As an Amazon affiliate, we may earn a small commision from qualifying purchases.
Learn which nail gun is right for hardie siding installation projects from our reviews of our favorite picks for the best nail gun for hardie siding.
Keep in mind that we shall tackle common questions surrounding hardie siding jobs including what size nails do you use for hardie siding after the reviews.
Here we go:
Our Top 4 Picks for the best nail gun for James Hardie siding
Nothing can replace the right tool for the job and for hardie siding fastening, these 3 front runners do the job flawlessly and will help you bring out a finished product you’ll be proud of.
Best James Hardie Siding Nail Gun Overall: BOSTITCH Coil Siding Nailer
‘Excellent for quick installation of Hardie siding. It actually nails Hardie siding like pine..’
Runner-Up: Makita Nail Gun Hardie Siding Coil Nailer 2-1/2″, Silver
‘Perfect weight and fine adjustments make this a must-have if you often do hardie siding.’
Best Hardieplank Nailer Budget: Freeman Pneumatic 15-Degree 2-1/2” Coil Siding Nailer
‘Easy to use, reliable, and a much cheaper hardie board siding nailer’
The best nail gun for hardie siding for pros: Hitachi NV65AH2 Coil Siding Nailer
‘This is a high performance hardie board siding nail gun and we highly recommend it to pros. It’s a time saver and truly a joy to use’
Best nail gun for hardie siding- full review of our favorite 4 picks for best siding nailer hardie
Best Overall: BOSTITCH Coil Siding Nailer
The BOSTITCH Coil Siding Nailer has everything you need in a nailer for a hardie siding installation that will make heads turn.
You’ll love the easy-to-use depth adjustment, consistent depth of nail drive, and smooth operation (no annoying misfires or jamb).
Unlike some of its competitors, the tip does not mar the siding and allows you to locate the nails precisely.
The BOSTITCH N66C-1 Nailer works with most air compressors and features an adjustable exhaust to re-direct spent air away.
This nail gun is constructed with aluminum meaning it is quite light and not tiring even when wielded for 8 hours.
Key specs:
- Operating Pressure: 70 to 120 PSI
- Nail Length: 1-1/4” to 2-1/2”
- Fastener Diameter: .080” – .092”
- Magazine Capacity: 300
- Weight:08 lbs.
Other features at a glance:
- Adjustable depth guide- sets fasteners to desired depth.
- Magnesium housing- for durability.
- Soft rubber foot -prevents tool damage.
Pros
- Comes with a hardy Bostitch case.
- Easy to load.
- Fast nailing thanks to the responsive trigger.
Cons
- The gun is probably too light for our liking.
Runner-Up best nail gun for hardie siding: Makita Nail Gun Hardie Siding Coil Nailer 2-1/2″, Silver
This nail gun rocks when it comes to hardie siding.
It packs plenty of power- its number one in drive power among lightweight guns- so it shoots the fasteners like a champ, the recoil is very fast, and there are literary no misfires or jams.
Another nice touch is the friendly mode selector switch -choose sequential or bounce/ bump fire for more control and convenience.
We also appreciate the 9 “Tool-less” depth adjustments, the easy loading canister, and the handy belt hook that gets it out of the way when you’re on a ladder.
It’s well built and even keeps itself clean thanks to the built-in smart air filtering system.
The Makita AN611 comfortable rubber grip keeps fatigue away while the multi-directional exhaust system directs exhaust away from users.
Bear in mind that the tool requires a 3.6 SCFM @ 90PSI minimum air delivery for smooth functioning.
Key specs:
- Operating Pressure: 65 – 120 PSI
- Nail Length: 1-1/4” to 2-1/2”
- Fastener Diameter: .080” – .099”
- Magazine Capacity: 300-400
- Weight:1 lbs.
Other features at a glance:
- Clear loading canister (with nails size adjustment) – easily track the number of remaining nails.
- Rubber bumpers -protect work surfaces and the tool.
- Smooth nose tip– prevents scratching.
- Silent sheet -reduces noise when detaching coupler.
Pros
- Very easy to set up.
- Super comfortable to hold.
Cons
- The nail carriage is plastic and might not survive a drop.
