The 11 Best Heat Guns of 2023
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Remove paint, shrink plastic, do crafts, defrost pipes, and more
The Spruce / Kevin Liang
Fact checked by Emily EstepReviewed by Deane Biermeier
While not every tool box needs a heat gun, this power tool can be surprisingly useful for a wide range of projects around your home or garage. The focused, high heat of a heat gun can be used to soften and remove old paint and adhesives, melt plastic wrap or plastic shrink, bend plastic or metal, loosen stuck rusted screws and nuts, and carry out crafts.
When it comes to choosing the right heat gun, Aaron Barnett, landscaper, carpenter, and owner of DIY website Banging Toolbox says, "A heat gun is as simple as watts. The more watts, the more heat. Save your money and find the best deal you can. But you should consider the range of nozzle attachments and the power cord's durability. Consider getting a cordless heat gun if you need portability for outdoor painting work.”
We researched all of the top heat guns from various brands, evaluating them for user-friendliness, power, temperature range, value, and extra features.
Best Overall: SEEKONE 1800W Fast-Heating Heat Gun
This versatile heat gun has a variable temperature setting and two air flow speeds.
What We Like
Variable temperature up to 1202 degrees
Two air flow settings
Includes four nozzles
What We Don't Like
No markings for temperature levels on adjustment knob
Whether you need it to remove paint, shrink plastic, bend plastic pipes or remove pipe glue, melt candle wax, or soften the adhesive on the back of a sticker you want to remove, this versatile and heavy-duty 18-watt heat gun from SEEKONE should do the trick. We like its variable heat settings, which range from a low of 122 degrees, which is useful for thawing frozen pipes, up to a blazing 1202 degrees, which is hot enough for just about any task that requires a heat gun. It reaches maximum temperature in just 1.5 seconds—that's fast. One downside, however, is that the knob for setting the temperature does not have markings indicating the temperature levels; it simply increases or reduces the heat.
Another nice feature of this heat gun is its dual airflow settings: on low, it blows between 190 and 210 liters-per-minute, while on high, the air flow is between 250 and 500 liters-per-minute. The speed of the airflow on both settings varies within its range based on the temperature setting; the higher the temperature, the faster the airflow. That allows you to tailor both the temperature and the airflow for your specific project.
The plastic handle is ergonomically designed, but does not have any type of softer overlay for comfort. You can set the heat gun on its back atop a table with the nozzle pointing upwards for no-hands use. This heat gun comes with four nozzles: a deflector to create a narrow path of heated air, a reflector that disperses heat widely, and two concentrators that focus the heat to the work surface.
Price at time of publish: $34
Watts: 1,800 | Temperature Range: 122 to 1,202 degrees | Temperature Settings: Variable | Power Source: Corded
Best Budget: Genesis GHG1500A Dual-Temperature Heat Gun Kit
This reasonably priced heat gun is useful for many projects or repairs around your home.
What We Like
Reasonable price
Includes four nozzles
Easy to use
What We Don't Like
Not a very wide temperature range
You don't have to spend a bundle, nor do you need to give up on quality with this reasonably priced dual-temperature heat gun from Genesis. It has two settings: the lower drops the tool to 750 watts providing 572 degrees of heat, while the higher setting gives you 1,500 watts of power for a temperature of 1,000 degrees. On the lower setting, the airflow is 10 cubic-feet-per-minute, while on the higher setting, the airflow jumps to 17 cfm. You can comfortably hold the heat gun in your hand as you work, or set it atop a table using its built-in support to keep it pointing upwards for no-hands use.
The heat gun comes with four nozzles. The reduction nozzle concentrates heat, the two deflector nozzles let you focus the heat to protect nearby items you don't want to be heated, such as glass, and the reflector nozzle is useful for thawing pipes or other projects that don't require very high levels of heat. You'll find many uses for this tool, which can even be used to light charcoal briquettes in your grill.
Price at time of publish: $28
Watts: 1,500 | Temperature Range: 572 to 1,000 degrees | Temperature Settings: Two | Power Source: Corded
Best for Around the House: Wagner HT400 Precision Heat Tool
This lightweight, compact heat gun is useful for many household projects.
