The 5 Best Siding Nailers [Updated for 2022]
Siding is an important part of your home, and exterior siding is incredibly important for keeping your home safe and undamaged. But that also means that you need to have a great siding nailer to place your siding securely and firmly.
These siding nailers are powerful, effective, and won’t damage your siding or the sheathing underneath. They are all designed to be easy to use and effective and with the quality of life enhancements that make them great for professional and home use.
We’ve also included a short buying guide at the end of the article in addition to the reviews of the siding nailers. That way you’ll be able to make an educated decision about which nailers are the best fit for your needs.
Bostitch is a great brand if you’re looking for a durable and effective option that isn’t too expensive or difficult to use. This siding nailer is highly specialized, so it’s generally best for siding only instead of trying to use it on a wider range of other projects.
That’s partially because this nailer uses slightly smaller nails in the 1.25” – 2.5” range and doesn’t use longer nails that are good for structural support.
However, to help balance that, this coil siding nailer is compatible with wire weld and plastic inserted coil nails, both of which are solid options for siding nailers. The 300-nail magazine capacity is great for installing siding since you won’t have to stop and reload as often. Firing is consistent and jamming is extremely rare thanks to a well-calibrated firing system.
The nailer itself is relatively lightweight and effective. Its aluminum design is durable without being heavy, which is perfect for siding since you’ll be working with the tool for a long time. It’s also great for getting into tight spaces and precisely placing your nails. That’s perfect for when you’re working right next to gutters and other difficult to reach areas.
Tool-free depth of fire adjustments also makes it incredibly easy to change how your nailer is firing. That’s perfect for when you’re using several different kinds of nails for a job. The biggest downside of this design is that it doesn’t come with any kind of carry case or other ways to make the nailer more portable.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Durable aluminum design
- Fast, consistent firing
- Precise
- Easy tool-free depth of fire adjustment system
- 300 nail magazine
- Compatible with the best nails for siding
- Versatile for many different kinds of siding
Cons
- Doesn't work that well for nails longer than 2.5 inches long
- Lacks accessories
- Tedious to switch between firing modes as it requires swapping parts
Our Verdict
Bostitch is a consistent brand when it comes to nail guns, and this nailer is no different. It’s a fantastic choice for professional siding contractors, DIY home improvement enthusiasts, and anyone else who might work with siding on a regular basis. This nailer might be specialized, but its specialization makes it incredibly useful for professionals.
Our Rating
Metabo, previously known as Hitachi, is a consistent brand that manufactures high-quality nailers that are incredibly powerful and durable over time. This siding nailer, like the Bostitch N66C model we’ve already discussed, is very specialized. That specialization makes it one of the most effective nailers for siding professionals.
This model is compatible with 16º wire collated coil siding nails from 1-1/2″ – 2-1/2” and 15º plastic collated coil siding nails from 1 ½” – 2 1/4” lengths. That gives you a ton of versatility and flexibility to work with the most common kinds of siding. It’s gentle enough to work with vinyl siding without significantly deforming it or causing cracks, but durable enough to work with engineered wood and other hardened materials.
The air deflector on this pneumatic nailer lets you redirect air exhaust in any direction. That means you can adjust it whenever you need to, which lets you work in a wide variety of locations. Perfect for homes with complex designs and a lot of corners and tight areas that need siding installation.
The no mar nose cap also helps further protect your siding materials from damage, reducing the amount of cleanup and repair you’ll need to finish your installation.
Toolless depth adjustment tools also make it easy to switch your firing depth on the go, perfect for jobs with multiple types or lengths of nails. Easy side loading capacity makes it easier to load more nails while you’re working. The firing and no-jam system both help prevent problems while you’re working, saving even more time on the job.
Pros
- Toolless depth of fire adjustment
- No jam firing system
- Side loading nail magazine
- High-capacity magazine
- The air deflector is omnidirectional.
- Compatible with a wide range of nails
- No mar tip doesn’t mark your siding materials
Cons
- Magazine has slightly lower capacity
- Doesn't work well with regular oil
- No belt hook
Our Verdict
Metabo has added all the most important quality of life features to this nailer to make it an effective tool for professionals and DIYers. Its design is ergonomic, lightweight, and offers a quick-firing system so you can finish jobs faster.
Our Rating
Makita’s designs might not be quite as attractive as the other siding nailers at first glance, but that’s because this brand focuses on efficiency and performance instead of trying to make a modern looking design. It’s a great option for professionals, DIYers, and almost anyone who works with siding on a regular basis.
Like the other nailers on this list, it’s compatible with most kinds of nails for siding. It’s compatible with lengths up to 2 ½” in most nail types (though it’s always a good idea to double check before trying to fire nails that are too long and accidentally damaging the firing tip).