Best Budget tool: Freeman Pneumatic 15-Degree 2-1/2” Coil Siding Nailer
If you only need a reliable James Hardie siding nailing tool for infrequent tasks, overspending may not make economic sense.
This fast-selling Freeman Pneumatic 15-Degree earns our recognition for performing greatly at a rock-bottom price tag and may be the way to go.
Like the Makita model, the magazine can hold up to 400 siding nails, though the nails loads from the side.
It features a 360-degrees exhaust system to send used air away, just like the Makita nail gun again.
And in keeping with the trend, adjusting the depth is a breeze in this tool.
There are no multiple firing modes here making it less versatile.
However, the sole bump fire trigger drives nails with impeccable precision.
A safety lock eliminates accidental firing.
Other highlights include the air filter/anti-dust cap (keeps dust and debris away from the internal components) and belt hook.
Key specs:
- Operating Pressure: 70–110 PSI
- Nail Length: 1-1/4” to 2-1/2”
- Fastener Diameter: 0.09” – 0.113”
- Magazine Capacity: 200-400
- Weight:5 lbs.
Other features at a glance:
- One-piece drive blade: increases durability.
- Transparent bucket: quickly check if you’re running low on fasteners.
- Ergonomic grip handle: for more comfortable use.
Pros
- Awesome price.
- Excellent quality overall.
- Depth adjustability works without hiccups.
Cons
- Heavier than the other two.
The best nail gun for hardie siding for pros: Hitachi NV65AH2 Coil Siding Nailer
If you’re a pro with a lot of hardie siding projects and have a little extra cash to spend on a high-end nail gun, the Hitachi NV65AH2 offers a little more of all the essentials: more driving power, more speed, more features.
It features a selective actuation switch that allows you to shoot in sequential or contact mode – simply flip the switch.
This can indeed drive siding fasteners at a rate as fast as 3 per second!
And with a side-load, tilt-bottom magazine, feeding nails is lighting fast and a piece of cake.
Like every other model in our best nail gun for hardie siding list, you use the straightforward drive control feature to achieve the perfect depth every time.
This powerful nail gun is also lighter than other pro tools (at 4.8 pounds) so keep this in mind if you need a piece of equipment that won’t weigh you down.
The gun comes with a five-year warranty
Key specs:
- Operating Pressure: 70–120 PSI
- Nail Length: 1-1/2” to 2-1/2”
- Fastener Diameter: 0.090” – 0.099”
- Magazine Capacity: 200-300
- Weight:6 lbs.
Other features at a glance:
- Adjustable air deflector- directs the exhausted air in any direction.
- Plastic shield- deflects wire collation enhancing safety.
- Nose cap- protecting siding from marring.
Pros
- Built to last.
- Very accurate shooting.
- Tons of useful features.
Cons
- Pricey
Best nail gun for hardie siding: Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Can I use a framing nailer for hardie siding
Overall, only two types of power nailers work best for attaching hardie siding: siding and roofing nailers.
But if you must use a framing nailer, to install any James Hardie product, be sure to fit it with a quality flush mount attachment so as to control the depth the fastener is driven.
Can I use a roofing nailer for hardie siding?
As mentioned above, using a roofing nailer for hardie siding is okay provided it has the required power for blind nailing.
That said, you’ll need to use the correct nails (more on nails for hardie siding shortly) with your roofing nailer.
What size nails do you use for hardie siding / What nails should you use for hardie siding?
Hardie recommends hot-dipped galvanized or stainless nails (corrosion resistant).
You probably know that Stainless nails are more readily available than hot dipped galvanized nails for nail guns.
Turning to the question of size, you can use the following nails to attach hardie siding:
- Siding nails (.089-in shank x .221-in HD x 2-in long)
- roofing nails (.121-in shank x 0.371-in HD x 1-1/4-in L)
- ET&F Panel-fast (0.100-in shank X 0.25-inches HD x 1 1/2-inches long)
What nailing technique should you use for hardie siding?
Now, James Hardie recommends that you blind nail HardiePlank lap siding such that the fasteners will be concealed by the above course.
Face nailing can be used too but only where the building code dictates so or in extremely high-wind areas, or if you’re fastening to OSB (or equivalent sheathing) without penetrating into the studs.