Best Brad Nailers: How to Find the Best for Your Budget
Electric brad nailers are the best tool for any carpenter, handyman or construction worker.
For both DIY jobs and professional carpentry, we have a wide variety of brad nailers. Whether you need to fasten two pieces of wood together, or drive brads through a piece of wood, we've got you covered!
These 18 gauge brad nailers were designed to be used by professionals who want to achieve the perfect finish every time.
Brads are the perfect way to attach items to each other. Whether you're building a cabinet, attaching a shelf, or nailing a piece of wood to the wall, brads are perfect for every type of project!
You need a tool that can handle both regular woodworking tasks and the larger, heavier projects that require multiple brad nails and multiple nails per board.
Check out the battery brad nailers on Amazon and let us know you found your nailer from our article!
How To Choose Which Model Is Best For You
Match the features, capabilities to your budget. Once you have narrowed down, click on the green "Check Price On Amazon" button to get further confidence you have made the right choice by reading some past customers reviews.
Why Would We Want The Best For You
Do you want to buy one of the best brad nailers but don't know which one to buy?
Would the best battery powered brad nailers help me get the job done accurately & efficiently? Do you have a huge project that needs to get done soon? Are you currently nailing something right now? Is it not going well? What do you need to know?
No matter what you're nailing, if you use the wrong brad nailer, you're going to end up wasting time, money, and nails. There's no reason to waste any of those when you could have the best cordless brad nailers around.
There are lots of people using the best brad nailers, but they don’t always work as well as they should. You want to use a brad nailer that gets the job done fast and accurately.
You need a high quality brad nailer. At least one that you can be confident in. Something you can rely on to do what it says on the box.
PORTER CABLE Brad Nailers 20V MAX* Cordless
Amazon #2 in Power Brad Nailers
Why We Think This Is One Of The Best
(why this item is a must buy)
- Motor designed to consistently fire into various materials
- Multiple tool-free settings
- Lightweight and optimal center of gravity is great for user comfort
- Dual LED lights to illuminate workspace
- Up to 1300 nails per charge
- Amazon's Choice
Things To Know About This Model
(what you should know)
- Weight : 6.4 lbs
- Gauge : 18 GA
- Battery : 20V Battery and charger sold separately
DEWALT Brad Nailers
Amazon #4 in Power Brad Nailers
Why We Think This Is One Of The Best
(why this item is a must buy)
- Maintenance-free motor will not stain work surface
- Tool-free depth-of-drive adjustment with detents
- Tool-free jam release mechanism to remove nails
- Rear exhaust redirects dust from user
- Drives 18 gauge nails (5/8 inch to 2 inch) ideal for fastening decorative molding, casing, kitchen crown and shoe molding
- Adjustable belt hook
- Removable non-marring nose tip
- Comfortable integrated rubber grip
- Sequential style trigger for easy firing
- Strong and lightweight magnesium body
- Dewalt cordless brad nailers selected as Amazon's Choice in Power Brad Nailers
Things To Know About This Model
(what you should know)
- Weight : 2.7 lbs
- Gauge : 18 GA
- Battery : Lithium Ion sold separately
- Included : carrying case
Makita Brad Nailers AF506
Amazon #11 in Power Brad Nailers
Why We Think This Is One Of The Best
(why this item is a must buy)
- Drives 18 gauge brad nails from 5/8" to 2" into hard or soft wood
- Aluminum body, magazine and cylinder is both strong and durable
- Narrow nose design for access in tight spaces
- Built-in air duster to clear work surface of debris
- Multi-directional exhaust port rotates 360 degrees redirect exhaust air away from the user
- Easy to use "tool-less" depth adjustment dial to suit different finish applications
- Can operate from 70 to 120 PSI compressors
- Magazine capacity up to 100 nails
Things To Know About This Model
(what you should know)
- Weight : 2.9 lbs
- Gauge : 18 GA
- Battery : sold separately
- Included : Pneumatic Nailer Oil, 2x No-mar tip, Air Fitting, Tool Case, Safety Glasses
Milwaukee Brad Nailers M18 FUEL Cordless
Amazon #14 in Power Brad Nailers
Why We Think This Is One Of The Best
(why this item is a must buy)
- Brushless motor has more power, more run-time, and longer service life
- Tool-free jam clearing latch
- Adjustable belt hook
- LED light to illuminate darker work conditions
- Change firing modes for integrated sequential and contact actuation trigger
- Depth adjustment made tool-free
- Dry fire lockout feature prevents damage to workpiece
Things To Know About This Model
(what you should know)
- Weight : 6.6 lbs
- Gauge : 18 GA
- Battery : 18V sold separately
CRAFTSMAN Brad Nailers V20 Cordless
Amazon #33 in Power Brad Nailers
Why We Think This Is One Of The Best
(why this item is a must buy)
- Drives adhesive collated 18 GA finish nails on a non-marring tip
- Consistent firing power in all climate conditions and materials
- Tool-free depth settings easily set up
- Tool-free jam and stall settings
- Lightweight with optimal center of gravity for maximum comfort
- Contoured over-molded handle for prolonged usage
- Belt hook convenience
- Amazon's Choice
Things To Know About This Model
(what you should know)
- Weight : 7.6 lbs
- Gauge : 18 GA
- Battery : V20 20V MAX* Lithium Ion included
- Included : Charger, 100x 1" Brad Nails, 100x 1-1/4" Brad Nails, 100x 2" Brad Nails
Best brad nailers FAQ
People are always asking us questions about the best brad nailers, and there are too many models available that makes choosing the best one a headache.
