Nail guns fall into that category of must-haves when you are serious about your building projects. With the many different styles and types available for you to choose from depending on your need, you’ve probably begun to wonder which may be the best cordless nail gun and if it truly can provide the power you need. Rest assured, there are some incredibly powerful nailers that do not require an air compressor to fire, and if you are not keen on worrying about hose or cord length when at work, a cordless version is exactly what you want to consider. Our cordless nail gun reviews below showcase some of the most popular in the business to help guide you towards what you need and want.
5 Best Cordless Nail Gun Comparisons
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Paslode Cordless XP |
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PORTER-CABLE 20V MAX |
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DEWALT 18-Volt Cordless |
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BOSTITCH 20V MAX Cordless |
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Ryobi 18V One+ Airstrike |
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Electric vs Fuel Powered Cordless Nailers
There are two differently powered cordless nailers available for you to choose from: an electric cordless and a fuel powered design. Both require a rechargeable battery but fire differently due to how they work to provide pressure behind the release of the nail.
Cordless Electric Powered
A cordless electric nailer is battery powered and uses a rechargeable lithium-ion battery. This limits your work time to your battery charge, but if you keep a spare this rarely slows down your job. These types of nailers are not always the strongest, and not often seen for heavy framing jobs and such, but they are reliable and convenient.
Cordless Fuel Powered
A fuel-powered nailer has both a lithium-ion battery and fuel canister. The nail is fired from the combustion of the fuel when a spark from the battery to the spark plug ignites the fuel. This is a powerful tool and is often used in lieu of a pneumatic nailer when the convenience of being hose and cord-free is a need (or want).
Contact and Sequential Firing Methods
Not all nailers fire quite the same, and it’s important to understand the basic differences for safety purposes. Almost all guns fall into one of two categories: contact firing, or sequential firing. Some even have the ability to do both, as the operator may be able to toggle between the firing method for either personal preferences or the job they have on hand.
Contact
Contact firing, or bump firing, allows you to hold your trigger while you ‘bump’ the safety tip against the working surface to drive the nail. It does not require you to pull the trigger each time, but simply engage the tip. This allows you to work quickly through a job and is popular with roofers and framers to get a job done effectively concerning time and effort.
Sequential
Sequential firing requires the sequential order of certain steps before a nail can be released. In single sequential, you much rest the safety tip against a surface and then pull the trigger. You may then leave the tip against the surface and continue to pull as you work (also called actuation). This is still quick, but slightly safer overall that a contact fire. Full sequential firing requires you to lift your tip after each fire and then be reactivated before pulling the trigger. This is a slightly slower process, but very safe as no accidental discharge can occur.
Nail Feeding
Nails are fed through your gun and into place much like a bullet is loaded through a magazine and into a firing chamber. Nails are available in either a strip-style or coil-style configuration, and are held together either on paper, or by wire or plastic.
Coil-Style
Most often seen in roofing guns, a coil-style load is called such as it looks like a rolled up coil of nails which are then placed into a rounded canister to feed through the nailer. These are usually connected by a very fine wire which gives way under the pressure of being fired.
Strip-Style
Strip-style nailers are the most often seen and use a stip of connected nails in an elongated magazine to feed through the nailer. They may be connected by paper, plastic, or wire.
How to Choose a Cordless Nail Gun
A cordless nail gun is a great way to build your powertool arsenal, but you still have to choose what is best for your job. Not all nailers are the same, as explained above, and you need to narrow down your choices based on need before you get into detailed preferences. This, more than anything should drive your decisions.
Top 5 Best Cordless Nail Gun Reviews
The nailers highlighted below are some of the best based on consumer reviews. Our choices lean a bit towards what a homeowner may prefer, but there are definitely some seriously powerful, professionally rated choices in there.
Paslode Cordless XP Framing Nailer
- Job Type: FramingPower
- Type: Fuel + Battery
- Warranty: 90 day to 1 year extended
Paslode is a name synonymous with quality nail guns, as it should be since nailers are their specialty. They carry a healthy range of pneumatic and cordless gas powered guns for serious construction purposes. They are a go-to for many professional builders due to their long lasting products and trusted name. This framing nailer is amongst the most powerful they offer, and is driven by a fuel canister and battery combination to provide the power needed to drive nails into durable, framed construction. The fuel allows for working conditions down to 14-degree Fahrenheit, and the battery is capable of a 1 ½ hour runtime, with a 200 shot, 2-minute fast charge to get your job done.
PROS
- Little to no jams
- Easy to use and extremely durable
- Fast battery recharge
CONS
- Requires frequent loading
- 5000’ high altitude limitations
PRO TIP
This is an awesome tool for serious work whether you are working professionally, or on your own building projects.
