Nail Your Roofing Project with Confidence: 8 Best Roofing Nailers Analyzed

See also-

• The 8 Best Brad Nailers
• The 10 Best Framing Nailers
• Top 7 Best Finish Nailers

What are the Best Roofing Nailers?

We have built the below list based on their features and performance.

Best for Vapor Barrier Installation: BOSTITCH RN46 Roofing Nailer

Cordless: Pneumatic | Inlet Size: 1/4 in | Magazine Capacity: 120 | Maximum: 120 PSI | Jam Clearing: N/A | Maximum Nail Diameter: 0.12 in | Strip or Coil: Coil | Weight: 4.9 lbs | Warranty: 7-year limited

Best for Asphalt Roofing Shingles Installation: Metabo HPT (NV45AB2) Roofing Nailer

Cordless: Pneumatic | Inlet Size: 3/8 in | Magazine Capacity: 120 | Maximum: 120 PSI | Collation Material: Adhesive | Depth Control: Tool free | Housing Material: Aluminum | Maximum Nail Length: 1.75 in | Required Pressure: 70 PSI | Minimum Nail Length: 0.875 in | Jam Clearing: N/A | Maximum Nail Diameter: 0.12 in | Strip or Coil: Coil | Weight: 7.15 lbs | Warranty: 5-year

Best for Fiberglass Shingles Installation: MAX USA CORP SuperRoofer CN445R3

Loading type: Coil | Maximum Fastener Size: 1-3/4 in | Minimum Fastener Size: 3/4 in | Minimum Recommended Air Delivery SCFM @ 90PSI: 2.8 | Minimum Recommended Operating Pressure: 70 PSI | Maximum Nail Diameter: 0.12 in | Nailgun Angle: 15° | Trigger Type: Rapid Fire Trigger | Air Inlet Size: 1/4 in | Weight: 5.6 lbs

Best for Wall Sheathing: Freeman PCN450 Pneumatic 15 Degree Coil Roofing Nailer

Loading type: Coil | Min. Fastener Size: 3/4 in | Max. Fastener Size: 1-3/4 in | Min. Recommended Air Delivery SCFM @ 90PSI: 5.17 | Min. Recommended Operating Pressure: 70 PSI | Nail Gauge: 11 | Nailgun Angle: 15° | Weight: 5.46 lbs

Best Roofing Nail Gun for the money: WEN 61783 Pneumatic Coil Roofing Nailer

Cordless/ Corded: Corded | Inlet Size: 1/4 in | Magazine Capacity: 120 | Maximum: 120 PSI | Collation Material: Wire | Depth Control: Tool free | Housing Material: Aluminum | Maximum Nail Length: 1.75 in | Required Pressure: 70 PSI | Minimum Nail Length: 0.875 in | Minimum Recommended Air Delivery SCFM @ 90PSI: 2.0 | Jam Clearing: Requires tools | Maximum Fastener Size: 1-3/4 in | Minimum Fastener Size: 7/8 in | Maximum Nail Diameter: 1.75 in | Nailgun Angle: 15° | Weight: 5.58 lbs | Warranty: 1-year

Cordless/ Corded: Corded | Loading type: Strip | Maximum Fastener Size: 1-3/4 in | Minimum Fastener Size: 3/4 in | Minimum Recommended Air Delivery SCFM @ 90PSI: 00.1 | Minimum Recommended Operating Pressure: 70 PSI | Nail Gauge: 15 | Nailgun Angle: 0

Power Source: Air-powered | Loading type: Strip | Maximum Fastener Size: 1-3/4 in | Minimum Fastener Size: 3/4 in | | Minimum Recommended Operating Pressure: 70 PSI | Maximum: 120 PSI | Nail Gauge: 11 | Air exhaust: 360° | Fire mode: Interchangeable trigger | Nailgun Angle: 15°- 16°

Cordless/ Corded: Corded | Loading type: Coil | Maximum Fastener Size: 1-3/4 in | Minimum Fastener Size: 3/4 in | Minimum Recommended Air Delivery SCFM @ 90PSI: 00.8 | Minimum Recommended Operating Pressure: 70 PSI | Nail Gauge: NA / Other | Nailgun Angle: 15°

Benefits of having Roofing Nailers:

We also assessed their little features that can have a significant impact on work performance. For example, Trigger, Dept-of-Drive, Anti-Dry Firing, Power Source, and Durability.

Comparison and Reviews of Best Roofing Nailer

Let's take a quick snap on top 8 best roofing nailer-

Best For Vapor Barrier: BOSTITCH RN46-1 3/4-Inch to 1-3/4-Inch Coil Roofing Nailer

Best roofing nailer / Best Bostitch roofing nailer

Since dry firing causes the nailer to get damage.

