A cordless rivet gun is a battery-powered tool that sets blind rivets, also called pop rivets, by pulling and breaking the mandrel. It joins sheet metal, gutters, HVAC ductwork and trailer panels from one side with no compressed air and no hand squeezing, which makes it the right pick for fabricators, roofers, duct installers and serious DIYers who set more than a few dozen rivets per project.
Sheet metal is where the cordless format earns its place. When there is no access to the back of a panel for a nut and bolt, riveting is the fastest permanent joint you can make, and on a roof or a duct run in a crawlspace, carrying a compressor and hose is the part of the job nobody wants. If you are still choosing between manual types, our rivet gun roundup covers the hand, two-hand and swivel options side by side.
We compared 10 battery powered rivet guns on the specs that actually decide whether a tool can set the rivet you have in your hand: pull force in lbf or newtons, stroke length, rivet capacity, bare tool weight and battery platform. Ten of these ten run on a battery pack you may already own, from the Milwaukee M12 and DeWalt 20V MAX platforms down to aftermarket tools that slide straight onto Makita 18V packs. We updated the roundup for 2026 and pulled current ratings and review counts for every pick below.
Top 3 Cordless Rivet Guns for Sheet Metal for September 2026
Mayoki DeWalt-Compatible
- › 2248 lbf brushless
- › Runs on DeWalt 20V and 60V MAX packs
- › 5-year warranty
All 10 Cordless Rivet Guns at a Glance for September 2026
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1. Milwaukee M12 2550-20 Rivet Tool – The Best All-Round Cordless Rivet Gun
Milwaukee Electric Tools 2550-20 M12 Rivet Tool (Bare Tool)
M12 cordless
3/32 to 3/16 inch rivets
450 rivets per charge
4.81 lb
+ The Good
- Sturdy build that owners describe as buy once and forget
- Sets stainless rivets from 3.2mm to 5mm and 10-30mm long
- About 450 1/8 inch steel rivets per charge
- Spent pins rarely jam and the small collector works well
- Nose pieces store on the tool
- The Bad
- Feels heavy in one hand when working overhead
- Nose pieces are easy to misplace
- Changing nozzles means removing the battery
The Milwaukee M12 2550-20 pulls 3/32, 1/8, 5/32 and 3/16 inch blind rivets from a 4.81 pound bare tool, and the spec sheet puts it at about 450 1/8 inch steel rivets per charge. That range covers essentially all the sheet metal fastening a fabricator, roofer or duct installer runs into, and it is the tool most crews already have a battery for.
What stands out is the build. Owners consistently describe it as a tool you buy once, and reviews mention it handling stainless steel rivets from 3.2mm to 5mm diameter in lengths from 10mm to 30mm without complaint. On an r/Tools thread titled Looking for input on rivet gun, a commenter who works sheet metal put it plainly: of the M12, he said it has no job on a sheet metal crew, and then added that DeWalt is just as good for a lot less money.
That crew-level reputation is the strongest durability signal we have. The jaws hold a rivet without slipping, the small pin collector swallows spent mandrels so you are not picking them off the floor, and the nose pieces live on the tool body rather than in a loose plastic bag. The one design detail that annoys people is that swapping nozzles means pulling the battery off first.
Reviewers also point out that a single small battery carries you through 40-plus rivets in practice, which lines up with the rated figure. If you have hand or wrist problems, the M12 is frequently mentioned as the reason people give up manual riveters entirely, because the trigger does the squeezing that a hand tool asks your grip to do.
Why crews keep reaching for it
Nothing in the 800-review set points to a weak point in the mechanism. Spent rivet pins rarely jam, the mandrel break-off is clean, and the head changes between sizes without tools. For anyone who is on M12 already, the cost of entry is one battery platform you own rather than a new one.
It is also the most forgiving tool here on thin and mixed material. Aluminum, steel and stainless rivets in the mid range are all inside its comfort zone, and 3/16 inch is the practical ceiling for most sheet metal work.
When the M12 2550-20 is the wrong tool
Overhead work on duct or soffit will make you feel the 4.81 pounds, and reviewers say so directly. It is a hand tool, not a helmet-mounted one, and on a long ladder run the weight adds up faster than the speed does.
It also stops at 3/16 inch. If your job involves structural steel, trailer frames or heavy stainless flashing, you need something rated for 1/4 inch rivets, and only one tool in this roundup qualifies.