What We Like
Very light and compact
Good for crafts or small projects that don't require very high heat
What We Don't Like
Only for relatively lightweight projects
Does not include any specialized nozzles
While not hot enough for heavy-duty tasks such as removing paint, here's a dual-temperature heat gun that's ideal for many around-the-house projects. This compact, 360-watt heat gun from Wagner weighs only 0.7 pounds and can be positioned in three different ways: hold it like a pencil for carrying out detailed electronic work or basic uses like removing sticky labels; grasp it in your palm for shrinking plastic, speeding up the drying of adhesive or paint, or thawing pipes; or stand it upright on its built-in stand for no-hands use.
The heat gun has two settings: low is 450 degrees and high reaches 680 degrees. Its nozzle is designed to focus the heat into a fairly narrow beam, and its compact size and angled shape make it easy to use in tight spots or up close to your work surface. If you're looking for a reasonably priced heat gun that won't take up much room in your tool box and is versatile enough for a multitude of household uses, this is the one.
Price at time of publish: $27
Watts: 360 | Temperature Range: 450 to 680 degrees | Temperature Settings: Two | Power Source: Corded
Best for Crafts: Chandler Tool Mini Dual-Temperature Heat Gun
Use this lightweight heat gun for many different crafts, including candlemaking, jewelry making, embossing, or drying adhesive.
What We Like
Compact and lightweight
Kickstand, for hands-free use
Good for crafts or light repair projects
Two heat settings
What We Don't Like
Doesn't include additional nozzles
If you like to craft, including embossing, making jewelry, pouring candles, working with resin or adhesives, woodburning, or other projects that require heat and finesse, then you'll appreciate this mini heat gun from Chandler Tool, which has two heat settings. The low setting is 150 watts for 392 degrees of heat, while the high setting bumps it up to 300 watts and 572 degrees of heat. At only 13 ounces, this is a very compact and lightweight tool that is easy to hold, and it even has a kickstand if you want to prop it up on the table for no-hands use. On the downside, the cord is only 5 feet long, so your work table needs to be close to an electrical outlet.
Along with its many craft uses, you can also use this heat gun for light repair or maintenance projects around the house, such as softening sticky labels, soldering, thawing pipes, shrinking wire tubing, or applying vinyl wrap. It doesn't include any additional nozzles, though.
Price at time of publish: $35
Watts: 300 | Temperature Range: 150 to 572 degrees | Temperature Settings: Two | Power Source: Corded
Best High Heat: Wagner Furno 700 Corded Heat Gun
You can set this heat gun for as much as 1,300 degrees of heat.
What We Like
117 temperature settings
Five airflow settings
Maximum temperature of 1,300 degrees
What We Don't Like
Only includes two nozzles
Relatively expensive
Not every project—or even most—requires a heat level of 1,300 degrees, but if yours does, then this powerful 1,500-watt heat gun from Wagner can provide it. The full temperature range is from 125 degrees to 1,300 degrees, and you can set the temperature in 10-degree increments for a whopping 117 total settings. Plus, there are five fan speed settings and a cool-down mode once you are finished working. Temperature and fan modes are clearly indicated on the LED screen and are easy to set. If you need both your hands-free to hold the object you are heating, then simply stand the heat gun on its built-in stand to hold it upright.
You'll find all sorts of uses for this powerful heat gun, including removing paint and adhesives, softening putty or caulk, declouding headlights, molding plastics and light metals, melting away crayon marks, thawing pipes, and more. It comes with two nozzles, one to protect glass from heat and one to create a flare of focused heat. While more expensive than many of our other picks, it's worth every penny if you need high levels of heat and the utmost versatility.
Price at time of publish: $75
Watts: 1,500 | Temperature Range: 125 to 1,300 degrees | Temperature Settings: 117 | Power Source: Corded
Best Cordless: DEWALT DCE530B 20V MAX Cordless Heat Gun
There's no need for a nearby electrical outlet with this battery powered heat gun.
What We Like
No need for a nearby electrical outlet
LED work light
What We Don't Like
Not the highest airflow
Relatively slow to reach maximum temperature
Although you won't get the kind of airflow from this battery heat gun that you'd get from a heavy-duty corded tool, this is still an extremely useful heat gun if you need to tote it to a work site, use it in your yard, or take it anywhere that doesn't have a nearby electrical outlet. If you already own a DEWALT 20-volt battery and charger, you're ready to power up this cordless heat gun, but if not, you will need to purchase them separately. There are two temperature settings: 500 degrees on low and 990 degrees on high. While it takes longer than a corded heat gun to reach the maximum temperature, it still gets there in just a few minutes.
