Looking for the best pin nailer on the market? You’ll find that there are dozens of models available, and many of them seem like they’re great, but wind up being a disappointment in the end. We’ve been lucky enough to try out several models, and have found the best nailers on the market. In fact, we had a hard time picking just one, so we’re going to provide you with our top five pin nailer reviews. Models that we ourselves, personally tested.
Best Pin Nailer Comparison Chart
Best Pin Nailer Models | Basic Information | Price |
|---|---|---|
 Metabo HPT NP35A | ||
 Grex P650L 23-Gauge | ||
 PORTER-CABLE PIN100 | ||
 Grex P635 23 Gauge | ||
 BOSTITCH HP118K 23-Gauge |
5 Best Pin Nailer Reviews
Metabo HPT NP35A
(Former Hitachi NP35A)
4.8 / 5
Metabo HPT (Former Hitachi) is one of the best nail gun brands in the world. The NP35A is a 23-gauge pin nailer that has a large holding capacity, offers less downtime, has a rear exhaust to push debris away from the user and even has a depth adjustment to ensure you drive nails flush into the surface.
Did we mention there’s a five year limited warranty included? This model is superb in every way. Let’s take a quick look at the features the Metabo HPT NP35A (Former Hitachi NP35A) offers.
Features:
- Large fastener capacity.
- Dual trigger.
- Rear exhaust.
- Reload indicator.
- Depth adjustment setting.
- 5/8” – 1-3/8” fastener lengths.
Specifications:
- Weight: 2lbs.
- Nail Size: 5/8” – 1 3/8”.
- PSI: 65 – 100.
- Warranty: 5-year.
Lightweight and easy-to-use, this nail gun drives pins into cabinetry, paneling or molding, producing near invisible holes. All 23 gauge pins can be used with a maximum length of 1 3/8”. We love that this model is compact and lightweight while also being comfortable to hold. The soft nose tip leaves no marks on the wood. And side loading pins makes for easy adjustments.
For the price, this is the best pin nail gun on the market. Hitachi even provides you with safety glasses, a hex bar wrench and a case for easy transport.
Grex P650L 23-Gauge
4.4 / 5
Grex’s P650L may have been our first choice, but it’s a little pricier than our last model. With the addition of several features, this model’s price is definitely worth every penny. You’ll find that this model has a lockout mechanism, can easily drive fasteners up to 2 inches in length, eliminates the need for adjustments and has a powerful motor.
We almost forgot to mention that the narrow nose allows you to get in tight areas, which makes this model perfect for detailed trim work.
Features:
- Lockout prevents dry-firing.
- Drives pins up to 2” in length.
- Patented magazine with auto fastener length adjustments.
- Narrow nose for getting in tight spaces.
Specifications:
- Weight: 2.7lbs.
- Dimensions: 7.75L x 8.75H.
- Nail Size: 1/2” – 2”.
- PSI: 60 – 110
- Warranty: 1-year.
Grex really impressed us with this model. You can drive extra-long fasteners with this model, which is perfect for lightweight assembly and even hardwood floors. You may use this nail gun for picture frame assembly, paneling and even furniture. With a maximum length of 2 inches, you’ll have the ability to ensure your pieces are extra secure.
Fastener links can be between 1/2-inch and 2 inches in length with a total of 13 lengths to choose from. The auto lockout feature adds to the safety of this model, and there’s a lockout overdrive button that forces out the last few pins. When clearing jams, the nose comes off for easy jam removal.
The P650L does a little bit of everything, and it offers 23-gauge capacity with 13 different fastener lengths to choose from. And the patented design allows for automatic adjustment of the fastener length ,so you never have to choose them yourself.
PORTER-CABLE PIN100
4.3 / 5
Porter-Cable offers the Pin100, which is a little less versatile than some of the other models that were mentioned. That said, this model does have a 170 micro pin nail capacity. You’ll also enjoy the golf trigger feature, reload indicator and automatic fastener length adjustments
Features:
- 1/2″ – 1” pin lengths.
- Automatic fastener length adjustment.
- Bottom loading magazine.
- 170 micro pin nail capacity.
