Quick Summary: An overview of available construction tools will tell you that every market is filled with multiple versions of floor nailers. This may sound like good news as you have various options to choose from. Popular consensus and expert opinion tell us that Freeman Pneumatic L-Cleat Flooring Nailer is indeed a high-quality hardwood floor nailer. Its long, ergonomic handle along with the pneumatic driving action and versatile functions have indeed made it a favorite of every user. It is pricier than other devices but, the benefits you get from it have made it worth every penny. Our team has conducted extensive research for other brands and have added their flooring nailer reviews as well so that you can easily select the right one.
Building a personalized living space almost seems like an act of love. From painting the walls to selecting the correct style of flooring, every tiny little detail has to be carried out with utmost care and precision. By keeping on with the tradition of hiring workers and builders for such tasks, many people prefer to leave these matters to them.
However, the majority of the people are very particular about flooring designs and styles, and therefore, they only delegate this task to the flooring nailer. We all know how helpful these nailers are in the creation of smooth, safe, and stylish floors.
The main reason for such a huge fan following of these nailers is its modern and advanced features. They help in ensuring that you have the best hardwood floor without any gaps, spaces, or faults.
While nailers are thought to be only a construction worker’s tool, modern nailers are made to be user-friendly and thus, even a user with basic know-how can handle them easily.
Most nailers have an interesting design as they are manufactured in such a way that one device can be utilized in different ways and add variety to flooring techniques. So start your hunt for the best flooring nailers and treat yourself with strong, solid, and glamorized flooring styles.
Quick Navigation
- 10 Best Flooring Nailers Comparison
- Reviews of 10 Top Flooring Nailers
- How to Choose the Right Flooring Nailers
- FAQs
- Final Verdict
Reviews of Top 10 Flooring Nailers
Here’s a list of the best flooring nailers we found on the market:
Best Overall
1. Freeman Pneumatic Cleat Flooring Nailer for Bamboo and Exotic Flooring
What You Will Love: Durable, yet lightweight, can handle a variety of flooring thicknesses and materials.
If you’re looking for the top flooring nailer overall that can tackle virtually any surface, look no further than the Freeman PF 18GLCN Pneumatic 18-Gauge Cleat Flooring Nailer for Bamboo and Exotic Flooring.
With its lightweight aluminum body and ergonomic comfort-grip handle, it’s easy to maneuver. Since it’s equipped with a no-mar foot, it’s designed to prevent scratches in flooring materials when driving nails.
You can use the device with wood floors and finished surfaces. Because it drives 18-inch L-cleats, it’s ideal for a variety of highly-dense flooring materials: Brazilian teak, cherry, strand-woven bamboo, and engineered flooring, to name a few.
With 3 interchangeable base plates, you can install flooring from 3/8″ to 3/4″ thick. The magazine works with cleats between 1-1/4 to 1-3/4″.
Pros:
- Easy to adjust
- Easy to use
- Works well with exotic flooring
Cons:
- Some people had problems adjusting the unit
- Remember to oil it regularly.
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Best Budget
2. NuMax SFL618 Pneumatic 3 in 1 15.5-Gauge and 16-Gauge 2″ Flooring Nailer and Stapler
What You Will Love: NuMax SFL618 3 in 1 pneumatic flooring nailer has a Durable, versatile, ergonomic design, intended for L-cleats, T-cleats perfect for flooring nailer stapler.
If you want to get the right flooring nailer on a budget, consider the NuMax SFL618 Pneumatic 3 in 1 15.5-Gauge and 16-Gauge Flooring Nailer and Stapler.
With its lightweight design and extended ergonomic handle, it’s easy to maneuver and shouldn’t leave you with a backache. And comes with a light strike bumper for low-impact nailing.
Plus, there’s a rubber mallet included to help you secure the flooring. One thing customers especially like about this unit is its versatility– you can quickly switch between T-cleats, L-cleats, and stapling.
When installing tongue and groove hardwood, this can be your go-to tool because NuMax SFL618 3 in 1 Pneumatic Flooring Nailer allows you to install 1/2 to 3/4 flooring, courtesy of two interchangeable base plates.
Whether you’re using this flooring nailer on the job site or a home-improvement project, you can expect to achieve professional results. Easy access to the magazine makes NuMax SFL618 easier to fill and clear jams.