They have introduced 'Zero Nail Lockout' that controls this problem. It ensures that the nailer doesn't fire once empty.

If you are opting for a roofing nailer first time, you won't experience any trouble in using it, as it is durable and lightweight. The BOSTITCH Company has used magnesium housing that adds years of life into it. Besides, people who aren't able to use heavy tools, especially women, they will fall in love with it; it is light enough to handle demanding jobs.

Even for professionals, it is quite impressive.

It delivers 410 inch/lbs of force at up to 100 psi. In a way, you can drive up to an impressive 100 nails per minute.

Pros & Cons

Best for Asphalt Roofing Shingles: Metabo HPT NV45AB2 Roofing Nailer

Best pneumatic roofing nailer / Best roofing nail gun

It is the answer to your all roofing needs.

The best thing about this product is it is utterly durable. It provides continuously accurate results over the life of the tool. 

And, we can expect this feature, as it is from the world-renowned Hitachi Company. This company only provides professional grade power tools for woodworking and other building related projects. Therefore, for nailing, it is tough to get a better product than NV45AB2.

It is designed for maneuverability. For that reason, it is a lightweight product at just 5.5 pounds. If we say it gives the best one-handed operation, it would be 100% correct. While working on rooftops, it keeps your comfortable and in control.

Also, it doesn't slip from your hands either, as the Hitachi Company have use non-slippery rubber grip on it. Even in rainy weathers, you have a firm grip on it.

Rubber on the nailer's side also keeps the HV45AB2 in place; it doesn't let it slide off the roof. It is kind of an all-weather nailer you can count on.

Pros & Cons

Best for Fiberglass Shingles: Max CN445R3 Superroofer Roofing Coil Nailer

Best rapid fire roofing nailer

You will be so pleased with it, we guarantee!

The most excellent thing about this product is you can use it all day, and it never gets jammed. You will be super comfortable. Besides, there are some significant updates on this product by Max manufacturers that make it rise to the top of the charts.

For example, it drives 15 degrees wire collated roofing nails.

The only con we found in this product is it can dry fire. Perhaps, that's why, most consumers don't choose it, as according to them dry fire damages the entire situation. However, if the depth feature is set accurately, it won't do any damage.

Besides, if it dry fires, unlike other models, you will know instantly.

You won't experience any malfunction.

Pros & Cons

Best for Wall Sheathing: Freeman PCN450 Pneumatic Coil Roofing Nailer

This nail gun comes top of our list because of its fascinating, yet efficient features. Its body is made of die-cast magnesium, a material that gives the tool its enviable lightness and ruggedness. You can drive in nails for a long time without tiring your arm and having to take too many breaks.

The one-piece drive blade contained in an electrolytically-protected aluminum cylinder is powered by air. It delivers nails into the waiting surfaces with incredible accuracy and speed.

And this feature allows you to utilize the nailer for other tasks including wall sheathing, flooring underlayment, and installations of siding.

If you're wondering how the nailing mechanism within this beast is set up, you'll have your answers shortly. The gun can hold 15-degree wire-collated roofing nails whose sizes range between 3/4 inches to 1-3/4 inches. A transparent compartment holds the nails.

With it, you can determine the number of nails left as you work, without having to open up the device.

Inserting nails into some nailers can be a hectic affair but not with this roofing nailer. Loading is done from the side, and a magnetic holder automatically arranges the nails as you load; this ensures that the gun doesn't jam when you start firing.

Moreover, the firing process is simplified by an auto-fire trigger that drills nails into surfaces with absolute precision. You can adjust how far you need the nails to go into the surface by rotating a graded wheel near the nailer's trigger. The depth of the nails is not the only thing you can set, though.

You can also ensure your nails are driven in with equal spacing by adjusting the shingle guide.

Every tool needs to be properly maintained if it's to last long. The manufacturers of the PCN450 have attempted to make managing the tool easy by adding an air-filter to prevent dust and other debris from pooling on the device's internal components. That's brilliant foresight if you ask us.

Another feature worth mentioning is the nailer's firelock mechanism for safety. It works like the safety mechanism of a standard firearm. When locked, this feature prevents accidental discharge of nails.

Pros

• Magnetic nail holder that arranges nails
• Autofire trigger
• Air-filter that keeps debris out of internal components
• Safety mechanism that prevents accidental discharge
• Lightweight magnesium body
• It is highly durable
• Very versatile
• It has an anti-dust filter
• It has a fire-locking feature

Cons

• It requires an air compressor, and this has to be bought separately
• The nailer jams sometimes

Best for the money: WEN 61783 Pneumatic Coil Roofing Nailer

Best pneumatic coil roofing nailer

The WEN 61783 Nailer shares a lot of similarities with the 3PLUS nailer earlier reviewed. Its nail holding capacity also stands at 120 nails, and it has a turnable exhaust. But several factors distinguish it too.

