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10 Best Cordless Brad Nailers of 2024 – Reviews & Buyer’s Guide

person using DEWALT DCN680D1 Cordless Brad Nailer

person using DEWALT DCN680D1 Cordless Brad Nailer

Sick of hauling a compressor around? A cordless brad nailer may be your solution. With advances in technology, cordless brad nailers are slowly catching up to their pneumatic and corded brethren. While in the past, cordless nailers couldn’t compete for power and efficiency, new models are coming out that give pneumatics a run for their money.

With so much variability in quality between brands, it can be difficult to determine which nailer will give you the performance you need with the portability you want. Gas-operated nailers frequently come with a delay, while battery-operated models can lack the power of more conventional models. Read on in these reviews to discover the top 10 cordless brad nailers for efficiency, power, and user-friendliness.

A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2024

Rating Image Product Details
Best Overall
Winner
PORTER-CABLE PCC790LA Cordless Brad Nailer PORTER-CABLE PCC790LA Cordless Brad Nailer
  • Lightweight
  • Powerful
  • Long battery life
  • Best Value
    Second place
    VonHaus 9100100 Cordless Brad Nailer VonHaus 9100100 Cordless Brad Nailer
  • Two tools for the price of one
  • Lightweight and portable
  • Adjustable depth
  • Premium Choice
    Third place
    BOSTITCH BCN680D1 Cordless Brad Nail BOSTITCH BCN680D1 Cordless Brad Nail
  • Brushless motor
  • Tool-free adjustments
  • Lightweight
  • Ryobi 3 Piece One+ Airstrike Brad Nailer Ryobi 3 Piece One+ Airstrike Brad Nailer
  • Drives 60 nails per minute on contact actuation
  • User friendly
  • 1
  • 000 nails per charge
  • Metabo NT1850DE HPT Cordless Brad Nailer Metabo NT1850DE HPT Cordless Brad Nailer
  • Air spring drive
  • Brushless motor
  • Fires up to 2” brads
  • The 10 Best Cordless Brad Nailers

    1. PORTER-CABLE Cordless Brad Nailer – Best Overall

    PORTER-CABLE PCC790LA Cordless Brad Nailer Kit

    Porter Cable has long been a trusted brand for professionals and do-it-yourselfers alike. There’s one reason; they make great tools. Their cordless brad nailer is no exception. Most importantly, it’s powerful. With an initial maximum charge of 20 volts and an 18-volt nominal voltage, you won’t wind up with half-sunk brads with this model.

    It also offers an extremely high degree of user-friendly control, you won’t need to grab your tools to release stalls and jams or adjust the drive depth. It’s also one of the lightest nailers, at just 5.9 pounds, decreasing fatigue during long-term use. Overall, it’s built to be extremely easy to use. It also has endurance and versatility. A single stock battery delivers an estimated 1,300 brads before it needs to be recharged. It takes brads from ⅝-inch to 2 inches long.

    Overall, Porter Cable has come out with a truly high-quality nailer here. That said, there are just a few drawbacks. Like many nailers, it has kickback, which can result in dented material if you’re not careful. This makes the rubber tip especially important to maintain. You have to physically check to see if you’re out of nails, which is not true of all models. Finally, the position of the flashlight makes it less than useful.

    Pros
    • Lightweight
    • Powerful
    • Long battery life
    • Takes brads up to 2” long
    • User-friendly
    • Tool-free adjustments
    Cons
    • Heavy kickback
    • Must physically check whether you’re out of brads
    • Flashlight less than functional

    2. VonHaus Cordless Brad Nailer – Best Value

    VonHaus 9100100 Cordless Nail Gun

    Without a doubt, this VonHaus model is one of the best cordless brad nailers for the money. Not only is it less expensive than some other brands, but it’s also a two-in-one stapler/brad nailer, which means you’re getting two tools for the price of one.

    Along with the versatility comes portability. Since it’s more compact than most other models, the VonHaus is easy to haul around. It makes it a great grab-and-go companion for simple jobs. While it’s heavier than the Porter Cable at 7.88 pounds, it’s still light enough to make it easy to use.