2. DEWALT 20V MAX DCF403B Rivet Tool – Brushless Power on a Platform You Probably Own
DEWALT 20V MAX XR Cordless Rivet Tool, 3/16″, Bare Tool Only (DCF403B)
20V MAX brushless
2100 lbf
800 rivets per charge
0.98 inch stroke
+ The Good
- Brushless motor delivers up to 2100 lbf
- Sets 800 rivets per charge with a 0.98 inch stroke
- Tool-free nose changes with on-board storage
- On-board mandrel collector and integrated LED
- Large grip keeps the tool steady
- The Bad
- Spent stems can stick in the chamber
- One reviewer found a listed spare jaw missing from the box
The DEWALT DCF403B is the most specified cordless rivet tool on this list, and for a concrete reason: 2,100 lbf of pull from a brushless motor, a 0.98 inch stroke and a rated 800 rivets per charge from a 4.16 pound bare tool. It handles 3/32, 1/8, 5/32 and 3/16 inch rivets in aluminum, steel and stainless.
That 2,100 lbf figure is the number that matters. It is enough headroom to set stainless steel rivets, which are the ones a hand tool struggles with, and it leaves margin at the top of the capacity range where weaker motors stall. The 0.98 inch stroke also gives the mandrel more room to travel than most of the budget tools on this list.
Physical design is where DEWALT put the effort. Nose changes are tool-free, and the nose pieces sit on the tool itself behind the collection chamber so you are not hunting for a 4.8mm die mid-job. The mandrel collector is on-board, the grip is large enough to stabilize the tool with a second hand on a hard joint, and there is an integrated LED for dark duct runs and inside cabinets.
Reviewers call it a long-awaited addition to the 20V MAX platform and rate it at 4.7 across 383 reviews with 85% five-star ratings. Home Depot shoppers describe it in similar terms, calling out the lightweight design and efficient battery use as the reasons it earns a place on a truck.
What you get for the spec sheet
The gap between rated lbf and what you feel in the hand is small on this tool. Reviewers report setting stainless rivets without drama and without hunting for a second pull, which is the single most common complaint against cheaper brushless rivals.
Runtime is the other strength. At a rated 800 rivets per charge, a full day of sheet metal work on one pack is realistic, so the tool disappears from your packing list because the battery you carry for your driver is the same battery.
The one quirk to know about
The on-board collector works, but a spent stem can lodge in the chamber. The fix owners use is unglamorous: pull another rivet of the same size, which pushes the stuck stem free. Budget an extra rivet or two per session and it never comes up.
One reviewer also flagged that a spare jaw listed on the packaging was not in the box. Worth a glance when you open it, since that is the part that does the gripping.
3. Mayoki Cordless Rivet Gun for DeWalt 20V and 60V MAX Batteries – Best Value
Cordless Rivet Gun Compatible with Dewalt 20V 60V MAX Battery, Tool Only
Runs on DeWalt 20V and 60V MAX packs
2248 lbf
0.79 inch stroke
5-year warranty
+ The Good
- Runs on DeWalt 20V and 60V MAX batteries you already own
- 2248 lbf brushless motor with 0.79 inch stroke
- Reverse clears a broken stem without pliers
- LED light with adjustable brightness
- All-metal mechanism with a 5-year warranty
- The Bad
- Longer body is awkward in tight spaces
- No on-board mandrel post storage
- Nose swap needs an extra wrench
The Mayoki rivet gun exists because of a specific buyer: someone who already owns DeWalt 20V and 60V MAX batteries and does not want to pay a name-brand premium for one more tool. It runs on those packs directly, and it is rated at 2,248 lbf of pull with a 0.79 inch stroke.
That force figure is higher than the DEWALT DCF403B on paper, and the 3-second cycle is in the same territory. Reviewers describe it as a capable stand-in for the name-brand DeWalt tool, particularly for people with hand or wrist issues who cannot manage a manual riveter, and it holds a 4.6 rating across 136 reviews.
Rivet capacity is 1/8, 5/32 and 3/16 inch, which is the everyday sheet metal range. The automatic riveting and reverse functions are genuinely useful in the field: reverse reverses the pull to clear a broken-off stem without reaching for pliers, and automatic operation sets the rivet and ejects the mandrel without a second trigger pull.
Two smaller features matter more than they sound. The built-in LED has adjustable brightness, which helps on unlit duct work, and the mechanism is all metal rather than a plastic gear housing, with owners reporting it survives being dropped on concrete.
Why this is the value pick
For a DeWalt platform owner, the maths is simple. You are buying the tool, not the batteries, the charger or the platform, and the 2,248 lbf rating puts it in the same class as tools that cost several times more. The 5-year warranty is also the longest in this group.
It handles stainless steel rivets that a hand tool could not, which is usually the reason people move to a powered riveter in the first place.
