No tool collection is complete without a good palm nailer. If you’re a do-it-yourself homeowner or a professional contractor, one of the handiest tools you can own is a palm nailer. These tools save a lot of time and effort by driving nails into surfaces to eliminate the need to swing a hammer.
They’re also safer because they lessen the chance of damaging the materials that you’re working with. For nailing jobs, they make the tasks go faster with less effort. If this sounds good, we’ve prepared a guide to help you know what to look for in a palm nailer along with reviews of the 10 best palm nailers on the market today.
List Of The 10 Best Palm Nailers
- BOSTITCH PN100K Impact Nailer Kit
- Freeman-PMPN-Mini-Palm-Nailer
- Powernail PowerPalm Floor Nailer
- Senco PC0781 Pneumatic Palm Nailer
- Senco PC1195 Mini Palm Nailer
- Metabo HPT Palm Nailer
- PORTER-CABLE PN650 Palm Nailer Kit
- Milwaukee M12 Cordless Palm Nailer Kit
- BOSTITCH PN100 Palm Impact Nailer
- Hitachi NH90AB Mini Impact Palm Nailer
Best Palm Nailer Review
We’ve chosen the 10 top-rated palm nailers on the market today for your consideration. You’ll find a range of different brands and models with the outstanding features highlighted. Consider the pros and cons of each and compare them to find the perfect palm nailer for your DIY/home improvement projects.
1. BOSTITCH PN100K Impact Nailer Kit
Bostitch is a leading brand and it’s known for reliability and high quality. This impact nailer is loaded with useful features that make it easy to use. It’s suitable for most nailing tasks because of its versatility. You can get into tight places easily and it accepts a variety of different nail sizes.
Key Features
- Magnetic nose
- Recessed nail slots
- Hardened steel nose
- Extra accessories included
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Final Verdict
This is one of the best all-purpose palm nailers. I recommend it for homeowners who have a lot of different projects that require nailing. It can accept nails up to 5 inches long and it’s one of the most versatile nailers on the market. It’s also built sturdy to last for years.
2. Freeman Pneumatic Mini Palm Nailer
The Freeman Pneumatic Mini Palm Nailer is valued for the ergonomic design that makes it easy to use for bigger jobs. It comes with a small tip that is ideal for getting into tight spots and areas hard to reach. This pneumatic nailer is small but powerful. It is also lightweight and it can handle a variety of nailing jobs from flooring to roofing, siding, and other tasks.
Key Features
- Ergonomic design fits well in the palm
- Lightweight at 1.38 pounds
- Magnetic nose
- Internal air filter and anti-dust cap
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Final Verdict
This nailer features a pro-design that makes it a good choice for contractors or do-it-yourself. Although it only takes nails up to 3.5 inches, it’s easily the best choice for those who prefer a lighter yet durable tool that can get into tight spots.
3. Powernail Power Palm Floor Nailer
If you’re looking for a floor nailer I recommend the Powernail Power Palm. This is a pressure-actuated pneumatic type that easily drives flooring cleats. It’s ideal for blind nail starting rows as well as final rows. It fits into tight spots. it accepts L-style and T-style cleats that are both 16 and 18 gauge. This nailer is designed for fastening a huge range of flooring styles and surfaces.
Key Features
- Ergonomic design fits in the palm of the hand
- Lightweight at just 1 pound
- Maximum pressure of up to 125 PSI
- Continuous piston hammering to proper depth
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Final Verdict
I recommend the powernail power palm for professional or DIY enthusiasts installing floors. It is made specifically for this type of work. The most impressive feature is the piston hammering that ensures the cleat is sunk to the proper depth.
4. Senco PC0781 Pneumatic Palm Nailer
This nailer is ideal for metal straps, joust hangers, and pole barn assembly. This is because of the ergonomic design that makes it fit in the palm of the hand. It comes equipped with a soft rubber palm pad and leather grip to reduce hand and wrist fatigue. It’s powerful with a range of 50 to 125 PSI and drives bulk nails ranging from 5d to 70d.