Pros:
- 3 in 1 pneumatic flooring stapler
- Durable, ergonomically-designed
- Allows for different floor thicknesses
Cons:
- Very few complaints and none of them pointed to any consistent problems.
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Read Our Full Review Here
Best 18 Gauge Flooring Nailer
3. WEN 61741 18-Gauge 4 in 1 Pneumatic Flooring Nailer and Stapler with Case
What You Will Love: Versatility and ease of use for floor nailing and stapling.
When it comes to 1/4 inch pneumatic flooring nailers, our top pick is the WEN 61741 4-in-1 Nailer and Stapler because of its versatility and ease-of-use.
WEN flooring nailer ergonomic handle gives you extra endurance for those especially long, tiring jobs. You can use this all-purpose tool to drive 18-Gauge brad nails from 5/8 to 2 inches in length, or quarter-inch crown staples from from 1/2 to 1-5/8 inches in length.
If you find yourself in a jam, the quick-release nose makes it easy to clear. Give your flooring a professional finish with the (removable) no-mar tip. When you attach the adjustable spring-loaded flooring head, you can angle fasteners at 45-degrees.
When you hook up your air compressor, you’ll be able to run the unit at between 60 and 100 psi. An on-board depth-adjustment wheel allows you to control how deeply your fasteners penetrate flooring surfaces.
You can use the included carrying case to store and transport the unit, protecting it from damage.
Pros:
- Versatile and precise
- Works with different nail lengths
Cons:
- Very few complaints; no consistent issues
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Best Hardwood Flooring Nailer
4. Ramsond RMM4 2-in-1 Air Hardwood Flooring Cleat Nailer and Stapler Gun
What You Will Love: Capable of nailing and stapling, sturdy and built to last.
When it comes to the flooring nailer, that award goes to the Ramsond RMM4 2-in-1 Air Hardwood Flooring Cleat Nailer and Stapler Gun. It’s capable of shooting 15.5 and 16-Gauge 1–2-inch staples, and L-cleats from 1-1/2 to 2″.
If you don’t like having to frequently reload your nailer, you will be happy to know that the magazine holds 100 cleats or staples.
With its wide non-marring base plate and durable die-cast alloy design, it can stand up to the wear and tear that’s a regular part of the job, but it’s lightweight enough to be easy to carry.
It’s also made not to damage your flooring in the course of nailing and stapling. Ramsond Flooring Cleat Nailer tool allows you to drive nails quickly and get them close to the wall for secure floor installation.
Pros:
- Easy to use
- Can deliver professional quality
- 2-in-1 capacity
Cons:
- A few complaints that the unit leaked after a short time.
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Best Dual Handle Flooring Nailer
5. NuMax Pneumatic 2-in-1 15.5-Gauge and 16-Gauge 2″ Dual Handle
What You Will Love: Versatile dual-capacity, can be used on a variety of surfaces, ergonomic design minimizes fatigue during big projects.
If you want to add a dual handle flooring nailer and stapler to your toolkit, check out the NuMax S50LDSH Pneumatic 2-in-1 15.5-Gauge and 16-Gauge 2″ Dual Handle Flooring Nailer and Stapler.
NuMax Pneumatic allows you to install 1/2 to 3/4″ solid or engineered tongue and groove flooring in a variety of materials, such as oak, cherry, maple, walnut, and even bamboo and exotic flooring.
With three interchangeable base plates, this air-powered unit is compatible with 16-gauge L-cleats (1-1/2 to 2″) and 15.5-Gauge 1/2″ crown staples (also 1-1/2″ to 2″).
What customers especially like about this unit is its two-handled design that lets you choose whether to kneel or stand during installation. The quick-release nose allows you to clear jams quickly, so they don’t compromise your productivity.
Since the unit is designed not to mar flooring surfaces, it makes it easier to achieve professional results.
Pros:
- Capable of nailing and stapling
- Can be used with a wide variety of flooring materials
- Easy dual handles allow you to install floors while standing or kneeling.
Cons:
- Customer reviews didn’t cite consistent flaws.
