Milwaukee or DeWalt Nailers: Fit for the Job
Last reviewed October 31, 2026. Prices were listed by the retailer as of Oct 30, 2026 and can change. Confirm the current price and availability on the retailer's page before you buy.
A nailer or stapler has one hard job: drive a fastener to the same depth, over and over, in a fraction of a second, while you hold it at an awkward angle, often overhead or on a ladder. That means a lot of force delivered in a short burst, a tool you carry and reposition all day, and a power source that has to keep up between trips to the charger. The choices below are really about how each brand packages that job: which battery system it runs on, how much it asks you to pay, and whether the listing includes the battery you need.
In this catalog, Milwaukee has 75 nailer and stapler models and DeWalt has 20. Every Milwaukee model is listed as cordless, while 10 of the 20 DeWalt models are listed as cordless. Milwaukee prices run from $207 to $1,256, with a median of $429. DeWalt prices run from $219 to $967.99, with a median of $311. On battery platforms, Milwaukee splits between M18 (50 models) and M12 (25 models). DeWalt lists 10 models on the 20V MAX platform. A battery platform simply means the family of batteries a tool accepts, so one battery can move between that brand's tools.
Configurations differ too. Brushless motors, which are a motor design that replaces contact brushes with electronics, are stated in 67 percent of Milwaukee models and 70 percent of DeWalt models. Keep in mind that a gap in a listing is not proof a feature is absent, so check each product page for gauge, nail length and what actually ships in the box before you decide.
At a glance
| Milwaukee | DeWalt | |
|---|---|---|
| Models listed | 75 | 20 |
| Price range | $207 to $1,256 | $219 to $968 |
| Median price | $429 | $311 |
| Battery platforms named in listings | M18 (50), M12 (25) | 20V MAX (10) |
| Cordless models stating a brushless motor | 67% of 75 | 70% of 10 |
| Most common configuration | kit (46), bare tool (21) | kit (6), bare tool (4) |
| Listings stating batteries, charger or case | 23% | 20% |
| Tool types covered | Nailer / stapler (75) | Nailer / stapler (20) |
Kit listings
Kit listings bundle the tool with at least a battery in the examples shown. Milwaukee's examples start at $207 for an M12 crown stapler with a 2.5 Ah battery and reach $569 for an M18 FUEL 16-gauge finish nailer with a 6 Ah battery. DeWalt's examples all sit on the 20V MAX platform, with starting prices from $235 to $299. One DeWalt kit lists 2 batteries, a charger and a bag; another lists 1 battery, a charger and a case or bag. Several Milwaukee kit listings do not state box contents, so confirm before buying.
Milwaukee
Milwaukee M12 12-Volt Lithium-Ion Cordless 3/8 in. Crown Stapler w/M12 12V Lithium-Ion High Output CP 2.5 Ah Battery Pack
$207.00 · Kit · Voltage: 12 V · Battery platform: M12 · Battery capacity: 2.5 Ah · Weight: 3 lb
Milwaukee M18 FUEL 18-Volt Lithium Brushless Cordless 18-Gauge 1/4 in. Narrow Crown Stapler & M18 18-Volt 2.0 Ah Compact Battery
$493.90 · Kit · Voltage: 18 V · Brushless motor: Yes (stated in the listing) · Battery platform: M18 · Size / capacity: 18-gauge · Battery capacity: 2 Ah
Milwaukee M18 FUEL 18V Gen ll 16-Gauge Straight Finish Nailer and M18 18V Lithium-Ion REDLITHIUM FORGE 6.0 Ah Battery Pack
$569.00 · Kit · Voltage: 18 V · Brushless motor: Yes (stated in the listing) · Battery platform: M18 · Size / capacity: 16-gauge · Battery capacity: 6 Ah
Milwaukee M18 FUEL GEN II 18V 18-Gauge Lith-Ion Brushless Cordless Brad Nailer Kit with One 2.0 Ah Battery & Crown Stapler
$578 to $769 · Kit · Voltage: 18 V · Brushless motor: Yes (stated in the listing) · Battery platform: M18 · Size / capacity: 18-gauge · Battery capacity: 2 Ah
DeWalt
DeWalt 20V MAX Lithium-Ion Cordless Cable Stapler with 20V MAX Compact Lithium-Ion 2.0Ah Battery Pack
$235 to $468 · Kit · Voltage: 20 V · Brushless motor: Yes (stated in the listing) · Battery platform: 20V MAX · Battery capacity: 2 Ah
DeWalt ATOMIC 20-Volt MAX Lithium Ion Cordless 23-Gauge Pin Nailer with 20-Volt MAX Compact Lithium-Ion 2. 0Ah Battery Pack
$239 to $817 · Kit · Voltage: 20 V · Brushless motor: Yes (stated in the listing) · Battery platform: 20V MAX · Size / capacity: 23-gauge · Battery capacity: 2 Ah
DeWalt 20V XR 18 GA Brushless Cordless 2 in. Brad Nailer Kit with 2.0Ah Battery, 1.7 Ah Battery, Charger, Tool Connect and Bag
$269 to $698 · Kit · Voltage: 20 V · Brushless motor: Yes (stated in the listing) · Battery platform: 20V MAX · Size / capacity: 18-gauge · Battery capacity: 2 Ah
DeWalt 20V MAX XR Lithium-Ion Cordless 18-GA Narrow Crown Stapler Kit with 1/4 in. x 1 in. 18-GA Crown Staple (2500-Pieces)
$299 to $468 · Kit · Voltage: 20 V · Brushless motor: Yes (stated in the listing) · Battery platform: 20V MAX · Size / capacity: 18-gauge · Battery capacity: 3 Ah
Bare tool listings (tool only)
Bare tool listings are the tool only, with no battery or charger stated. Milwaukee's examples range from $229 for an M12 FUEL 18-gauge brad nailer to $429 for an M18 FUEL 16-gauge angled finish nailer, with a 23-gauge M12 pin nailer starting at $249. DeWalt's examples start at $323 for a 20V MAX XR 16-gauge finish nailer and include a $419 duplex nailer and a 9-gauge fencing staple nailer starting at $699. Some titles mention a battery or nails, but the listing says tool only, so treat the tool as the item.
