7 Best Palm Nailers of 2023

Photo: Milwaukee

With the best palm nailer, you can nail in tight corners and spaces with ease and do it faster than using a traditional hammer, and it is also gentler on your delicate wood pieces.

While palm nailers might not be as fast as other power nailers, they make up for this with better depth of drive control and accuracy.

Also quite versatile as they will come in handy for a variety of application from framing to finishing. And their small and more portable size makes them great for nailing small corners, tight spaces and also for flooring and decking edges where flooring nailers cannot work.

If you are on the market for one of these handy nailers, this piece is for you as here we provide top 7 palm nailer reviews and also explain the important things to look for when choosing one.

7 Best Palm Nailers – Review

IMAGE	​PRODUCT	​FEATURES
	1. Bostitch PN100K (Best Overall)	Durable hardened steel nose Ergonomic and comfortable design Magnetic nose for accurate fastener placement Fantastic for tight spaces
	2. 3Plus HMPN50SP (Best Budget)	More budget friendly Safe and accurate nail placement Front exhaust design Ideal for variety of applications
	3. Bostitch PN50 (Best under $50)	Insulating and vibration-reducing rubber grip More accessible 360-degree swivel air fitting Convenient front exhaust system Drives a wide variety of nail types
	4. Hitachi NH90AB (Best for Joist Hangers)	Very ideal for metal connectors and joist hanger installation 360-degree swivel fitting Comfortable overmolded rubber grip Magnetic nose for increased accuracy
	5. Senco PC0781 (Best for Pro Woodworkers)	Professional-grade design and performance Comfortable rubber palm pad Handy magnetic nail guide Fatigue-reducing leather grip
	6. Milwaukee M12 (Best Battery-powered)	Portable and convenient battery operation LED work light included Hand strap for reduced user fatigue Magnetic tip for increased accuracy
	7. Freeman PMPN (Ergonomically Designed & Lightweight)	Lightweight and ergonomic design Magnetic tip for increased placement accuracy Comfortable rubber grip Relatively affordable

1. Bostitch PN100K – Best Overall Palm Nailer

Photo: Bostitch

• Power Source: Pneumatic
• Operating Pressure: 70-100 PSI
• Weight: 2.9 pounds

For an under $100 palm nailer, it is hard to get something better than the Bostitch PN100K as it is designed to perform even better than many others that cost way much more.

This top-rated palm nailer is designed to provide maximum nail drive power, and it will drive nails that are up to 5 inches long. And it is also well-built and with durable components for long service life which makes a fantastic all-round nailer.

Its ergonomic design and the fact that it comes with a comfortable leather glove also make it more comfortable to use for extended periods.

And this is a more versatile palm nailer as it comes with three interchangeable noses which are the standard nose, large bore nose, and finish nailer nose.

The noses are magnetic which helps to keep the nails stable for faster and more accurate placement and when you buy the nailer, you also get a hex wrench, nose wrench, and a handy carry case.

The included manual will not be very useful for beginners as it does not explain important things like what each nose is for or how to attach the leather glove. However, like many other palm nailers, this model is quite straightforward to use, and so this should not be the dealbreaker.

Pros:

• Accurate fastener placement
• Interchangeable noses included for versatility
• Durable steel nose
• Comfortable leather glove included

Cons:

• Included instruction manual is not very useful
• Wanting carry case quality

2. 3Plus HMPN50SP – Best Budget Palm Nailer

Photo: 3Plus

• Power Source: Pneumatic
• Operating Pressure: 60 – 120 PSI
• Weight: 1 pound

For DIYers on the search for a high-performing palm nailer that does not cost much, the 3Plus HMPN50SP is a perfect choice.

It is the cheapest item on our palm nailer review, and it is also hard to get anything better quality in the market at the same or lower price tag.

And despite its small price tag, it is still a well-built palm nailer that features a lightweight and durable die-cast aluminum body and with an ergonomic grip for user comfort.

Also, it is designed to deliver safe and accurate nail placement thanks to a magnetic nose, and it is safer to operate as it includes a front exhaust that will direct the air away from the user.

This palm nailer might not be as powerful as many others on our list but for its price, it is probably as powerful as it can get. And unless you are planning to use it to drive very large framing nails, it should still be powerful enough for your projects.

