Best Heat Guns in 2023 — Buyers Guide, Comparison, and Reviews

Should you opt for one single piece of equipment for your toolkit — go for a heat gun. Straightforward to operate, even for the first-time user, heat guns deliver unmatched adaptability — able to address a plethora of projects from plumbing to electrical.

These corded or battery-driven units expel a targeted stream of hot air onto your chosen medium — permitting you to address a multitude of jobs such as thawing pipes, heat shrinking, car wrapping, and paint stripping. 

Most Popular Heat Gun Categories

Our Top Picks

What Is a Heat Gun

Heat Gun Buying Guide

Types of Heat Guns

Heat Gun Safety

Considerations When Buying a Heat Gun

Heat Gun Reviews

Conclusion

Heat Gun FAQs

Heat Gun Top Picks 

What Is a Heat Gun?

Housed similarly to a power drill, and held in the same gun grip, hot air machines include two essential systems — a fan and a heating element or coil.

When attached to mains electricity or a lithium-ion cell, the element heats up to a predetermined temperature controlled by a thermostat. The fan blows cool air over the element, permitting a flume of high-heat air to leave the gun nozzle.

Think of it as an industrial-grade hairdryer, but one that’s sufficiently powerful to melt paint — or your flowing mane if you get it close enough.

Our Heat Gun Guide to Buying

It doesn’t matter if you’re a car enthusiast, serious DIYer, hobbyist, or trade pro — every Australian needs a heat gun in their tool arsenal.

Your paint gun coats walls and your saw cuts wood — but, like most home improvement kit, they’re one-trick ponies.

Heat guns are different.

These viscounts of versatility can address more jobs than perhaps any other piece of hardware. While not even coming close to an exhaustive list, you can utilise a hot air machine to:

• Strip paint, stains, and varnish.
• Remove stickers, glues, and decals.
• Roast coffee beans.
• Thaw frozen plumbing and pipes.
• Remove vinyl flooring.
• Age wood.
• Remove oxidised nuts and bolts.
• Wrap cars.
• Tint automotive windscreens.
• Shrink wrap.
• Solder and desolder.
• Stretch leather.
• Defrost fridges and freezers.

Comparison of Heat Gun Categories

Despite all units sharing the same key characteristic of delivering a plume of directional heat — hot air guns vary in design, format, and function. These differences make the units more or less applicable to individual users and projects. 

The main categories are:

Digital Heat Guns

Also known as LCD heat guns — as they unsurprisingly incorporate an LCD screen — these machines are masters of tailorability. Allowing you to select precise output fan speeds and temperature levels — typically in small increments — it elevates their accuracy, and permits you to choose the ideal settings for your current job.

• LCD screen.
• Button control for fan and temperature.
• Wide temperature spectrum.

Automotive Heat Guns

Targeting the motor enthusiast, these machines boast the most suitable temperatures and heat output delivery for working on automotives. Their versatility enables them to work on jobs as varied as removing decals, tinting windows, vinyl wrapping, and light electricals — and usually arrive complete with car-focused interchangeable nozzles.

• Lengthy power cords for ease of access.
• Substantial controls permitting operation in gloved hands.
• Multitude of tips to adjust heat delivery.

Electronics Heat Gun

Whether you’re an electronics maestro, PCB builder, or simply salvage components from old electronic devices — you need a specialised electronics heat gun. Typically incorporating both a soldering iron and hot air gun for desoldering — they often include twin independent heat control and temperature ranges suited to delicate circuit board work. They’re also known as reworking stations.

• Tightly-focused gun nozzles.
• Heat ranges from 100-480 degrees Celsius.
• Highly-adjustable airflow control.

Mini Heat Gun

More compact than their standard-sized siblings, their mini design enables them to deliver precise heat delivery, accurate control, and pencil-grip manipulation. Although suitable for both DIY and craftwork, they lack the heat output for the usual applications of stripping paint or removing varnish. But, still knocking out around 200-300 degrees Celsius, they can be used to remove glues, melt embossing powder, and heat-shrink sheaths.

• Storable in drawers or toolboxes.
• Low wattage compared to standard machines.
• Nozzle protectors to safeguard fingers.

Cordless Heat Guns

While unusual in the heat gun sector — since hot air requires significant power to generate — premium manufacturers have created some impressive cordless units. Releasing you from the handcuffs of a power lead, they’re portable units that offer increased flexibility. While unable to reach the high temps of electric units, they still push out around 500+ degrees Celsius.