One of the components that stamps the WEN Pneumatic Nailer's distinctiveness is the quick-release part on the side of the magazine that allows you to clear jammed nails speedily.

This compartment ensures you won't have to waste time opening up the device when it jams; you can clear it from the side and go on working.

What's a roofing nailer without a shingle guide that can be set to provide equal spacing between nails? The WEN nailer falls in line with the other roofing nailers by possessing this component too.

Its shingle guide performs a sliding motion along the length of the magazine to create proportionate gaps between nails driven into a surface. A turnable depth-determining wheel completes the nail gun's nailing mechanism. It is located at the top of the nailer and can be set to the desired depth, depending on the material.

Other less intricate but equally important characteristics include the rubber handle that supports comfortable grip, the lightweight materials applied in manufacturing the nailer, and its ability to accept nails ranging from 3/4 to 1 - 3/4 inches in length.

Pros

• Quick-release mechanism to deal with jams
• Flexible exhaust valve
• Adjustable shingle guide
• Depth-setting knob on its top
• Jams can be fixed quickly because of the quick-release feature on the magazine
• It is easy to wield

Cons

• At times it discharges multiple times

Best for DIY project: Ridgid R175RNA 21163 Roofing Nailer

If you are a person who is mainly looking for drive quality, this is for you too. You will be more than satisfied. Since the manufacturers of Ridgid ensured it is driving straight. They perceive it enhances not only the drive quality but also the roof quality.

Apart from this, there is replaceable nosepiece with carbide inserts.

Before you opt for this product, keep in mind that, according to the Ridgid Company, it is designed for power-finish nails. That's why using it for its purpose will give excellent results.

We often see Ridgid R175RNA 21163 Roofing Nailer in the hands of general contractors. This proves that this product always performs. Though, remember that it is a tad heavier than other roofing nailers. It weighs around 10.1 pounds.

Pros & Cons

Best for Hardwood Flooring: 3PLUS HCN45SP Coil Roofing Nailer

If you are looking for a nailer designed especially for roofing and reroofing ventures, the 3PLUS roofing nailer has your name on itself. The combination of aluminum, rubber, and steel used in its frame provides it with a weight of 7.2 pounds. This makes it easier for it to be carried to heights while you work.

Upon purchase, all you need do is connect this pneumatic nail gun to an air compressor and fire away. It doesn't need to be taken through any initial preparatory process like oiling.

You are not only exempted from undue stress when you are to start it up for the first time, but also while you run subsequent routine maintenance procedures. This is because cleaning the tool has been made easier through its removable nose piece.

Unlike the other nailers we have reviewed, the loading capacity of the 3PLUS nailer is not flattering, at 120 nails, it is just adequate. A more impressive feature has to be its shingle guide that allows you to space out nails equally.

Consider this with the adjustable nail depth knob, and you are already looking at a very decent deal. Remember our claim about the 3PLUS roofing nailer being the ideal roofing nail gun? We are about to back it up.

On both sides of the nail gun, you will find skid pads that are designed to stop the nailer from falling off the roof when placed down. Little details like these are what set the best roofing nailers apart from the others.

Finally, the nailer comes with a 360-degree tool-free adjustable exhaust that allows you direct debris away from yourself as you work. You might indeed have protective goggles on, but it's still great to know that you won't have fragments of the material you are nailing flying at you because of this component.

Pros

• Skid pads to prevent sliding off the roof
• A 360-degree adjustable exhaust
• A carbide insert that allows driving nails into tight corners
• Adjustable nail depth
• It is easy to clean up
• Has a lightweight for a powerful pneumatic nailer

Cons

• It jams

Best for Heavy Duty Job: MILWAUKEE Coil Roofing Nailer 7220-20

It is one of the best products in this list. I don't know why it isn't gleaning praises from the market, but in reality, it is an A++ product. The Milwaukee Company should advertise it more to make it red-hot, as it has all the best-selling features that make a customer fall in love.

For example, it is an ultra-light model. It is for those who consistently deal with roofing projects. The goal is to provide comfort to the professional workers.

The overall design is compact too, which offers greater maneuverability. It weighs around only 7.35 pounds with 6.2 X 11.6 X 15.4 dimensions. This is more than enough to comprehend why it deserves the top place in the roofing nailer list.

