Nailer reviews from Reddit
Summary
We analyzed 287 Reddit reviews across 23 subreddits and 62 posts to rank the best Nailer brands recommended by redditors, including communities like r/Carpentry, r/Tools, r/ryobi, r/woodworking, r/Dewalt. Top-rated brands include Milwaukee (4.4/5), Paslode (4.3/5), Ryobi (4.1/5).
Stats
Reviews287
Subreddits23
Posts62
Brands22
Products80
287 reviews from
and
By Brand
/By Product
#1
Milwaukee
4.4
(59)
"The Milwaukee nailer is fantastic, I’ve had mine for over a year and it’s never once jammed or misfired."
"I’ve been watching for sale pin nailers for a good while, and this is cheaper than I’ve seen for any bare tool from any reputable brand, much less with a Milwaukee with a battery kit."
"I’m absolutely in love with my Milwaukee m12 23g."
"I got the m18 cordless milwaukee brad nailer and I love that thing."
"I just got the 23 gauge m12. I love it so much I was installing trim at my own house, on a Sunday, for fun!"
"Milwaukee all day if you’re going cordless."
"Also picked up the 16ga nailer which I much prefer over the pneumatic one."
"I have the cordless m18 and it’s been perfect for my uses."
"It’s consistent, reliable, and has rarely jammed."
"Milwaukee 12v. Just saying."
#2
Paslode
4.3
(37)
"If i could only have one i would have the paslode framing nailer."
"I picked up a pneumatic paslode (holds twice as many nails, don't have to clean it as often, no charging batteries or replacing fuel cells)"
"Paslode for me…light weight/durable/dependable"
"You can never go wrong with a paslode"
"Pros: barely ever needs a new cartridge. Get it, those things rock."
"They are the BEST in industry period hands down will shoot millions of times and last forever basically."
"The literal best."
"Most people I know that use them everyday have a paslode."
"They’re better than Milwaukee."
"I’ve fired hundreds of thousands with my Paslode… beautiful piece of equipment."
#3
Ryobi
4.1
(29)
"Ryobi has an affordable cordless brad nailer… this is the way."
"The best nailer isn't the DeWalt. The better tool is the Ryobi in any of the flavors of gauge."
"I have the hp version but I used it on baseboards no problem."
"I have the hp version and have used it do all the baseboard in my 1000sqft basement."
"Works great. Just did my whole basement."
"Have absolutely no complaints about it."
"I love it"
"All my home stuff is Ryobi. Completely happy with it."
"The Ryobi nailers are really good for their price. Ryobi batteries are cheap, and so are M18 to Ryobi adapters."
"I bought one because I was tired of lugging my compressor around for my kitchen remodel. It has never not sunk a nail, so much more convenient than the air-gun."
#4
Bostitch
4.2
(26)
"Bostitch F21PL - it’s a a beast! $189 on Amazon."
"Bostitch BTFP12233 for 18 gauge. I’ve been using that for years and I do a lot of production homes as a finish carpenter."
"Cadex, grex or Bostitch smart point are awesome nailers."
"Seconding the Bostitch smart point. Total game changer and has been very nice and reliable since I got it."
"I’m really impressed with the bostitch smart point pneumatic Brad nailer."
"Bostitch n66 coil nailer, holds 300 nails per coil, it'll make quick work."
"I like my Bostich. Bought it in 2008 or 9 off of ebay used! Still works today."
"Bostitch is hard to beat. Love their nailers."
"I have a bostitch 21° framing nailer, but don't use it for fencing. I have a cheap porter cable 16ga and 18ga pair that have been stalwart and reliable."
"I run bostitch, but wouldn't be afraid of the metabo hpt, they make excellent shingle nailers."
#5
Hitachi
4.3
(23)
"The new Hikoki is the mutts nuts."
"Hitachi no question."
"I have a hitachi, now metabo hpt, PRO brad nailer and it’s fantastic and very sturdy."
"Works perfect, lightweight and good price."
"Hitachi nv65"
"I have one that’s probably twenty years old."
"Is the only answer."
"Pneutools SN2283 (basically like being able to buy a brand new old version of an NR83."
"I’ve had the best luck with Hitachi/Metabo guns as well."
"I'd prefer a Hitachi/Metabo, however I haven't had a need to buy a new one."
#6
Metabo
4.5
(19)
"I got a new metabo and and it’s the bees knees!"
"I have the Metabo, the one with the metal magazine and love it."
"Always have ran the old Metabos. Theyre cheap, do what every other brad nailer does, light, and fuckin bulletproof."
"I have the Metabo suite (framer, 15ga, 18ga, 23ga) and they are all great guns."
"Metabo seems to be the gold standard for trim carpenters in my area."
"Metabo and Milwaukee perform the fastest and the best"
"I’ll take the metabo all day"
"I replaced my old 18g paslode with a battery 18g metabo and have been happy."
"Bang for the buck, the best damn trim nailer $$ can buy."
"Metabo is hard to beat."
#7
Senco
4.3
(19)
"Senco man all the way on finish guns."
"The high end Metabo and Senco guns are what you want to look for."
"Love my Senco FinishPro 18g"
"All my nailers are Senco. I have both air and cordless, frame and finish. They make a great gun."
"The senco guns are top notch as well."
"Senco for pneumatic, Milwaukee for battery."
"I have run Senco for over 20 years and found them very reliable."
"We use Senco 21 gauge for trim work."
"I have a senco that is good, but I don’t know if it’s definitively the best."
"I have a senco thats also still alive."
