Updated October 2026
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A finish nailer on this page is a 15- or 16-gauge trim gun — angled or straight — that will sink 1-1/4-inch to 2-1/2-inch finish nails into casing, base, crown, and cabinets. The 18-gauge DeWalt on this list is a brad nailer (thinner shank, 5/8 to 2-1/8 in). It is not a framing nailer and not a 23-gauge pin gun. For walls and 3-1/2-inch nails see Best Framing Nailers.
We do not hand-test these tools. We use manufacturer ratings, then check that the Amazon listing is a real US product page (or Home Depot for Milwaukee). Prices move, so this page does not print street prices; check current price and seller on Amazon before you buy.
Milwaukee is a Home Depot exclusive in the US. We do not send you to an Amazon third-party listing for that line. A tank for the air guns: Best Portable Air Compressors, Best Air Compressors for Trim Work, and Best Air Compressors.
Quick verdict
Best overall pneumatic: Metabo HPT NT65MA4 — 15ga 34° DA, 1-1/4 to 2-1/2 in, 4.2 lb, 70–120 PSI, air duster. The default hose gun if you already own a pancake. Check availability on Amazon (often third-party)
Best 16ga cordless: DeWalt DCN660B — 20V MAX XR, tool only, 16ga 20° angled. Same packs as a yellow circular saw. Check availability on Amazon (often third-party)
Best 18ga (brad): DeWalt DCN680B — 20V MAX XR, tool only, 18ga brads 5/8 to 2-1/8 in. Shoe, small casing, kitchen crown. Not a 16ga finish gun. Check availability on Amazon (often third-party)
Best 15ga DA kit: Bostitch BTFP72155 — Smart Point, oil-free, case, 16-inch on-center gauge. Check price on Amazon
Home Depot exclusive: Milwaukee M18 FUEL 3020-20 — Gen II 16ga straight, nitrogen spring, no gas cartridge. Tool only. Not an Amazon buy. Marketplace listings are third-party. We are not linking those.
Comparison
| Model | Best for | Power | Gauge / nails | Notes | Check price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metabo HPT NT65MA4 | Everyday hose finish | Air 70–120 PSI | 15ga 34° DA, 1-1/4–2-1/2 in | 4.2 lb; air duster | Check availability on Amazon (often third-party) |
| DeWalt DCN660B | Already 20V MAX, 16ga | 20V MAX XR | 16ga 20° angled, 1-1/4–2-1/2 in | Tool only; brushless | Check availability on Amazon (often third-party) |
| DeWalt DCN680B | Light trim / brads | 20V MAX XR | 18ga brad, 5/8–2-1/8 in | Tool only; micro nose | Check availability on Amazon (often third-party) |
| Bostitch BTFP72155 | 15ga DA kit + case | Air 70–120 PSI | 15ga DA, 1-1/4–2-1/2 in | Smart Point; case included | Check price on Amazon |
| Milwaukee 3020-20 | Already M18 | M18 FUEL | 16ga straight, 1-1/4–2-1/2 in | HD exclusive; tool only | Home Depot only |
Bostitch BTFP71917 (B09GL6NTBL) is a real 16ga Smart Point hose kit. We picked the 15ga DA BTFP72155 for the hose-kit slot.
Metabo HPT NT65MA4 — best overall pneumatic
Check availability on Amazon (often third-party)
If you already own a 6-gallon pancake and a hose, this is the 15ga finish gun. Metabo HPT rates the NT65MA4 at 4.2 lb, 34° magazine, 15-gauge DA nails 1-1/4 to 2-1/2 in, 100-nail rear-load magazine, 70–120 PSI, selective actuation, tool-less depth, integrated air duster, 360° exhaust. 5-year tool warranty (manufacturer). Amazon listing B07M62L77L. Check current price and seller on Amazon.
Who it’s for. Crown, base, casing, chair rail, cabinets, and exterior trim on a hose. Pair it with a 1.2–2.6 CFM @ 90 PSI tank — a 1-gallon quiet hot-dog will run it; a 6-gallon pancake is more comfortable. See Best Portable Air Compressors and Best Air Compressors for Trim Work.
Who it’s not for. No hose, no tank — buy DeWalt or Milwaukee. Need 16ga straight nails — that is DeWalt DCN660B or Milwaukee 3020-20, not this DA magazine. Need a case and Smart Point nose in the same carton — Bostitch BTFP72155.
Specs that matter. 15ga. 34° DA. 1-1/4–2-1/2 in. 4.2 lb. 70–120 PSI. Selective fire. Model NT65MA4. Amazon B07M62L77L. Do not use B08JVG7N53 (nails bundle), B08JVHJYNY / B08JVFSVBK (hose kits), or B0BMT34G43 (combo twister).
Caveats. Confirm the live price and that the title is still NT65MA4 only. Air-duster and “Pro Preferred” claims are Metabo’s, not a test from us.
Check availability on Amazon (often third-party)
DeWalt DCN660B — best 16ga cordless
Check availability on Amazon (often third-party)
If the rest of the truck is yellow, this is the 16ga finish gun that does not take a hose. DeWalt: 20V MAX XR, brushless, sequential or contact, tool-free depth and jam release, stall-release lever, 16-gauge 20° angled nails 1-1/4 to 2-1/2 in. Tool only — no pack, no charger. Manufacturer also publishes up to 800 nails per charge on a 2.0Ah pack. That shot count is DeWalt’s, not ours. Check current price and seller on Amazon.
Who it’s for. Already on 20V MAX. Punch-list trim in a finished house. Same packs as other DeWalt 20V tools.
Who it’s not for. Starting from zero — you would be buying a pack on top of a tool-only body. Need 18ga brads — DCN680B. Already on M18 — Home Depot. Want a 15ga DA hose gun — Metabo.
