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12 Best Heat Guns (Review) In 2021

Written by:
Jason Kelly
Jason Kelly
Jason Kelly

Ever since he was a child, Jason has loved repairing, building and creating things. Growing up, he spent all his free time carving intricate woodcraft pieces that soon caught the eye of neighbours and friends. Before he knew it, Jason turned his hobby into a job, earning an income from being his hometowns handyman. Many years have passed since then but Jason’s enthusiasm for woodwork remains the same. He can usually be found in his workshop, crafting furniture or restoring old treasures.

Last Updated: February 24, 2021
Show Contents
Contents
  • The Best Heat Gun
  • 1. Wagner Spraytech Heat Gun
  • 2. SEEKONE Heavy Duty Heat Gun Kit
  • 3. Genesis 12.5 Amp Dual-Temperature Heat Gun Kit
  • 4. Chandler Tool Embossing Heat Gun
  • 5. BLACK+DECKER Dual Temperature Heat Gun
  • 6. PORTER-CABLE 1500-Watt Heat Gun
  • 7. PRULDE 1500W Hot Air Gun
  • 8. DEWALT Heat Gun with LCD Display & Hard Case
  • 9. CARTMAN Heat Gun
  • 10. Tacklife Precision Control Temperature Heat Gun
  • 11. Wagner FURNO 300 Heat Gun
  • 12. Fujiwara Heat Gun Kit

From stripping wallpaper, drying things, stripping paint, tinting windows and even putting the heat back in your hors d'oeuvres, heat guns are widely used in a variety of households. With such possibilities, a hot air gun is an essential tool for most homeowners and DIY hobbyists. They can be regularly used by discharging high levels of heat at a very high-temperature range and with a huge array of heat guns available it's important to find the right one.

Each has a different feature and a certain mechanism that provides you with plenty of options but it all depends on your budget and what you need a heating gun for but you can be assured they don't work with a flame so are safe for many applications.

We looked at all the safety features and regulations, with some tips at the bottom of the page. Just remember to wear protective gloves and eye covers even if you're a pro.

And we also made a buying guide with the best cordless heat guns, make sure to check that one too.

The Best Heat Gun

1. Wagner Spraytech Heat Gun

Best Choice
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Key Features

    Weighs 1.5 lbs

    Length 9.5″

    Model: HT1000

    Temp range 750 to 1000 degrees Fahrenheit

    Watts 1200

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Wagner Spraytech Heat Gun
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Let’s start with our best choice, the Wagner Spraytech Heat Gun which is pretty much a very inexpensive price compared to many others. It’s a good starter choice which isn’t too loud when in use. Even though it’s for the beginner, it does have a good look if you want to look like a pro!

We liked that it does look like an industrial tool but comes at a great price. It has an anti-corrosion nozzle which is expected to last for years. The controls are on the handle so you can control the temperature and the air flow settings quite easily. It will remove bolts and older paint well and it’s so lightweight that you can use it with one hand while using another tool in the other.

    Pros

    2 years warranty

    Great for the workshop

    Lightweight

    Cons

    Slows down quickly

    Gets extremely hot – be safe

2. SEEKONE Heavy Duty Heat Gun Kit

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Key Features

    Weighs 2.05 lbs

    Length 9.8″

    Model: SDL-2816

    Temp range 122 to 1202 degrees Fahrenheit

    Dual airflow settings

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SEEKONE Heavy Duty Heat Gun Kit
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This is one of the power tools that will work perfectly for the smaller jobs and the larger ones alike. The SEEKONE Heavy Duty Heat Gun Kit has a good cord length too – 1.6 meters – so whether you’re in a workshop needing rusting screws to be released, or you’re in a room in the house needing wallpaper or paint removal, it works closely with you but can be used with an extension if you feel safe doing so with the extra leads.

It’s lightweight, the handle is ergonomic and easy to use, and it comes with safety protection from heat overload. We liked the variable temperature which is controlled by the rear black dial quite easily.

    Pros

    Completes a variety of jobs

    Four nozzles supplied

    Good length power lead

    Lightweight

    Cons

    Pricey

    Pretty basic

    Doesn’t heat up as quickly as promised

3. Genesis 12.5 Amp Dual-Temperature Heat Gun Kit

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Key Features

    Weighs 2 lbs

    Length 8.75″

    Model: GHG1500A

    Temp 750 to 1000 degrees Fahrenheit (approx)

    Dual temperature control

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Genesis 12.5 Amp Dual-Temperature Heat Gun Kit
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The Genesis 12.5 Amp Dual-Temperature Heat Gun Kit, you might be pleased to know, has a decent cord length so you can stretch it fairly well to reach the job in hand – it’s around 6.5 feet long. This is great for shrink wrapping, removing sticky labels or adhesives, thawing frozen pipes, and even lighting the charcoal on your barbeque. It does have a stand for safety so you can leave it on for the few seconds you need to put it down and of course when you need it to cool down.

