Cordless Heat Gun Comparison
Cordless Heat Gun Comparison Testing
A cordless heat gun is a versatile tool, capable of handling everything from stripping paint and thawing frozen pipes to shrink wrapping and welding plastics. The cordless design offers unmatched freedom—whether you’re working in the garage, on a job site, or in hard-to-reach areas, you’re no longer tethered to an outlet. But with so many options on the market, each promising power and portability, how do you choose the right one? In this comparison, we break down the top cordless heat guns by performance, features, and value to help you find the best tool for your next project.
Heat Gun Uses
Cordless heat guns are versatile tools used for various tasks, including:
- Drying paint and varnish
- Waxing and Dewaxing
- Drying wet timber before filling with epoxy
- Softening paint for easier scraping.
- Shrink Wrapping
- Removing Adhesives
- Thawing Frozen Pipes/Locks
- Removing Decals
- Welding Plastics Heat Shrink Tubing
- Loosening Bolts
- Bending pipes
- Installing Irrigation Fittings
Cordless Heat Gun | Specifications
In this comparison test, we looked at 10 cordless heat guns, they were:
Bauer
Model Number: 1925-B
Volts: 20V
Ah Battery Tested: 5Ah
Watt Hour: 93
Weight: 1.4 lbs
Max Temp: 895°
Bare Tool Price: $37.99
Bosch
Model Number: GHG18V-50
Volts: 18V
Ah Battery Tested: 6Ah
Battery Watt Hour: 108
Bare Tool Weight: 1.3 lbs.
Max Temp: 930°
Bare Tool Price: $119.00
Dewalt
Model Number: DCE530
Volts: 20V
Ah Battery Tested: 5Ah
Battery Watt Hour: 100
Bare Tool Weight: 1.4 lbs
Max Temp: 990°
Bare Tool Price: $179.00
Greenworks
Model Number: HG24B00
Volts: 24v
Ah Battery Tested: 5Ah
Battery Watt Hour: 100
Bare Tool Weight: 1.41 lbs
Max Temp: 1000°
Bare Tool Price: $
Hercules
Model Number: HC105B
Volts: 20V
Ah Battery Tested: 5Ah
Battery Watt Hour: 93
Bare Tool Weight: 1.4 lbs
Max Temp: 905°
Bare Tool Price: $34.99
Makita
Model Number: XGH02
Volts: 18V
Ah Battery Tested: 6Ah
Battery Watt Hour: 108
Bare Tool Weight: 2.9 lbs
Max Temp: 1022°
Bare Tool Price: $204.00
Metabo HPT
Model Number: RH18DA
Volts: 18V
Ah Battery Tested: 5Ah
Battery Watt Hour: 90
Bare Tool Weight: 2.2 lbs
Max Temp: 1022°
Bare Tool Price: $119.00
Milwaukee
Model Number: 2688-20
Volts: 18V
Ah Battery Tested: 6Ah
Battery Watt Hour: 108
Bare Tool Weight: 1.29 lbs
Max Temp: 1000°
Bare Tool Price: $159.00
Ridgid
Model Number: R86035
Volts: 18V
Ah Battery Tested” 6Ah
Battery Watt Hour: 108
Bare Tool Weight: 1.39 lbs
Max Temp: 900°
Bare Tool Price: $99.00
Ryobi
Model Number: P3150
Volts: 18V
Ah Battery Tested: 1.35 lbs
Battery Watt Hour: 108
Bare Tool Weight: 1.35 lbs
Max Temp: 875°
Bare Tool Price: $79.00
Cordless Heat Gun | Evaluation Format
For this evaluation, we divided the analysis into five categories:
- Performance testing [3 tests]
- Features
- Price
- Best Value
- Best Overall
Cordless Heat Gun | Thermal Runtime Test Procedure
In the thermal runtime test, we positioned the nozzle of the heat gun 1.5 inches away from a thermocouple. The thermocouple was connected to a data logger, which recorded the temperature every second throughout the duration of the test.
The heat gun was then turned on, and the temperature of the exiting air was recorded until the tool’s battery was fully depleted.
From this test, we were able to determine three key metrics:
- Maximum temperature of the exiting air
- Battery life
- Temperature behavior as the battery drained
Aluminum Plate | Heat-Test
The purpose of this test was to measure the thermal effect of a continuous heat source on a ⅛” thick piece of aluminum over time. This test is designed to capture the effective heat transfer of the heat gun to a surface.
The heat guns were positioned 4” away from the aluminum, and the trigger was locked on. The heat guns were allowed to run for 5 minutes to ensure maximum temperature was reached.
At the end of the 5 minutes, a temperature reading was recorded using a Hilti Thermal Imager – Model PT-C. The highest temperature in the image was recorded.
Ice Cube Melting Test
We used 2-inch ice cubes placed on a grilling rack, positioning the heat guns at the same distance from the center of each ice cube. We then recorded the time it took for the ice cubes to melt.
The goal was to capture the convective heat transfer over time for each tool. After performing the test and reviewing the data We determined we were unable to control enough variables [with ice cubes sliding around] to provide you with accurate data. We did not include this data in our scoring.
Thermal | Runtime Efficiency Winner – Bauer
In this Runtime Efficiency test we measured the temp at the nozzle output [fully charged batt] We integrated the total temp over time to get a temperature work output score from each tool.
Because the battery size and Watt Hour varied across tools, we then normalized the temperature sum score, this evened the playing field for different sized batteries.