Specs that matter. 20V MAX XR. Brushless. 16ga 20° angled. Tool only. Model DCN660B. Amazon B0195KBAVI.
Caveats. Confirm the title is still DCN660B, not a kit ASIN.
Check availability on Amazon (often third-party)
DeWalt DCN680B — best 18ga (brad, not 16ga finish)
Check availability on Amazon (often third-party)
This is the 18-gauge brad gun in the same 20V MAX XR family. DeWalt: 5/8 to 2-1/8 in 18ga brads, micro nose, brushless, sequential or contact, dry-fire lockout, tool-free jam and depth. Tool only. Amazon B06XF6MZJ5. Check current price and seller on Amazon. Skip Renewed B07J2S37HB.
Who it’s for. Shoe, small casing, kitchen crown, and anyone who already owns 20V packs and wants a thinner hole than 16ga.
Who it’s not for. Heavy 5/4 casing and hardwood door jambs that want a 15- or 16-gauge head. That is NT65MA4, DCN660B, or Milwaukee 3020-20.
Specs that matter. 18ga brad. 5/8–2-1/8 in. 20V MAX XR. Tool only. Model DCN680B. Amazon B06XF6MZJ5.
Caveats. It is a brad nailer. Do not buy it expecting 16ga collation.
Check availability on Amazon (often third-party)
Bostitch BTFP72155 — 15ga DA Smart Point kit
Hose gun with a case. Bostitch: 15ga DA 1-1/4 to 2-1/2 in, Smart Point (smaller nose; manufacturer says you do not have to mash the contact trip to fire), oil-free, Dial-A-Depth, tool-free jam, selectable trigger, air blower, 16-inch on-center flip-out gauge, 70–120 PSI. Kit: nailer, 1/4-inch fitting, case, extra no-mar tips. 7-year limited (1-year in production — Bostitch). Amazon listing B00K34U7XI. Check current price and seller on Amazon.
Who it’s for. Same 15ga DA nails as the Metabo, plus a case and Smart Point nose in one SKU.
Who it’s not for. Cordless. Anyone who only wants the lightest 4.2 lb hose gun — Metabo. 16ga straight — BTFP71917 exists (B09GL6NTBL) but is not this pick.
Specs that matter. 15ga DA. Smart Point. Oil-free. 70–120 PSI. Model BTFP72155. Amazon B00K34U7XI.
Caveats. Confirm new, not Renewed. Smart Point claims are the manufacturer’s.
Milwaukee M18 FUEL 3020-20 — Home Depot exclusive, not an Amazon buy
Check the price at Home Depot for the tool-only Gen II 16ga straight gun. Confirm in the store or on HD’s page. The older 2741-20 (HD #206862845) is still a real page. Angled Gen II is 2841-20 (HD #317978875) — a different SKU.
Milwaukee: POWERSTATE brushless + ready-to-fire cylinder, no gas cartridge, zero ramp-up, sequential and contact, tool-free jam latch (Gen II), 16ga straight finish nails in the 1-1/4 to 2-1/2 in class. Tool only — M18 pack sold separately. “Sink 2-1/2 in in solid oak” is Milwaukee’s claim on the first-gen line, not a test from us.
Who it’s for. Already on M18. You want cordless 16ga without a DeWalt pack or a hose.
Who it’s not for. Anyone we would send to Amazon. Marketplace listings are third-party. We are not linking those.
Caveats. Confirm the Home Depot price. Tool only. Gen II vs 2741-20: buy the SKU on the shelf. Oak / ramp-up claims are Milwaukee’s.
How to pick a finish nailer
15ga vs 16ga vs 18ga. 15ga DA (Metabo, Bostitch) is the thicker finish nail — common for casing and base. 16ga (DeWalt DCN660B, Milwaukee) is the usual “finish” cordless size. 18ga (DCN680B) is a brad: smaller hole, less holding power. Do not mix gauges in the same magazine.
Air vs battery. Air (Metabo, Bostitch) is cheapest per nail if you already own a pancake. Battery (DeWalt 20V, Milwaukee M18) skips the hose and uses packs you already own.
Compressor CFM. Brad and finish are happy on 1.2–2.6 CFM @ 90 PSI. A 1-gallon quiet tank will run these guns; a 6-gallon pancake is less recovery pause. Framing wants more — see Best Framing Nailers and Best Portable Air Compressors.
Straight vs angled. Angled 15/16ga magazines fit tighter into crowns and inside corners. Milwaukee 3020-20 on this page is straight 16ga. Need M18 angled? That is 2841-20 at Home Depot, not this pick.
FAQ
Which finish nailer should I buy in 2026? The Metabo NT65MA4 if you have a compressor and want one 15ga DA hose gun. The DeWalt DCN660B if you already live in 20V MAX and want 16ga. The DCN680B if the job is 18ga brads. The Bostitch BTFP72155 if you want a 15ga DA kit with a case. The Milwaukee 3020-20 at Home Depot if you already live in M18.
Do I need a compressor? Only for the Metabo and the Bostitch. DeWalt and Milwaukee do not take a hose.
Finish nailer or framing nailer? Finish is 15/16ga trim. Framing is 21°/30° strip into 2x. Wrong page: Best Framing Nailers.
Why no Amazon link for Milwaukee? Home Depot exclusive. We will not send you to a third-party Amazon listing.
Best Framing Nailers · Best Portable Air Compressors · Best Air Compressors for Trim Work · Best Air Compressors
Prices and Amazon offers change. We don’t list live prices; check Amazon for the current price and seller. Manufacturer PSI, weight, shot-count, and drive claims are the manufacturers’ published ratings, not tests we ran. Buy Home Depot exclusives at Home Depot, not from third-party Amazon sellers.