The Genesis 12.5 Amp Dual-Temperature Heat Gun Kit comes with four nozzles – one reflector nozzle, two deflector nozzles, and one air reduction nozzle. The temperature varies between high and low with two temperature settings and the fan speed works at a variable air volume and fan speeds of 17 or 10 CFM.

    Pros

    Great for small projects

    Inexpensive

    Two easy to control temperature settings

    Cons

    Only use the highest setting for short periods

    Performance will be affected by the room or outside temperature

    Keep away from children

    May prefer a cordless heat gun

4. Chandler Tool Embossing Heat Gun

Best For Detail Work
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Key Features

    Weighs 0.8 lbs

    Length 11.8″

    Model: HG603D

    Temp 750 to 1000 degrees Fahrenheit (approx)

    Two temperature settings

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Chandler Tool Embossing Heat Gun
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If you have a two setting or variable temperature heat gun and a need to carry out things like home improvement, cell phone repair, crafting or use it as a soldering iron, then the Chandler Tool Embossing Heat Gun is a great option. Not the cheapest but not expensive either.

You can control smaller jobs with double heat settings and this model does seem like a reliable option. It delivers impressive power and has made it the best on our 2020 review list under our ‘best for detail work’ category. It’s an American brand and not a generic one which can often be slightly unsafe as they can be unregulated, and it has a lifetime warranty too.

    Pros

    Mini heat gun

    Lightweight

    Quiet

    Adjustable heat settings

    Named brand

    Cons

    We didn’t find any!

5. BLACK+DECKER Dual Temperature Heat Gun

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Key Features

    Weighs 1.63 lbs

    Length 11.8″

    Model: HG1300

    Temp 750 to 1000 degrees Fahrenheit (approx)

    Wattage 1350

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BLACK+DECKER Dual Temperature Heat Gun
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Choosing a high-quality hot air gun isn’t the easiest task but if you are a tool geek, you’re used to using a heat gun and you might like the BLACK+DECKER Dual Temperature Heat Gun which is a small and affordable model with two different temperature control modes and works quickly on 120 volts.

This BLACK+DECKER Dual Temperature Heat Gun and it’s priced really quite well for such a well-known brand. We think the only downside is to cool it down you have to sit it on its back rather than on a supplied stand but it does work well with shrink wrap, paint stripping, and other craft and DIY jobs.

    Pros

    Safe heating element

    Lightweight

    Two heat settings

    Cons

    No ‘cool down’ mode

    Doesn’t come with a stand

    Accessories have to be purchased separately, when available

6. PORTER-CABLE 1500-Watt Heat Gun

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Key Features

    Weighs 1 lbs

    Length 11.5″

    Model: PC1500HG

    Wattage 1500

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PORTER-CABLE 1500-Watt Heat Gun
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The Unclutterer team doesn’t want to tell you what to buy, more give you a heads up on what’s available and the PORTER-CABLE 1500-Watt Heat Gun isn’t the cheapest but we thought it was well worth considering. The cord isn’t exactly the longest at six feet but you can consider an extension lead if you don’t have power so close to the job you need to complete.

This one does compare, in essence, to the Wagner FURNO 300 Heat Gun (no. 11 on our review list) and it does have the standard two speed settings and a nice compact design with temperature levels that mean you can carry out a wide range of tasks without worrying about how to use and control it.

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    Pros

    Good dual fan speeds

    Easy control

    Great variable temperature

    Hook for storing

    Cons

    Pretty heavy for longer periods of use

    High price range

7. PRULDE 1500W Hot Air Gun

Budget Pick
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Key Features

    Weighs 2.1 lbs

    Length 9.45″

    Model: N2190

    Dual temperature control up to 1112 degrees

    Wattage 1500

    From 800 degrees Fahrenheit to over 1000

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PRULDE 1500W Hot Air Gun
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As one of the most popular types of hot air guns the PRULDE 1500W Hot Air Gun runs with an electric power cord and heats to a high temperature, allowing you to dry out items, home improvements like stripping paint jobs, and carrying out other DIY and craft projects. The temperature and air flow controls are easy to use and its clever copper motor build will allow the PRULDE 1500W Hot Air Gun to heat up quickly. It’s supplied with four handy nozzles that allow you to use the heat gun for a wide range of applications. This is most certainly the Unclutterer teams’ budget pick.

