The 10 Best Heat Guns for Crafts, Home Improvement, and More
While perhaps not a must-have in your toolbox, a heat gun is certainly handy for certain tasks. When it comes to stripping paint, removing rusted bolts, and shrinking vinyl, a heat gun will get the job done faster and with less effort thanks to its high temperature. Most are also relatively inexpensive; you can get a basic corded model from reputable brand for about $30.
Heat guns actually operate very similarly to a hair dryer, using a fan that blows air over a heated filament. The difference, however, is that heat guns can hit 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit, making them ideal for large home improvement tasks. They’re also frequently used in crafting, for things like setting resin or shrink wraps (and can be confused with hot glue guns).
There are corded, cordless, and gas-powered heat guns, sold solo and with attachments in sets, though finding a high-quality option among a sea of mediocre ones isn’t always straightforward. Here are our top recommendations for the best heat guns on the market.
Looking for more tools for small DIY projects? Check out our stories on the best hand saws, brad nailers, and electric scissors.
Best Heat Guns
What to Consider
The first thing to think about when purchasing a heat gun is its power source. Heat guns often have a power cord that can be plugged into a standard outlet, but if you’re planning to use the tool somewhere that outlets aren’t available, you may want to opt for a cordless, battery-powered model. (Keep in mind that cordless models have a limited runtime before they need to be recharged.) Alternatively, there are select gas-powered heat guns, which typically run on butane.
You’ll also want to consider the heat gun’s temperature range, which can go as high as 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit. Applications like paint stripping require extremely high temperatures, but if you’re just planning to craft with the tool, you might be fine with a model that only reaches 200 or 300 degrees Fahrenheit Additionally, some models allow you to select a specific temperature, while others just offer high and low settings. Other factors to think about include whether the heat gun has different fan speeds and whether it comes with any attachments.
How We Selected
To find the best heat guns for a wide range of applications, we looked at models from a variety of brands. We prioritized products with at least a 4-star rating from reviewers and evaluated each model for its temperature range, ease of use, and useful features, like a built-in stand or included attachments. Once we narrowed down our selection, we sorted products into categories based on their ideal use case, aiming to include a variety of heat guns to suit different applications and budgets.
Popular Mechanics; Courtesy DEWALT
