The 4 Best Heat Guns of 2023

1

Best Overall Heat Gun

Seekone 1800W

$23 at Amazon

Power: 1800 Watts | Temperature Settings: 122 - 1202°F (50-650°C)

REASONS TO BUY

Adjustable temperature

Multiple nozzles included

Dual-airflow settings

REASONS TO AVOID

Shorter cord

If you are looking for a top-tier heat gun that can pretty much handle it all, check out the Seekone 1800W. This full-size model has one of the highest power ratings of the entire group, and we love how versatile it is. The Seekone not only has one of the widest temperature ranges of the group but also offers dual airflow settings. It's comfortable in hand and simple to use. It features a stand for hands-free operation and a hanging loop for convenient storage, along with a variety of different diffuser nozzles for different applications.

We noticed that the cord for this heat gun is on the shorter side compared to some of the other products. The stand for cooling or hands-free operation also points the hot end of the gun straight up, so it can be a little more cumbersome to use in this orientation than other products and is more prone to being knocked over. However, we strongly think this is one of the best overall options available today, particularly for anyone looking for more heavy-duty applications.

2

Best Bang for the Buck

Wagner Spraytech HT1000

$22 at Amazon

Power: 1200 Watts | Temperature Settings: 750/1000°F (399/538°C)

REASONS TO BUY

Dual-temperature

High and low airflow

Built-in storage hook

REASONS TO AVOID

No diffusers included

If you need a solid heat gun on a budget, the Wagner Spraytech HT1000 is a great option. This bargain tool offers two different temperature settings and two different blower settings, allowing you some finer control for varying projects. It's about average to hold with a standard length cord and has an integrated hanging loop for storage.

The HT1000 doesn't include any accessories, like different nozzles or diffusers. It also doesn't offer the most stability in hands-free mode, as it just balances vertically. It's about average in comfort as well, lacking any grippy material on the handle that would make it more ergonomic. However, it's a great middle-of-the-road product for those seeking a heat gun for occasional use that won't break your budget.

3

Best on a Tight Budget

Homidic Mini Handheld Hot Air Gun

$11 at Amazon

Power: 300 Watts | Temperature Settings: 200°F

REASONS TO BUY

Long cable

Inexpensive

Grippy handhold

REASONS TO AVOID

Not suitable for high-heat applications

No attachments

If you are focused more on crafts or smaller projects and looking to spend as little as possible on a heat gun, then we think the Homidic Mini Handheld Hot Air Gun is the option for you. This compact product is great for crafts and smaller projects with lower-temperature requirements, like shrink plastic, removing bubbles, or setting embossing powders. It's lightweight, fairly comfortable to hold, and features one of our test group's longest power cords for maximum versatility. It also has a fold-down metal stand to keep the hot end elevated while cooling down or for hands-free operation.

Unfortunately, the Homidic isn't ideal for heavy-duty or high-heat applications. It's limited to a lower maximum temperature of 200°F and states that it can only be run for a maximum of 10 minutes at a time. We highly recommend it to anyone that wants a low-cost solution for small projects, but we suggest upgrading if you frequently need a heat gun.

4

Another Great Option

Porter-Cable Heat Gun

$39 at Amazon

Power: 1500 Watts | Temperature Settings:120-900°F, 130-1100°F (49-482°C, 54-593°C)

REASONS TO BUY

Variable temperature dial

Dual fan speeds

Very stable

REASONS TO AVOID

Larger

No diffusers

Need a heavy-duty product for some more serious projects? Then we think the Porter-Cable PC1500HG is one of the better options out there. This hefty model has an impressively large range of temperatures and we like that you have a dial to adjust between them, allowing you to fine-tune the output for your individual project's needs. Of the pistol-grip style products, we think this is one of the most stable when balanced for hands-free mode, and it has a handy loop for storage.

The PC1500HG is one of the larger and heavier products that we have tested, so it isn't the best if you are primarily doing smaller or more delicate tasks. This product also doesn't include any diffusers or nozzles, though compatible ones can be purchased separately. For a top-tier heat gun for heavy-duty applications, we definitely think this one is worth checking out.

Power: 1500 Watts | Temperature Settings: 572/1000°F (300/538°C)

If you are looking for a medium-weight heat gun that's easy on the wallet, the Genesis GHG1500A is a decent option. This middle-of-the-road product is a bit less burly than the heavy-duty models but can put out considerably more heat than the miniature one. It includes various diffusers and is about average when it comes to ease of use.

