5 Best Electric Caulk Guns of 2024 – Reviews & Buying Guide
Electric caulk guns are ideal for when you need more power and smooth caulking operations. They take the stress off your hands when sealing cracks, gaps, and air leakages on various applications.
The best electric gun will give you accurate results, versatility, and exceptional neatness. This review pits the five best electric caulk guns against each other so you can pick the most efficient tool. Read on to find out.
Last update on 2024-11-21 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The Buying Guide
Everyone with some level of construction or handyman skills understands how vital electric caulk guns are. However, getting the right tool is always the biggest challenge. When I first used a caulk gun on bathroom tiles, the caulking was so bad I had to reinstall new tiles on the area. I found out that the performance had nothing to do with my skills but the quality of the gun.
See, its dispensing was so inconsistent, and the force just not good enough. There was also no mechanism for preventing dripping, so my caulking ended up being messy. I knew I had to find the right caulking gun because the reputation of my occupation depended on it. Before I went back shopping, I researched a few buying tips for caulking guns:
Find a dripless option
The best caulking gun needs to have a drip-free feature to help reduce the pressure on the cartridge as you release the trigger. Ultimately this feature helps to reduce excessive and messy dripping. Caulking guns with a reverse feature facilitate a much smoother and neater operations
The material construction needs to be sturdy and durable
Caulking guns should be able to serve you for a long time without breaking. Before sealing the deal on a particular model, first examine its build/materials to ascertain its sturdiness. Premier caulking guns are made of light steel or aluminum parts for maximum strength and durability.
Find a gun with a larger caulk capacity
The caulk capacity of the caulking gun measures how much materials the cartridges can carry in one load. If you are professional who handles more grout like I do, you might want to choose a sizeable barreled gun that carries more materials in a single go. If the capacity is small, your workflow won’t be smooth since you have to reload the gun many times.
A higher thrusting force will enable you to work with thicker materials
The thrust force is the pressure that the machine generates to push the caulk and adhesives out of the tube. Dense or highly viscous adhesives and sealants often demand a higher force while less viscous materials can do with moderate pressure. In electric caulk guns, this force is measured in pounds of force (lbf).
Weight matters a lot too
One thing that you will notice sooner is that electric models are a lot heavier than the other types of caulking guns. If you find a lightweight option, go for it, especially if you are going to be using it for longer hours. A weighty tool might become burdensome and slow you down. Be that as it may, weight alone shouldn’t be a disqualifying factor.
Speed control
The best electric caulk guns have a speed adjuster feature that lets you regulate the amount of caulk coming out. This feature is essential, especially if accuracy and clean beads are a big deal to you. Others models will also have a Set and Forget feature for working with a consistent flow rate.
Complementary accessories
In most cases, you usually have to buy your battery and chargers among other accessories for your caulk gun. However, some models come with all these included in the package. Such might be suitable option if you are looking to save on costs.
The Electric Caulk Gun Review
1. Milwaukee 2441-21 Electric Caulking Gun
Last update on 2024-11-21 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
This cordless caulk gun boasts a variable speed trigger and a max speed dial. These features target to give users absolute control over the speed of the machine. The contraption weighs 5.95 pounds.
An included auto-reversing feature helps to control the amount of caulk material dispensed. You might, therefore, be able to achieve a high degree of neatness on with this caulking gun.
This electric caulking tool is battery powered. For that reason, you will be able to work both indoors and outdoors seamlessly. The battery used is the M12 REDLITHIUM. This type of cell lasts longer than many other models, and according to the manufacturers, it delivers 150 10 ounce tubes of sealant per single charge.
The Milwaukee 2441-21 Electric Caulking Gun has a pressure of 400 lbf. You might find this pressure to be significant enough when working with averagely viscous sealants and adhesives.
The caulk capacity of a gun also matters a great deal. The Milwaukee 2441-21 Electric Caulking Gun has a capacity of 10 oz. That is a relatively significant amount to minimize reloading and the associated downtimes.
The main concern you might find with this tool is that it is a little bulkier than other guns. You might not be able to work with it for long hours.
Milwaukee 2441-21 Pros & Cons
Pros
Pros
- It is battery powered; you can work with it anywhere
- The M12 REDLITHIUM battery used has a longer life
- The variable speed adjuster and max speed dial helps to control the amount of caulking material that comes out
- This gun has a moderate thrust force of 400 lbf
Cons
Cons
- It is a bit heavy – your hands might burn out when working on bigger jobs
- You have to buy the battery and charger as separate accessories
2. DEWALT DC546B Electric Caulking Gun
Last update on 2024-11-21 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Just like the Milwaukee 2441-21, the DEWALT DC546B Electric Caulking Gun has a variable speed control that will likely increase the accuracy of your work. This feature lets you dictate the amount of caulk dispensed. The overall weight is 6.65 pounds.
Another feature of note here is the Set and Forget speed setting. It can come in handy when you want to work with single speed for a consistent flow rate.
This caulk gun has a higher capacity of 29 0z, which is almost three times the capacity you get with the Milwaukee 2441-21. What that means is that once you load the gun with caulk material, you will possibly get to work for long before having to refill it.
You also get a little extra force here, 650 lbf compared to the 400 lbf of the Milwaukee 2441-21. For that reason, you might be able to work with highly viscous sealants on this gun.
Just as in the previous model, this DEWALT caulking gun also has an auto-reverse feature. It might help you attain a professional finish by preventing drip and keeping things neat.
The significant drawback here is the weighty nature of the gun. You might experience cramping on your hands if you have to work with it for long.