    The 18-volt battery provides solid power, and it’s adjustable to work with materials of different depths. On the negative side, its firing rate is 20 fasteners per minute, which isn’t as speedy as some other models. It also mentions in the specifications that it’s not for use in hardwood. This quickly became evident as it occasionally failed to sink the nails completely during tests.

    Pros
    • Two tools for the price of one
    • Lightweight and portable
    • Adjustable depth
    • Solid power
    • Inexpensive when compared to some other models
    Cons
    • Slow firing rate
    • Sometimes doesn’t sink fasteners all the way

    3. BOSTITCH Cordless Brad Nail – Premium Choice

    The first thing we noticed about the Bostich nailer was the precision with which the tool was built. Its narrow nose offers great visibility while you’re shooting. Also, the LED placement is great, giving your target the light you frequently need.

    Precision isn’t the only thing you’ll get with this nailer. It also packs a 20-volt battery (18 volts nominal voltage), giving it excellent nailing power. It drives brads from ⅝-inch to 2⅛ inches, making it versatile. It’s also durable due to the brushless motor. It also comes with several other handy features. There are LED warning lights for diagnostics, and a tool-free interface makes releasing jams and stalls and adjusting depth a breeze. It also has contact-action nailing for rapid nailing. Weighing in at 5.4 pounds, it’s one of the lightest guns on the market.

    On the downside, it does jam occasionally. In addition, it sometimes has too much power for certain applications, tearing through trim rather than fastening it.

    Pros
    • Good precision and visibility
    • Takes brads from ⅝” to 2⅛”
    • Brushless motor
    • Tool-free adjustments
    • Lightweight
    Cons
    • Occasional jams
    • Too powerful for some applications

    4. Ryobi 3 Piece One+ Airstrike Brad Nailer

    Ryobi 3 Piece One+ Airstrike Brad Nailer

    Here, Ryobi has produced a user-friendly and efficient battery-powered brad nailer. It comes with several features, including a belt clip that can switch sides to account for left-handed users, LED lighting that allows for illumination of the work area, a knob on the back that allows for pressure adjustments, and a rubber-cased handle that provides comfort during use.

    In addition to user-friendliness, this gun offers versatility and efficiency. It fires up to 2-inch nails and can handle a range of projects. It offers trigger and contact actuation, firing 60 nails per minute when set to the latter. It also fires 1,000 nails per battery charge, which isn’t the biggest number, but it will help you get the job done.

    The primary downfall of this model is its weight. At 9.78 pounds, it’s one of the heaviest cordless nailers we examined. That makes it awkward to work with trim pieces and the nailer at the same time, especially when installing crown molding, casing, or chair rail.

    Pros
    • Drives 60 nails per minute on contact actuation.
    • User friendly.
    • 1,000 nails per charge.
    • Fires ⅝” to 2” nails
    Cons
    • Heavy (9.78 pounds)

    5. Metabo NT1850DE HPT Cordless Brad Nailer

    Metabo NT1850DE HPT Cordless Brad Nailer

    The rebrand of Hitachi has released a solid nailer with this cordless model. It’s quick, durable, and user-friendly. A highlight of the model is its efficiency. The air spring drive mechanism allows for firing with minimal delay, and adjustable firing modes provide sequential and bump fire settings.

    The Metabo can be used for many projects due to its ability to accept numerous nail sizes; the range is from ⅝-inch to 2 inches. It’s also designed to be user-friendly. It has a belt hook that can be adjusted to either side to suit right-handed and left-handed craftspeople. It also has a lock switch to prevent accidental firing.

    The downside is the weight. It’s a heavier gun than some, which can make it awkward to work with.

    Pros
    • Air spring drive
    • Brushless motor
    • Fires up to 2” brads
    • Sequential and bump fire modes
    • Adjustable belt hook
    Cons
    • Heavy

    6. KIMO 9418A Cordless Brad Nailer

    KIMO 9418A Cordless Brad Nailer

    This Kimo nailer/stapler combo provides value and versatility. It handles 18 gauge brads (¾-inch to 2-inch) and staples (¾ to 1⅝-inch).  With the range of fasteners it can take, it lends itself to a huge range of applications. Speaking of versatility, the nailer can be set to trigger actuation or contact actuation (for rapid nailing). It also has adjustable drive depth.

