What is the Best Heat Gun for the Money?

When it comes to needing some heat for our various projects, nothing out there is more useful and handy than a heat gun (unless you’re into the good ol’ fashion fire on a stick method). To our avail, a lot of these are pretty affordable and won’t break our budgets, so as opposed to the question of whether or not we should have a heat gun in our toolbox, is more of which one is the best to buy. Today we review some of the best heat guns in the market for the money based on user reviews, research and word around the tool culture.

What is a heat gun?

To review, a heat gun is a powerful tool that provides us a high amount of heat in our hands, typically resembling a hair dryer. Although not typically included in power tool combo kits or other packages, it is a very useful device for all sorts of home repairs from shrinking tubes and films, softening old paints, window tinting and more. These are considered ideal for removing adhesives as well. The best heat guns are available both in corded and cordless varieties.

The best thing about carrying a heat gun in your toolbox is that even though it is a heat-producing device, it is flameless and very safe. Instead, hot air accomplishes the entire project safely — unless you want to grab an open flame-type of device, this is your best bet for bringing the heat. We know people who hang theirs up right next to their other essential tools, such as cordless drills, screwdrivers and more.

How to choose the best heat gun

• Your overall budget – As stated previously, heat guns are pretty cheap as compared to other power tools. The highest near the $100 mark but others can be below $20. It’s all about how much cash you have at hand to invest in your heat gun.
• Intended use – Most of these popular heat guns we recommend are intended for a variety of use. If you want some smaller projects done (such as art, some paint thinning and other budget-friendly tasks), you won’t need many of the extra features the others include. However, if you want a heat gun that will not only provide you some heat for projects but also some options in terms of temp control and a better build than others, stick to our first few options listed below.
• Additional features – A lot of these have some cool features included in the gun, such as a hanging mechanism, ergonomic handle, temperature control and heat settings capability. Which is important to you?

The best heat guns for the money

Wagner 0503008 HT 1000

Although it was relatively difficult to choose an answer for the very best heat gun overall, we’d first start to recommend the Wagner 0503008 heat gun for quite a few reasons. This is a basic and solid for-the-money heat gun, which is typically designed for applying focused heat in certain projects like thawing pipes, removing paints and loosening rusted bolts. It provides 1,200 watts of power so you’re getting plenty for most average applications (1200 W/ 4100 BTU’s of heating power). For some nifty heating control, it possesses 2 fan speeds and also has a corrosion resistant nozzle with an integrated hanging hook. This is also considered one of the best heat guns because it has a lightweight handle and an easy to use temperature switch built-in. The light handle is important because for most heating projects you’ll be needing to hold it in versatile positions and avoid workers fatigue in order to reduce needing to take breaks. If you want a highly reviewed and one of the best head guns in our opinion, grab this and don’t look back.

DeWalt D26950

The DeWalt D26950 heat gun is built extremely well and although priced a bit higher than the rest, is worth the money to invest if it’s within your budget. As we all know, they’re famous for their power tool constructions. This one has different temperature controls, which allows the user to adjust the heat setting. It also has a built-in overload protection — it shuts down the heating element and prevents burn up. For convenient storage, the D26950 provides a built-in hang ring. It offers greater stability as compared to its competitors and also comes with a cord protector that helps keep the cord safe from tearing away from the housing. You will feel comfort even after longer hours of use because of its ergonomic build and features. It has a compact design and is lightweight at only 2.1 pounds. Grab this one as opposed to our previously listed model if you want to spend a few more bucks for something that is higher quality. It’s the best heat gun if you have the cash.

Porter-Cable PC 1500 HG

If you want some extra fancy features in your choice, this model comes with two fan speed selectors for low and high fan speed settings. The Porter-Cable PC 1500 HG heat gun also offers a variable temperature control dial that allows the user to make easy adjustments of the heat. This is one of the best heat guns because it provides an integrated hands-free support stand to facilitate the user with hands free use while adjusting it to sit upright. Its integrated hanging hook has been considered ideal for storage and it causes less fatigue while working as it is merely 2 pounds in weight. The PC 1500 HG has a 1500 W motor for delivering high heat and should cover you for most applications you’ll find yourself needing it for. It is considered ideal for applications like welding plastic, bending plastic pipes, paint removal, shrinking plastic tubing and removing adhesive tiles, but anything besides larger industrial projects should be fine.

Genesis GHG 1500A

This highly rated model is one of the best heat guns if you wanted to look through budget-friendly models, typically priced under twenty bucks. The Gensis GHG 1500A heat gun has 4 attachments for concentrated airflow and works well even in pesky tasks. It is a lightweight structure with a height of only 3.23 inches and a weight of 2 pounds. The tool has two different temperature settings (low and high). It is known as the perfect tool for heat shrinking tubing around stripping paint, electrical wiring and adhesive or varnish materials. The device is excellent if you want to thaw frozen gutters, pipes or a downspout, or if you wish to loosen up corroded hardware. It is best when taking aim at drying glue or setting concrete even more quickly with the help of this trusty machine as well. If you wanted something that was super cheap and can get the smaller projects done efficiently, take a look at this one.

Black & Decker HG1300

The Black & Decker HG1300 heat gun device has a motor of 11.25 amps and has a super compact design with a height of 7 inches. This easy to handle and friendly to use heat gun is available with two temperature settings, i.e., 750 degrees and 1000 degrees, which is best for varying projects. Its application is considered ideal for stripping paints and varnish, thawing frozen pipes, loosening rusted bolts and nuts, or rapidly drying most anything. To avoid hassle in the project, it has a built-in stand as well. This heat gun is a good choice for multi- purpose tasks. It’s pretty cheap, too. Although topping off our best heat gun guide in last place, it’s still worth looking at if you’re a B and D fan.