Brad nailers and finish nailers get confused due to their similar looks, but they have key differences in price, purpose, and size. A nail gun can greatly increase your efficiency on the job, but choosing one that uses the correct nail size for your application is important.
Below, we've explained the difference between brad nailer vs finish nailer, including how they compare to other nail guns, so you can buy the right nailer for your project.
Brad Nailers vs. Finish Nailer
If you head to the hardware store, you'll see that brad nailers are significantly cheaper than finish nailers. But what's the real difference? The key difference between brad nailers and finish nailers is the size of the nail they use. A finish nailer uses larger finish nails, while a brad nailer uses brads, which are very thin nails. As a result, the tools are different sizes, as the finish nailer requires more space for its larger motor and a larger magazine to hold the larger nails.
Because brad nailers are significantly smaller than finish nailers, they're much easier to use in tight spots. To account for this, finish nailers are available with angled magazines, which makes them more maneuverable than those with straight magazines. These angled finish nailers, available in both 21- and 35-degree, are popular for installing window trim, crown molding, or anything in tight, overhead areas.
Tip
Most brands offer both battery-powered nailers and pneumatic nailers. While the battery-powered nailers cost more, they grant you more mobility and freedom to work without being tied to an air compressor via a clunky air hose. However, pneumatic nailers offer more consistent power delivery at a lower price.
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How Is a Brad Nail Different Than a Finish Nail?
If you set a brad nailer next to a finish nail, you'll immediately notice they are vastly different sizes. Brad nails are much thinner than finish nails. As a result, brad nails have much less holding power than finish nails, making them unsuitable for many construction tasks.
The sizes of nails are represented by their gauge number, which increases in size as the number decreases. For instance, a finish nail is available in 15 and 16 gauge, while a brad nail is typically 18 gauge. Though the gauge is higher, the nail is smaller. Both finish nails and brad nails are available in multiple lengths.
Whereas a finish nail is useful for installing finishing touches like trim, baseboards, molding, and more, a brad nail is only suited for lighter, decorative trims, crafts, and items that don't require the stronger holding power of a finish nail.
When to Use a Brad Nailer
Brad nailers are perfect for jobs that require only light or temporary hold, such as a project that only needs to be held tightly while the adhesive dries. They're useful for building frames for art or mirrors, attaching decorative elements on furniture and built-ins, and constructing small woodworking projects like birdhouses and boxes.
Brad nailers are ideal for projects where the fasteners are meant to be hidden, as their minimal head leaves only a tiny hole in the material. This hole is easy to fill and hide using wood filler. This is useful for projects that won't be painted, as a larger nail head would be too obvious.
Warning
While a brad nail's hold seems sufficient at first, it's small size and lack of a large nail head will not suffice once wood begins to expand and contract. Eventually, the materials will break free if not secured with adhesive.
When to Use a Finish Nailer
Finish nailers are necessary for projects that require maximum long-term holding power, such as baseboards, door frames, window frames, and more. Because finish nailers utilize a nail that's significantly thicker than a brad nail, they offer immensely more holding power, which is necessary for permanently securing materials.
The other major factor in a finish nail's significantly higher holding power is the nail head, which is notably larger than the head of a brad nail. The trade-off is that finish nails aren't as easily hidden. However, if the material is finished with paint, the nails can be driven past the surface using a nail set, then filled and painted.
How Brad and Finish Nailers Compare to Other Nail Guns
Brad nailers and finish nailers aren't your only options for driving fasteners. Here's how they compare to other types of nail guns.
Framing Nailers
Framing nailers are the most commonly used nail guns, as they're the most powerful. As their name suggests, framing nailers are necessary for framing structures. To do this, they use massive 8- to 12-gauge framing nails, driven by immense force. While battery-powered framing nailers exist, they aren't as commonly used as battery-powered finish nailers and brad nailers.
Pin Nailers
Pin nailers drive an even smaller nail than a brad nailer. The 23-gauge pin also has no head, which makes it even more discrete than a brad nail. However, the small size and lack of a nail head give the pin nailer notably less holding power than even a brad nail. Because of this, pin nailers are reserved for crafts, DIY projects, or materials that are only secured momentarily.
Staplers
Powered staplers are perfect for holding materials that can't be held by a nail head, such as fabrics, roofing felt, thin wood, and similar materials. Don't grab a stapler if you're planning to hide the fastener, as the wider footprint of the staple creates a hold that is difficult to cover up.