This heat gun doesn't really have enough heft to balance in the most stable way if you are trying to operate it in hands-free mode. It only has two temperature settings, which are linked to the different airflow amounts, offering you considerably less adjustability when it comes to your projects. Overall, we think this might be a good option for the occasional DIYer on house projects but isn't the best for crafts or heavy-duty use.

Power: 1500 Watts | Temperature Settings: 800/1112°F (427/600°C)

If your heat gun projects could benefit from a wide variety of different nozzles, then the Prulde N2190 might be a good option for you. This pistol-grip style model comes with 4 different nozzles — including one specifically for lighting briquettes. It has an integrated stand that is quite stable and an integrated handguard that can be useful if you are heating up large areas. It also runs on the hotter side for these products, all at one of the lower prices of the group.

Unfortunately, you only have two distinct temperature/airflow settings, so you aren't going to be able to fine-tune the temperature and blower settings for each project. As mentioned before, this product runs on the hotter side, making it ill-suited for some of the smaller and more delicate craft projects. It's much better for things like stripping paint or helping loosen a seized bolt. It's not our favorite, but it's a good intermediate product at a reasonable price.

Power: 300 Watts | Temperature Settings:392/572°F(200/300°C)

If you are looking for a heat gun mainly for smaller crafts, like embossing or shrink plastic, but still want some adjustability when it comes to temperature and airflow, then we think the Chandler Tool is the product for you. Unlike many miniature models, you get two different temperature/airflow settings, allowing you a bit more versatility for your crafts. We love that the included stand is not only very stable but also holds this tool at the optimum angle for hands-free use.

This handheld product is a bit more expensive than many of the other handheld models, so you should be sure that the dual-temperature settings are really worth it to you before purchasing. It also has a lower maximum temperature than most of the pistol-grip models, so we would recommend steering clear of this option if you are looking at the higher-heat applications of these products. Overall, we think this is a good option for crafts or other delicate work but might not be the best for everyone.

Power: 1350 Watts | Temperature Settings: 750/1000°F (399/538°C)

Overall, we weren't the biggest fans of the Black+Decker HG1300. It's a fairly run-of-the-mill product with a few nice features. It offers dual-temperature settings and is relatively comfortable to hold with its molded plastic grip. It also has an integrated fold-out stand for hands-free use and a power cord that is usually more than long enough at the typical 6' and is one of the lighter-weight pistol-grip models.

Unfortunately, we found it to be just a bit more wobbly than we would have liked when balanced on the fold-out stand. The HG1300 also lacks any nozzles or diffusers. However, it was the switch that we were the least fond of. It just doesn't feel very user-friendly or easy to actuate. This product gets the job done, but we generally preferred other options considerably more.

Why You Should Trust Us

We spent hours rating and ranking these products head-to-head, comparing their thermal characteristics, user-friendliness, ergonomics, and included accessories. We also looked at their overall ease of use and compared performance both in side-by-side tests and over a myriad of different applications.

David Wise takes charge of our heat gun review. He is an avid DIYer and has formal training as a mechanical and ocean engineer. He has been using these products for well over a decade on everything from freeing seized hardware on an underwater robot to shrinking heat shrink tubing over the solder joints on an electric race car.

Analysis and Test Results

We divided our testing process into three different testing metrics — heating performance, ergonomics, and ease of use — each composed of different assessments. Notable performances in each metric are highlighted in the following sections.

Heating Performance

The most important aspect of these products is their heating performance, making this metric the most significant by far. We looked at the temperature settings, listed temperature range, and airflow settings to determine scores, as well as our experience working on various projects with each product.

When it comes to heating performance, the Seekone and the Porter-Cable PC1500HG are two of our top choices. We like that both of these have an adjustable temperature range rather than fixed settings like most of the other models. The Seekone has an impressive range of 122 - 1202°F — slightly more than the Porter-Cable — and has both a high and low fan setting. The Porter-Cable has two separate temperature ranges (120-900°F, 130-1100°F) depending on the airflow setting.

The Genesis GHG1500A has two different settings, with temperature and airflow tied together for a low and high mode. While other models have a similar temperature range, we favor the Genesis since it has a more defined high and low-temperature setting of 572/1000°F.