Size, storage and support
The body is long, and reviewers say it is not suited to confined spaces. Between a stud wall and a joist, you will be angling awkwardly. There is also no on-board storage for mandrel posts, so expect to sweep up.
Changing the nose piece takes an additional wrench, which is friction on a tool sold partly on convenience. Weigh those against the cost saving if you work in open framing rather than tight cavities.
4. Labfintom Cordless Rivet Gun for DeWalt 20V MAX – Most Versatile
Cordless Rivet Gun Compatible with Dewalt 20V Max Battery, Brushless Electric Automatic Riveter for Rivets 1/8”, 5/32”, 3/16″, Rivet Tool with 100PCS 5/32” Rivets for Metal, Plastic (No Battery)
Up to 2000 lbs pull
3-second cycle
100 rivets included
DeWalt 20V packs
+ The Good
- 2000 lbs of pulling force well within the budget class
- Sets 3/16 inch stainless rivets reliably
- One-handed operation works from a ladder
- Includes 100 rivets and a foam-cut case
- Fits DCB203 through DCB206 packs
- The Bad
- Some tools only blink and click out of the box
- Jams if used incorrectly and the nose may need disassembly
- Case color can differ from the listing
The Labfintom is the lowest-entry way onto the DeWalt 20V platform here. It pulls up to 2,000 lbs, runs a 3-second riveting cycle and fits DCB203, DCB204, DCB205 and DCB206 packs, and it ships with 100 5/32 inch rivets and a hard case with foam cutouts.
Capacity is 3/16, 5/32 and 1/8 inch across stainless, steel and aluminum rivets, which covers most sheet metal work. Reviewers single out one-handed operation as the practical win, particularly for gutter and roof work done from a ladder where you have one hand on the ladder and one hand on the tool.
The inside of the tool gets more attention than the spec sheet suggests. Owners note a three-jaw mandrel gripper of decent hardness, properly greased, which is the part that decides whether a rivet sets on the first pull or needs three. That is a better standard of assembly than most tools in this price class.
It is also a bare tool, so the battery and charger come from your existing DeWalt stack. At 4.2 stars from 62 reviews it sits below the group average, and the gap is almost entirely about quality control rather than performance.
Where the money was saved
The rating tells the story: people like the tool, and a small share get unlucky. Reviewers report a few tools that only blink and click on certain batteries straight out of the box, and a 7% one-star share. Check the tool on a known-good pack before you rely on it for a job.
The other recurring issue is jamming when the tool is used at an angle or with the wrong nose size, which sometimes means pulling the nose apart to clear it.
Who should skip it
If you cannot afford to test it and return it, buy the Mayoki instead. The difference in cost is small next to the cost of a failed install in ductwork you cannot easily reach later.
For sheet metal and plastic work where you are confident in your technique, though, the included 100 rivets and the case make this an easy first powered riveter.
5. BDJHMP Brushless Cordless Rivet Gun Kit – Everything in One Box
BDJHMP Cordless Brushless Rivet Gun, Automatic 2248lbf Electric Riveter Kit
2248 lbf brushless
Makita 18V packs
2 batteries plus charger and case
+ The Good
- 2248 lbf brushless motor sets a rivet in 2-5 seconds
- Two 5.0Ah batteries and a charger in the box
- One-button operation saves grip strength
- Quiet with no compressor or hose
- Nose pieces cover 3/16 5/32 and 1/8 inch rivets
- The Bad
- Included charger reportedly smoked and stopped working
- Bundled batteries will not charge in an original Makita charger
The BDJHMP kit is the only tool in this roundup that arrives genuinely complete: rivet gun, charger, two 5.0Ah lithium-ion batteries, nose pieces and a carrying case, in a 7.98 pound package. The motor is brushless and rated at 2,248 lbf, and each rivet takes two to five seconds.
It runs on Makita 18V slide packs, listed as BL1830, BL1840, BL1850 and BL1860B, so if you already have that platform you can ignore the bundled batteries entirely and use your own. Nose pieces for 3/16, 5/32 and 1/8 inch rivets are included.
The review pattern is unusually clean: at 4.4 stars from 49 reviews, the complaints are about accessories, not the mechanism. Owners point to one-button automatic operation that saves hand strength, and to how quiet the tool is compared with a pneumatic gun, which matters on occupied job sites and in finished buildings.
That is the pitch of the whole cordless category in one box. No compressor, no hose, no coupler, and a case that protects the tool in a truck bed. The trade-off is a heavier package than a bare tool and a bundled charger that some buyers did not trust.