    In addition to adaptability, the Kimo has power and endurance. It features a 20-volt battery with a 1400-nail life. That comes close to topping the range among this selection. Unfortunately, there are a few pitfalls. The Kimo nailer is one of the heavier guns at 9.63 pounds. It also requires the release of multiple screws to clear a jam. This wouldn’t be as much of a problem if it didn’t jam relatively easily.

    Pros
    • Both a nailer and a stapler
    • Good range of fastener lengths
    • Two actuation modes
    • Long battery life
    Cons
    • Heavy
    • Complicated to clear a jam
    • Jams easily

    7. CRAFTSMAN Cordless Brad Nailer

    CRAFTSMAN CMCN618C1 Cordless Brad Nailer

    For a basic cordless nailer, this Craftsman model is a solid choice. It makes up for what it lacks in bells and whistles with simplicity. Among the features are three tool-free settings that make it easier to use. These include jam and stall release along with a rolling depth setting.

    There are a few caveats with this nailer, though. First of all, it only knocks out 420 nails per charge. That’s significantly lower than other brands, so you’ll need to have battery backups ready. In addition, it’s not suitable for rapid nailing, as the gun can overheat easily when nailing in quick succession.

    Pros
    • Simple and easy to use
    • Adjustable depth setting
    Cons
    • Short battery life
    • Overheats under heavy use

    8. DEWALT DCN680D1 Cordless Brad Nailer

    DEWALT DCN680D1 Cordless Brad Nailer

    The Dewalt 20-volt Max cordless brad nailer delivers on Dewalt’s history of high-quality tools. It comes with various features similar to the Bostich model, which belongs to the same company. The Dewalt is designed for precision nailing. The ultra-slim tip makes sightlines clear, and the LED lighting provides workspace illumination, which helps in this regard as well.

    It also features selectable modes. With a tool-free adjustment, it can be set to either sequential or contact actuation. The brushless motor is durable, and it also drives nails between ⅝-inch and 2⅛-inch.

    There are relatively few negatives to this straightforward tool. Among them is its size. It’s nearly twice the size of similar pneumatic guns, which can make it unwieldy to work with. That said, it’s not the heaviest gun in this collection, at 6 pounds.

    Pros
    • Ultra-slim tip
    • LED lighting
    • Two nailing modes
    • Brushless motor
    Cons
    • Large

    9. NEU MASTER Cordless Brad Nailer

    NEU MASTER NTC0023 Cordless Brad Nailer

    This is an example of where combo tools sometimes do both functions poorly. It’s a brad nailer/stapler, which is a plus for folks looking to get two tools in one, but there are definitely better options out there, including some on this list. On the upside, it’s a user-friendly tool. Its straightforward design makes it easy to work right out of the box. It also sports a non-marring rubber tip, which helps prevent dents in the wood when driving nails. In addition, it comes with a belt clip and onboard illumination.

    The other key positive feature is shooting efficiency. We’ve tested other guns that don’t fire a lot of fasteners on a single charge. That isn’t the case here, as this gun shoots 1,100 brads or staples on a single charge.

    There are several negative features of this gun. First, it doesn’t offer the versatility of fasteners that other guns provide. The fastener length only goes up to 1¼ inches, which means it’s only good for a small number of jobs. It doesn’t pack a lot of power, and as a result, it doesn’t countersink fasteners, which means you’re stuck driving them in by hand. There’s also a delay between shots, which decreases efficiency when working on a project.

    Overall, this tool works if you’re on a budget. However, the extra money you could spend on another model will make your life much easier.

    Pros
    • Shoots both brads and staples
    • User friendly
    Cons
    • Only goes up to 1¼”
    • Doesn’t drive all the way in
    • Minimal power
    • Delay between shots

    10. Makita XNB01Z Cordless Brad Nailer

    Makita XNB01Z Cordless Brad Nailer

    Makita isn’t doing its reputation any favors with this nailer. Inconsistent performance and non-ergonomic design put it near the bottom of the list. With relatively few positives to balance the negatives, the Makita Cordless Brad Nailer comes in at the last spot on our list. What this gun has going for it is range. It allows you to shoot nails from ⅝-inch to 2 inches long, which makes it applicable for several jobs. It also drives 1,660 nails per charge, which is impressive. An adjustment knob makes it possible to change the depth of the drive, though, at the deepest setting, this sometimes results in misfires.