You can use this tool to remove paint, soften adhesives, mold plastics, shrink wrap, and most other typical heat-gun projects. A built-in LED work light is very handy when using the heat gun in dimly lit locations. With a 5 amp-hour 20-volt battery, you can get up to 42 minutes of work time on a single charge. It comes with a flat nozzle attachment and a hook nozzle attachment, but can also use standard nozzles from most other popular brands of heat guns.
Price at time of publish: $148
Watts: 20 volts | Temperature Range: 550 to 990 degrees | Temperature Settings: Two | Power Source: Battery
Best for DIYers: Wagner Furno 500V Corded Heat Gun
Here's a powerful heat gun that's ideal for numerous DIY projects.
What We Like
12 temperature settings
Maximum heat of 1,200 degrees
Two fan settings
Cool-down setting
What We Don't Like
Only includes two nozzles
If you want a heat gun that's useful for a wide range of DIY projects, such as removing paint, melting plastic pipes or Plexiglass, embossing, thawing pipes, softening adhesives, speeding up the drying of paint or other thick liquids, or shrink wrapping, then we recommend the Wagner Furno 500V, which is a 1,500-watt tool with several great features. One is its 12 temperature settings, which range from 150 degrees to 1,200 degrees, making this a heat gun capable of handling just about any common DIY project requiring the application of heat. Another is its two fan settings, so you can turn the airflow up or down. A third is its cool-down setting, which quickly cools the tool down for safe storage.
The Furno 500V has a comfortable, ergonomic handle and a built-in stand so you can prop it facing upwards on a table for no-hands use. It comes with two nozzles: a glass protector nozzle to keep nearby glass from being heated during use, and a flare nozzle for focusing the heat into a long, narrow area. At 2.2 pounds, it is fairly lightweight, so it shouldn't tire your hand out even during long sessions.
Price at time of publish: $55
Watts: 1,500 | Temperature Range: 150 to 1,200 degrees | Temperature Settings: 12 | Power Source: Corded
Best for Shrinking Plastics: Porter-Cable PC1500HG Dual-Temperature Corded Heat Gun
Shrink plastic tubing, vinyl wrap for cars, and shrink wrap for packing with this powerful heat gun.
What We Like
Two airflow settings
Variable temperatures up to 1,150 degrees
What We Don't Like
Does not include any additional nozzles
One common use for a heat gun is to shrink the plastic tubing used to insulate wires and cables from damage, moisture, dust, and abrasions. If you do much work with electronics or home repair, then a heat gun is a must. Two other plastic products that often shrink to size with a heat gun include shrink wrap used to wrap goods for mailing or protect items going into storage from damage, and the vinyl wrap used to cover automobiles to protect the paint. If any of those projects are on your must-do list, then this 1,500-watt Porter-Cable heat gun is a top choice.
The heat gun has two fan settings. The low speed provides airflow of 10 to 11 cfm and variable temperatures of 120 to 900 degrees, while the high speed gives airflow of 16 to 19 cfm and variable temperatures ranging from 130 to 1,150 degrees. That lets you tackle a wide range of projects that involve softening or shrinking plastics, as well as other uses such as removing paint and adhesives or bending PVC pipes. You can sit the heat gun upright on its built-in stand for no-hands use, or hold it comfortably thanks to its light weight of 2 pounds. One of the tool's few downsides is that it does not come with any specialized nozzles.
Price at time of publish: $44
Watts: 1,500 | Temperature Range: 120 to 1,150 degrees | Temperature Settings: Variable | Power Source: Corded
Best for Paint Removal: Wagner Spraytech HT1000 Dual-Temperature Heat Gun
This easy to use heat gun provides up to 1,000 degrees of heat for quickly softening and removing paint.
What We Like
Up to 1,000 degrees of heat
Light and easy to use
Reasonable price
What We Don't Like
Airflow is somewhat low
It can take up to 1,000 degrees to fully soften and remove many paints, and that's just what you'll get on the high setting of this 1,200-watt heat gun. If you don't need that much heat, the low setting provides 750 degrees, which is useful for a wide range of purposes, including softening adhesives, loosening rusted nuts and bolts, thawing pipes, melting plastics just enough to bend, and shrink wrapping. There are two fan speeds, as well, although neither are exceptionally high-powered.
The heat gun is comfortable to hold, and at 1.5 pounds, it's not too heavy. It has a built-in stand if you want to use it hands-free. It even has a handy hook on top for storing it on your tool shop pegboard. You get three nozzles with this heat gun: an edge protector for directing heat away from delicate surfaces, a concentrator nozzle for focusing the heat onto a small area, and a flare nozzle for distributing along a wide but narrow area. The tool is very reasonably priced, making it an even more appealing addition to your tool collection.