- Dual trigger feature.
- Low nail indicator.
Specifications:
- Weight: 4.2lbs.
- Dimensions: 10.4” x 12.9” x 2.9”.
- Nail Size: 1/2” – 1”.
- PSI: 60 – 100
- Warranty: 1-year.
You’ll immediately notice that this model is less versatile than the others. Why? There’s a much smaller pin length than the previous two models we reviewed. A one-inch length is sufficient for a lot of jobs, but not for flooring or deeper securing that is needed for cabinetry and other similar projects.
With that said, you can do light cabinetry work with this model, and the automatic fastener length adjustment makes loading up your nails quick and easy. The bottom loading magazine is very convenient, and you can easily load this model up with 170 pin nails to get the job done quickly without having to stop. The low nail indicator also lets you know when it’s time to reload your magazine.
This air-powered nail gun is both affordable and durable. You’ll be able to use this model for finishing projects, and the dual trigger feature allows for added safety. This model even recognizes and adjusts nail sizes accordingly.
Grex P635 23 Gauge
4.3 / 5
Grex offers another great model that we had to add to our list: The P635. Lower priced than the previously reviewed Grex model, the P635 comes with many of the great features that you need for fast, precise fastening using pin nails.
The main difference compared to the previous model is that this one can only fasten nails up to 1-3/8” in length. This isn’t much of a concern, but the previous version does offer 2-inch nail driving, which should be a consideration for hardwoods.
We do want to note that this model is built to handle 99% of your framing needs. It’s those few times when you need a 2” length that you’ll want to reach for a different nailer or another solution.
Features:
- Double trigger safety.
- Narrow nose design.
- Patented automatic fastener length adjustments.
- Fastener length of up to 1-3/8-inches.
- No-mar tip design.
- 9 total fastener size ranges.
Specifications:
- Weight: 2.21lbs.
- Dimensions: 11.2” x 12.9” x 3”.
- Nail Size: 3/8” – 1-3/8”.
- PSI: 60 – 100
- Warranty: 1-year.
This award-winning model is versatile and able to handle a host of different pinning jobs. The magazine automatically adjusts for different fastener sizes – saving you time. This model also offers an approximate 100 pin holding capacity, and has a range acceptance of 3/8” – 1-3/8”.
Slightly less powerful than the P650L, the P635 is more affordable and almost as powerful. This model is ideal for DIYers and construction workers alike. When it comes to quality, Grex is one of the best manufacturers in the business.
BOSTITCH HP118K 23-Gauge
4.6 / 5
BOSTITCH’s HP118K is the last pin nailer that we’re going to review. While this model is ranked fifth on our list, it does come with a variety of different functions and a seven year limited warranty. A low-profile nose piece allows for easy nailing in tough spaces, pin lengths of 1/2″ – 1-3/16,” and even has an adjustable power switch that saves on battery life.
Features:
- Adjustable power switch.
- Depth control.
- Includes oil and carrying case.
- 1/2″ – 1-3/16” nail length.
- 60 in/lbs. of driving power.
Specifications:
- Weight: 2.3lbs.
- Dimensions: 7.81” x 9.06” x 1.6”.
- Nail Size: 1/2” – 1-3/16”.
- PSI: 70 – 120.
- Warranty: 7-year.
If the nail length was a little longer at the maximum range, this model may have ranked higher on our list. We really liked that we were able to adjust the power switch to save battery life and alter the depth that the nail is driven.
The manufacturer includes several different accessories, including oil and a carrying case, and the 60 inch/pounds of driving power is enough to push your nail through the hardest finishes. There are 500 pins of various lengths included as well.
The BOSTITCH HP118K is only slightly lacking in the maximum pin size allowed. Otherwise, this model is one of the best pin nailers on the market today.
Conclusion
When you’re ready to purchase your next pin nailer, make sure that you consider each of the models we’ve listed above. They’re all exceptional in their own way, and the main differences between all of them are the warranties offered and the nail length accommodations. Using our list, you’re sure to find a pin nailer in your price range that’s both effective and precise. We hope that our top 5 pin nailer reviews will help you pick the best pin nailer for your needs.