    Unfortunately, the Makita doesn’t have the power of other models. This results in half-driven nails that need to be finished off with a hammer, particularly when it comes to hardwood. That not only makes the process less efficient, but you run the risk of damaging your medium with the hammer. Secondly, there’s a firing delay. This doesn’t much matter if you’re just putting in a few nails, but when you’re doing a large project, seconds turn into minutes of lost work time.

    It is also lacking in ergonomic considerations. This gun is poorly balanced. While the weight (7.7 pounds) isn’t the highest among its competitors, the unbalanced design can result in early fatigue when using this gun.

    Pros
    • Drives nails up to 2” long
    • 1,660 nails per battery charge
    • Toolless depth adjustment
    Cons
    • Doesn’t drive flush
    • Firing delay
    • Bad balance
    • Bad for hardwood

    Buyer’s Guide – Purchasing the Best Cordless Brad Nailer

    There’s a lot to consider when making a tool selection, and it’s no different in the case of battery-operated brad nailers. Because the principal application for brad nailers is finish work, precision is a key consideration. In addition, craftspeople need a tool that won’t slow them down, provides lasting performance, and can be used in as many projects as possible. The power source is also a critical consideration, as is a user-friendly interface.

    Precision

    Look for nailers with good sightlines. A narrow tip allows for more precise nail placement. Because visibility is key, built-in workspace lighting is an indispensable addition to a top-level brad nailer.

    Efficiency

    There’s nothing worse than waiting for a gun to wind up before it sinks the nail. While it’s not a big deal when sinking one or two fasteners, it can make a project significantly longer when the seconds turn into minutes. So, guns with minimal or zero firing delay are at the head of the pack.

    Durability

    It costs a lot of money to replace tools, so a key consideration when purchasing is the model’s durability. This includes the body of the gun and the motor. Brushless motors require less maintenance and have greater internal durability, while a hardened or rubberized finish means the body is less likely to break down under heavy use.

    person using Metabo NT1850DE HPT Cordless Brad Nailer

    Versatility

    It should be a target to buy no more tools than you need to be fully equipped for the job at hand. That means that when purchasing a nailer, versatility is vital. Factors to consider include whether it fires staples and the range of lengths it takes. It would be a shame to purchase another gun just to fire longer nails, so go with the gun that has the biggest range.

    Power Source

    Most of the nailers on our list are powered by 20-volt (18-volt nominal) batteries. In most cases, this provides a big bang for your buck. A high-powered battery is only part of the equation; it’s also necessary to look at the battery life. Batteries with higher milliamp-hour (mAh) ratings generally offer longer-lasting power.

    However, the batteries are not the end of the story; each model produces various degrees of power. So, it’s critical to examine how many nails per charge a nailer fires.

    User-friendliness and Accessories

    The best nailers are easy to use. That includes everything from tool-free adjustments to built-in adjustable belt hooks. Look for nailers that provide tool-free jams, stall releases, and tool-free depth adjustments. In addition, the best deals are those with a backup battery and battery charger included with the starter pack. It may be a little more expensive, but it’s worth it in the end when you have a fully charged battery ready after your 1,000th nail.

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    Conclusion

    Here’s the recap. At the top of the list is the Porter-Cable PCC790LA Cordless Brad Nailer. It lives up to the brand’s reputation; it’s lightweight, user-friendly, powerful, and versatile, with great battery life. Overall, it ticks most of the boxes in our buyer’s guide.

    The runner-up and best-value option is the VonHaus 9100100 Cordless Brad Nailer. It combines a reasonable price with a built-in stapler. The fact that it’s two tools in one adds to the value element of this model. Both tools are fully functional, unlike some other models. It also sports tool-free adjustments, a lightweight body, and solid power. If you’re looking for a functional nailer-stapler for a good price, this is where it’s at.

    We hope you’ve found these reviews useful. The bottom line is that you can’t always go by the brand name when it comes to cordless nailers. Each one has highlights and drawbacks, and the goal is to nail the one with the combination of the best options.

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