    Pros

    Overload protection from overheating

    ETL certification – the US Product Listing Mark

    Heats rapidly

    Built-in overload protection

    Cons

    Unsure on chemicals/toxins emitted (if any)

    Might prefer more heavy-duty tool

8. DEWALT Heat Gun with LCD Display & Hard Case

Premium Pick
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Key Features

    Weighs 2.3 lbs

    Model: D26960K

    Temperature range 150 to 110 degrees Fahrenheit

    Wattage 1550

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DEWALT Heat Gun with LCD Display & Hard Case
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Our premium pick for the 2020 best hot air guns is the DEWALT Heat Gun with LCD Display & Hard Case which is a good-looking, heavy-duty but remember though that this is not a cheap heat gun. We love the fact that it’s easy to control and the temperature can be adjusted by 50-degree increments using its fantastic LCD display. With its own hard-case toolbox the items supplied – and there are loads – can be neatly packed away ready for the next time you need to use it.

It’s a corded electric heat gun with the cord is a very generous ten feet so, in most cases, you will find you don’t need to add an extension lead so you’ll be able to work around large projects as well as the smaller jobs around the home or workshop.

    Pros

    3 year limited warranty

    Amount of projects possible are plentiful

    Wide range of accessories / extra nozzles

    Great temperature range

    Built-in stand for safe cooling and heating

    Cons

    Expensive

    Fan speed can reduce on some units after a few uses

9. CARTMAN Heat Gun

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Key Features

    Weighs 1.9 lbs

    Length 17″ (approx)

    Model: AH001A

    Dual temperature controls

    Wattage 1500

    From 750 degrees Fahrenheit to 1000

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CARTMAN Heat Gun
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If you are looking for heat guns that are budget-friendly and suited to the casual DIY enthusiast, the CARTMAN Heat Gun is a pretty good choice for small to medium projects around the house or workshop. Whether you are thawing pipes or removing adhesives from surfaces, as far as budget power tools go this is a great introduction to the beginner. It has a fan speed giving six varieties of heat intensity and with a selection of four nozzles included, it’s built with compact design in mind making it pretty lightweight for using over a few hours. The only thing to make sure you are aware of is that this isn’t a particularly well-known brand like DeWalt or Wagner and the same unit is sold under different names, so, with that in mind, you aren’t gaining the benefits of an experienced more well-established brand.

Budget-friendly and suitable for a casual user, the CARTMAN Heat Gun works at quite a powerful 1500 watts and is a great lightweight option if you only need to carry out occasional projects like removing bumper stickers, peeling wallpaper, or stripping paint.

    Pros

    Comes with its own carry case

    Lightweight

    Affordable

    Two temperature settings

    Cons

    Wouldn’t suit a professional

    Not for intense usage

    Generic third-party make

10. Tacklife Precision Control Temperature Heat Gun

Best Value
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Key Features

    Weighs 2.64 lbs

    Length 10.6″ (approx)

    Model: QM-CNAKKO99070

    Variable temperature control

    Wattage 1600

    From 122 degrees Fahrenheit to 1112 (approx)

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Tacklife Precision Control Temperature Heat Gun
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As our best value choice, the Tacklife Precision Control Temperature Heat Gun is almost a professional-grade hot air gun and in our opinion is great for larger jobs as well as small occasional projects. There are two temperature control settings as well as five airflow settings and works from a pretty powerful 1700 watts with a German-designed heating element. We thought you might like that this particular model has a cooling mode which should be expected yet even the so-called best heat guns don’t have this feature! You will get scraper blades and extra nozzles for different applications, and you’ll benefit from the overload-protection feature.

    Pros

    High-performance motor

    LCD display

    Comfort grip

    Cons

    No carry/storage case

    Power cord is only 5.9 feet long

    Not as lightweight as other options

11. Wagner FURNO 300 Heat Gun

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Key Features

    Weighs 1.75 lbs

    Length 8.75″ (approx)

    Model: 503059

    Dual temperature control

    750 degrees Fahrenheit & 1100 degrees

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Wagner FURNO 300 Heat Gun
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The Wagner FURNO 300 Heat Gun comes from a very well known and experienced brand. With dual temperature settings of 750 degrees and 1100 degrees, it allows for carrying out gentle and small tasking projects around the home and workshop. This heat gun is a high-quality option yet it is surprisingly affordable. With unique features designed and provided by a very experienced and well-known brand, we doubt you will want to miss out on this one! You can thaw out frozen pipes carefully, remove adhesives and paint, melt plastics and even loosen rusty bolts and metal fittings easily. We like that, with most lightweight heat guns, it can be operated with one hand while using the other to concentrate on areas – and its standing feature allows you to set it down and hold (safely of course) the item you are focusing on above the heat.