Bauer secured first place running 19:52 minutes, reaching an impressive maximum [peak] temperature of 763°F. Greenworks came in a really close second place, running 19:28 minutes, reaching a peak temperature 860°F. While the Greenworks output had a higher average temperature it did not run as long, despite having a slightly larger battery than the other two. Hercules ran 21:10 minutes, reaching 744°F peak temperature.
Thermocouple Max Temp | Winner Greenworks
We recognized that users want to know which heat gun has the highest thermal output, so we pulled the maxs temperatures from our thermocouple runtime test. Greenworks had a max temperature of 860°F. Makita scored second at 780°F, and Bauer was third with 763°F.
All of the heat guns held their heat output fairly consistently throughout the life of the battery. We did not see significant drop offs on the second half of the battery
Aluminum Plate Heat-Test | Winner Greenworks
The Greenworks cordless heat gun had the highest recorded temperature on the aluminum plate measuring 191.3°F. The runner-up was the Hercules heat gun with 184.1°F surface reading. Third place surface temperature was the Bauer heat gun at 179.4°F.
Cordless Heat Gun | Features – Winner Metabo HPT
The METABO HPT Cordless Heat Gun was the standout leader in terms of features. The lock-on feature was especially popular, with the team considering it a “must-have” compared to other models. This heat gun includes an LED worklight, a hanging hook, and a digital user interface that displays the temperature, remaining battery life, and offers dedicated temperature control buttons. One of the most appreciated features was the temperature slide control on the tool’s trigger, allowing for precise temperature adjustments.
MAKITA was second, and also impressed with its user-friendly design. It comes equipped with a lock-on button, a hanging hook, an LED light, and an air volume slide switch for added control. The tool includes three nozzles, including a reduction nozzle, and features a temperature variable dial. One setting uses ambient temperature, making it useful for cooling hot parts. The Makita can also be safely placed on its back when not in use.
Tied for third place was DEWALT and Bosch.
DeWalt provides great flexibility with its design, allowing it to be placed on its back for either use or cooldown. It includes an LED light and a lock-on button, which was highly favored by the team. Additionally, it has a fan speed selector switch for extra versatility in operation.
The BOSCH Cordless Heat Gun offers two output temperature levels—570°F and 930°F—providing versatility for a range of applications. It features an LED light that flashes to indicate a temperature change and includes overheat protection for the battery pack, which is signaled by a slowly flashing LED. For optimal performance and maximum heat output, batteries with a capacity of 4.0 Ah or higher are recommended.
Using lower Ah batteries may result in reduced temperatures and a flashing LED. The LED worklight also serves as a multifunctional status indicator, displaying alerts for temperature adjustments, reduced heat due to low-capacity batteries, overheat or restart protection events, and service requirements. This model comes with a hook, a reduction nozzle, and a reflector nozzle.
The RIDGID model features a lock-on button and an LED worklight, offering essential functions in a straightforward design.
GREENWORKS includes three nozzles as well as an LED light and a hanger hook for convenience.
Finally, models from Bauer, Greenworks, Hercules, and Milwaukee include LED lights and hooks but ranked the lowest in the evaluation due to fewer advanced features compared to the other models.
Cordless Heat Gun | Price Comparison – Winner: Hercules
When it comes to pricing, we recognize that the cost of a tool is often closely tied to the battery platform you’re already invested in. For that reason, while we report the prices in this review, we’ve excluded them from the final overall performance scores to keep things fair across brands. However, price still matters—so here’s a breakdown of the best deals for budget-conscious buyers.
First place for lowest price goes to the Hercules HC105B at just $34.99, narrowly edging out the Bauer 1925-B, which takes second place at $37.99. Both are exceptionally affordable, making them excellent options if you’re shopping on a tight budget or need a backup heat gun for occasional use. [Note: Adding a battery and charger will run approximately $120.] Third place goes to the Ryobi and Greenworks both offered at $79.00.
These prices show a wide range across brands—from the ultra-affordable Hercules and Bauer models to premium-tier options like the Makita XGH02 at $204.
Several these heat guns can be purchased from OhioPowerTools.com
Ohio Power Tool started out as a small tool repair shop in central Ohio and has since grown into a primary tool supplier for contractors and businesses all over the country
Cordless Heat Gun |Purchase Links
Best Cordless Heat Gun | Winner Greenworks
The best cordless heat gun in our testing was the Greenworks, it scored 10-points winning first place in the aluminum plate test, and the max. temperature test and came in second in the runtime efficiency test.
Second place belongs to the Makita. The Makita heat gun performed extremely well in our max temp and features categories and midfield in the runtime and 5 minute heat test.
Rounding out the podium is the DeWalt scoring 13 points.
Notable mentions go to a fourth place tie right behind DeWalt with the Hercules and Bauer heat guns with 14-points.
Cordless Heat Gun | Best-Value Winner Greenworks
The “best Value” category is always a favorite category because it speaks to budget but also performance. It’s hard NOT to choose the Greenworks as the best value heat gun. It was a top performer in our testing and costs $79.99 as a bare tool.
Cordless Heat Gun | Conclusion
Choosing the right cordless heat gun ultimately comes down to balancing performance, features, and price—and our comparison reveals there’s something for every type of user. If you’re looking for top-tier performance, the Greenworks cordless heat gun stands out as the clear winner, delivering the highest heat output and surface temperatures, plus a solid runtime, all at a competitive price. For budget-conscious users, the Hercules and Bauer models offer unbeatable value for occasional use or backup needs, while the Metabo HPT and Makita models lead the pack in features and control.
Whether you’re a professional tradesperson or a DIY enthusiast, this guide provides the data you need to make an informed decision.
Cordless Heat Gun. Video Comparison Test
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