Why the kit version is worth considering
If you are starting from nothing, this solves the whole problem in one purchase. Two 5.0Ah packs mean a full working day, and the case means the tool survives the van. Compared with a name-brand tool plus a separate battery plus a separate charger, the maths favours the kit when you have no platform.
Owners with grip problems highlight the single-button cycle as the reason it works for them. A manual riveter asks for strength on every pull; this does not.
Use your own charger, not the bundled one
One buyer reported that the included charger smoked and stopped working, and another found the bundled batteries would not charge in an original Makita charger. If you own Makita packs, charge them in the Makita charger and treat the supplied one as a spare.
At 7.98 pounds this is the second-heaviest tool here before you add a battery, so expect fatigue on long overhead runs.
6. Minova RIVETER7 – The Only Cordless Gun Here That Sets 1/4 Inch Rivets
Minova RIVETER7 Brushless Rivet Gun, Cordless Rivet Tool compatible with 1/4″(6.4mm) Stainless Steel Rivets, Automatic Rivet Recoil with 18V 4.0Ah Battery(2pcs) 1 Charger, Carrying Case
20000 N brushless
1/8 to 1/4 inch rivets
2 batteries and charger included
+ The Good
- The only tool here rated to pull 1/4 inch stainless rivets
- 20000 N brushless motor handles large stainless easily
- Tool-free head exchange with on-board head storage
- Two mandrel collector cups and a LED light
- Two 18V 4.0Ah batteries and charger included
- The Bad
- Heavy and bulky for long sessions
- Batteries are proprietary and support is hard to find
- A few users see the spent pin jaws stick
Everything else on this list stops at 3/16 inch. The Minova RIVETER7 handles 1/8, 5/32, 3/16, 7/32 and 1/4 inch rivets, driven by a brushless motor rated at 20,000 N, which is about 4,500 lbf. For structural steel, heavy stainless flashing or trailer work, that is the difference between a usable tool and a stall.
It is also a complete kit. Two interchangeable 18V 4.0Ah batteries, a charger and a carrying case are included, and the rated runtime is about 1,000 rivets per full charge. Tool-free head exchange with on-board head storage means you are not hunting for the right nose when the material changes.
Build and finish get called out as better than the price suggests, and the head storage plus two mandrel collector cups of different sizes handle mixed rivet jobs cleanly. A built-in LED covers the dark corners where structural work tends to happen.
At 4.6 stars from 50 reviews, the reviews frame it plainly: 1/4 inch stainless capability at a fraction of what name-brand heavy-duty tools command, weighed against weight, bulk and thinner after-sales support.
When you genuinely need this one
Reach for the Minova when the top of the capacity range is where you actually work. 1/4 inch stainless rivets appear in trailer framing, heavier sheet enclosures and structural flashing, and a tool rated to 3/16 inch will chew on them and refuse to break the mandrel.
The 4,500 lbf class also means the tool has headroom on 3/16 inch work, so first-pull reliability improves even if you never load a 1/4 inch rivet.
Weight, bulk and battery support
At 10.78 pounds packaged, this is the heaviest tool here, and reviewers note the weight is noticeable during extended use. The body is bulky and will not fit into tight spaces, so it is a fabrication shop or ground-level tool rather than a crawlspace tool.
The batteries are proprietary and accessories and support are hard to source in the US. A few users also report the spent-pin jaws sticking and needing to be cleared. If your shop is in the US and downtime matters, weigh that against the 1/4 inch capability.
7. WonVon Cordless Electric Rivet Gun Kit – Highest Rated in the Group
WonVon Cordless Pop Rivet Gun Kit 20V Max Battery, Brushless Automatic Rivet Gun Tool, Electric Rivet Gun with 3 Size (1/8″, 5/32″, 3/16″) Rivets, Battery*1, Fast Charger, Rivet Head, Led Light
2300 lbs torque
Makita 18V to 21V packs
550 rivets per battery
4.8 rating
+ The Good
- 4.8 average rating with no one-star reviews in the data
- 2300 lbs of torque sets 3/16 inch stainless in about a second
- Works with all Makita 18V to 21V batteries
- Battery one-hour charger and case in the box
- Automatic eject on trigger release with a reverse switch
- The Bad
- Drill-sized body is hard to use in confined areas
- Nose pieces are not size marked
- Minor cosmetic marks in the black coating
The WonVon kit carries the highest average rating in this roundup at 4.8 from 33 reviews, with the ratings split between four and five stars and no one-star entries. The motor is brushless with up to 2,300 lbs of maximum torque, and one battery drives more than 550 rivets with a one-hour fast charger.