Key Features
- Magnetic nail guide
- Soft rubber palm pad
- leather grip
- Accepts bulk nails from 5d to 70d
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Final Verdict
I recommend the Senco PC0781 nailer for anyone who is working on pole barns, joust assembly, or similar tasks. It’s easy to maintain a firm grip on this nailer for getting into challenging places for nailing. Its ergonomic design is great but it’s mostly recommended for users with larger hands because of the weight.
5. Senco PC1195 Mini Palm Nailer
Among the most affordably priced palm nailers, this smaller version is made to be lighter than traditional hand nailers. It’s up to 50% lighter for greater comfort doing longer jobs. Its lightweight construction reduces hand and arm fatigue. This is one of the best portable nailers on the market today.
Key Features
- Ultra-lightweight at 15.2 ounces
- Magnetic nose
- Nail point recess feature
- Fitting for plug and play convenience
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Final Verdict
I recommend this for anyone who is looking or a lightweight and affordable small palm nailer. It’s easy to use and it doesn’t cause hand fatigue during longer duration jobs. It also comes with a convenient plug and play fitting for easy setup.
6. Metabo HPT Palm Nailer, Pneumatic NH90AB
This pneumatic fastener is one of the easiest to maneuver in confined areas. Its design is ideal for situations that require swiveling and reaching awkward angles. It accepts nails in a range from 2-1/2 inches to 3-1/2 inches. It’s one of the best nailers for installing metal connectors and joist hangers because of its high level of maneuverability.
Key Features
- 360-degree swivel plug
- Over-molded rubber grip
- Magnetic nose
- Lightweight at 1.3 pounds
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Final Verdict
This nailer is one of the most maneuverable on the market today. I recommend it for anyone who has to work in tight and awkward places. The swivel feature keeps the cord out of your way so you can position the palm nailer into any position that it needs to be. I also like the over-molded rubber grip because it reduces vibration and gives a better grip. The tool is just 1.3 pounds.
7. PORTER-CABLE PN650 Palm Nailer Kit
Porter Cable PN650 palm nailer kit is the ideal palm nailer for achieving a flawless finish. It comes with four assorted nose tips including a No-Mar finish tip. It accepts a good range of bulk nails ranging from size 3d to 70d. This is a larger palm nailer but it still fits comfortably in the palm of the hand.
Although it is heavy, the weight holds the nail more firmly in place for precision placement without the need to press down on the nailer. It is ergonomically designed with a rubber palm pad and leather grip.
This makes it more comfortable to hold for extended periods of time. It drives a range of bulk nail sizes and it’s versatile for completing a variety of nailing jobs.
Key Features
- Magnetic nose tip
- Wide nail tip
- Four interchangeable nose tips
- Depth Drive Control Feature
- This palm nailer operates at 50 to 120 PSI
- Multi-blow firing mode 2300 BPM at 100 PSI
- Accepts a range of nail sizes from 1/14 inch to 6-1/2 inch
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Final Verdict
This is a large palm nailer that is easy to hold. It fits well into the palm of the hand, even for people with small hands. This is one of the most comfortable palm nailers for driving nails easily. I recommend this versatile nailer because it is an excellent value for the cost and it comes with 4 interchangeable nose tips.
8. Milwaukee M12 Cordless Palm Nailer Kit
The Milwaukee M12 Cordless Palm Nailer kit is one of the easiest to use on the market today. Unlike many other nailers, this one works with a lithium-ion battery. This eliminates the need for an air compressor. It makes the nailer portable and easy to use in almost any type of space and location. It is cordless and hoseless.
Key features
- Battery-powered with a 12-volt lithium-ion battery included
- LED work light
- Charger included
- Comes with a tool bag and hand strap
- Magnetic tip
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Final Verdict
This palm nailer is the best battery powered unit available. It is portable and can be used anywhere. You don’t need to fuss with air compressors or hoses. It’s loaded with useful features and the battery has a long life in-between charges. This palm nailer also comes with extra features including an LED work light, a hand strap, and a tool bag.
