The Top 10 Best Power Nail Guns in the Market

Nothing finishes a job like hammering in the last nail of a project. When it comes to power tools, having anything that can perform in bulk, quickly and efficiently is a product worth looking at. Nail guns have been a big part of power tool boxes for quite a while now, and we know of many individuals who wouldn’t be able to work without them. Today we review the top 10 best nail guns in the market.

If we had to choose the very best nail gun in the market and for the money, we’d recommend the Hitachi NT50AE2 brad nailer because a majority of individuals looking to shop for a nailer tend to want an all-purpose nailer. We will explain the differences later on in the article, but a majority of shoppers are looking for brad nailers when it comes to sifting through nail guns. The NT50AE2 has a lot of high quality reviews to help confidence when buying, a solid construction, great amount of power, and a very easy loading mechanism for re-upping those nails to continue getting the job done. If you do want some other options or are looking for different applications when it comes to nail guns, feel free to continue reading for the top 10 best in the market.

Table of contents

• What is a nail gun?
• How to choose your nail gun
• The top 10 best

What is a nail gun?

A nailer or nail gun is a type of tool that can drive nails in wood and other types of materials, and it normally works through compressed air or electromagnetism.  The nail guns are effective in different types of construction; there are heavy duty models which are designed for high volume applications and there are smaller ones that work for small jobs.

A framing nailer is used to handle large projects like building decks or constructing rooms. A finishing nailer is lighter compared to a framing nailer and it is used to assemble furniture or to install cabinets.  A brad nailers are lightweight nail guns that are suited for precision work. Roof nailers have been developed to be used specifically for roof applications and flooring nailers are used to speed up the installation of, you guessed it: floors. Lastly, the small pneumatic palm nailer can drive individual nails in tighter spaces you need to reach.

How to choose your nail gun

• Your budget – To our avail, nailers are pretty affordable. If you want an extremely high-quality nailer, it usually costs over a hundred bucks. However, most are affordable and fall under that price point.
• What type of nailer? We’ve explained them above in a pretty condensed manner. However, try not to complicate it.
• Power – When it comes to nail guns, most “types” will come with enough power to suffice for the necessary applications.
• Corded or cordless – We know the benefits for cordless being convenience, but what about those who don’t want to hassle with batteries? Most in here need air compressors to power them up.
• Additive features? Some come with just the nailer itself, while others a carrying case, some nails, a mallet and more. It all depends on what you’re looking for.

The top 10 best power nail guns in the market

Hitachi NT50AE2 (brad nailer)

As stated previously, if we had to choose the very best nail gun in the market, we’d go with this. It has a high-capacity magazine, easy depth-of-drive adjustments and an exhaust vent. It has a removable nose cap, which helps prolong the life of the tool. This Hitachi pneumatic brad nailer can help the user tackle a variety of projects, including cabinet installation, picture frame assembly, and furniture construction. The nailer may be used in different applications as well, and it can be adjusted by moving the selection control either up or down. The user can choose between intermittent or continuous firing which is always a plus. The magazine of the nailer is loaded at the bottom and this ensures easy loading and it can hold up to 100 brad nails. Lastly, a visual nail indicator helps to monitor how many nails are remaining. We’d say grab the Hitachi NT50AE2 if you want a nail gun that fits more broad applications and you’re needing a high-quality brad nailer.

WEN 61720 (brad nailer)

This nailer is reliable and it can shoot nails in pretty much any place you want. It can work with brads that are 3/4 inches up to 2 inches in size. It is lightweight with a 3 pound aluminum body and is comfortable with its rubber grip handle. The item is the perfect tool to take to any site you want for broad uses. To operate, you just plug it in to any air compressor and start nailing and it can go anywhere from 60 up to 100 PSI. The tool can carry up to 100 brads and it has a quick release design that can make it easier to clear any jams that may occur.  The WEN 61720 kit also includes a carrying case, adjustment wrenches and oil. Grab it if you want something cheaper than the previous Hitachi model listed.

DeWalt DWFP12231 (brad nailer)

This is a brad nailer that has been designed to offer long life, is maintenance free and also prevents the staining of the work surface. This DeWalt (we all know that name) nailer features a tool-free depth-of-drive adjustment together with detents to enable the consistent proper setting of nails. The nailer has a jam free release mechanism and is designed for easy nail removal. The rear exhaust helps to keep contaminants away from the work area. It drives the gauge nails from 5/8 inch to 2 inch with a sequential style trigger and has a magnesium body which delivers a lightweight and strong design. The adjustable belt hook lets the user keep the tool conveniently close to them. The integrated rubber grip offers improved anti-slip comfort to only add to DeWalt’s premium build. Take a look at the DeWalt DWFP12231 if you want a high-quality nailer for your arsenal.

