If you're looking for a free-to-go framing nailer that doesn't require a hose and pulling a heavy compressor to fire nails, the cordless framing nailer might be the best choice for you. With the advancement of technology, a cordless framing nailer can generate the same power that a pneumatic nailer does. However, there are so many cordless framing nailer options available in the market, including brands and models. So, it can make you confused about which one you should buy according to your needs. Don't worry, we're here to help and guide you to choose the best cordless framing nailer to get your job done.
Before going to the main topic, let's talk about some advantages and buying guides of the cordless nailer. The most significant benefit of having a cordless framing nailer is that it has no cords and is powered by a battery. So, you don't have to carry a heavy compressor and work within the confines of the hose that allows you to move with your nailer with complete freedom. Moreover, it is quite convenient and gives you a good balance while working on a higher platform. It doesn't make any annoying noise that a pneumatic nailer does, which mainly comes from the compressor. Also, it is a low-maintenance nailer that does not require frequent oiling like pneumatic nailers.
Best Cordless Framing Nailer Comparison Chart
Cordless Framing Nailer Models | Basic Information | Price |
|---|---|---|
  Metabo HPT NR1890DR | ||
  Paslode 905600 | ||
  Dewalt DCN692B | ||
  DeWalt DCN21PL | ||
  Milwaukee M18 Fuel Framing Nailer |
Cordless Framing Nailer Buying Guide
Here are some basics that you should consider before buying a cordless framing nailers.
Size & Weight
The first thing you should look for in your cordless framing nailer is weight. If it's too heavy compared to your overall strength, you may lose your balance and stability while working with it, which may lead to unwanted accidents - it can be extremely dangerous sometimes. You may not even be able to work for long periods of time and may feel tired early.
Different Degrees
There are different types of cordless framing nailers in the market, defined by angle degrees. It's a feature that depends on what you need and for what purpose you are going to use it. The common types are 21-degree framing nailers, 28-degree framing nailers, and 30-degree framing nailers.
Therefore, it is important to consider the degree of nailer when buying a framing nailer. For example, if you need a framing nailer for work around your home, the 28-degree framing nailer is best for you. On the other hand, the 21-degree framing nailer is for commercial use. Finally, though it's called a 30-degree framing nailer, you can find it from 30 to 34 degrees. It's an excellent nailer for reaching extremely tight spots.
Handle and Grip Quality
Nailers used for framing are generally heavier than any other nailer used in woodworking. So, it's likely to slip out of hand if not handled carefully, which may cause serious damage to your workpiece and even occur dangerous accidents. Therefore, you should pay attention to the nailer grip. Make sure it's molded with anti-slip materials, fits your hand shape, and is comfortable.
Additional Features
There are a few other features to consider before buying a cordless framing nailer, such as safety and what materials they are made of. Also, tool-free depth adjustment is a great addition to a cordless framing nailer for adjusting the drive depth, as wood pieces of different hardness and thickness require different depth settings.
In addition to all other common features, some framing nailer comes with protective guards to protect users from debris or nails that can deflect off material and kickback. Few nailers feature integrated LED lights that can help illuminate the dark spot to fire the nail precisely.
Top 5 Cordless Framing Nailer Reviews
Metabo HPT NR1890DR
4.5 / 5
The Metabo HPT (formerly Hitachi) NR1890DR is an all-rounded cordless framing nailer that combines convenience, durability, and excellent performance. It's an 18V battery-powered nailer that combines with a brushless motor and works similarly to a pneumatic framing nailer. It can drive plastic-collated fully-round nails from 2 inches to 3.5 inches, giving users the flexibility to choose the length needed for their heavy-duty framing jobs. You can fire up to 400 nails from a single charge and may require an additional battery if you want to work longer. Its magazine can hold up to 37 nails which is a little lower than DeWalt and Paslode. Also, its 21-degree angle allows users to reach tight corners to drive nails precisely.
