If you tend to do a lot of construction, welding, jewelry making, or any profession or household hobby that requires you to turn up the heat, a heat gun is definitely a worthwhile investment. Finding the best heat gun, however, is a matter of knowing what you want it to do and how frequently. It’s also about convenience for the style of heat gun that you get.
A heat gun can come in a range of different styles, such as a gas heat, infrared, electric or industrial. Each of these has a slightly different purpose and work in slightly different ways, varying in amounts of heat depending on the job at hand.
Here’s our guide for the best heat guns on the market and tips on helping you choose the perfect one for your particular needs.
Quick Overview: Our Best Electric Heat Gun Choices
Genesis GHG1500 Dual Temperature Heat Gun Kit
Able to work at 1500 or 750 watts, this heat gun has a 12.5 amp motor and has plenty of versatility to its use. The deflector nozzles help to protect glass or other weaker surfaces that you use it with and there is even a reflector nozzle that works better for thawing pipes. The rocker switch lets you adjust to high temperature, off or low temperature and you can easily attach any of the 4 different nozzles (including 2 deflectors, 1 reflector and an air reduction nozzle). Great for anything from heating engines to melting glass, thawing pipes and softening caulking, this gun comes with a 2 year home use warranty.
UL listed and ETL certified, it’s able to be used single handed and can be stood on its back to hold it steady for you while you’re working. It’s lightweight and produces 10-17 cubic feet per minute in air volume.
Things we like:
- Lightweight
- 12.5 amp motor
- Versatile, operating at 750 or 1500 watts
- 4 additional nozzles included for diversified usage
- 2 year warranty
- Extremely affordable
Things we don’t like:
- More prone to fume production
- Lower blower output
Porter-Cable PC1500HG Heat Gun
This heat gun provides 1500 watts for all of your projects and has a hands free design that makes it much easier to stand when you’re using it. It even has a 6 foot cord that makes it easier to move around without having to unplug it each time you need to get to a different area. It’s lightweight as well, which means you will have no problem using it for a range of different projects without causing you fatigue when it’s used for extended periods.
Great for anything from removing adhesive tiles and welding plastics to shrinking plastic tubing it even has a dual fan speed selector that will allow you to use high or low fan speed. Not only that but the cord use is flexible even when cold and the variable temperature dial makes it easier to adjust temperature on the unit.
Things we like:
- Hands free design
- Long cord, 6 foot
- High and low options on fan speed
- Variable temperature dial
Things we don’t like:
- Less durable than other models of it’s kind
- Operates at 1500 watts without variation
Wagner Power Products 503008HT Heat Gun
This heat gun actually has 2 different temperature settings, 750 degrees and 1000 degrees. It’s also 1,200 watts and can be used for stripping paint and thawing pipes to loosening floor tiles or even defrosting freezers. With 4,100 BTU output it’s small and lightweight, which means you’ll have no problem transporting it whenever you need. You can put it in a vehicle or store it away in a small space when it’s not being used.
There’s a 2 year warranty and at only 2 pounds it’s even corrosion resistant and has an integrated hanging hook to make sure that it’s always easily accessible. With 2 different fan speeds for heating control it even has the ability to remove rusted bolts.
Things we like:
- Ultralight at only 2 pounds
- Easy transportation
- 2 year warranty
- Corrosion resistant
Things we don’t like:
- Lacks a temperature dial, only has two settings when it comes to heat
- Impractical for small, craft-related jobs, in spite of it being electric
The Best Gas Powered Heat Gun
Portasol 010589330 Heat Tool Kit
This tool kit comes with 7 different tips to make sure that the heat is directed just the way you want. It’s a small unit, at only 125 watts, but definitely works for a range of different purposes. It has 3 different soldering tips as well as 1 hot air tip, 1 deflector tip and 1 hot knife tip. It even has a 10 second refill time and can be refilled with simple butane lighter gas. The 580 degrees Celsius tip temperature even has a safety cut-off switch.
The 1 year replacement warranty even means that you can trust it to last a long time. Self-igniting it’s versatile and great for repair professionals as well as any type of maintenance. You’ll also get up to 2 hours of working time and less than 30 seconds to full heat.
Things we like:
- 1 year replacement warranty
- 7 different tips, plenty of diversity
- 10 second refill time
- Safety cut-off switch (safety above all else)
Things we don’t like:
- On the pricier side
- Tips aren’t as durable as others
iMeshbean HS-1115K 10-in-1
Made in the USA, this heat gun works without voltage and doesn’t require wires, which means that it’s going to work wherever you want. It also has a multifunction adapter and is great as a soldering iron, heat gun or flame gun, which means that it can do just about anything.