#8
DeWalt
3.3
(16)
"I have had great success with the DCN920. It's a pretty robust framing gun."
"I have been using the dcn920 almost daily since release. 1 jamb other than that it has been great."
"I use a DeWalt cordless as my daily driver for installing."
"If you want a cordless one I’ve used dewalt and Milwaukee, but have heard good things about grex."
"My favorite was the cordless Dewalt, as much as it pains me to say it."
"I’ve had no issues with my DeWalt."
"I have the Dewalt and the milwaukee, compared to the milwaukee the Dewalt is a feather."
"Dewalt and Milwaukee both have good ones."
"If you're on DeWalt batteries you might want to wait to compare their new one."
"I use the Dewalt also but only for very small jobs."
#9
Makita
4.1
(11)
"I like that makita and metabo have a wider no mar tip so it doesn’t dent material."
"Makita is my favorite. Smooth, has a belt hook, and light! Hardly any jams and been using it hard for 3 years now."
"I run the M18 18ga for more power and the M12 18ga to get into tight spots. I've been through 4 of the M18s and I'm still on my first M12."
"For now in Makita system it's the XGT brad nailer. But new nailers are coming into LXT which will be better than that one."
"I have a Makita AF air finish nailer and it’s a really well made tool."
"I've had great luck with makita and senco pneumatics."
"Right now, I have a 23g porter cable, 18g makita, and 15g senco. They all work well."
"I have a metabo, but my coworker has a makita and I prefer that because it is lighter and balanced better."
"Makita, Senco, Metabo, Bostich, in that order."
"I like my Makita quite a bit!"
#10
Grex
4.3
(8)
"Cadex, grex or Bostitch smart point are awesome nailers."
"I'm really happy with my grex 1850GB. Love the full metal construction including a metal nail rack."
"If you want a cordless one I’ve used dewalt and Milwaukee, but have heard good things about grex."
"My grex has been reliable for me so far."
"Grex for 23 gauge."
"I've been eyeing the Grex nailers."
"Grex Green Buddy or Bostitch Smartpoint"
"Grex deserves a glance if for nothing more than the way they package their 23ga pins."
#11
Porter Cable
3.9
(8)
"I have a 20y old porter cable air gun and its still kicking."
"Porter cable brad and finish"
"I still have my 1980s Porter-Cable Brad nailers. Rebuilt a few times, but still working."
"Using Porter Cable over DeWalt means you've no idea what you're talking about"
"Lol will use porta cable, makita. Milwaukee"
"I’ve had a Porter Cable 18ga for years. No problems."
"I use an older 18ga Porter Cable. (when PC made great tools)"
"I have a porter cable set and my brad nailer doesn't have a belt hook and no dry fire lock out."
#12
Cadex
4.8
(5)
"I would definitely second the cadex 21."
"Cadex 21g. Really well built nailer. Nail holding power feels good vs an 18g."
"So good. Shoots every time, pushes nails consistently to the selected depth and is durable and dependable."
"Cadex, grex or Bostitch smart point are awesome nailers."
"I have only used the cadex that shoots up to 2 3/16”, but I’ve heard good things about the senco as we"
#13
Ridgid
3.8
(5)
"I set all my doors w 16 straights and only time I have to go back for adjustments are bc of painters. I also use the rigid, but I just bought a cordless Milwaukee today."
"I like ridgid, prefer straight 16g over 15g for the smaller nail hole, similar holding power."
"Go with air gun, and they sell at all the big box stores."
"Ridgid (home depot brand) are actually quite solid for their 16/18 gauge brads."
"Had one, kept having issues with it so I dropped it and went to a Ridgid air tool."
#14
Omer
4.5
(4)
"Omer. Top notch gun."
"Omer, BeA, Fasco. Industrial grade nailers will last decades."
"I’ve used lots of guns, omer, bostitch, hitachi, metabo, makita (in that order, best to least-best generally)"
"Omer and Senco are solid choices."
#15
Metabo HPT
4.3
(4)
"I have the Metabo HPT. It's great."
"I run bostitch, but wouldn't be afraid of the metabo hpt, they make excellent shingle nailers."
"Metabo HPT has the most economical for the power."
"I replaced my air nailer recently. After reading a bunch of comparison reviews, I ended up with the Metabo HPT."
#16
Framing Nailer
3.3
(3)
"Definitely should use galvanized nails if you don’t want black streaks."
"I just want to say that I am currently actively using a framing nailer for LP Smartsiding, and it is working just fine."
"Framing nails are inappropriate for siding, full stop."
#17
Coil Siding Nailer
5.0
(2)
"Thanks everyone, I’ll go with the coil:)"
"I think you would be much better off using the coil siding nailer."
#18
Nailer
5.0
(2)
"I think a pin nailer might be best"
"I use one regularly, no complaints"
#19
Harbor Freight
4.5
(2)
"I find more use for a brad nailer than a stapler."
"I have a brad nailer that uses 18g nails from 5/8" to 2"."
#20
Bosch
4.0
(2)
"As for air powered, I have always liked Bosch or pas lode."
"I'm a Bosch pro fan."
#21
Central Pneumatic
4.0
(2)
"I have a central pneumatic 21 degree nailer and it handled a huge shed I built. Probably 2-3000 nails without skipping a beat."
"I have the Central Pneumatic one, picked it up in a liquidation sale for like $70. Quite pleased with it."
#22
Craftsman
4.0
(1)
"I went ahead and got the craftsman v20 on sale, since it was same price and I have batteries already."
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