Nail guns for framing are powerful tools that you can depend on for important structural building projects. Whether you are a professional, or simply a weekend project warrior, you probably have already figured out that a good nailer is a tool worth having in your arsenal of products that help you get the job done quickly and effectively.

If you are new to nail guns, then understanding what a framing nailer is should be a priority as there are many makes and models of various nail guns to consider for the tasks you have at hand. Although framing guns are available in both cordless and pneumatic choices, the freedom of mobility a cordless brings to the table is worth a serious look. The best cordless framing nailers are those that have the power to handle whatever heavy-duty job you can throw at it.

The following reviews help highlight some of the most powerful and reliable cordless framers in the current market. Each of the following products were picked for a variety of reasons including quality of components, design, power, battery life, warranty, and more.

Backyard Boss Top 5 Cordless Nail Guns for Framing in 2021

PRODUCT

FEATURES

Paslode Cordless XP Framing Nailer - $$title$$

Paslode Cordless XP Framing Nailer

  • Firing Methods: Sequential
  • Power Type: Fuel and Battery
  • Warranty: 90 Days to One Year Extended

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Metabo HPT Cordless Framing Nailer - $$title$$

Metabo HPT Cordless Framing Nailer

  • Firing Methods: Contact and Sequential
  • Power Type: Battery
  • Warranty: Limited Lifetime

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DeWalt 20 V Max XR Brushless Dual Speed Nailer - $$title$$

DeWalt 20 V Max XR Brushless Dual Speed Nailer

  • Firing Methods: Contact and Sequential
  • Power Type: Battery
  • Warranty: Three Years

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BOSTITCH 20V MAX 30 Degree Cordless Framing Nailer - $$title$$

BOSTITCH 20V MAX 30 Degree Cordless Framing Nailer

  • Firing Methods: Contact and Sequential
  • Power Type: Battery
  • Warranty: Three Years

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SENCO F-35XP Cordless Pneumatic Framer - $$title$$

SENCO F-35XP Cordless Pneumatic Framer

  • Firing Methods: Contact
  • Power Type: Lithium-Ion Battery
  • Warranty: Two Years

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Best for Professional Use

Paslode Cordless XP Framing Nailer

    This is a powerful gun with the ability to work side by side along some of the most powerful pneumatic nailers the company has to offer.

      Pros:

    • Little to no jams
    • Easy to use and extremely durable
    • Fast battery recharge
      Cons:

    • Requires frequent loading
    • 5,000 foot high altitude limitations

Paslode is an industry leader and a company specializing in nail guns. Their products are known for being long-lasting, making them the go-to for many professionals.

The Cordless XP Framing Nailer is made for a serious workload and is powered by a fuel canister and battery to create combustion which drives the nail. The tool can run for up to one and a half hours on one charge and has a quick two-minute recharge for up to 200 more shots in case you need to get a job done.

The 30-degree angle design helps provide balance and easy access to the surfaces you are working upon. It also is extremely weather-friendly and is a great go-to for working outdoors in just about any condition. Extra fuel canisters and brand nails are also available to make purchasing products easy and hassle-free.

Best for Beginners

Metabo HPT Cordless Framing Nailer

    This is a popular gun for professionals and homeowners alike. It is easy to use and load and is incredibly powerful to get the job done right the first time.

      Pros:

    • Easy load
    • Lightweight and compact
    • Powerful driving force
      Cons:

    • No low nail warning
    • Gas smell after discharge

Never heard of Metabo? That's no surprise because it is a brand-new name. But their tools are far from new. Formerly known as Hitachi, Metabo produces some of the very best power tools in the industry, period. This cordless framing nailer for instance is a prime example of the high-quality and reliable nature of this manufacturer. It also comes as no surprise that the gun is backed by a limited lifetime warranty.

The HPT is a compact framer that is powered by a long-lasting lithium-ion battery. It drives strip nails at a rate of two per second for up to 400 nails per fully charged battery. There is zero ramp-up time with this gun, as an air spring system increases the driving speed and produces as much recoil as an old-school pneumatic nailer that is hooked up to an air compressor. This air spring system drives each nail fired through the gun. Even more, you can choose between bump-fire and sequential modes.

Best for Changing Nail Lengths

DeWalt 20 V Max XR Brushless Dual Speed Nailer

    Made for dependability, this is a choice that can handle heavy jobs and has the capabilities to deal with some finishing work as well.

      Pros:

    • Nail depth control
    • Choice of firing method
    • Lightweight and balanced
      Cons:

    • Battery difficult to remove
    • It may not be as strong as comparable models

DeWalt has been a leading household name for decades, and for good reason. They make a dependable power tool that has both value and quality for a wide variety of uses. The 20 V Cordless Max XR Dual Speed Nailer is made for working with heavy materials and can drive up to 3-1/2-inch nails with little effort. The dual-speed control helps with the depth of the nail, and the product is equipped with your choice of bumping or sequential nail firing.

As part of the MAX lithium-ion battery series, you can use these batteries with any of the company's cordless tools, which contains dozens of different choices. Weighing in at only 7.7 lbs, this is a lightweight choice for a battery-operated tool, making your job easier as you work.

Best Budget Option

BOSTITCH 20V MAX 30 Degree Cordless Framing Nailer

    This nailer comes with everything you need to get started and has a quick charge to keep you working. Made more for home use, this is a dependable tool for whatever plans you may have for it.

