The Best Finish Nailers – 15 & 16 Gauge – Reviews & Guide 2024

The DEWALT D51257K is lightweight and has a no-mar pad to protect your surface from any damage. It’s accurate and precise, ideal for a new DIYer or a professional carpenter thanks to the internal piston catch which delivers even, maximum power with each shot.

A cool thing about this nailer is the sealed lube dial technology. This means that the motor can work both with and without lubricating oil. This helps keep maintenance minimal and makes the tool all that much more versatile.

The rear loading magazine is easy to reload and jam clearing is easy and tool-free. Nails are fired in sequential mode for safety and accuracy. There are over-molded grips so you can keep a good grip on the handle while you’re doing you work. It comes with a belt hook so you can hook it onto either side of your waist, keeping it out of the way when you don’t need it and close at hand when you do.

One downside is that some of this tool is constructed with plastic so you have to careful with it. If you’re too rough, there’s a good chance it will break.

The Hitachi NT65MA4 is a versatile and useful finish nailer. You can switch between sequential or contact modes with the flip of a switch. Sequential requires you to depress the tip and pull the trigger to drive each nail while contact automatically drives a nail each time the tip makes contact.

You can also change the depth-of-drive with the turn of a dial, allowing you to get a professional looking finish on a variety of materials. The 360-degree exhaust port lets you direct the air so it blows away from you, no matter how you’re using the tool. There’s also an air duster button that’s conveniently located about the grip. You can use this to clear away any dust or debris before you drive a nail or for clean-up at the end of your project.

The elastomer grip handle gives you something to grip onto so you can be sure you’ll always get accurate and precise placement. This nailer will need a bit of oil occasionally to keep it at peak performance. It comes with a convenient carrying case, safety glasses, and a no-mar tip.

The PowRyte Basic is our budget choice and it’s pretty easy to see why. It’s packed with features and isn’t that much of an investment because it’s made for DIYers and beginners. It comes with a tool-free depth of drive adjustment to countersink nails accurately into a variety of surfaces.

The magazine has a reloader indicator so you can clearly see when you’re getting close to the end of your magazine so you can reload and avoid any dry firing that can damage the nailer. In the event of a jam, the special release mechanism makes it really easy to clear. You also get an adjustable 360-degree exhaust port so you can prevent the air from blowing in your face while you’re working.

The magazine isn’t angled so this isn’t a great choice for jobs that require getting into tight spaces. It’s made of plastic and cast aluminum so it’s somewhat durable but use caution with the plastic parts because the will break under the right circumstances. Still, this nailer has a lot of features for a really fair price. If you’re looking for something to use to install molding, chair rails, or other light jobs around the house, this is a great choice.

The Paslode T250A is a good pick for anyone from a DIYer to a professional. It’s able to tackle jobs that range from the simple installation of baseboards to stair assemblies. It’s lightweight construction and soft textured grip decrease fatigue and let you work for longer periods of time. The directional exhaust helps you stay comfortable while you’re working.

The magazine is rear-loading and has a two step follower that makes reloading faster and easier. It holds 100 nails and has a nail lockout when there’s 10 left so you’ll know to reload before the nailer runs dry. The angled design lets you use this nailer in smaller spaces, which makes it more versatile.

The 16 gauge nails are a plus because they’re smaller and less likely to cause splits in the wood. What’s great about this nailer is that it takes 16 gauge nails and has an angled magazine. There are more benefits to this nailer, too. You get a durable plastic carrying case, a spare no-mar tip, safety glasses, and plenty of references, cleaning, and user guides.

The magnesium housing makes this Senco 4G0001N lightweight and durable. This is a new version of this tool and has been overhauled: long life driver, improved durability, and better ergonomics. The 360-degree adjustable exhaust and balanced lightweight design keep you comfortable while you’re working. This is a high-performance nailer that can drive nails into the hardest woods with professional looking results.

There are some standout features on this Senco finish nailer. The tool-less depth of drive adjustment is done with an easy to use thumb wheel. The two no-mar pads protect your work surfaces from unintended damage. There’s even a ruler included so that you can get more precise measurements.

If there’s a jam, te EZ-Clear latch will help you clear it fast so you can get back to work right away. No lubrication is required with this nailer thanks to the brand’s NeverLube technology. This nailer also comes with a hard plastic case for transport and storage.

This battery powered finish nailer from Paslode is designed for working with trim work, though it’s versatile enough to do a variety of jobs. If you need to do work overhead or squeeze into tight spaces this is a good choice. It’s cordless, so there’s no air hose to get in your way or compressor to drag around behind you.

Cordless tools like this one that use a battery and a fuel cell are a little more powerful than purely battery operated ones. In these tools, the battery ignites the fuel in the cell which powers the nail. You can drive into harder woods than a battery alone.

There are a lot of other features packed into this nailer, too. The tool-free depth of drive adjustment is done with a simple dial. The ergonomic handle is designed with an angle that gives you a great line of sight so you can always get the nail right where you want it. The reversible belt hook lets you hang it close to you when you’re not using it. There’s a no-mar tip to protect the surface and a nail lock-out so it doesn’t try to fire blanks.

You get a lot with this tool, including a rechargeable lithium ion battery, battery charger, safety glasses, and a carrying case. You’ll have to buy the fuel cells separately. This tool is a little on the pricey side but it truly has a lot to offer.

This Freeman PFN1564 is packed with a lot of great features. For one, you can switch between sequential or contact mode with the flip of a switch. The ergonomic, soft grip helps keep you comfortable while you work, which means you can work longer and get the job done faster.

The thing that stands out the most about this tool is the warranty. At 7 years, it’s the longest one of any of the finish nailers we reviewed. Having a warranty that longs gives you a little bit more confidence in how a tool is going to perform.

There are other great features, too. The anodized aluminum magazine and cylinder keep the nailer lightweight but also really durable. If this nailer happens to jam, it’ll be easy to clear thanks to the tool-free quick release. The anti-dust cap keeps dust and debris out of the internal parts. Teflon O-rings keep the inside of this nailer functioning properly and the no-mar tip protects your work surface.

The depth adjustment dial is a little difficult to figure out. Practice on some scrap first until you get the hang of how to turn the dial to get the depth you want because it’s not clearly marked. The nails can be a little hard to find, too.

The Makita AF601 packs a lot of features into a compact finishing nailer. The magazine takes standard 16 gauge nails. It not only has a nail lock-out to stop you from firing when the magazine has run out, but also a large window so you can keep an eye on your supply.

There are a lot of features included in this nailer that just make it nice to use. The reversible belt hook gives you a way to hang the nailer within reach when you’re not using it, regardless of whether or not you’re left or right handed. The exhaust port is multidirectional so the air will blow away from you while you’re using it. There’s also a built-in air duster so you can clear debris from your work surface or clean up when you’re all done.

One downside to this nailer is that it’s not angled so you might have a difficult time getting into smaller spaces. Another issue is the nail lock-out is a little twitchy and doesn’t always prevent dry firing.