Pros:

• Highly affordable
• Durable die-cast aluminum housing
• Handy magnetic nose
• Drives most bulk nails
• Safer front exhaust

Cons:

• Not a very powerful nailer
• Still a little prone to freezing up

3. Bostitch PN50 – Best Palm Nailer under $50

Photo: Bostitch

• Power Source: Pneumatic
• Operating Pressure: 70 – 120 PSI
• Weight: 1 pound

The Bostitch PN50 is as good as it can get for an under $50 palm nailer, and it is the kind of tool that will always be handy for most of your woodworking projects.

What makes it one of the best mini palm nailers out there is that besides being highly affordable, it still well-built and with a lot to offer.

One of its key highlights is the 360-degree air fitting that offers maximum accessibility and makes the tool more maneuverable.

Also, this Bostitch palm nailer includes a comfortable rubber grip that dampens vibration for even more comfortable operation, and it will shoot most bulk nails and others like the finish and timber nails for increased versatility.

Noise is probably the only significant shortcoming with this palm nailer, but it is an easy problem to fix by wearing some ear protection. Furthermore, you will hardly find anything as powerful as it is that is not noisy.

Pros:

• Comfortable and vibration reducing grip
• Maximum tight spot accessibility
• More lightweight construction
• Convenient front exhaust
• Drives a variety of nail types

Cons:

• Seems a little louder

4. Hitachi NH90AB – Best Palm Nailer for Joist Hangers

Photo: Hitachi

• Power Source: Pneumatic
• Operating Pressure: 80 – 100 PSI
• Weight: 1.3 pounds

If you find yourself having to do many projects that involve installing joist hangers, you will be happy to have the Hitachi NH90AB around as it will make the job easier, faster and safer for you.

This top-notch Hitachi palm nailer features a comfortable over-molded rubber grip that provides maximum user comfort and also reduces vibration to make the tool ideal for extended use.

And it has a 360-degree swivel fitting that makes it easier to use and more maneuverable, a front exhaust to direct air away from you and a magnetic nose that will keep the nails in place for fast and accurate placement.

This palm nailer can be quite noisy when nailing, but it still does a good job when nailing in tight corners, and given that it is hard to get a pneumatic nailer that is not noisy, this should not be a big issue.

Pros:

• Great for joist hanger and metal connector installtion
• Comfortable over-molded grip
• Safe and more accurate nail placement
• Convenient and safer front air exhaust
• Highly maneuverable and easy to use

Cons:

• Quite noisy
• Not very ideal for driving larger/longer nails

5. Senco PC0781 – Best Palm Nailer for Pro Woodworkers

Photo: Senco

• Power Source: Pneumatic
• Operating Pressure: 50 – 125 PSI
• Weight: 2.4 pounds

Senco PC0781 is built for the pro woodworker that has to assemble joist hangers, pole barn and metal straps often as it will make the job faster and easier.

This is a well-balanced palm nailer that includes a soft rubber palm pad and leather hand strap to ensure minimal fatigue even when using it for extended periods.

The magnetic nail guide is one of the things that make nail driving faster and easier as it allows users to place them at the desired point effortlessly.

And this is also quite a versatile palm nailer as it has been designed to shoot a wide variety of bulk nails from 5D to 70D.

The leather hand strap is a little too tight and it might not fit adults with larger than average hands, but the good news is that you can still use the palm nailer comfortably without it as it will not even be required for most applications.

Pros:

• Soft and comfortable grip
• Faster and easier nail drive
• Leather hand strap reduces fatigue
• Drives a wide range of bulk nails

Cons:

• Leather hand strap is a little tight
• Strap is made from a relatively thinner leather material

6. Milwaukee M12 – Best Battery-powered Palm Nailer

Photo: Milwaukee

• Power Source: Battery-powered
• Weight: 3.4 pounds

Battery-powered palm nailers like the Milwaukee M12 offer the convenience of never having to use an air compressor and allowing you to use your nailer from almost anywhere.

This amazing electric palm nailer offers a relatively long battery life to ensure you always get the job done before it runs out of charge and to make it even better, it has a faster charger for minimal downtimes.

Milwaukee makes this palm nailer super easy to use, and its special nose design ensures fast and simple nail placement. And many users will love that it includes some LED lights to illuminate the workspace and a hand strap for comfortable operation and minimum user fatigue.