DEWALT DC546B Pros & Cons
Pros
Pros
- It has a variable speed control for accurate caulking
- The auto-reverse feature helps to keep things clean
- This electric caulking gun has a higher force (650lbsf) than the Milwaukee 2441-2
- The Set-and-Forget speed control helps with consistent performance
Cons
Cons
- The battery and charger are sold separately
- It is a heavy caulking gun that takes some getting used to
3. Makita XGC01Z 18V Motored Adhesive Caulking Gun
Last update on 2024-11-21 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The dispensing force of the Makita XGC01Z is 1100 lbf. This figure is higher than what you get with the previous models, and so the machine will generally allow you to work with denser sealants. The device weighs 5 pounds.
Then again, just like in the Milwaukee and DEWALT models in this review, the Makita XGC01Z uses a five-speed dial and a variable trigger. By now, you understand that these features are a must-have if you want to control the flow rate of the caulk material for a professional finish on your job.
Additionally, you might find the included drip-reduction feature helpful in reducing wastage. This feature automatically reduces the pressure on the caulk material to prevent dripping.
This caulking tool runs on an 18V LXT battery that is sold separately. Its cordless nature helps with maneuverability.
The capacity of the Makita XGC01Z is 10 oz, which falls below what you get with the DEWALT DC546B. Therefore, beware that this caulking gun might slow you down when dealing with massive projects.
Makita XGC01Z Pros & Cons
Pros
Pros
- It comes with an adjustable 5-speed dial to control the flow rate
- Has a drip-reduction feature
- Its high dispensing force is meant for heavy sealants and adhesives
Cons
Cons
- The battery life is not long
- The carbon fiber plunger doesn’t effectively prevent dripping
4. E12S20 B-Line Albion Caulk Gun
Last update on 2024-11-21 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
This Albion caulking gun is a mid-range tool for standard viscosity caulking materials. The machine has a capacity of 20 oz, which is higher than what you get with the Milwaukee and Makita models in this review. This high caulk capacity means that you get to work for longer without having to reload the gun every now and then.
The manufacturers state that the Albion cordless gun is designed for applying caulk in tight spaces. True enough, the 2-inch diameter barrel and the 5/8 inch nozzle opening on this tool might help achieve a high level of accuracy when dispensing caulking materials.
The thrust force here is 400 lbf just like what you get with the Milwaukee 2441-21. It’s a decent force, but might not be enough when working with highly viscous materials, or when it is freezing outside.
The Albion caulk gun runs on a 12 V Lithium-ion battery. These types of cells are known to have a long life. 30 minutes is the time it will take to recharge, but you can avoid that downtime by having spare batteries on standby.
Unlike the other caulk guns in this review, this model comes with battery packs, chargers, and spare nozzles. You will not have to buy these accessories separately.
E12S20 B-Line Pros & Cons
Pros
Pros
- 2-inch aluminum barrel and 5/8 inch nozzles or accurate operations
- A decent force of 400 lbf
- Ergonomic design that makes it easier to work with
- Comes with complementary accessories
Cons
Cons
- Due to its small capacity and thrust force, this caulk gun might not be ideal for professional use
- It’s hard to clean the pistons
5. The Ryobi P310G Battery-Powered Power Caulk Gun
- UP TO 500LBS OF PUSH FORCE allowing you to dispense a wide range of high viscosity sealants
- ENERGY EFFICIENT: dispense up to 200 tubes of caulk on a single Ryobi 18-volt battery
- BALANCED SYSTEM: weight is distributed evenly on top of the ergonomically designed pistol grip handle, making it easy for everyone of all ages to use with comfort
Last update on 2024-11-21 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
This Ryobi caulk gun has a 500 lbf of thrust force and might, therefore, be suitable for moderately viscous materials.
It runs on what the manufacturers call a highly efficient 18V battery. On a single charge, you get to dispense up to 200 tubes of caulk. This level of energy efficiency might be what you need if you want to work uninterruptedly.
The Ryobi P310G caulk gun weighs 4 pounds, which is lighter than all of the other models in this review. The manufacturers say that its ergonomic design helps to evenly distribute its weight on the entire body of the gun. Its design might help to relieve the stress off your hands.
Another noteworthy feature in this caulk gun model is the variable speed adjuster. This inclusion helps you control the flow rate of the caulk for accurate and clean sealing. This caulk gun might also be ideal if you want a lightweight tool that has a safety lock for preventing unintentional startup.
The primary concern here is that the plunger does not tighten down as needed. This design flaw might cause the sealant to come out at the backside of the tube.
Ryobi P310G Pros & Cons
Pros
Pros
- It’s lightweight
- Has a moderate thrust force of 500 lbf
- It has an ergonomic design
- Comes with a variable speed adjuster for caulking accuracy
- It is energy efficient
Cons
Cons
- • The caulking material comes out at the back of the tube
- • The speed is hard to control
The best pick
Even though the Makita XGC01Z 18V Motored Adhesive Caulking Gun stands out with a high thrust force of 1100 lbf, the DEWALT DC546B Electric Caulking Gun is in a class by itself. If you can survive its somehow weighty nature, you might find the 650lbf thrust force useful when working with highly viscous materials.
In addition, this electric caulk gun has a variable speed adjuster that will help you control the caulk flow for accurate operations. The Set and Forget feature, on the other hand, lets you work with a consistent flow rate all through.
Better still, this caulk gun has the largest capacity in this review- 29 oz. which means that you will be able to work for long without having to reload it. Then also, the auto-reverse feature included prevents accidental dispensing, thus helping to keep your projects neat and professional.
Last Updated on August 7, 2020 by Tom Bradly