9. BOSTITCH PN100 Palm Impact Nailer
The PN100 Impact Nailer is made for user comfort. It’s very portable and easy to carry from one job to another. This tool is small and the nose is narrow enough to fit into tight spaces with ease. The magnetic nose holds the mail in place for side angle nailing. This makes the PN 100 a good choice for most types of nailing jobs, including awkward angles.
Key Features
- Ported engine for high performance and powerful nail driving
- Accepts common bulk nail sizes up to 5-inches
- Ergonomic design for comfort
- Hardened steel nose for durability
- Magnetic nose for stable nail placement
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Final Verdict
The PN100 is a sturdy and high-quality palm nailer that is small in size. Although it’s a little on the heavy side, it’s much smaller and lighter than a traditional framing gun. It’s powerful and efficient and gets into places that you can’t reach with a hammer.
10. Hitachi NH90AB Mini Impact Palm Nailer
This is an air-powered impact palm nailer that is ideal for nailing in tight spaces. It’s loaded with useful features including a swivel for maneuverability and rubber grip for comfort. It’s lightweight to reduce arm fatigue for heavy-duty nailing tasks.
Key Features
- Lightweight at 1.3 pounds
- 360-degree swivel
- The compact size of 3×2.75 x 2.4 inches
- Magnetic nose
- Front exhaust
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Final Verdict
I recommend the Hitachi NH90AB for anyone who prefers a lighter and easy to maneuver nailer. It’s small in size and light at just 1.3 pounds. It comes with all the features that help to make using it more comfortable. This includes the rubber grip that cuts down on vibration and the swivel that keeps the cord out of your way.
Things to Consider When Choosing A Palm Nailer
Before you buy a palm nailer it’s important to know how to find the best features. This will make the nailer more useful and easier to handle. There are a lot of different brands and models to choose from. There are differences in size, weight, and features. Some perform differently than others. It’s helpful to know these differences. Here are the things that you need to look for to find the best palm nailers for your situation.
Ergonomic Design
A palm nailer that is ergonomic is easier to handle. It is made to fit into your palm more comfortably. This makes it easier to hold and to grip. It gives you more control over the nailer and it reduces hand and arm fatigue. The nailers with a rubber palm are some of the most comfortable to hold.
Lightweight
Compare the weight of the palm nailer with others. Some of them are heavier than others. If you do a lot of nailing, the weight of heavier models can create more hand and arm fatigue. Look for a nailer that is lightweight to make the job easier.
Performance
When driving nails the job goes faster when the nailer is more powerful. Check the specifications to make sure that your choice operates with at least 60 to 110 PSI if it is a pneumatic style that is driven by air pressure. If it is electric, make sure that the nailer has a strong and powerful motor.
Nail Length
Another feature to pay attention to is the length of nails the nailer will accommodate. Some palm nailers accept nails between 2 to 3.5 inches and some will take longer nails. Make sure that the nailer you choose is versatile enough to work with a bigger range of nail sizes.
Other Features
Also, look for a nailer that has other useful features that will make it easier to use. The better palm nailers are made with a magnetic nose that holds the nail in place. Some come with swiveling mechanisms for getting into tight places. Check the unique features of each palm nailer and find the one that will best meet your individual needs.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Question: Does It Hold Up Well Under High Pressure?
Answer: It’s important not to exceed the maximum pressure rating that is listed on the specifications. This could ruin the tool if it happens too often.
Question: What Size of Nails Can Be Used With a Palm Nailer?
Answer: Each palm nailer is different. Some have a range that accepts nails from 2 to 5 inches, and others only 2.5 to 3.5 inches. It’s best to reach the specs before you buy it.
Question: Does the Magnetic Nose Hold Aluminum Nails?
Answer: The magnetic head does not hold aluminum nails
Question: Does It Come With Nails?
Answer: No. Palm Nailers do not come with nails. These must be purchased separately.
Final Verdict
Now that you know what to look for in a palm nailer, it will be easier to find the best for your situation. Consider the different brands and models in our review list. Narrow your choices to the units that offer the most useful features. The most expensive isn’t necessarily the best. The nailer that will be the most useful if the right choice.
Compare the 10 palm nailers in our reviews and look through the details. These are my top 10 recommendations because they are the highest quality nailers that are loaded with the most useful features.
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