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Best Top Loading Floor Nailer
6. Central Pneumatic 2-in-1 Hardwood Floor Air Nailer Stapler, 22.6 x 17.8 -Inch
What You Will Love: Dual-capacity (nailing and stapling), doesn’t damage floor surfaces.
If you want to find the best air flooring nailer, then the Central 2 inch pneumatic flooring nail gun may just be the solution you need.
Made for 1/2″ to 3/4″ floor panels, this unit uses cleat nails measuring 1-1/2 to 2″ long, or 1–2″ floor staples. The top-loading magazine holds 80 staples or 100 cleat nails.
To top off your toolkit, this unit operates and 90 psi and comes with goggles, hex wrenches, air tool oil, spacers and screws.
Included you will also find a rubber face slug hammer, designed to prevent hammer marks, so your flooring installation looks professional.
Pros:
- Versatile with its nailing and stapling capabilities
- Affordable
- Designed to protect flooring surfaces when installing
Cons:
- Some users found that the unit drives nails in such a way that it is difficult to line up subsequent floor panels in the appropriate slots.
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Best Pneumatic Flooring Nailer
7. BOSTITCH Flooring Nailer, Pneumatic, 1-1/2- to 2-Inch (MIIIFN)
What You Will Love: Lightweight and durable, designed for high-accuracy, protects floors from damage during installation.
In search of the best pneumatic flooring nailer, we came up with the Bostitch MIIFN. Designed to driving L-shaped flooring cleats, it’s made of aircraft-grade aluminum, making it lightweight and portable.
You can use it on unfinished and pre-finished hardwood flooring. With its long-grip handle, you can install flooring in a natural, comfortable position.
Since it’s equipped with an adapter foot and extra-wide base plates, you can drive nails just where you want them.
When you want to operate Bostitch Miiifn flooring nailer, just connect it to an air compressor for 420 inch/pounds, allowing you to power up your tool between 70 and 120 psi. The magazine holds 120 cleat nails, so you don’t have to constantly reload.
With its durable design, this unit works well for DIY home improvement projects, yet it’s sturdy enough to stand up to daily use on the job.
Pros:
- Durable
- Powerful
- Allows you to drive nails with precision
- Ergonomically-designed
Cons:
- Only a small number of complaints that the unit broke down after a short time.
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Best Mini Flooring Nailer
8. Freeman Pneumatic 4-in-1 18 Gauge Ergonomic and Lightweight Mini Flooring Nailer with Tool Free Release
What You Will Love: Durable, versatile, reload indicator lets you know when staples/nails are running low.
If you don’t have a lot of room for large tools or want something that’s easy to transport, take a look at the Freeman PFBC Pneumatic 4-in-1 18-Gauge 1-5/8″ Mini Flooring Nailer– the best mini flooring nailer we could find.
With its lightweight, die-cast aluminum body, you won’t get a workout toting it around. The handle is ergonomically-designed too. And its quick-release latch makes it possible to quickly remove nail jams without taking the whole unit apart.
One feature customers especially like is the angled flooring attachment that allows you to use the tool as a brad nailer and stapler or a flooring nailer and stapler. With tool-free depth-adjustment, you can conveniently control how the nails fire.
The magazine works with 18-gauge brad nails between 5/8″ and 1-5/8″, and 18-gauge 1/4″ narrow crown staples from 1/2″ to 1-5/8″. Another plus: There’s a reload indicator that lets you know when to replenish your supply of nails or staples.
Pros:
- Stapling and nailing capability
- Finger-directed depth adjustment
- Reload indicator
Cons:
- We couldn’t find many.
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Best Heavy Duty Flooring Nailer
9. BOSTITCH 2-in-1 Flooring Nailer And Stapler
What You Will Love: The strong pneumatic driving action of these makes it the perfect item for taking care of heavy-duty flooring jobs. They are ideal for installing hard flooring by making them safe as it reduces gaps and space between the planks and giving you a sturdy flooring base.
Save those extra repairing costs and make your own floors with this flooring nailer for heavy-duty jobs.
Handle
They are meant to act as a helping hand and it is for this reason that they are paired with a long handle. The handle has a soft rubber covering which will let you hold it easily so that you can carry out all tasks with ease and convenience.
Lightweight
This woodworking hand tool might look overwhelming to use due to its heavy-built structure. However, these are the most user-friendly device and weigh only 10.20lbs.
