The 9 Best 18 Gauge Flooring nailers (2023 reviews)

Dewalt line of nailer come in a pretty wide variety of styles, so you can definitely find one that suits your individual preferences and needs. This nailer works best with 15.5 gauge cramps, particularly on hard wood floor. It features mallet actuated pneumatic driving action. The nailer will work with 5/8 engineered hardwood. It comes with Allen wrenches for any bolts to change the shoes.

The Nail gun is lightweight and super easy to use. The plastic plate that sits on top of the wood is not scratchy. It is easy to use right out of the box.

Why We Like This:

Operates fine using stanley / bostich compressor
Worked great with flooring cleats nailing 3/4 maple
Not too light nor too heavy

Best For engineered Flooring: Freeman Flooring Stapler

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The freeman flooring stapler might be a relatively new release, but it's still nothing short of impressive this year, thanks to multiple price cuts and added new features over the past few months. This flooring stapler incorporates all the safety features and works smoothly with no jamming. It works perfect for laying 1200 sqf of hardwood. It is compatible with 18 gauge brad nails from 5/8" to 1-5/8" and 18 gauge 1/4" narrow crown staples from 1/2" to 1-5/. The foot is easily adjustable for setting both depths of the staple and the position. It reduces fatigue during long shifts and increases accuracy of fastener placement.

This nailer is ideal for 1/2-Inch and below engineered or solid tongue and groove flooring, also great for tacking down flooring while glue sets. It also features depth adjust to allow you to customize your firing depth. The flooring attachment is mounted onto the stapler via a pivot rod at the top that allows the attachment to be lowered into position.

Why We Like This:

Very solid engineered hardwood floor stapler
Inexpensive, easy to use, never jammed
One of the new comers and featured product

Best For diyer: Freeman 18 Gauge Flooring Nailer

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The freeman 18 gauge flooring nailer should be able to handle its purpose and duties with ease. This durable nailer features an anodized aluminum magazine, no mar protection plate and self leveling front foot. It is used for 850 square feet of 3/4 inch hickory. The nails go flush and deep. When hit properly, it's reliable and precise.

This nailer/stapler will work with 5/8 inch and 3/4 inch tongue and groove flooring. It is well made and performed great. If it is only meant to drive nails or staples on a 45 degree, you will probably have to use a finish nailer 16 or 18 gauge.

Why We Like This:

Very predictable, easy to work with
Reliable / durable / jam free
Perfect for hardwoods, easy to use, functional, well built
Does extremely well for the diy home owner

Best For engineered Hardwood: 3PLUS 18 Gauge Flooring Nailer

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Next on the list, we've got yet another nailer that manages to win our hearts. It's the 3plus 18 gauge flooring nailer and it's widely considered as nailer that has the most suitable features. It is ideal for installation of asphalt or fiberglass roofing shingles, fastening lath wire on plywood. Without the plastic nose, there are two metal forks that act as both safety and depth measurement, and they will compress into the wood when firing the gun. It can shoot 18 gage 3/4-2 inch long brad nails in addition to 1/2-1-1/2 staples with 1/4 inch crown. The force of each staple slowly moves the parts of the foot, requireing you to make adjustments constantly.

The variable depth adjuster is a nice feature. It comes off pretty easily so that you can use the gun to shoot staples normally. It comes with clear plastic safety glasses though. It is easy to convert to the brad nailer when getting to the edges.

Why We Like This:

Easy to use and load staples
Awesome air tool for diy homeowners
New and hot release

Best With most common Flooring Nails: Valuair 18 Gauge Flooring Nailer

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Not everyone likes to purchase nailer for their daily usage, but the valuair 18 gauge flooring nailer would be an anomoly. This floor nailer performs very well and is easy to use out of the box. It does a fantastic job with 3/4" solid asian walnut hardwood. The tool works well with 2 or 2 and a half inch flooring nails in solid oak plank flooring. It comes in a hard case that holds the stapler, oiler, hammer and owners manual.

The nailer is sturdy and well built. It works with most common flooring nails/staples. This works as well, no issues at all, just make sure you drop a couple of drops on the oil they provide every 3 to 4 hours of use to keep it run flawlessly. This also comes in a plastic box with hinges so it opens and folds nicely.