When compared to other palm nailers on our list, this model is quite pricey and also relatively heavier but for a battery-powered nailer, both the price and weight are much better than most others in the market.

Pros:

• Longer battery life and fast charging
• Fast and easy to use
• Convenient hand strap
• Handy LED lights included

Cons:

• Relatively pricier
• A little on the heavier side

7. Freeman PMPN – Ergonomically Designed and Lightweight

Photo: Freeman

• Power Source: Pneumatic
• Operating Pressure: 80 – 100 PSI
• Weight: 1.38 pounds

Any woodworker, DIYers or homeowner looking for a more budget-friendly palm nailer will love the Freeman PMPN because besides being affordable it is also powerful and highly useful.

This small palm nailer is quite lightweight, and it has been designed to shoot different nails from 6d to 16d that are up to 3-1/2 inches long.

It is an ergonomically designed nailer that will be comfortable to operate for extended periods and with high-quality internal components for long service life. And when you buy it, you also get free oil and wrenches to ensure you have everything you need to use it.

While this palm nailer seems to struggle when driving larger nails, for anything under 3-1/2 inches it is still perfect. Given that you will hardly ever need to use a palm nailer for anything longer than 3-1/2 inches, this should not stop you from buying this affordable nailer.

Pros:

• Ergonomically designed body
• Drives a wide variety of nails
• Relatively more affordable
• High-quality internal components
• Free oil and wrenches included

Cons:

• Struggles to drive larger nails

How to Buy the Best Palm Nailer

Photo: Porter-Cable

Our reviews will give you some idea on the top brand and models to buy but to pick the right one for you among them, you need to watch out for the following factors.

1. Design and Weight

Given that palm nailers are designed for one-handed use, it is important to make sure that the weight and design of the model you use will make it easy to operate using one hand.

A good palm nailer should be lightweight enough to ensure minimal fatigue when using it for extended periods and its design should also allow it to fit your palm perfectly.

But, weight can be a tricky thing when it comes to palm nailers because something that is too lightweight can also be hard to control. Hence, you have to find the perfect weight but anything between 2 and 5 pounds is often good enough. 

2. Power Source

Like many other power nailers, the palm nailers will rely on two main power sources which are pneumatic and electric. And while what you choose between the two is often a matter of personal preferences, you need to understand what each has to offer.

The air-powered or pneumatic palm nailers will require you to buy an air compressor if you do not already own one, and they will be more expensive to operate in the long run. However, most pneumatic palm nailers are relatively more powerful than electric types.

Electric palm nailers like the battery-powered Milwaukee M12, on the other hand, offer the advantage of being more portable, and this is more so if you go for the battery-powered types. But, the presence of more electric components means they will need more maintenance, and they are typically pricier than the pneumatic types.

3. Nail Size

Palm nailers will typically drive nails that are between 1-1/4 and 6-1/2 inches long, but the actual nail size that they can accommodate will vary from one model to the other.

Every palm nailer will have a specific nail size range that it can drive and this will determine the kinds of tasks you can use it for.

The wider the nail size or the more the nail size that the palm nailer can accommodate the better it will be as this will make it a more versatile tool.

4. Comfort

Comfort is another vital factor to consider when choosing a palm nailer because if what you buy is not comfortable enough, it will give you a hard time when nailing, and you will probably not use it for long periods.

The grip is one of the key determinants of comfort and a palm nailer that comes with an ergonomic rubber grip that fits perfectly on the palm will be the most comfortable.

Also, make sure that the design of the palm mailer is for your hand orientation, but the good news here is that most are designed for use by both right and left-handed individuals.

5. Extra Features

Many palm nailers will come with various extra features which are meant to make them more efficient, easier to use and more convenient for the users.

These extra features will vary from one model to the other, but some key ones to watch for include interchangeable tips/noses for increased versatility, adjustable depth of drive, hand strap for extra comfort and a carry case for easy transportation and storage.

Conclusion

Whether you are doing some framing or finish carpentry that entails nailing tight spaces and small corners, a palm nailer will be a very useful tool to have around.

You will not need to spend many hours combing the internet for that perfect palm nailer as we have already done the work for you. All you need to do now is pick a model that suits your needs and budget from our top 7 reviews above.

And from this review, the powerful, versatile and ergonomically designed Bostitch PN100K is our best overall recommendation while the inexpensive 3Plus HMPN50SP is for you if you do not want to spend much.