Price at time of publish: $24
Watts: 1,200 | Temperature Range: 750 to 1,000 degrees | Temperature Settings: Two | Power Source: Corded
Best Mini: SEEKONE Mini Heat Gun
This useful tool is good for various small tasks around your house or garage.
What We Like
Good for small tasks
Lightweight
What We Don't Like
Only has one heat setting
Mini heat guns, such as this sturdy 350-watt model from SEEKONE, are useful for a variety of small projects around the house, and are easy to fit into tight spots. While you wouldn't use this compact tool for high-heat projects like removing paint, it's excellent for speeding up the drying of paint, as well as shrink wrapping, crafts, electronics repair, and removing stickers. And when you are done, it won't take up much room in your tool box.
This compact tool has just one heat setting of 662 degrees, and fairly low airflow. It weighs less than a pound, but if you need to work with your hands free, the heat gun has a kickstand to keep it upright and steady on your work table. Its power cord is only 5 feet long, so you'll need to be close to an electrical outlet while you work. The heat gun comes with a reflector nozzle to keep direct heat away from glass close to the item you are heating.
Price at time of publish: $18
Watts: 350 | Temperature Range: 662 degrees | Temperature Settings: One | Power Source: Corded
Best Gas: Berkling 3-In-1 Cordless Butane Heat Gun
You can use this butane-powered tool as a heat gun, soldering iron, or mini torch.
What We Like
Combines soldering iron, butane torch, and heat gun in one
Very small and lightweight
What We Don't Like
Requires separate purchase of butane
This handy tool is not much larger than a fountain pen and is powered by butane gas; it can run for up to 90 minutes on one reservoir-full of premium lighter butane fuel. That means you can use it anywhere without needing an electrical outlet. Plus, the device provides three functions: use it as a mini butane torch with an adjustable flame, use it as a soldering iron with the included soldering tip, or use it as a heat gun that can produce temperatures as high as 1,022 degrees. It starts up with a single ignition button.
This mini tool is very useful for all sorts of projects and repairs, including crafts, electronic repairs, shrinking plastics, softening adhesives, soldering, and welding. Its reservoir holds 18 ml of butane, which is not included. While it does not include any nozzles or accessories other than the soldering tip, Berkling sells a variety of attachments and tips separately. It does include a protective cap for storage. With the cap in place, the device is 9 inches long and weighs a mere 3.9 ounces.
Price at time of publish: $35
Watts: 125 equivalent | Temperature Range: Up to 1,022 degrees | Temperature Settings: Variable | Power Source: Butane fuel
Final Verdict
The SEEKONE 1800W Fast-Heating Heat Gun cranks out up to 1,202 degrees, but has a variable temperature setting so you can adjust the temperature all the way down to 122 degrees if you don’t need it so hot. Plus, it reaches full temperature in just 1.5 seconds, has two airflow settings, and comes with four nozzles. But if you prefer a cordless heat gun, then we recommend the DEWALT DCE530B 20V MAX Cordless Heat Gun, which runs on a sold-separately 20-volt battery and has a maximum temperature of 990 degrees.
What to Look for In a Heat Gun
Power and Watts
The power of a heat gun is measured by it wattage, and as a general rule, the higher the watts, the more power—and heat—the heat gun will provide. Generally, corded heat guns that are capable of delivering enough heat to remove paint have between 1,200 and 1,800 watts of power, with 1,500 watts being average. Our Best for Shrinking Plastics pick, the Porter-Cable PC1500HG, is a 1,500-watt tool. Mini heat guns, however, usually have less than 500 watts of power, and of course, don’t reach temperatures as high as their larger counterparts. Our Best Mini heat gun choice, the SEEKONE Mini Heat Gun, has 350 watts of power and a maximum temperature of 662 degrees. Battery heat guns, including our Best Cordless recommendation, the DEWALT DCE530B, typically are powered by 20-volt batteries.
Temperature
A heat gun is all about temperature; while these tools often resemble a hair dryer, they are much, much hotter. The most versatile heat guns have maximum temperatures of around 1,000 degrees, which is hot enough to remove paint. Our Best for Paint Removal pick, the Wagner Spraytech HT1000, has a range of 750 to 1,000 degrees, which can handle just about any paint. Of course, many projects, such as thawing frozen water pipes, call for much lower temperatures, so consider how you’ll use the gun when looking at a heat gun’s temperature range.