Metabo HPT NR1890DR is suitable for framing, subflooring, roof decking, and wall sheathing and features tool-free depth drive adjustment that allows users to select the depth of the nails based on the wood material they're working with. It has two firing modes, sequential or bump fire mode. Selecting between sequential or bump firing modes is very simple, requiring only the flick of a switch. Its dry fire lock-out system prevents the nailer from firing if the fastener is low for added safety, and the side lock trigger switch prevents accidental firing. Furthermore, it's a built-in adjustable rafter hook for easy storage when not in use, and you can even hang it on your belt while going up or down the ladder.
The tool's weight is over 10 lbs, including the battery, and comes with a battery, charge, safety glasses and carrying bag. Metabo HPT also offers a lifetime warranty for NR1890DR (tools body). For battery and charger, it's 2 years and 1 year respectively.
Features:
- Air Spring Drive System
- Zero ramp up time
- Selective actuation
- Tool-free depth adjustment
- Dry-fire Lockout system
- Ergonomic, non-slip soft rubber grip handle
- Trigger switch Lock out system
- Adjustable rafter hook
Specifications:
- Weight: 10.8 lbs.
- Dimensions: 13.5 x 5.38 x 13.5 inches.
- Magazine Angle: 21°
- Magazine Capacity: Up to 37 nails from 2" to 3.5" Plastic strip round head framing nails
- Required battery: 18V Lithium Ion (Compact 3.0Ah)
- Motor used: Brushless
Paslode 905600
4.7 / 5
Paslode 905600 Cordless XP Framing Nailer is a lightweight, ergonomic and powerful cordless framing nailer. It's a cordless framing nailer where you can use dual power sources, a 7V Li-ion battery (included) or a replaceable compressed-gas fuel cell. When you're using the battery, you can fire up to 9,000 nails on a single charge, but you can fire up to 1,200 nails using the fuel cell.
Paslode designed Paslode 905600 framing nailer to driver improved power for low standing nails and good drive performance in a variety of hardwoods. It's a 30-degree cordless framing nailer that allows users to reach in extremely tight spots/corners to fire the nails precisely. Its magazine can hold up to 48 nails (30° Paper-Tape) from 2 inches to 3.25 inches. Moreover, its stainless steel magazine raceway resists warping and nail jamming, allowing easy nail loading and changing.
It's a lightweight cordless framing nailer, and the total weight is only 7.2lbs. It also features tool-free depth drive adjustment that allows users to select the nail depth easily as per their needs without using any external tools. The nail lockout feature prevents blank firing, and the adjustable utility hook allows you to safely carry the tool when climbing or descending a ladder or hang it by a belt when not in use. Also, its battery standby position feature conserves battery power. The downside of this framing nailer is that it only offers a single firing mode, sequential.
Features:
- Aggressive Teeth for Toe Nailing
- Lightweight & Compact Design
- Battery Standby Position
- Tool Free Depth-of-Drive
- Adjustable Utility Hook
- Nail Lockout to Prevent Blank Fire
- Stainless Steel Magazine Raceway
Specifications:
- Weight: 7.2 lbs
- Dimensions: ‎12 x 4 x 14.5 inches
- Magazine Angle: 30°
- Fastener Type: 30° Paper-Tape
- Magazine Capacity: Up to 48 nails from 2" to 3.25"
- Required battery: 7V Li-ion battery (included) or compressed-gas fuel cell
Dewalt DCN692B
4.5 / 5
DeWalt DCN692B framing nailer is one of the best selling cordless framing nailers in the market. It uses an upgraded engine to improve power and drive quality. Its compact size, design, and easy-to-use features make it the all-around most efficient and highly productive framing nailer.
DeWalt DCN692B 20v Max Cordless 30° Paper Collated Framing Nailer is powered by DeWalt long lasting 20V Max battery that can fire up to 850 nails in a single charge from 2 in. to 3-1/2 in, 30 to 34 degree angled paper collated nails. Its 33-degree magazine can hold up to 55 paper collated nails. In addition, its dual-speed brushless motor is optimized to drive a wide range of fasteners for various applications.