PORTER-CABLE 20V MAX Lithium 18GA Brad Nailer
- Job Type: Brad (good all-around gun)
- Power Type: Lithium Ion battery
- Warranty: 3 year
Porter-Cable is a well-known name for homeowners looking for a useful, dependable, and affordable tool. This kit includes everything you need to get going: the gun, battery pack, and charger are all included, with the options to purchase your nails and extra batteries if desired. They also offer the bare nail gun with no extras if needed. As a brad nailer, this is a great all-around choice for homeowners looking for a dependable tool for a variety of jobs. The lightweight design is amongst the lightest in its class (5.9 lbs), and it boasts a 100 nail magazine capacity. It also can drive up to 1300 nails on one battery charge, making your job that much quicker without having to wait for the battery to recharge.
PROS
- Has an LED light for working in low light conditions
- Lightweight and well balanced
- Durable and long lasting
CONS
- Depth adjuster may not be fully accurate
- 4.0 Ah lithium-ion battery only battery with long life (sold separately)
PRO TIP
This is the perfect tool for a homeowner who could benefit from the ease of a nail gun and the freedom of cord lengths. Move quickly around your job without worry of electrical sources or cord lengths.
DEWALT 18-Volt Cordless 20 Degree Angled Finish Nailer
- Job Type: Finishing
- Power Type: Lithium-Ion battery
- Warranty: 3 year
DEWALT is a name many power tool lovers turn to when on the hunt for a dependable project. Well respected by both professionals and homeowners, the name has withstood the test of time to provide long lasting tools. Their pneumatic and cordless nail gun options are no exceptions, and this 18-volt, 20-degree Angled Finish Nailer is considered one of the best in the business. This kit has everything you need to get started: the gun, battery, and charger- all in a hard side carrying case. With variable operating modes, you can work though precision nail placement in a sequential mode, or work more quickly in contact mode. It is easy to maintain in case of jammed nails due to easy nosepiece removal. The ready load magazine has the ability to hold 120 nails to help get you through the job. An LED light provides illumination in low light conditions.
PROS
- Heavy duty and well balanced
- Surprisingly powerful
- Very precise
CONS
- Slightly heavy
- Bulky for tight situations and takes some maneuvering
PRO TIP
Favored by both professionals and homeowners, this is a dependable tool for regular use. The extended run batteries keep anyone working through until the job is done.
BOSTITCH 20V MAX Cordless Straight Finish Nailer
- Job Type: Finishing
- Power Type: Lithium-Ion Battery
- Warranty: 3 year
BOSTITCH is in the business of getting things put together, and was born from the need to wire stitch. From this was born a company that specializes in nailers and their accessories. Their many options include pneumatic and cordless battery choices that stay in touch with current technological advances in the field. Their 20 Volt Cordless Finish Nailer packs a powerful punch and is popular for business and homeowners alike. With your choice of trigger operations, you can work in a variety of situations that you can control the accuracy of each shot. It also has a clear line of sight due to a narrow tip and LED to help you see in low light jobs. This kit has everything you need to run and charge your gun, as well as an adjustable belt hook, and kit bag to keep everything easily accessible.
PROS
- Very lightweight and balanced
- Good battery life
- Gets into tight spaces well
CONS
- Safety switch takes getting used to
PRO TIP
Another good choice for anyone in the market for a dependable finisher. This model can make short work of all your finishing needs with an easy to see tip for accuracy.
Ryobi 18V One+ Airstrike Brad Nailer
- Job Type: Brad (all-around) nailer
- Power Type: Lithium-Ion Battery
- Warranty: 3 year
The Ryobi brand has gained a lot of popularity in the last decade as the homeowner’s tool, and more recently within the builder’s arsenal of power tools as well due to an exceptional, affordable value. Their One+ Lithium-Ion batteries are interchangeable amongst all their cordless tools, providing convenience for charging and allowing you to have a wide variety of products that run from the same source. Their Airstrike Brad Nailer packs a powerful 18 Volt punch and can drive up to a 2-inch nail with ease. It also boasts the ability to change operating modes and can drive up to 60 nails per minute when using a bump method. The battery can be charged in a mere half hour, allowing you to work quickly as well. This kit includes the gun, battery, and charger.
PROS
- Impressive power for the price
- Easy to use and lightweight
- Awesome for all-around use
CONS
- Ryobi doesn't make their own brads (it is compatible with Porter-Cable)
PRO TIP
Marketed for homeowners, it shouldn't be overlooked by the business owner due to its affordability. It is a durable, trusted product favored for its quality.
Conclusion
The above picks are all excellent nail guns for their various jobs, which makes choosing one to be the best difficult- since all are specific to certain areas of work. They all have excellent homeowner value, as well as amazing possibilities in a more professional setting due to their value and overall quality. As a homeowner, if I had to choose a tool of this nature, I would want one capable of a variety of jobs. The Ryobi 18V One+ Airstrike Brad Nailer is a great nailer for this purpose, and well worth taking a closer look at when you have a variety of projects to get done.
If you have any questions or comments on the makes and models presented, or even a favorite you would like to share, please do so below. And, as always, please share!