    Pros

    Great prepping tool

    Versatile

    Easy and comfortable to use

    Compact

    Two year warranty

    Suitable for the beginner

    No-hands control

    Cons

    Not for larger projects

    Would be ideal if it was supplied with a case

12. Fujiwara Heat Gun Kit

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Key Features

    Weighs 2.4 lbs

    Length 10.6″

    Model: 1500QRF-01

    Dual temperature control

    1500 watts

    From 122 degrees fahrenheit to 1022 degrees

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Fujiwara Heat Gun Kit
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Last in our 2020 line up is the Fujiwara Heat Gun Kit which has a minor flaw which just needs some getting used to – the dial numbers are actually shown the opposite way they should be, so before carrying out delicate work, make sure you test the heat first as there is no digital display or any way of knowing the temperature you are working on. Apart from this, it’s a pretty hard-working and durable heat shrink gun that can be used for a number of different household tasks including DIY and crafting. It looks professional although it’s very well suited to the beginner but, as we mentioned, get used to the dial and how much heat output you get at each point before you start work or you could find yourself melting something you don’t want to!

    Pros

    Rapid heat-up

    Lots of extra nozzles supplied

    Hands-free option by standing on its rear

    Cons

    Need to get used to counter-clockwise OR clockwise dial

    Short cord length

Features To Consider With Heat Guns

Which features should you look out for when looking at new or replacement heat guns?

We've compiled a few things to watch out for so that you manage to get the best and most suited heat guns to suit.

So do you need a heat gun for small tasks or do you need one that will help take the hard work out of medium to large projects?

Take a look before at our brief tips for researching the best heat guns to suit your needs.

heat gun nozzle

Temperature Settings

For small tasks and an easy to use heat gun then dual controls are probably best. A dual or a wide temperature range and fast-heating capability will mean that you don't need to wait too long for the heat gun to get as hot as you need it.

If you are a beginner and, say, looking to remove paint then it's very easy to char the object through overheating especially if your new heat gun can heat up to around 1200 degrees.

For various reasons including safety and getting the job done properly within a good timescale, temperature control is essential.

Do remember that by having just a small temperature range you will risk overheating objects that you are working on since you don't have the choice on which temperature is set.

Air Flow Speed

Having variable air flow speed settings is ideal because they make your heat gun more versatile and gives you control over different types of projects. Some of the best heat guns will feature up to three heat settings or, even better, variable temperature control combined with a choice of up to three speeds of air flow. The one you choose will depend on how complex you truly need a heat gun to be.

Nozzle Options

Nozzles are the attachments that fit onto the front of a heat gun to help you focus heat on the object you are working on.

There are five main types of nozzles including:

  1. Reflector
  2. Reducer
  3. Flat
  4. Glass protector
  5. Main nozzle

It's worth researching the one you need if you are buying the gun for a specific job, hopefully, you find one that is either supplied with the nozzle you need or a selection of nozzles.

heat gun in use

LCD Display

We love LCD displays as they give you control over what you're doing in real-time, making projects much easier to complete.

Typically a heat gun that comes with an LCD screen allows adjustment of the temperature in 50-degree increments (Fahrenheit) as well as showing you what actual temperature output is at that time.

These heat guns are great for working on precise and delicate work such as cell phones, PC circuits, and more detailed objects.

Accessories

Good accessories to look out for are, as mentioned before, different types of nozzles. The best one is a carry case that can store the heat gun and its extra parts as well as the attached cord neatly.

Safety Features

In-built protection features can mean the difference between the heat gun overheating and being rendered useless, or cutting out automatically before it does such damage.

Whilst not all heat guns have a cool down feature this is pretty important so you don't have to hang around for nearly half an hour before you can put the gun away. Instead, the cool down feature helps reduce this time to around two to three minutes then you're ready to go.

heat gun cooling

Types Of Heat Guns

Electric Heat Guns

The clue is in the name - yes, you already have an idea on how this type works! They generally run at 600 to 1000 degrees Fahrenheit but some offer a much lower or much higher heat.

Gas Heat Guns

With a gas power source typically this type is smaller and ideal for small tasks. They can, of course, be pretty dangerous especially near a naked flame.

Industrial Heat Guns

Industrial heat guns are generally as the name suggests - huge and powerful for carrying out work on larger projects so that you don't find yourself holding the gun for hours just focusing on one area. They'll be powered either with gas or electricity.

Infrared Guns

These are small types of guns that will typically run from 400 degrees to about 600 so they aren't extremely hot but are obviously a bit safer than other types.

heat gun stripping paint

Heat Gun FAQ

Q: What can a heat gun be used for?

A:

A heat gun can be used for:

  • Paint stripping
  • Automotive wrapping
  • Removing adhesives
  • Wallpaper removal
  • Bending and molding plastics
  • Thawing pipes
  • Softening glue
  • Molding resin

Q: How hot does a heat gun get?

A:

Each type of heat gun is slightly different in the amount of heat they can emit, industrial heat guns being the most powerful at up to around 1800 degrees Fahrenheit. Infrared guns are less powerful but ideal for smaller jobs, and safer too, and can have an output heat of around 400 to 600 degrees Fahrenheit.

Sources

    What Is a Heat Gun? - Howstuffworks

    How to Use a Heat Gun - DoItYourself

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