With auto ignition it’s quick to work and it has a 12mL filling capacity. With a solder temperature of 450 degrees Celsius and a hot blast temperature of 500 degrees Celsius. Even better, you can use it for up to 40 minutes at a time before you refill the gas.
Complete with 5 different tips, including a soldering tip, hot knife tip, needle point tip, double edge tip and engraving tip, to has a case included and even has a cleaning sponge and a tray with a stand.
Things we like:
- 5 different tips, fairly versatile
- Up to 500 degrees Celsius (hot, hot, hot!)
- Completely wireless
- 12mL filling capacity
Things we don’t like:
- Shorter run time, up to 40 minutes
- Having to constantly refill gas can be inconvenient and costly
Features That Matter
Power Source
How the tool is powered will be an important feature because it’s going to tell you a little about how it can be used. An electric heat gun will require you to be connected to power at all times, which may not be convenient for you.
On the other hand, a gas powered heat gun will require you to have gasoline of some type (usually butane or propane) on hand at all times. They can also be a little more messy because of the gasoline, but they have their benefits as well, such as the added power and the increased speed that they can work at. That means you get the job done a whole lot faster.
Application
If you want a heavy-duty, construction-grade heat gun with a high level of heat output and durability, a gas powered heat gun is your preferred option. This goes for welding projects as well – if you’re going big, go with gas. If you’re planning to use the heat gun only for things like general household purposes or crafts you may want to opt for an electric heat gun instead.
For those who need more minor work and projects, an infrared heat gun can be plenty. These small tools have a low temperature level, usually around 400-600 degrees, and can take care of minor hobbies and projects (your jewelry making business might do well with one of these).
For more intense projects you can opt for an industrial heat gun instead, which is designed for the heavy duty applications of construction and other industrial applications. These are good for professionals packaging, auto repair, engineering and other fields. These types of guns can get much higher temperatures and can be used for more variety of work.
Nozzle Types
There are several different nozzle types for heat guns depending on what you want to do:
Glass Protector
Great for heating around a window or other piece of glass without actually damaging the glass itself. These are great for things like removing paint from a window frame while keeping the glass intact.
Main
This is a single nozzle and the type that you’re generally going to find with a heat gun. It’s the one that does most general purpose projects so if you don’t ever buy another nozzle you should be fine right here.
Fishtail
If you want to get a wider range of heat applied to a surface this is the way to go. A main nozzle has a smaller and more direct area where the heat is applied. With a fishtail the heat is spread in a wider pattern to get the job done a little faster.
Cone
On the opposite side of the fishtail is the cone. If you want to center the heat into one specific area that’s smaller than a main nozzle you can use this one to help direct the heat a little better.
Spoon reflector
Anyone who solders pipes is going to want this type of nozzle that directs the heat exactly where you need it but keeps it at the right level too.
Temperature Variety
Having a range of temperatures that you can safely work at is another great characteristic, so take a look at just how much variance you have. Different heat guns will have different levels that they can be set to when it comes to heat with highs and lows. At a low, most heat guns don’t go below 100 degrees (and that’s usually only an infrared option). As far as the highs they can actually get up to 1000 degrees or even slightly higher.
Airflow
There are several aspects of airflow to pay attention to. One is the speed at which the air flows through the machine, which should be variable so that you can get just the right amount for the project you’re working on. Being able to increase or decrease air flow means that you can get more or less heat and you can center it where you need.
The other aspect is how the air moves through the machine, letting out hot air and keeping the heat gun itself from overheating due to extended use. You want to make sure you have a heat gun with an automatic shutoff in case this happens. That way, it can detect the internal temperature on its own and keep you from damaging it or hurting yourself or your project.
Final Thoughts
Consider carefully what you’re going to use your heat gun for and then make a choice on the specific style that you want from there. You’ll need a different type of gun for different types of projects so be sure to keep in mind what kind of heat gun you will need depending on the job at hand. Whether you choose electric, gas or infrared is going to be up to your personal preference and needs.With that being said, the best bang for your buck seems to be the Genesis GHG1500. It’s versatile, lightweight, and inexpensive, making it ideal for a wide range of household projects. However, if you feel a heavier-duty gas-powered heat gun is more up your alley, feel free to check one of them out on any of the links above.