Owing to its lightweight design, this nailer has become the most favorite product of every builder and construction worker.
Design
The high-speed pneumatic driving action has been installed in these to deliver you quick results. Additionally, Bostitch BTFP12569 Flooring Nailer comes with a 7-year warranty deal.
Pros:
- Comes with a 7 year limited warranty.
- Works with pneumatic driving action.
- Weighs only 10.2o lbs and in lightweight.
Cons:
- More expensive compared to similar products
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Best Powerful Flooring Nailer
10. DEWALT Flooring Nailers And Stapler, 2-in-1 Tool
What You Will Love: DEWALT DWFP12569 2 in 1 flooring nailer is not your ordinary nailer as it comprises of a powerful pneumatic driving action motor. Using this nailer requires no high-fi expertise as its long ergonomic handle lets you manage this machine with proper control while other features make it easy to use.
Make your floors stronger and safer with the hard-hitting action of DEWALT DWFP12569 2 in 1-floor nailers.
Design
One of the main features that make these a perfect fit for any and every flooring style is its non-marring base plates. These base plates are compatible with all sizes of flooring and thus you can use this nailer to construct various flooring patterns.
Performance
An ultra-advance pneumatic driving action has been incorporated in this machine to enhance its functionality. The biggest benefit of pneumatic action is that it allows the nailer to work faster and perform better as compared to a manual nailer.
Function
DEWALT DWFP12569 Flooring Nailer is known as one of the most solid flooring tools as it drives 15.5ga staples and 16ga L cleat nails from 1-1/2inch to 2inch length.
Pros:
- Designed with an ergonomic long handle
- Suitable for constructing all flooring styles
- Lightweight to hold and carry
Cons:
- Does not come with a jam clearance feature
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How to Choose the Right Flooring Nailer?
It’s a good idea to consider several factors when choosing the right flooring nailer.
18-Gauge vs. 16-Gauge Flooring Nail Gun
An 18-gauge nailer is thinner than the 16-gauge variety. Therefore, a 16-gauge uses thicker nails and is well-suited to thicker flooring surfaces.
Pneumatic vs. Manual Flooring Nailer
Pneumatic nailers are a good fit for tight spaces, while manual nailers don’t work as well there. Pneumatic nailers tend to weigh less than the manual type, too.
Body Construction
Some units have a compact body construction, while others are bulkier. Parts should also be well-designed to prevent dry firing and jamming.
Build Construction
To install flooring securely, you need a tool with a solid build construction. Toward that end, look for a nailer with an aluminum body, which should be sturdy enough to meet your needs.
Ergonomics and Comfort
Ergonomic units can be used comfortably, even for extended time periods. They’re made so as not to contribute to backaches and the like. Other points to consider are how much pressure the unit requires and how many nails it can hold when the magazine is full.
Power Source
Nailers are operated either with gas or electricity. Both work well. It just depends on your preference.
Grip
Ergonomic handles allow for a secure grasp without giving your wrists a workout.
Weight
Lighter-weight models are easy to carry around. They’re also ideal for working in overhead spaces that might require you to position yourself somewhat awkwardly. Many of the flooring staplers weigh less than ten pounds, and some weigh as little as five.
FAQS
What’s a flooring nailer?
The right flooring nailer eliminates the need for a hammer. Not only can you nail down flooring faster with these devices, you can also do it more accurately than you can manually.
What type of nailer do you need for bamboo flooring?
A high-powered 18-gauge nailer is recommended for bamboo flooring. This type of tool can power through the surface while preventing it from splitting or sustaining other damage.
Why do you need a flooring nailer?
A flooring nailer is much more efficient and accurate than nailing by hand. These devices often come with features that protect your work surface, too.
Who makes the best flooring nailer?
Several brands are associated with the top flooring nailers: Freeman, Bostitch, NuMax, and Wen, to name a few.
Final Verdict: Best Flooring Nailers
When you’re looking for the perfect flooring nailer, it’s important to do your research so you know what you’re getting. You also need to consider the projects you’re doing, and what materials you need.
Price is important too. You’ll likely want to invest more in a tool for the job site than you would for one you’d buy for the occasional household project.
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