      Pros:

    • Long battery life
    • Hits hard and on target
    • Lightweight and easy to use
      Cons:

    • You may have to play with adjustments for nails longer than two inches
    • Jams easy to clear, but may jam often

BOSTITCH is a well-known name in home improvement and in the building industries. They created early versions of the first nail guns, and have only improved on their design over the decades they have been in existence. Their cordless versions are nothing to scoff at, and the 20 V 30 Degree cordless Framer is no exception. The brushless motor has two speeds for nail depth and size, and you can also choose between contact and sequential firing methods.

Their cordless batteries are compatible along with their entire MAX cordless tool series, making it an easy choice for those already familiar with the brand. The stall release lever makes it easy to troubleshoot and clear jams if they occur without having to take anything apart.

Best for Hard Substrates

SENCO F-35XP Cordless Pneumatic Framer

    This is the perfect framer for homeowners as it is great value, from a great company, and allows for easy battery transition between tools.

      Pros:

    • Works well in high altitudes
    • Not temperature sensitive
    • A powerful driving force for a cordless
      Cons:

    • Must take care of the brand nail used
    • A safety feature may leave up to twelve nails in the magazine

The last selection on our list is perhaps lesser known than some of the heavy hitters mentioned above like Metabo and DeWalt, but it is nonetheless just as powerful and reliable. The gun operates via fusion cordless air-power technology. What does that actually mean? It means that the gun runs like a genuine pneumatic nailer and has absolutely no ramp-up time to boot.

This gun is a bit oversized, but some folks prefer that. It also includes a convenient rafter hook and pressure relief valve as well as an easy-maintenance air port. It drives two-inch to 3-1/2-inch framing nails into lumber at 30-34 degrees. The gun also drives nails up to 3-1/2 inches into engineered wood size with little effort.

What Is a Cordless Nailer?

Although many nail guns are run through pressurized air, which requires a connection to an air hose and air compressor, cordless nailers provide you with the freedom of movement and unrestricted by hoe lengths or pressurized charges.

Pneumatic nailers are considered amongst the most powerful, but advances in recent technology have allowed the industry to see an increase in cordless choices that can hold their own against the more traditional gun. Cordless nails can be described in one of two ways: battery-driven, or fuel-driven.

Cordless Electric Driven

BOSTITCH 20V MAX 30 Degree Cordless Framing Nailer

A rechargeable, lithium-ion battery defines how an electric cordless nail gun works. Most have a very healthy runtime, provide more power than ever compared to even a few years ago, and charge in record time.

Of course, you are limited to the battery charge, but if you keep an extra battery charged, you don't have to pause in your work any longer than it takes to swap out batteries.

Cordless Fuel Driven

Paslode Cordless XP Framing Nailer

A fuel canister and rechargeable battery combine to create a combustible force to drive the nail in a cordless fuel-driven model. These are often much more powerful than a cordless electric, but not as popular as they require fuel canisters, spark plugs, and a charged battery. These are typically professional models for quick and easy completion of work in hard-to-reach places.

The Different Trigger Methods

Most framers provide you with the choice between contact and sequential firing methods for versatility and personal preference. These can also make the difference between how quickly you work, and the placement of nails - allowing for more efficient placement and time on the job.

Contact Trigger

Roofing Nailer

Also called bump firing, this is a rapid-firing method that can get you moving quickly through a large job. When you pull the trigger, the nail is fired through the 'bumping' of the tip against the work surface. As long as you keep the trigger engaged, a nail will fire upon each tip depression.

The nail gun does create a recoil bounce, which should be prepared for. This can become fatiguing over time as the operator must provide the force to keep the gun from coming too far back after contact occurs.

Sequential Trigger

A sequential trigger requires you to first place the tip against a surface before depressing the trigger. This allows for more specific nail placement and does move a little slower than contact firing, but not much. With practice, this will speed up and is considered a much safer approach.

How to Choose a Cordless Nail Gun for Framing

Man using a red nail gun to build a wooden garden bed.

Framing nailers are pretty straightforward in their design and are similar in nature to one another. The biggest differences will be in how they are powered, and the amount of power available. Consider the following when on the search for the best tool for you.

What Type of Wood Are You Using?

Different types of wood are used for different types of structures. They are not all made the same and have a large variation in strengths across both hardwood and softwood options. A softer wood does not need as much driving force applied behind the nail as the cellular structure will give in to force much easier than most hardwoods. If too much force is applied, you may end up with surface marks. This may not matter if the wood will not be seen, but it is something worth considering.

How Much Work Needs to Be Done?

If the gun will be used regularly, and heavily, look at your higher-end, more professional models to ensure a long life of work abuse. Like any tool, the more you use it, the more wear and tear it experiences. If you have a heavy workload, you will want a brand and model that has a strong reputation to avoid constantly having to replace your product. Cordless tools may not always be the best option either, so you may want to consider a pneumatic choice.

What Other Jobs Do I Have in Mind?

Do you have other jobs in mind that would benefit from the use of a nailer? If so, consider what those may be to ensure you purchase one that may work for a larger variety of jobs. Nail depth adjustments, firing methods adjustments, and the ability to fire a wider range of nail types are all considerations for this concern.

Picking the Best Cordless Nail Gun for Framing Jobs

If you have been looking for a dependable cordless framing nailer, the above choices are all excellent and worth considering. For homeowners, our favorite is the Metabo (formerly Hitachi) HPT Cordless Framing Nailer that keeps making our top-rated list for consumer reviews across the board in reference to both electric and cordless designs. It is easy to use, lightweight, works well in weather and altitude, and is a powerful and dependable model.

Do you have a favorite cordless nail gun that works well for framing that you'd like to inform our audience about? If so, we'd love to hear about it in the comments section below.