Milwaukee
Milwaukee M12 FUEL 12-Volt Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless 18-Gauge 1-1/2 in. Compact Brad Nailer (Tool Only) with Safety Glasses
$229.00 · · Voltage: 12 V · Brushless motor: Yes (stated in the listing) · Battery platform: M12 · Size / capacity: 18-gauge
Milwaukee M18 FUEL 18-Volt Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless Gen II 18-Gauge Brad Nailer (Tool-Only)
$279 to $449 · · Voltage: 18 V · Brushless motor: Yes (stated in the listing) · Battery platform: M18 · Size / capacity: 18-gauge · Battery capacity: 3 Ah
Milwaukee M18 FUEL 18 Volt Brushless Cordless Gen II 16-Gauge Angled Finish Nailer Tool Only & M18 18-Volt 2.0 Ah Compact Battery
$429.00 · · Voltage: 18 V · Brushless motor: Yes (stated in the listing) · Battery platform: M18 · Size / capacity: 16-gauge · Battery capacity: 2 Ah
Milwaukee M12 12-Volt 23-Gauge Lithium-Ion Cordless Pin Nailer (Tool-Only)
$249 to $399 · · Voltage: 12 V · Battery platform: M12 · Size / capacity: 23-gauge · Battery capacity: 6 Ah
DeWalt
DeWalt 20V MAX XR 16-Gauge Lithium-Ion Cordless Finish Nailer (Tool Only) and 2 in. x 16 GA Straight Finish Nails (1000-Pack)
$323 to $861 · · Voltage: 20 V · Brushless motor: Yes (stated in the listing) · Battery platform: 20V MAX · Size / capacity: 16-gauge
DeWalt 20-Volt 16-Gauge 2-1/2 in. Cordless Finish Nailer (Tool Only)
$329.00 · · Voltage: 20 V · Battery platform: 20V MAX · Size / capacity: 16-gauge
DeWalt 20V XR 3-1/2 in. 21 Degree Cordless Duplex Nailer (Tool-Only)
$419.00 · · Voltage: 20 V · Brushless motor: Yes (stated in the listing) · Battery platform: 20V MAX
DeWalt 20V MAX 9-Gauge Cordless Fencing Staple Nailer (Tool Only) w/1.75 in. x 9-GA Galvanized Fencing Staples(960 per Box)
$699 to $968 · · Voltage: 20 V · Battery platform: 20V MAX
Which one fits you
Choose Milwaukee if...
- You want a wider range of listings, with 75 models spread across the M18 and M12 platforms.
- You want a lower entry price, since the catalog lists Milwaukee models starting at $207.
- You prefer buying as a kit, because 46 of the 75 Milwaukee listings are kits, though check what each includes.
- You want a brushless motor stated in the listing, which applies to 67 percent of the Milwaukee models.
Choose DeWalt if...
- You want a single battery platform, since the listed cordless models all use 20V MAX.
- You want a lower median price, which is $311 for DeWalt against $429 for Milwaukee in this catalog.
- You want a slightly higher share of listings that state a brushless motor, at 70 percent of models.
- You want a kit that spells out its contents, such as the listings stating 2 batteries, a charger and a bag.
Start with the listings that match the fasteners and battery system you already own.
Frequently asked questions
Which brand has more nailer and stapler models listed?
Milwaukee has 75 models in this catalog and DeWalt has 20. Milwaukee lists all 75 as cordless, while DeWalt lists 10 of its 20 as cordless. More listings means more variety to browse, but it does not say anything about how any single tool performs.
How do the price ranges compare?
Milwaukee models run from $207 to $1,256 with a median of $429. DeWalt models run from $219 to $967.99 with a median of $311. These figures describe the catalog listings as shown and can differ by configuration, so compare kit and bare tool prices separately.
What battery platforms do these nailers use?
Milwaukee lists 50 models on M18 and 25 on M12. DeWalt lists 10 models on 20V MAX. A platform is the battery family a tool accepts, so owning batteries from one family lets you reuse them across that brand's compatible tools.
Does a kit always include a battery and charger?
No. Only listings whose box contents are stated can be taken at their word. Some DeWalt kits state 2 batteries, a charger and a bag, while a Milwaukee example states 1 battery. A bare tool is listed as the tool only, with no battery or charger stated.