Speed is its argument. Reviewers report setting 3/16 inch stainless rivets in roughly a second, which is the kind of number that matters on a long run of duct seams or trailer skin. Automatic mandrel eject on trigger release means you do not chase a second action per rivet, and the reverse switch handles repositioning.
Platform flexibility is unusually broad: it is compatible with all Makita 18V to 21V batteries, which covers the entire slide-pack range most owners accumulate over a few years. Capacity is 1/8, 5/32 and 3/16 inch, and a battery, charger, carrying case and three nose sizes are all in the box.
Fit and finish is the other repeated comment. Owners compare the machining and coating favourably with premium brand-name tools, and the LED work light is built in for dark installs.
Best in high-volume runs
If you are setting hundreds of rivets rather than dozens, cycle time adds up and this tool is the fastest in the group. The combination of a one-second set, automatic eject and 550-plus rivets per battery means fewer battery swaps and fewer interruptions.
For anyone on the Makita platform, the kit is a clean first purchase because the included battery is usable in your other tools, not locked to this one.
Label your nose pieces
The most practical complaint is that the nose pieces are not size marked. Owners report that a mismatched chuck size causes shank jams, so a dab of tape and a pen on day one saves you a teardown later.
The drill-shaped body is also the other recurring drawback. It is difficult to use in confined areas, and a few owners note minor cosmetic marks in the black coating out of the box. Neither affects function.
8. Decwls Cordless Rivet Gun for Milwaukee 18V – The Lightest Option Here
Decwls Cordless Rivet Gun Electric Compatible with Milwaukee 18V Battery
2248 to 2698 lbf
3.17 lb without battery
Milwaukee 18V packs
LED light
+ The Good
- Runs on Milwaukee 18V packs you likely already own
- Lightest bare tool in the group at 3.17 lb
- Rubber grip helps users with arthritis and limited grip
- 2248 to 2698 lbf brushless pulling force
- Includes 150 rivets three noses a wrench and a case
- The Bad
- Slower cycle than the other budget tools
- Awkward in tight areas
- A few buyers had to reseat the battery between rivets
The Decwls is built for one specific owner: an M18 user. It runs on Milwaukee 18V batteries directly, and at 3.17 lb excluding the battery it is the lightest tool in this roundup. That weight number is not a rounding error, it changes how long you can hold your arm up over a soffit or a truck bed.
Pull force is rated between 2,248 and 2,698 lbf from a brushless motor, and capacity is 1/8, 5/32 and 3/16 inch. The tool-only package still includes 150 rivets, 75 stainless and 75 aluminum, three nose pieces, a wrench and a carrying case, which is more consumables than most rivals ship.
The one-button forward and reverse switch has a safety lock, so the tool cannot fire while it is being positioned. A built-in LED handles low-light work, and the rubber overmold grip is repeatedly mentioned as a relief for people with arthritis or limited grip who are giving up manual riveters.
At 4.3 stars from 39 reviews it sits mid-pack, with a 14% one-star share centered on battery contact and cycle speed rather than the mechanism itself.
Why weight matters more than lbf
On a short job, the fastest tool wins. On a full day of overhead or ladder work, the lightest tool wins because your arm gives out before your battery does. This is the tool for the second scenario, and reviewers with grip problems rate it highly for exactly that reason.
It saves the wrist compared with a manual rivet tool, which is the reason most people upgrade in the first place.
Watch the battery contact
Cycle speed is the slowest in this group, and a few buyers had to remove and reinstall the battery between rivets to get it to run. If you are setting rivets continuously, that friction adds up fast.
It is also bulky next to premium-brand tools and awkward in tight areas. For open-sheet work on a trailer, a truck bed or a roof deck, those are not real problems.
9. Heimerdinger Brushless Cordless Rivet Gun for Makita 18V – Built for Roofing and Gutter Runs
Heimerdinger Brushless Cordless Rivet Gun for Makita 18V Battery, 12000N Auto Reverse Power Riveter
12000N pulling force
Makita 18V packs
3-second cycle
auto mandrel eject
+ The Good
- 12000N brushless motor with a 3-second cycle
- One owner reports about 500 rivets with almost no issues
- Another installed about 600 rivets on metal roof gables
- Soft-grip handle reduces fatigue on long runs
- Fits Makita 18V packs such as BL1850B and BL1840B
- The Bad
- Not every rivet brand ejects the mandrel cleanly
- One tool jammed on arrival and needed nose adjustment
- Occasional first-pull failures at odd angles
The Heimerdinger is rated at 12,000 N of pulling force, runs a 3-second riveting cycle and works with 1/8, 5/32 and 3/16 inch rivets in aluminum and steel. It fits Makita 18V packs including the BL1850B and BL1840B brushless packs, and the battery and charger are not included.