It can be hard to find good information about getting the right tools, especially if you had not used them before or not sure where to look. Or worse, you might end up with bad information that should have been to make your home projects much easier.
We know you are a seasoned handyperson or a trade professional looking for a replacement but for the benefit of new users, the best brad nailers can make your DIY projects a whole lot easier.
We've done the research for you! Here are the most frequently asked questions about the best brad nailers cordless and our top answers:
Which is better 16 gauge or 18 gauge brad nailer?
A 1.65 mm thick steel nail is stronger than 18 gauge nails.
Ideal for heavy jobs, like installing doors, or fitting exterior trim.
The 18-gauge nail head is larger than the 16-gauge nail.
What is stronger brad nailer or finish nailer?
In general, use finish nails for thick wood and brads for thin wood.
Finished nails are stronger than brads, so you might want to use them if you have a project that you want it to be durable.
18-gauge brad nails are for more delicate woodworking jobs as they are thinner unlikely to split woods.
Which is thicker 16 or 18 gauge Brad nails?
Nail gauge is the number of nails that are lined up in a row.
So naturally 16-gauge is thicker than 18-gauge and can hold better.
What gauge brad nailer is best?
When it comes to 18-gauge brad nailers, they can shoot a thin nail from 3/8” to 2".
18-gauge heads are also smaller with a thinner nail body and so not likely to split thin wood.
They’re the perfect nails for hanging casings to windows and doors, because they’re less likely to damage due to their small heads.
Do I want a brad nailer or a finish nailer?
A disadvantage of a brad nail is that they hold the material for a longer time than finish nails. However, they can support a greater load.
It is better for smaller trim, such as baseboards or crown molding, to use a finish nail.
Can you use 18 gauge nails for baseboards?
Nail size plays a large role in determining what nail gauge you should use for baseboards.
15 gauge and 18 gauge nails are the most suitable because they will hold up to the toughest jobs. 2-1/2 inch length are preferred as baseboard nails.
What are 23 gauge brad nails used for?
Headless pins are made of 23 gauge wire which is great for their holding strength. They have no heads, so their finish is almost invisible. These are perfect for beadings and mouldings and their absence of heads means that the finish is barely noticeable.
What is the most versatile nail gun?
The most versatile size of nail is 16-gauge, so a 16-gauge nail gun is the best option for general projects. 15-gauge nails are the most common type of nail for thick trim work. 18-gauge and higher-gauge nail guns are best for detailed work on thin trims and furniture repair.
Can you use 18 gauge brad nailer for trim?
An 18-gauge brad nailer is generally used in furniture making for the holding strength.
Go for models that can accommodate 2-inch nails.
What are 15 gauge brad nails used for?
15-gauge brad nails are used for on all drywall casings, base trims, sturdy install of door jambs, especially for heavy solid doors.
The most popular non-structural use of 15-gauge brad nails include crown molding, door casing, chair rail or work that requires strong connections.
If you need to see more items than what we featured here, check out the Top 100 items in Amazon's Bestsellers in Brad Nailers
We hope this article has helped make your decision easier and that you enjoy using your purchase!