• Offer around 40 minutes of continuous use.
• Removes hazards of cables.
• Can be used anywhere.

Budget Heat Guns

Focusing on the casual DIYer and novice, budget heat guns permit affordable entry into the heat gun arena. While not boasting higher-end features and capabilities such as digital control, numerous nozzles, or cordless operation — these machines still possess sufficient temperature intensity to strip paint, thaw pipes, melt glue, and defrost freezers. Furthermore, while reliably built, they lack the robustness to cope with intense, daily operation.

• Straightforward to operate.
• Affordably priced.
• Lack of accessories.

Safety When Using a Heat Gun

When used correctly and in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions — heat guns are perfectly safe. That said, these flexible tools still deliver dangerous high temperatures, so should still be treated with the utmost respect.

When picking your perfect hot air machine in Australia, look for the following safety features:

• Cord protector — a reinforcing cover where the mains cable meets the gun, preventing wear and tear and shielding against disconnection.
• Ventilation slits — to defend the unit against overheating.
• Nozzle guards — usually on mini guns to prevent scorched fingers.
• Overload protector — switches off the heat gun should internal temperatures become too high.

Furthermore, I recommend following my below top ten tips for heat gun safety:

1. Don’t touch the nozzle when plugged in or with a battery attached.
2. Don’t operate in rain or moist environments.
3. Always wear protective gear.
4. Don’t wear loose clothing when operating a hot air gun.
5. Never block the ventilation slits.
6. Keep the heat gun away from your face, hair, and clothing.
7. Keep the gun at least 10 mm away from your target material.
8. Always direct the heat gun away from your body.
9. Never use the hot air machine on flammable materials.
10. Ensure any extension cords are suitably rated for your heat gun’s amperage.

What To Consider When Choosing Your Heat Gun

Since heat guns vary in format, features, prices, and capabilities — it’s crucial you select a machine that’s suitable for your personal preferences and the demands of your projects.

I suggest considering the following factors when choosing the best heat gun in Australia:

Temperature Range

Perhaps the most important consideration — if your heat gun cannot reach the temperatures demanded by your project(s), it’s somewhat pointless.

As a general guide, here are the heat levels needed for numerous jobs. All temperatures are in Celsius:

75-100 degrees — tinting windows.

80-140 degrees — wrapping cars with vinyl.

115-265 degrees — desoldering components.

150-265 degrees — removing stickers.

170-225 degrees — moulding plastics.

170-210 degrees — shrinking cable sheaths.

210-365 degrees — drying varnish and paint.

265-365 degrees — leather repairs.

265-430 degrees — shrink wrapping.

365-390 degrees — pipe thawing.

380-590 degrees — stripping paint.

540-650 degrees — loosening oxidised nuts and bolts.

If you’re looking for the ultimate in temperature control, within a few degrees, consider a digital heat gun that permits accurate heat selection.

Corded or Battery-Powered

Mains-lead heat guns have the advantages of not needing recharging, usually offering higher temperatures than their cordless counterparts, and being easier on your wallet.

Battery-powered machines allow you to operate away from mains outlets, and permit access to more confined spaces without having to worry about power cords.

Bear in mind that cordless heat guns can only run off a single charge for around 30-40 minutes. 

Size and Weight

While not always the case, larger more hefty units generally offer higher temperatures than smaller heat guns — as they house bigger heating elements and fan systems.

The downside of a substantial machine is that it can cause hand and arm fatigue — especially on longer projects.

Furthermore, those lacking in muscle strength, or of more senior years, may benefit from a lighter, more compact, hot air gun.

Job Specific or General

It’s tempting to go for the mother-of-all heat guns with a massive temperature spectrum, theoretically permitting you to tackle any and all hot air jobs. But, this isn’t always the best decision.

All-singing-and-all-dancing units are going to hit your pocket harder than more simple machines — and often mean you’re paying for heat levels you just don’t need.

Furthermore, an all-around unit may lack the distinctive features required for particular jobs. For example, a high-end wide temperature gun may offer the correct temperature to melt crafting glue — but it’s unwieldy and cumbersome when you demand precision to make a birthday card for your aunt.

Airflow

The airflow, usually measured in lpm — litres per minute — affects the heat distribution and focus.

