also a safety glass and a nose cap. It makes it very easy to carry around and safe to use.
  • Magazine capacity is 100 nails that help in ensuring more time is spent working and not reloading.
Cons:
  • The angle affects the performance of the nailer.
  • Lacks notifying feature to inform you when the unit is already empty with nails.
Final Take:

Hitachi NT50AE2 nail gun is a perfect tool for handling small carpentry tasks. It features a high-capacity magazine, easy depth-of-drive adjustments, exhaust vent and a removable nose cap that prolongs its life. With this nail gun, you will be in a position of talking everything from cabinet installation and picture frame assembly to construction of furniture and finish work. It also features a selective actuation for making tool-less firing transitions. This nail gun also features a bottom-loading magazine that is well designed for easy and quick loading.

Best Nail Guns - Buyer's Guide

Nail Gauge

One of the essential nail gun aspects is the supported nail gauge as it helps give an insight into what type of nails you will be in a position of using with the nail gun. Different gauge types depend on the available variants from the nail gun from 11 gauges up to 18 meters. It helps in determining the diameter of the nails, which are supported by the nail gun.

nail length

Nail fixture durability is dependent on the nail length that is inside the surface. Longer nails can be put on thicker shells, whereas shorter nails are essential for thinner applications. When you wish to use the nail gun on the walls or any other thick surface, it is appropriate that you go for a nail gun that can support at least 2-inch nails and above.

power type

Power type is an essential factor that helps in determining the portability and functionality of a nail gun. When a nail gun is powered using a pneumatic system, it will need a pneumatic compressor with a particular power rating. The pneumatic nail guns are not in a position of being used freely due to the limited lengths of pipes and hoses.

features

After selecting your preferred power type, you should look at the extra feature a nail gun offers. There are features like adjustable exhaust system that will let you change the nail output according to your requirement.  With this, you can always be sure that you can adjust it so that it will always clean up excess dust on the go.

Best Nail Guns - FAQs

Is it possible to use a framing nail gun to install siding?

Every nail gun is well designed for a particular type of job. The nail is made to drive nails of specific gauges and lengths. It is widespread to get a framing nail gun being used to installing the siding. However, this is never recommended due to the differences in the nail types they fire.

Which is the preferable nail gun firing mode?

The nail guns offer completely different firing modes that include sequential, single firing, multiple firing, and bump firing. Multiple firing is highly recommended as it provides the flexibility of choosing between bump firing and sequential.

Should I purchase a pneumatic or a battery nail gun?

It will be determined by the type of job you will be working on, what amount of money you are willing to spend together with other factors. When working on a large construction project, you will have to invest in a reliable tool. Hence, the pneumatic nail gun is highly recommended.

Who should use a nail gun?

The professional contractors whose earnings depend on the number of projects they can complete will get a nail gun very useful. This will help them achieve their work much earlier than they could have to when using a hammer.

Author

Jimmy Black started his career as a construction and carpenter foreman. After years of hard work, he decided to go on his own. Now, Jimmy is one of the trusted experts at SolidSmack who knows at first glance whether your hammer would do a great job or not. He still involves himself in various construction projects and works for individual clients. Behind formalities, he enjoys being a father to two lovely kids who keep on asking him why they can’t quit school and travel the world like Dora The Explorer.