DeWalt has integrated a list of useful features into its cordless framing nailer model DCN692. Its tool-free depth drive adjustment feature allows users to adjust nail depth without external tools. It has two firing modes, and a tool-free selector switch lets users easily swap between sequential or bump fire modes according to their needs. It also has a no-mar nose tip that protects the work surface from staining. In addition, the dry lockout feature prevents the tool from firing when the magazine is nearly empty. The adjustable rafter hook allows users to flip the nailer when not in use. Finally, its stall release lever helps users reset the driver blade in case of nail jamming.
On the DeWalt DCN692B, the "B" stands for the bare tool. It will not include a battery and charger. If you already have a DeWalt tool that runs on a 20V max battery, it's best to go with it to save you money. But if you are a first-time buyer of a DeWalt cordless nailer, we recommend buying the DeWalt DCN692M1, which comes with a DCB204 20V MAX battery, DCB115 charger, no-mar tip, and a carrying bag.
Features:
- Dual-speed brushless motor
- Tool-free selector switch to change firing mode
- Tool-free depth adjustment
- Dry fire lock system
- Non-mar tip to protect workpiece staining
- Stall release lever for jam release
- Adjustable rafter hook
Specifications:
- Weight: 7.8 lbs.
- Dimensions: ‎15.25 x 5.88 x 13.25 inches
- Magazine Angle: 33°
- Magazine Capacity: Up to 55 nails from 2" to 3-1/2"
- Required battery: 20V Max Li-ion battery
DeWalt DCN21PL
4.5 / 5
DeWalt DCN21PL is a 21-degree cordless framing nailer and is designed to deliver the optimal performance that pros always demand to get their job done. It also uses a dual-speed brushless motor like DeWalt 30-degree cordless framing nailer DCN692B and integrates all the useful features.
The DeWalt 20V Max Plastic Collated Cordless Framing Nailer Kit DCN21PL runs on a 20V lithium-ion battery like other DeWalt cordless nailers. It's available in two formats, you can either opt for the DCN21PLB ("B" means bare tool), which will have no battery, or you can buy the DCN21PLM1, which will include a DCB204 20V Max Battery, DCB115 Charger, No-Mar Tip, and a carrying bag. If you already have a DeWalt cordless tool running on a 20V Max battery, buying the bare tool can save you money.
DCN21PL top loading 21-degree magazine can hold up to 49 full round head plastic collated framing nails from 2 to 3-1/4 inches and is capable of driving 0.0148 diameter nails into a variety of dense woods. Also, it can drive up to 499 nails from a single charge. The bare tool weight is 8.2 lbs, slightly heavier than other competing paper-collated framing nailers but lighter than Metabo HPT NR1890DR.
Compact size, well-balanced design, and easy-to-use features make DeWalt DCN21PL a highly productive tool for users to complete their tasks quickly and efficiently. It's designed to meet all framing applications required by professionals, such as wall framing, deck building, subfloor installation, setting trusses, fence building, sheathing and retaining walls, and more. Additionally, among the features, the tool-free selector switch allows easy switching between sequential and bump firing modes, and the drive depth adjustment tool allows users to adjust nail depth without any external tools. The dry fire lock-out feature prevents the tool from blank firing when the magazine is nearly empty, and the no-mar tip protects the workpiece from unusual stains. The stall release lever allows users to reset the driver blade in case of an unexpected nail jam and has an adjustable rafter hook for hanging it up when not in use.