What makes it interesting is the durability evidence. One owner reports running roughly 500 rivets with almost no issues, and another installed about 600 rivets on metal roof gables and jammed only twice. For gutter and roofing work, that is the kind of track record that matters more than a headline force number.
Two design choices support long runs. The one-button auto-reset mandrel ejection means the tool returns to ready without a second press, and a multi-hole cooling system helps it stay at temperature during a long sequence, which matters on a roof in summer sun.
The soft-grip ergonomic handle is consistently mentioned for reducing fatigue on all-day jobs, and the built-in LED covers soffit and attic work. At 3.75 pounds it also sits at the light end of this group.
Where the durability reports come from
Users describe it as suited to high-volume work on roofing, boats and all-aluminum trailers, and the two high-rivet-count reports are specifically roofing and gable work. If your volume comes from roofing or gutter contracts rather than one-off shop fabrication, that is the match.
The 12,000 N rating also handles stainless and aluminum in the mid range without straining, and the light body reduces the arm fatigue that ends a roofing day early.
Mandrel ejection is not perfect
The most common complaint is that not every rivet brand ejects the mandrel cleanly, so nose disassembly is sometimes needed. One owner received a tool that jammed on arrival and required partial disassembly to correct the nose depth, which is a quality control issue rather than a design one.
Occasional first-pull failures also show up, often at odd angles or with the wrong nose size. Set the nose depth properly on first use and work on a practice panel before a finished run.
10. ZUYIYI Cordless Rivet Gun for Makita 18V – Compact Bare Tool Value
ZUYIYI Cordless Electric Rivet Gun Tool for Makita 18V Battery, Bare Tool
2000 rpm brushless
Makita 18V packs
3/32 to 3/16 inch rivets
bare tool
+ The Good
- Well machined nozzles for a bare tool entry price
- Works with the full Makita 18V slide battery range
- Handles 3/32 1/8 5/32 and 3/16 inch rivets
- Quiet spark-free 2000 rpm brushless motor
- Single-button extraction and reverse with a LED
- The Bad
- Mandrel stems stick and one owner disassembles the tip about nine times out of ten
- One unit would not pull a 3/16 inch rivet and left the stem hung up in the tool
- Setup is fiddly with little guidance in the instructions
The ZUYIYI is a bare tool for Makita 18V, and its case for existing is simple: it accepts the full slide battery range, including BL1815, BL1820, BL1530, BL1840, BL1850 and BL1860. The motor is brushless at 2,000 rpm, described as quiet and spark-free, with a 3-second riveting cycle.
Capacity is the broadest in the budget group at 3/32, 1/8, 5/32 and 3/16 inch, covering 2.4 to 4.8mm aluminum rivets and 2.4 to 4.0mm steel rivets. That 3/32 inch capability at the small end is unusual for a tool in this class and useful for light-gauge sheet and panel trim.
Owners rate the machining quality of the nozzles as the standout on a bare tool, and note strong value against what a brand charges for its own rivet gun. Single-button automatic mandrel extraction and reverse handles the cycle in one press once the tool is set up properly, and a built-in LED plus a heat dissipation system round out the feature list.
At 4.2 stars from 31 reviews it is tied for the lowest rated tool here, with a 7% one-star share. The complaints are consistent enough to describe up front.
Where it works well
For light to medium sheet metal, aluminum trim and 3/32 or 1/8 inch rivets, the compact body and clean machining make this a pleasant tool. If your existing Makita packs are the smaller BL1815 or BL1820, this tool will use them where some rivals require brushless-only packs.
It is the quietest option here, which matters if you are working in a finished interior or an occupied space.
Stem hang-ups and 3/16 inch limits
Mandrel stems sticking in the nose is the main complaint. One owner disassembles the tip roughly nine times out of ten to clear it, which is a maintenance pattern you should not expect from the tools above. Another owner found a tool that would not pull a 3/16 inch rivet and hung the stem in the tool.
Setup is also fiddly, with thin instructions. If you are new to powered riveters, the Heimerdinger or the WonVon are better first purchases despite higher sticker numbers.
How We Picked These Cordless Rivet Guns?
We started from the spec that decides the outcome: whether the tool can pull the rivet you are holding. Every pick here has a published pull force in lbf or newtons, a stated rivet capacity in inches, and a known battery platform, and we dropped anything we could not verify on all three.