Why We Like This:

Real workhorse and does a fantastic job at a fraction of the cost
Drives nails through 3/4 inch oak planks like going through butter
Good nailer, help to finish floor
Push the nails in deep and no air leak

Best With finish Nailer: Estwing 18 Gauge Flooring Nailer

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We know from years of feedback from readers, customers and amazon sellers, what most people want in a convenient and appropriate nailer. The estwing 18 gauge flooring nailer is exactly that - it's a simple nailer that hits all the right notes. This estwing pneumatic nailer saves a lot of work. The Gauge 2" flooring nailer and stapler gives you the flexibility to switch between the two most popular flooring fasteners without having to carry around separate tools. It comes with a fiberglass mallet, padded bag, air tool oil and adjustment tools. The white rubber head prevents marring when you move your flooring into place.

This flooring nailer and stapler is suitable for any professional construction contractor at the job site or diyer at home. It's super easy to hammer. The stapler/ nailer comes with exactly what you see and the case is a nice touch to keep everything in. It's designed with the professional in mind, and the efl50q is a tool with all of the features and durability you need to get the job done. The mallet it comes with alone is worth an easy $40 if not more plus you get a great carrying bag.

Why We Like This:

Light as a feather and a quick release hinge to clear jambs
Packaged well, nice hammer and storage bag is a plus
Good investment for long term

Best For thinner wood: Powernail 18 Gauge Flooring Nailer

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We know from years of feedback from readers, customers and amazon sellers, what most people want in a convenient and appropriate nailer. The powernail 18 gauge flooring nailer is exactly that - it's a simple nailer that hits all the right notes. The 50F nailer uses the same air hose as all the Powernail flooring nailers. It is designed for much harder floors like compressed bamboo. It features a unique nose that fits a wide variety of profiles including tongue & groove and interlocking plank. It stays out of the glue and very easy to adjust for different height material. It is easy to use installing 850 square foot 1/2inch strand bamboo 6 foot lengths.

It is fully adjustable and installs engineered wood flooring from 3/4" to 3/.

Why We Like This:

Your ready to start flying through your new floor installation with ease
Really makes installing hardwood flooring faster
Lot of satisfied buyers

Best With Roller: Numax 18 Gauge Flooring Nailer

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The numax 18 gauge flooring nailer is capable of outshining several other nailer featured in this list in overall features in its price range. Portable electric oil-free pancake air compressors are perfect for supplying power to your pneumatic tools. It is constructed of lightweight and high strength aluminum with heat treated steel parts, this dual handle flooring nailer is built to last. It is compatible with 18 gauge glue collated l-cleats from 1-1/4" to 1-3/. It protects internal components from debris from debris.

It is easy to use and reliable. The chamber for nails only holds one strip at a time, so it has to be VERY low to get a second strip to load, so it causes a lot of checking to get the new strip of nails to load. It is designed for applications such as framing, subfloors and roof decking. This convenient option will save your back and help to reduce fatigue when working for long stretches of time.

Why We Like This:

Interchangeable base plates (3) allow you to work on 3/8" to 3/4" flooring
Perfect performance on a strand woven bamboo floor
Durably constructed of high strength aluminum with heat treated steel parts

Best For small job: carpenter Air tools 18 Gauge Flooring Nailer

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The carpenter air tools 18 gauge flooring nailer is capable of outshining several other nailer featured in this list in overall features for the price point. The CFL4518 is perfect for engineered or solid hardwood flooring including your more exotic hardwoods including stranded bamboo. It is designed for use on tongue and groove flooring ranging from 3/8" to 3/4" in thickness. It comes with a high quality rubber mallet to ensure effortless operation with every nail driven. It is perfect for a small job.

It is a fastener specifically for flooring. The narrower cleat is good for very dense wood. It is perfectly through the entire project. It comes already equipped with a 1/4 inch npt industrial style male quick connect.

Why We Like This:

Heavy duty heat treated aluminum housing
Great tool for installing bamboo floors
Compatible with 3/8” to 3/4” engineered or solid hardwood tongue and groove flooring
3 interchangeable non-marring base plates for different thickness flooring