As a coil nailer it offers good durability and a high-quality finish, but inserts nails that aren’t too difficult to remove later when it’s time to replace the siding. That’s great because it works effectively for a long installation but won’t make the next contractor’s job difficult when the siding is ready for replacement.
The smooth nose tip on this nailer helps prevent damage to your siding and materials, which leads to a cleaner finished installation without needing any extra effort from you.
This corded electric nailer also doesn’t need an air compressor to function. That means you need reliable electrical power, but you don’t need a ton of extra equipment to make it work.
The 2-mode selection switch lets you choose between different firing modes, sequential and bump firing, so you can customize how your nailer functions to best suit the needs of your project at any time.
The coil magazine also helps to save space, letting your nailer fit into tight corners and smaller spaced without as much difficulty. Its design is simple and effective, but it loads as smoothly as other nailers and doesn’t jam often. Reloading the magazine is also relatively simple.
Pros
- The smaller design is good for compact spaces
- Reliable design
- Durable firing tip
- 2 different firing modes
- Toolless depth of fire adjustments
- Toolless jam clearing system.
- Toolless magazine reloading
Cons
- Takes some time before you get the hang of using it
Our Verdict
This design uses a slightly different magazine design, but that makes it more compact and more effective when you’re working in smaller spaces or on detailed installations. Its wide range of nail compatibility and power makes it suitable with most siding materials, and the electrical power source is convenient and doesn’t need an air compressor. This nailer is effective, lightweight, and well-engineered for professional use.
Our Rating
This pneumatic nailer is a little more versatile than other nailers designed for siding. It’s effective and works well on most siding materials, but it’s also compatible with the hardware needed for decking, sheathing, certain kinds of fencing, and other materials.
While this is still a specialized nailer, its wide range of applications make it a good choice for professionals who don’t want to have too many extra single-use tools laying around. That said, it’s still not a good nailer for heavy construction work or high stress joints because of the length limitations on the nails.
The side loading magazine is a coiled magazine which helps to make the whole design a little more compact and effective. The depth of firing adjustment is incredibly simple, which also makes this design significantly more effective for professionals and DIYers.
The design also offers the power you need for a wide range of different sheathing materials, and it’s durable enough to work with composite materials as well as softer options like vinyl.
The nose of this nail also includes a magnet that helps keep the nails in place while you’re firing. That means you get additional precision from the nailer, making it one of the best options for complicated or detailed projects.
The side load magazine is easy to load, and easy to clean when needed. The firing system helps to reduce the risk of jamming while also making sure nails are placed clearly and precisely.
Pros
- Ergonomic design
- Compact magazine
- Extremely lightweight
- Air powered for added precision
- Safety goggles and belt hook included
- Air oiling tool included for necessary maintenance.
Cons
- Some important parts are made of plastic
- Heavier than expected even though it's mostly made of aluminum
- Air exhaust is a bit difficult to turn
Our Verdict
This air powered tool might still need an air compressor, but almost everything else you’ll need for this design is included, including safety glasses and a secure belt hook for while you’re working. Its magazine is easy to load and easy to clear. At only 5.5 lbs it’s also a fantastic choice for long projects.
Our Rating
Max USA is a good option if you’re looking for a nailer that is manufactured in America. Its design is a little flashier and very different from your typical nailer, with a slimmer more efficient firing arm. That means that this design gives you better visibility on your materials, for better precision and fasting firing.
Those features make this nailer an excellent choice for experienced siding professionals who can make use of the increased efficiency and benefits included with this design.
The easy twist air deflector on this design also gives you better control over the air exhaust. That will help keep you significantly more comfortable when you’re working. That also means that you can work more effectively for longer.
Equipped with an easy loading nail magazine, this design helps keep you working longer even when you need to change out nail strips while you’re working. Its design is simple but incredibly effective. The depth of fire mechanism is also easily adjustable for different projects and different kinds of nails.
The firing system is also a lot more consistent than a lot of the alternatives. It helps prevent dry-firing, double firing, and jamming. The no-mar tip is effective and does a good job of protecting the siding and other materials you’re working with while you work.
The biggest problem with this design is that the handle isn’t sculpted to fit your hand better, which means it can be a little uncomfortable if you’re working with this nailer for hours at a time.
Pros
- American manufacturing
- Incredibly durable design
- Easy to see what you’re doing
- Narrow but effective firing tip
- No mar design helps prevent accidental marks and damage
Cons
- No separate trigger for bump fire and sequential fire mode
- Depth adjuster is tricky to use
- Rafter hook's position could be improved
Our Verdict
This design’s simplicity helps prevent it from running into problems, while specialized features like the no mar tip and longer firing tube work especially well for siding projects. Its design isn’t quite as comfortable in your hand as other alternatives, but advanced function means that this nailer is still an excellent option.
Our Rating
Siding Nailer Buyer’s Guide
Of course, it’s difficult to pick the right tool for the job if you aren’t sure what features are most important for that tool. That’s why we’ve put together this buying guide specifically for the best nailers for siding.