Then we read the full review sets rather than the star average alone, because a 4.4 can hide a real problem. That is how the mandrel stickiness on the budget tools and the bundled-charger complaints on the kit versions surfaced. Where tradespeople are talking about these tools, we used it as context: the r/Tools rivet gun thread, where sheet metal crew members argue M12 and DeWalt against each other, is representative of how this purchase actually gets made.
Weight, stroke length, nose storage and mandrel collection are tie-breakers, because on a long day they are the difference between finishing and stopping early. Ratings and review counts are quoted exactly as the listings report them.
How to Choose a Cordless Rivet Gun for Sheet Metal?
Riveting sheet metal is fast until the tool cannot set the rivet you bought, or until you find out mid-job that you needed a battery platform you do not own. Six things decide the purchase, and they are worth checking in this order.
Match the tool to your rivet diameter first
Rivet capacity is the hard limit and cannot be worked around. Most sheet metal work lives between 1/8 and 3/16 inch, so almost every cordless tool here covers it. Work that touches 1/4 inch stainless or steel is a different category entirely, and only the Minova on this list is rated for it.
Ignore capacity claims that stop at 3/16 inch if you are building trailers or working with heavy flashing. It is also worth knowing that a tool rated for a size does not guarantee a clean first pull at the very top of its range, which is where rated force separates a good tool from a cheap one.
Pull force and stroke decide whether the top of the range works
Pull force is the maximum squeezing force the tool can apply, reported in lbf or newtons. The tools here span from about 2,000 lbs to 4,500 lbf, and that difference is what decides whether a 3/16 inch stainless rivet sets on the first pull. Stainless is harder than aluminum or mild steel, so it is where weak tools stall.
Stroke is the distance the mandrel travels before the pull ends. A longer stroke lets the rivet body fully expand before the mandrel breaks, which produces a better clinch. The DEWALT DCF403B offers 0.98 inch and the Mayoki 0.79 inch, and the difference shows up in grip quality on thicker material.
Check the battery platform before anything else
Most people buy these tools for one reason: they already own batteries. On this list, the Milwaukee M12 covers the 2550-20, the DEWALT 20V and 60V MAX platforms cover the DCF403B, the Mayoki and the Labfintom, the Makita 18V platform covers the BDJHMP, WonVon, Heimerdinger and ZUYIYI, and the Milwaukee 18V platform covers the Decwls.
Confirm the exact pack models before you order, because aftermarket tools sometimes list a range that includes battery chemistries they handle poorly. If you own nothing, the bundled kits remove that whole question at the cost of some weight. If you are building a platform from scratch, the Milwaukee M12 and DeWalt 20V MAX have the widest accessory support.
Nose dies, mandrel collection and lighting
The nose piece is the die that grips the mandrel, and its bore has to match the rivet diameter or the mandrel will not pull straight. On-tool storage matters more than it sounds, because a lost 4.8mm nose piece mid-job stops the job.
Mandrel collection is the other quiet differentiator. A tool with an on-board collector keeps spent stems out of the gutter or the duct you are installing. A tool with automatic eject on trigger release removes a whole step from the cycle. Look for a one-button forward and reverse switch, because reverse clears a broken stem without pliers, and an LED if you work in cabinets, soffits or crawlspaces.
Cordless rivet gun vs hand riveter vs pneumatic
A manual hand riveter costs almost nothing and can set a 3/16 inch rivet in about two seconds if you have the grip strength. For five rivets a month, that is the correct answer and no cordless tool is worth it.
A pneumatic gun is faster still on long production runs and is what a duct shop with a compressor already has, but it needs a hose, a coupler and a compressor wherever the work happens. On a roof, in an attic or on a service call, there is no compressor, so the argument for cordless is not speed, it is having a tool at all.
For roughly a dozen or more rivets per project, or for anyone whose hands hurt after a manual riveter, cordless wins on fatigue alone. Our picks for adjacent sheet metal tasks, like sheet metal brakes and bead rollers, follow the same logic of owning the platform already.
Sheet Metal Gauge to Rivet Size: What to Buy and Why
Matching rivet diameter to sheet thickness is the decision that determines whether a joint holds. A common rule of thumb in sheet metal work is a rivet diameter roughly two to three times the thickness of the thinnest sheet in the joint, and a rivet grip length, meaning the mandrel length, that runs from slightly thicker than the combined sheet thickness up to about 1.5 times it.
26 to 24 gauge aluminum or steel, roughly 0.012 to 0.020 inch thick: 1/8 inch rivets with a short grip. The smallest nose die on any of these tools handles this, so capacity is never the issue at the thin end.
22 to 20 gauge, roughly 0.027 to 0.032 inch: 1/8 inch rivets as standard, 5/32 inch in stainless where the joint sees more load or weather.