If you don’t need a heat gun to remove paint, but want one for projects such as shrinking plastic, softening adhesives, or loosening rusted nuts and bolts, then a heat gun with a maximum of 800 degrees or so should be sufficient. And if you plan to use your heat gun for crafts, including jewelry making, candle making, or melting small plastics, then a heat gun with a maximum of around 500 degrees and a low of around 100 degrees will be the most useful. Our Best for Crafts recommendation, the Chandler Tool Mini Heat Gun, has a temperature range of 150 to 572 degrees.
Another consideration is temperature control. Some very basic heat guns simply have one set temperature, but most commonly, there are two temperature settings, one high and one low. However, you’ll find higher-end models with several temperature settings, and even some heat guns with variable temperature dials that let you tailor the heat to right where you want it for your specific project. Our Best Overall pick, the SEEKONE Fast-Heating Heat Gun, has variable temperatures ranging from 122 to 1,202 degrees.
Airflow and Fan Speed
Just like a blow dryer, a heat gun blows out heated air. While many heat guns have only one fan setting that gives you no control over the airflow, some have two or more fan settings so you can speed up or slow down the airflow. Our Best High Heat recommendation, the Wagner Furno 700, has an impressive five fan speeds and a maximum temperature of 1,300 degrees. Generally, the higher the airflow, the more intense the heat. This can be helpful when you need higher temperatures for projects like stripping paint. However, more delicate work, like soldering or crafts, calls for lower airflows.
Display
The majority of heat guns have very simple controls. Often, there’s little more than a single slider that turns the device on and off, or allows you to select low or high heat. However, variable temperature heat guns have a dial or slider for adjusting the heat level. And some higher-end heat guns have LED displays that give you a digital display of the intensity of heat as well as the speed of the airflow. Our Best for DIYers choice, the Wagner Furno 500V, has a display with buttons that allows you to easily set it to one of the 12 temperature options.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best wattage for a heat gun?
The watts, or power, of the ideal heat gun depends to a certain extent on how you plan to use it. If you need a heat gun for high-heat tasks such as removing paint, you’ll want a tool with at least 1,200 watts of power and preferably 1,500 or more watts. If you just want a heat gun for shrinking plastic wrap, vinyl automotive wrap, or plastic wrap for wires, then a heat gun with 1,000 or so watts should provide enough heat to carry out your projects. But if you are only going to use your heat gun for crafting and light tasks around the house, then a compact tool with 350 to 500 watts should provide all the power and heat you need.
Do you really need a heat gun?
Not everyone needs a heat gun. While there are quite a few ways to use these tools, all are projects requiring the precise application of high heat. Unless you regularly take on such projects, or perhaps have just one big project requiring heat, you probably can do without a heat gun. Still, these tools are generally fairly inexpensive, and can be surprisingly useful around the house, garage, or workshop.
What can you use a heat gun for?
There are many projects that require the high temperatures generated by a heat gun. Removing old paint is one common task, as is softening various adhesives enough to scrape them away, which is very handy when you want to remove an old bumper sticker or overly sticky price tag. They can also be used to loosen flooring adhesives when repairing or replacing damaged vinyl flooring.
Heat guns are also often used to shrink plastic for a variety of purposes, including vinyl wraps that cover automobiles to protect their paint, shrink wrap for protecting goods being shipped or stored, and shrink tubes that are melted to cover and protect wires or cables.
Other uses for a heat gun include thawing frozen pipes in the winter, speeding up the drying of paint, softening plastic pipes so they can be bent, melting wax for use on skis or surfboards, and applying window tint to car windows.
Of course, mini heat guns are often used for crafts, including candle making, jewelry making, embossing, melting resins, softening adhesives, and model making.
Why Trust The Spruce?
This article was researched and written by Michelle Ullman, who is a writer specializing in home and garden products. She has been a commerce writer for The Spruce since 2020, covering a wide range of home improvement products including power and hand tools, painting supplies, landscaping tools, and tool organizers. To choose the best heat guns for this article, she evaluated dozens of these tools from various brands, evaluating each for watts, heat range, airflow, durability, ease of use, and overall value. She also relied on feedback from customers, both positive and negative, as well as information from various DIY and home improvement websites.
Aaron Barnett, landscaper, carpenter, and owner of DIY website Banging Toolbox, gave further expert input on choosing a heat gun.
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