The Prulde N2190, the Wagner Spraytech HT1000, and the Black+Decker HG1300 all followed when it comes to heating performance. These three also have a simple high and low setting, though the Prulde has a slightly higher maximum temperature, offering 800/1112°F as its two settings. Both the Spraytech and the Black+Decker have high and low modes of 750/1000°F.

The Chandler Tool is a nice miniature option, but it can't get quite as hot, with a maximum temperature of 572°F listed. We like that this product also offers a low mode with a temperature of 392°F. The Homidic brings up the back of the group, with a listed peak temperature of only 200°F.

Ergonomics

For our ergonomics metric, we looked at how comfortable each of these products are to hold, alongside their interface, and overall weight. The non-pistol-grip models, the Chandler and the Homidic, are the lightest of the group, weighing in at less than a pound.

The Chandler and Homidic have similar rocker switches, though we thought the Chandler's dual settings were slightly more difficult to land on the correct setting on the first try. It's very easy to overshoot the off position in the middle and accidentally toggle all the way to the opposite setting.

Of the hairdryer-style products, the Porter-Cable PC1500HG had our favorite handle design. It has rubber grips and is very comfortable to hold, despite being one of the heaviest models. It is nicely balanced, doesn't feel too bulky, and it has a burly switch and an easy-to-adjust temperature selection dial.

The Seekone and the Prulde N2190 also have decent ergonomics. Both have all-plastic molded grips that are quite comfortable to hold, though the Prulde feels somewhat top-heavy and weighs just a bit more than the Seekone. We found the slide switches to be very user-friendly and liked the large temperature adjustment dial on the back of the Seekone.

The Genesis GHG1500A and the Wagner Spraytech are about average in comfort, but we aren't huge fans of the switches, which we feel are both awkwardly placed. The Black+Decker is even worse in this regard, with a very cumbersome switch due to a clear plastic cover. These three are all a bit lighter, though, tipping the scales between 1.5 and 2 pounds.

Ease of Use

For our ease of use metric, we looked at the length and flexibility of the power cord for each of these products, how stable they were on their stands, if there were any attachments included, and how useful these attachments proved to be.

When it came to stability in the hands-free mode, the miniature models — the Homidic and the Chandler — take the lead compared to the hairdryer or pistol-grip models due to their compact design and lower center of gravity, but the Chandler has a slightly more optimum angle.

Looking at the pistol-grip style products, the Porter-Cable PC1500HG is our favorite regarding stability. This burly product doesn't have any fold-out legs but is definitely the most stable, especially with its molded stabilizing flanges.

The Genesis GHG1500A and the Prulde N2190 are our next favorites for stability. Though not quite as solid as the Porter-Cable, we still would be more than happy to trust using them when balanced in an upright orientation.

With its fold-out wire foot, the Seekone was just a bit tippier than either the Genesis or the Prulde. It's fine on a flat surface but is quite precarious if the surface is uneven and falls over easily if bumped. The Wagner Spraytech and the Black+Decker are our least favorite when it comes to stability; we found them very easy to knock over with just a slight jostle.

The Homidic, the Prulde, and the Genesis GHG1500A all have the longest cords of the group at around 6.5' or 2 meters. However, the Homidic's cord is considerably more flexible than the heavier-duty Prulde and Genesis.

The Chandler, the Porter-Cable PC1500HG, the Wagner Spraytech, and the Black+Decker all have slightly shorter power cords at 6'. Of these, the Chandler's cable is by far the most flexible and easy to manage. The Porter-Cable's cord is the least flexible, making it harder to handle. The Seekone has the shortest power cord of the group, at just over 5', and it is somewhat rigid, like most of the heavier-duty options we used.

Finally, we looked at any included nozzles or diffusers. The Seekone, the Genesis, and the Prulde all include 4 different nozzles. The Seekone has a wire shield, a flat nozzle, and two different sizes of cylindrical concentrators. The Genesis has a wire shield, a flat shield, a concentrator, and a flat nozzle, while the Prulde substitutes the flat nozzle for a perforated option designed for starting briquettes.

Conclusion

There are many different types of heat guns out there, and each has purpose specific features that can make them better for delicate crafting or more serious home improvement projects. We included a range of products with the hope that our findings and test results will give you the info you need to find the perfect one for you. With all the top heat guns competing head-to-head, we put each product through rigorous testing to help you choose the best tool for your lifestyle, whether you are a DIY weekend warrior or a seasoned professional.