10 Best Nail Guns UK 2021 | Ryobi, DeWalt and More

Wondering why you should use a nail gun? The short answer is that they are far more convenient than using a hammer and will save you a huge amount of time on any given job. 

While adding the element of speed, a nail gun is also far more accurate than when using a hammer, giving you a higher level of precision than you would otherwise get. The extra precision and control you are granted also dramatically reduces the risk of injury as your hands will be nowhere near a nail or a hammer. 

Reducing the risk of a possible accident is also an appealing factor if you’re using a ladder or working anywhere you could become unbalanced when swinging a hammer with one hand and holding a nail with the other.

In our buying guide, we’ve set out the many different types and variations of nail guns on the market and what you can expect from each type. We’ve also made sure to explain what all the technical specs mean so you'll be able to confidently choose exactly the right product. 

While all nail guns worth their salt will drive nails into wood or a wall, there are a few different types available that offer different conveniences; some are more portable and easier to handle, while others offer more power and can fire different sized nails.

The first type of nail gun we’re going to take a look at are ones powered by compressed air. If you couldn’t guess, these use an air compressor to fire the nail into a surface. The inner workings of these are relatively simple, meaning they can be cheap to pick up and pack a lot of punch.

The main downside of this type of nail gun is that you’ll need to already have a powerful air compressor unit, which can be bulky and expensive to purchase solely for using a nail gun. If you’re a car enthusiast and have a kitted-out garage, however, a simple nail gun attachment to an already-owned air compressor is a great choice.

When most people think of a nail gun, they probably think of one powered by electricity; these types are either powered by the mains with a cord or have a battery to make easier to move around. There are advantages to both types which will depend on the jobs you have in mind.

Cordless nail guns are obviously far more portable, making them a great choice if you’re working anywhere where an extension cable won’t reach, like a roof or a fence in the garden. It's worth noting that the battery packs can be bulky and require recharging, though. 

Mains powered nail guns are often cheaper and provide more power than their portable counterparts, making them better for some harder surfaces, but your movement will be restricted when using it. 

These nail guns also use electricity from a battery, but the nail itself is powered by a small explosion caused by a spark igniting gas from a canister, similarly to how a car engine works. As a small amount of gas is used each time, you’ll need to have replacement canisters ready to swap out for an empty one.

As far as advantages go, these types of nail gun are as portable as a cordless battery powered option but provide a huge amount of power when driving nails when compared to other portable options. 

These tend to be the choice of professionals needing more industrial use and are a great choice for serious jobs and projects, but you’ll likely have to pay a premium.

As well as the various ways in which they are powered, different nail guns can be designed to specialise in many different jobs; there are roofing nail guns, finishing nail guns, framing nail guns and many more, far too many to list, in fact.

The main thing to focus on is that each specialist type of nail gun fires a different size, or gauge, of nail. The most common types are 16 gauge and 18 gauge (also known as brad nails), or 1.6 mm and 1.2 mm nails respectively, and ‘framing’ nail guns which are suitable for larger nails. 

Each gun will also have a maximum capacity that they can hold at any one time, which is something to pay attention to.

You may see the terms 'first fix' and 'second fix' when looking at descriptions of nail guns and wonder what they are referring to. These are terms that relate to the stages in building a house and aren't too complicated to understand.

First fix is the first stage of when a house is being built, such as laying the brickwork for walls and constructing the actual structure of the house. Nail guns with first fix in the description are more heavy duty and usually for industrial use.

Second fix refers to work after the structure has been built, so fitting doors, sideboards, kitchen units and so on. Most second fix nail guns are suitable for home DIY work and things of that nature.

Now you’re up to speed with the different types of nail gun available, you’ll hopefully have something suitable in mind for whatever job or project that’s coming up. With that said, it’s time to take a look at our top 10 list. We hope that there’s something on there for you!

Planning on upcycling some wooden furniture or sprucing up a few areas around the house and garden? Check out a few more of our recommendations for screwdrivers, drills and sandpapers to ensure you get the best tools for the job. 

Whether you're looking for something cheap and easy to replace the dangers that come with using a hammer or you're looking for a tool that's a little more powerful and precise, we hope that our article has been able to point you towards the best nail gun for your needs.

Author: David Sexton