Hitachi NP35A (finish nailer)

This nail gun is best for professional woodworkers, crafts person and homeowners who need something small to work on a variety of different projects. It can easily be used for glazed bead, paneling, cabinetry details, molding and trim work. This nailer features two no-mar tips for added convenience. One is stored on the nailer at the base of the handle and the other one is installed on the tool at the factory. The depth adjustment feature helps you to set the right depth for the nail to drive into different materials from soft woods to the hardest and most exotic woods. This nailer also offers a convenient reload indicator located on the magazine, and it is shown in an orange color so the user can easily recognize when there is a low quantity of nails. The nailer also has a rear exhaust portal making it another Hitachi model to take a look at. We really like the Hitachi NP35A.

NuMax SFN64 (finish nailer)

This is a NuMax finish nailer that features a top-loading, aluminum magazine that can be used for a great variety of fastening jobs. The depth of the nail may be adjusted without having to use any tool. This nailer can drive nails that range from 1 to 2.5 inches in length and has been designed to offer convenience and comfort. It has a non-mar tip which helps in protecting the work. Its 360 exhaust port can be used to prevent the exhaust air from blowing on the user.  It also features a one piece driving blade that will help the user in a wide variety of applications. It has tool free depth adjustments and it is an adjustable port that directs the exhaust away from the work area. The padded grip lets the user continue working for a long time without getting fatigued — get the NuMax SFN64 if you want a nice finish nailer.

Bostitch F21PL (framing nailer)

This framing nailer can also be used as a metal connector nailer. With this tool you can drive most plastic collated round head nails that measure from 1-1/2 to 3-1/2 inches. With its 1,050 in/lbs. of power, it has been designed to tackle even the toughest lumber applications. It has an adjustable push-button depth that guides in setting the nails to the desired depth in a convenient and quick manner.  This nailer has a unique 16 in layout indicator that is used to calculate the right distance to put between the studs in just seconds without having to use a tape measure. This tool also includes a factory installed sequential trigger and an exclusive smart trigger. The push button is patented and it guides the nails to reach to the required depth in a convenient and quick way. The Bostitch F21PL is a solid nail gun despite the high price.

Hitachi NR90AE(S) (framing nailer)

This is another Hitachi nailer that it is very impressive since it is lightweight while at the same time offering the power of heavier and bulkier nailers. The user of this nail gun will enjoy its durability and strength as well as the features that were designed to minimize fatigue. It is full of convenient operation elements and it provides great performance. This nail gun is the best tool to use for window build-up, roof decking, subfloor and floor making, and framing. It can also be used for housing construction and wall sheathing. The selective actuation helps to switch from the sequential to the contact fire with just a simple flip. The dial adjusts to either countersunk or flush, and it drives into different materials while reducing a need to adjust to the pressure with a compressor. Check out the Hitachi NR90AE(S) for yet another highly rated Hitachi model.

BOSTITCH U/RN46-1 (roofing nailer)

This nailer features durable magnesium construction together with aggressive wear guards and carbide inserts in the nosepiece.  The nailer is meant to provide long lasting performance within extreme job conditions. It weighs only 4.8 lsb and it provides 410 lb. driving power. The unit does include an easy loading, dry-fire, single action canister which is meant to prevent firing if it runs out of nails.  The nosepiece has carbide inserts that provide for long-lasting operation. It has their patented “single-action side load canister” that allows for easy one-step nail loading. It has an adjustable depth guide to set the nails faster to reach to the desired depth. Check out the Bostitch U/RN46-1 for a nice roofing nail gun.

DeWalt DWFP12658 (roofing nailer)

Here’s another DeWalt power tool that is used for coil roofing and it has a compact body design to offer great control and better balance. It has an adjustable, tool-free shingle guide to offer better and more accurate shingle placement along with a selectable trigger that can be used to easily switch between the contact or sequential mode. This nailer features a quick-set drive depth to prevent shingle damage. It also has skin resistant pads and wear guides to provide safety and protection for both the tool and its user. Its over-mold grip has been designed to increase control and comfort.  The top exhaust ensures that contaminants are kept away from the user and the workspace.  The DeWalt DWFP12658 is designed to be used for many roof applications, and it is lighter compared to the competition models.

Freeman PFL618BR (flooring nailer)

This is a versatile flooring air nailer is actually a 3-in-1 tool. It is a flooring stapler as well as a T cleats and L cleat nailer — It has the capability to shoot both cleated nails and staples. The nailer has two interchangeable base plates which provide stability and it protects the flooring against any scratches.  The body of the nailer is made using a durable die-cast aluminum so that it will be able to withstand daily usage and the driver blade is made with hardened steel, an aluminum cylinder, high quality rubber O-rings and an internal air filter.  The nailer set also has a carrying case, oil, a no mar rubber mallet, goggles and wrenches so if you were looking for a nice additive feature-loaded nailer, the Freeman PFL618BR is one to take a look at. It also has a long-reach handle that works with the padded grip to offer comfort.