For targeted heating, such as desoldering a PCB component, you need low airflow. If you go all-out on the highest fan setting and blast hot air everywhere, you could end up with a melted circuit board or the wrong desoldered parts.

Conversely, for large projects where you need to cover a wide area, for example, stripping paint, you need high airflow.

For most projects, the ideal heat gun settings are a balance of temperature output, fan speed, and nozzle choice.

Nozzles

Some heat guns arrive with a variety of nozzles — permitting you to tailor the heat delivery and distribution to suit your target material.

While you can purchase these gun tips separately, they’re not universally sized. This means if your machine doesn’t arrive with nozzles, you’re either tied into purchasing nozzles from your machine’s original manufacturer, or have to take potluck with a third-party tip.

Therefore, I’d suggest choosing a heat gun that comes with a few nozzles included — at minimum, a fantail, pipe, and narrow focus tip.

Best Heat Guns To Buy In Australia

Driven by an 18-volt lithium cell — not included — the RH18DA is a powerful cordless hot air gun that offers portability and tight-space access. With its snub head design, it excels in confined areas such as working beneath floors, inside cupboards, and between floor joists.

Knocking out 30 to 550 degrees Celsius, this heat gun is suitable for a plethora of projects, from shrink wrapping to removing decals. And, arriving complete with three nozzles — wide, pipe, and focus — it permits the correct form of hot air delivery depending on the demands of your target medium.

Permitting temperature adjustment in 50-degree increments — anywhere from 50 to 600 degrees Celsius — the digital D26414K-XE allows you to choose the ideal heat setting for your project. And, with memory saving, there’s no requirement to constantly manually reset the unit at the beginning of every job.

Offering intuitive operation, and arriving with 12 accessories and a hard storage case, it provides everything you need in one box — whether you’re a serious DIYer or trade pro. And, with a D-handle design, it enables two-handed use to increase accuracy.

Featuring an easy-to-read rear-mounted LCD screen, the HGE 23-650 from Metabo promises straightforward temperature and airflow selection without the inaccuracy of dials. And with infinitely variable blower speed combined with a temperature range of 80-650 degrees Celsius — it’s as suited to stripping paint as it is wrapping cars.

A generous four-metre cable offers flexibility — enabling you to operate at a significant distance from power sources. Furthermore, its textured and soft-grip handle elevates hand traction to prevent slippage, and helps to stave off fatigue during longer projects.

Targeting the electronic enthusiast or pro, the Horusdy YCD-8582D functions as a reworking station — suitable for both soldering and desoldering. The unit knocks out variable temperatures of 200-480 degrees Celsius on the soldering iron, and 100-480 degrees Celsius on the hot air blower.

Twin LCD screens permit individual monitoring and control of both of the machine’s key tools — effortlessly adjusted through push buttons. Including a seven-piece tweezer set, flux remover, and additional nozzles and solder tips — it’s a complete set suitable for the expert or beginner.

Seriously small and lightweight, the mini WORX WX743L.9 excels at hobby work, crafting, and precision applications. Arriving equipped with a narrow focus nozzle, it permits direct and accurate heating to its single temperature of 260 degrees Celsius.

While complete with a 1.2-metre cord, it needs connection to a WORX 20-volt cell — not included with the unit. The front of the heat gun incorporates an in-built stand, allowing you to safely place the hot machine on a desk or workbench without risk of damage or fire.

A brawny 1800-watt unit that delivers 50-600 degrees Celsius, making it ideal for automotive use — whether stripping paint, heat-shrinking cable sheaths, or complete body-wrapping. And with four nozzles included, you can adjust the direction and intensity of the heat to suit your motor project.

Precise temperature control is permitted through an easy-to-read rear LCD screen. Furthermore, twin fan speed operation, overload protection, and an ergonomic handle amount to a solid car-enthusiast tool — available at an affordable price point.

Back to basics and at a welcome price point, the Black+Decker KX1650A-XE targets the novice and casual heat gun user. While not excelling in any particular areas, it provides twin temperatures of either 460 or 600 degrees Celsius, depending on whether using the low or high fan function.

Suitable for general DIY jobs such as stripping paint and removing adhesives, it arrives with a generous two-metre power cord. And, with an incorporated handle-mounted hanging hook — offers effortless storage in your home, garage, or workshop.