There are a lot of different kinds of siding, so it’s important to keep the different material strengths and requirements in mind. For instance, you need something precise for vinyl siding since it cracks relatively easily, but you also need a nailer that’s strong enough to handle engineered wood, shiplap, aluminum siding, hardie siding, and other kinds of composite materials that are significantly more durable.
Depth Adjustment
Depth adjustment is a part of how you will deal with different kinds of nails and different kinds of materials. Since the shape, thickness, and durability of siding is different depending on the material, you also need to make sure you’re customizing your depth of fire for the materials themselves, not just the nails.
Because you’ll likely need a different depth for every job, and might need several different depths on the same job, it’s important to look for models that have a toolless depth of fire adjustment. That will help you keep working faster after making an adjustment, while also making it easier to make quick changes.
Plus, with a toolless design, you don’t have to worry about accidentally losing your depth of fire key which wouldn’t allow you to adjust the depth on your tool anymore.
Weight
The weight of your nailer is critical because weight influences how easy it is to work with your nailer. The lighter the nailer is the more maneuverable and easier it will be to use.
There is one problem though, very light designs can be a problem as well since that likely means the design isn’t as durable or long lasting.
Generally, 5-7lbs is about right for a siding nailer. Heavier models will be difficult to work with for extended periods of time. Models that are too light will likely start to break too quickly and aren’t a good choice for professionals or high-use situations.
Firing Tip
The firing tip on your nail gun is a lot more important than most people consider. It’s what determines how precise your nail gun is, how easily you can see where you’re placing each nail, and how often your nail gun jams, misfires, or runs into other errors.
No-mar firing tips are typically what we recommend since they are much less likely to leave visible marks and damage on the siding while you work. They’re also a better option if you are using the nailer after painting siding since they are unlikely to scratch the paint.
It’s also important for your firing tip to be relatively narrow. Too large and it will be difficult to see what you’re doing while you’re working, which can quickly slow you down.
Firing Modes
There are two basic firing modes for siding nailers, sequential and bump firing. Both have their advantages, so it’s largely a matter of personal preference which style you use.
Sequential firing means that you need to pull the trigger between each nail. It’s good for precision but can cause repetitive stress injuries over time if the trigger isn’t well designed.
Bump firing simply requires full contact with the surface. That method is faster and more effective in some situations, but it’s not quite as safe and you’ll need to practice to get the same level of precision.
We generally recommend nail guns that have both firing methods if possible, that way you can choose which one works best for you, and even switch between the different firing options.
Operating Pressure
This feature only applies to pneumatic nailers. However, if you have a pneumatic siding nailer it’s important to pay attention to operating pressure because that will tell you what size of air compressor you need as well as the pressure it needs to maintain for consistent firing.
Usually, good operating pressure isn’t too hard to maintain, but it can seriously slow down a job if your air compressor isn’t quite up to the job.
Firing Speed
For non-pneumatic nailers, firing speed is usually determined by some internal limitation. The faster your nailer can fire the faster you’ll be able to complete siding jobs, but speed also usually means it’s a little less precise.
Look for nailers that have no more than a 2-4 second delay in firing speed. Ideally, the firing speed should be no more than 1-2 seconds.
Durability
The durability of your nailer is also critical. Durability is usually determined by internal components. Since you also want to keep the weight of the tool to a minimum, internal components that are made from magnesium or aluminum are generally your best bet.
Plastic housing is the most common, but it’s also usually a little less durable. Look for nailers with good customer reviews and high durability ratings to determine the safety of this design.
The Takeaway
It’s important to pay attention to the other features on your siding nailer as well. Things like coming with safety goggles, or being designed with a belt clip, both work to make your siding nailer a little more effective and easier to use.
If your firing tip wears out, the model coming with a couple of replacement tips can also make it last longer without needing additional investments.
Other additions, like coming with the first set of nails and other equipment can be appealing but usually shouldn’t change your decision on the model you choose. Nails and those extras are affordable, while buying a bad nailer disguised by good offers isn’t.
Of all the nailers on this list, we have to recommend the Bostitch N66C Coil Siding Nailer as the best option for most professionals. That’s partially because Bostitch offers top of the line performance from their nailers. Its design is more efficient and effective on average, and also significantly easier to use.
Bostich is also a good choice because their tools are consistent and reliably durable, which means that this nailer is up to the challenges of being a professional siding installation tool, and anything else you can throw at it.
Of course, we also stand behind all of the other nailers on this list. If you’re looking for something a little different, like a different power source or loading style, the other options on our list are excellent choices. They are all high quality, durable, and designed for effectiveness.
I have an unhealthy obsession with contracting and renovation. I’ve been a contractor for over 15 years and I love tackling challenging projects to make them look amazing.