18 gauge, roughly 0.050 inch: 1/8 or 5/32 inch rivets. This is the most common sheet metal gauge on HVAC duct and trailer skin, and it is where most cordless tools are comfortable.
16 gauge, roughly 0.063 inch: 5/32 inch rivets, stepping up to 3/16 inch for structural or load-bearing joints.
14 to 12 gauge, roughly 0.078 to 0.106 inch: 3/16 inch rivets. This is the practical ceiling for most cordless riveters and where force ratings start to matter.
1/4 inch rivets: heavy steel and stainless structural work only, and only a tool rated for it will set them cleanly.
Two material choices change the plan. For outdoor sheet, aluminum roofing flashing and anything exposed to moisture, use stainless steel rivets and stainless mandrels rather than aluminum, because aluminum mandrels corrode faster than the sheet around them. For interior duct and cabinet work, aluminum rivets are lighter and cheaper and will not streak stainless surfaces.
Drill clearance matters too. The hole should be slightly larger than the rivet body diameter, following the rivet manufacturer chart, and both sheets get drilled at the same stack position. A hole drilled slightly undersize is the most common cause of a rivet that will not draw or will not break its mandrel cleanly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best cordless rivet guns?
For most sheet metal work the Milwaukee M12 2550-20 is the best all-round cordless rivet gun, with 3/32 to 3/16 inch capacity, about 450 rivets per charge and the strongest build in the group. The DEWALT 20V MAX DCF403B is the best brushless option at 2,100 lbf and 800 rivets per charge. The Minova RIVETER7 is the only pick rated to set 1/4 inch stainless rivets, at 20,000 N. If you already own a battery platform, the best tool is often an aftermarket model that fits your existing packs.
What size rivets for sheet metal?
Rivet diameter should be roughly two to three times the thickness of the thinnest sheet in the joint. That means 1/8 inch rivets for 26 to 20 gauge material, 1/8 or 5/32 inch for 18 gauge, 5/32 inch for 16 gauge, and 3/16 inch for 14 to 12 gauge steel. Use stainless rivets and mandrels for outdoor or moisture-exposed sheet, and aluminum rivets for interior duct and cabinet work. Drill a clearance hole slightly larger than the rivet body.
Are cordless rivet guns worth it?
A cordless rivet gun is worth it if you set roughly a dozen or more rivets per project, if you work where there is no air compressor such as a roof or a crawlspace, or if hand squeezing a manual riveter causes wrist and hand pain. A manual hand riveter remains the cheaper and simpler choice for occasional work, and a pneumatic gun is still faster for high-volume shop production where a compressor is already running.
Which rivet gun is of the best quality?
Build quality tracks the tier, not the price alone. The Milwaukee M12 2550-20 has the strongest reported durability with owners describing it as a buy-once tool, and the DEWALT 20V MAX DCF403B uses a brushless motor with 2,100 lbf and a tool-free nose change. Among budget and aftermarket tools, the Mayoki has an all-metal mechanism, a 5-year warranty and the highest force rating, while the BDJHMP and WonVon kits include batteries and chargers in the box.
Can a cordless rivet gun set rivet nuts?
No. The tools on this list are blind rivet guns, which pull and break a mandrel to expand a rivet body. Rivet nuts and threaded inserts are set by a different tool that spins a mandrel and deforms the nut’s threads, and self-piercing rivets need a clinching tool that forms a dimple instead of breaking a stem. If your sheet metal job needs rivet nuts, buy a rivet nut tool rather than one of these.
Conclusion: The Best Cordless Rivet Guns for Sheet Metal in 2026
The Milwaukee M12 2550-20 is the best cordless rivet gun for most sheet metal work, with 3/32 to 3/16 inch capacity, a 4.81 pound bare tool and the most durable build in this group. The DEWALT 20V MAX DCF403B takes the brushless slot with 2,100 lbf, 800 rivets per charge and tool-free nose changes, and the Mayoki is the best value pick for anyone already holding DeWalt 20V or 60V MAX packs.
Beyond that, the buying decision is simple. Own Makita 18V and the WonVon or Heimerdinger fits your packs. Own Milwaukee 18V and the Decwls gives you the lightest tool here. Need 1/4 inch stainless capability and the Minova is the only option in the group. Start from nothing and the BDJHMP or WonVon kits hand you batteries, charger and case on day one.
Whichever one you pick, check the pull force against the largest rivet you actually use before you order, and set the nose piece correctly the first time. That single habit removes most of the failures buyers report. For the rest of your sheet metal toolkit, we have compared the best cordless caulk guns and cordless glue guns for finishing and sealing the same kind of work.