Manufacturers of Milwaukee reduced the noise too on a massive scale. It has an adjustable air deflector that directs the exhaust away.

This thing holds down the noise and allows you to work in peace. Though, it doesn't mean it's without sound entirely; it isn't just annoying like many other roofing nailers.

Pros & Cons

Best Way to Choose a Perfect Roofing Nailer

- Different Types:

Yes, they are available in different types. For example, there are siding nailers, flooring nailers, pin nailers, and palm nailers. Though the shape looks almost the same, the purpose is entirely different.

Roofing Nailers are mainly those that attach shingles to houses. Professional companies design them, especially for this specific job.

- Power Source:

Power source of a nailer also plays a significant role. There are battery-powered nailers and fuel-driven nailers. In the battery-powered nailers, you experience a quick start-up time.

This delivers greater mobility during large roofing projects. On the other hand, in the fuel-driven nailers, fuel drains from a gas cartridge into a combustion chamber. It makes the nailer capable of driving large fasteners into a hard material. Other than that, this type of power source also usually doesn't have cords or hoses.

- Firing Methods:

Roofing nailers have different kinds of firing modes, like single-sequential, Single-actuation, and full-sequential. The single-sequential prevents you from bump firing the nail. The single-actuation bump fires the first nail only. And, in the last category, full-sequential, you must activate the trigger to fire each nail.

- High Accuracy:

If a nailer isn't highly accurate, it is good for nothing. Now, of course, almost all the recent nailers offer high accuracy, as they don't hammer nails in a crooked fashion. But, it is still good to know about the accuracy before buying any product.

The nail should always precisely go where the tip of the nail is. This improves the quality of craftsmanship. Most companies highlight this feature in their description. In case you don't find it, you can ask them directly, as their customer support team is always there to answer your questions thoroughly and resolve your concerns.

- Nail Magazine Type:

There are many schools of thought on this subject, as people have their preference. The coil-style magazine holds the nail in long, flexible strips.

On the other hand, the stick-style magazine also holds long strips of nails; the only benefit they have is they make the product economical. The coil-style is expensive; it contains a lot more nails too.

Important Safety Issue

1 - Choose the Right Nailer

2 - Full-Sequential Trigger

3 - Work Time Safety

Frequently Ask Question-

Below are some of the most commonly asked queries regarding roofing nailers:

What if I try to use a framing nailer for the roofing project?

Yeah, you can use a framing nailer for roofing, but there are some limitations. For example, the roofing nailer can only take roofing nails. You know that the heads that fit in the framing nailer are not as wide as a typical roofing nail, but you could, in reality, get some use out of the framing nailer if it could hold down the asphalt shingles.

Can I use a roofing nailer for siding?

If you can hide a nail beneath a chip of wood or blinding-nail, You can use a roofing nailer (1-3/4" galvanized nails) to install the siding. You will find instructions on James Hardie's website. Thanks.

What is a roofing nailer used for?

Roofing nailers are built for what they are named. The roofing nailers are built to drive nails that are appropriate for most types of asphalt and fiberglass shingles, waterproof tar paper, and insulation board.

How do I select the best roofing nailer?

Saying one nailer is the best might be a bit reaching, but in choosing a nailer, there are certain factors one must never ignore:

• Consider its weight
• Look out for its capacity to handle nails of various sizes
• Examine the safety mechanisms that come with it
• Consider the material it's made of and the possible durability
• Find out the nailer's versatility

What types of nailers are on the market?

There are mostly two types: pneumatic nailers and cordless nailers. Pneumatic nailers are powered by air. They are usually connected to the source of the compressed air - usually an air compressor - by a cord.

DIYers and professionals favor them over cordless nailers because they provide more power over an extended period.

Cordless nailers, on the other hand, are powered by batteries or flammable gases like butane and propane. The gas is fed into a chamber where it is ignited and made to push a piston that then propels nails out of the gun. They are more mobile than pneumatic nailers.

Should I go for a light nailer or a heavy one?

While this is down to your preference, you should know that light roofing nailers are more comfortable to carry around and handle. Heavy nailers aren't without their advantage, too; they are more powerful, and this is what contributes to their weightiness.

You should go for what you can handle comfortably.

Is the force required to pull the trigger of a nail gun worth considering?

Absolutely! If you are doing a lot of work with the nailer, you might want to consider how much force is needed in pulling the trigger, so you don't get a nailer that will tire out your fingers after a while. Bump fire triggers are the best. With minimal effort, you can keep the nails flying.

Where can I buy the best roofing nailers?

You can always look at the websites of roofing nailer brands you have in mind, or you could visit some of the major e-commerce websites if you are in search of great deals.

Concluding Thoughts