Features:
- Dual-speed brushless motor
- Tool-less selector switch to toggle between sequential or bump-fire modes
- Tool-less depth adjustment
- Dry fire lock to prevent blank fire when nails are low
- Non-mar tip to protect workpiece staining
- Stall release lever for quick jam cleaning
- Adjustable rafter hook
- Strong aluminum magazine
Specifications:
- Weight: 8.2 lbs (bare tool)
- Dimensions: ‎‎17.94 x 17.63 x 5.9 inches
- Magazine Angle: 21°
- Magazine Capacity: Up to 49 nails from 2" to 3-1/4" paper collated framing nails
- Nail driving capacity: Up to 499 nails from a single charge
- Required battery: 20V Max Li-ion battery
Milwauke M18 Fuel Framing Nailer
4.8 / 5
The Milwaukee M18 Fuel Cordless Framing Nailer was launched in the market in June 2020, and they have introduced both 21 and 30-degree models for users. Since these nailers are fairly new to the cordless framing nailer market, the question may arise as to whether they can produce enough power while some high-quality and powerful cordless framing nailers from well-known brands have been on the market for years, such as DeWalt, Paslode, or Metabo HPT. However, let's explore why we include it in our top 5 cordless framing nailer lists.
The most impressive part of the Milwaukee M18 fuel 21-degree framing nailer is its nail driving speed. It can drive 3 nails per second in bump (contact actuation) firing mode with no ramp-up time, which may give you a closer feel to using a pneumatic framing nailer. You can even switch to sequential firing mode using a simple electric switch. Moreover, most users report that it hardly ever jams or misfires, and they also appreciate its performance. If you experience a nail jam at any point, you can easily clear the jammed nail, as there is enough access to get a pair of needle-nose pliers around the jammed nail, or you can use an Allen wrench instead if unsuccessful.
Milwaukee 2744-20 M18 Fuel Brushless 21-degree Framing Nailer can effortlessly drive full round head framing nails from 2 to 3-1/2 inches into engineered wood and work well with both paper and wire collated strips. Also, you can use this nailer to fire full head offset and clipped head framing nails. In addition, its tool-free depth adjustment knob allows users to change the drive depth easily according to their needs, and the dry fire lockout feature prevents blank fire while the magazine is nearly empty. It also integrated a LED light to illuminate the dark spot to drive nails precisely. Moreover, Milwaukee includes both belt and fold-out rafter hook. So, you can hang it on your belt or use the rafter hook to hang the nailer on a joist or ladder when not in use, and you're busy with something else.
Milwaukee Fuel M18 Framing Nailer uses an M18 XC 5 Ah battery to power the nailer and can fire up to 750 nails from a single charge. Its 21-22 degree angle magazine can hold up to 45 nails, but you can extend the capacity as Milwaukee offers an optional extended capacity magazine (it can hold 83 nails but sold separately) to double the capacity and minimize downtime. It's a unique feature that was not seen in any cordless nailer available on the market. So, you can easily swap magazines without wasting time to load the current magazine.
Please note, Milwaukee only offers the bare tool, and you have to buy other accessories separately, such as the M18 XC 5 Ah battery, charger, and no-mar nose tip.
Features:
- Brushless motor
- Selector switch to swap between sequential or contact actuation firing modes
- Drive nails with zero delay for both sequential and contact actuation (bump) modes
- Tool-less depth of drive adjustment
- Dry fire lock system to prevent fire when magazine is almost empty
- Non-mar nose tip (sold separately)
- Works with both paper and wire collated strips
- Belt and foldable rafter hook
- Optional extended capacity magazine that can hold 83 nails (sold separately)
Specifications:
- Weight: 9.6 lbs (bare tool)
- Dimensions: ‎‎‎16 x 15.5 x 6.5 inches
- Magazine Angle: 21° - 22°
- Magazine Capacity: Up to 45 nails from 2 to 3-1/2 inches full round head framing nails
- Nail driving capacity: Up to 750 nails from a single charge
- Required battery: M18 XC 5 Ah battery
Conclusion
Finally, if you want ultimate freedom in your workplace and looking for a powerful cordless framing nailer that performs similarly to a pneumatic nailer, in that case, these are the top 5 best cordless framing nailers you can consider. However, if you're simply looking for the best framing nailer, whether it's cordless or pneumatic, you can check our 5 best framing nailer reviews.