A good, high-quality caulking gun provides a continuous line of caulk in order to seal joints between surfaces.
There are many different types of caulking guns you can choose from these days, and this includes both manual and mechanical ones. I’ve used many different ones over the years, each with their own pros and cons.
Finding the right one for your needs can make a big difference in terms of the quality of the work you do and the ease of completing the task.
This is why you need to ensure you find the best caulking guns for your needs, and we will look at some of the top options in our review of the best caulking guns.
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The good news for those looking to find the best caulking guns is that there is lots of choices available these days. So, you can find one that is perfectly suited to your needs, provides you with a valuable new tool for repairs and DIY tasks, and falls within your budget. Below are some of our top picks when it comes to the best caulking guns.
#1: Wolfcraft 4352000 Ergo-Mechanical Caulking Gun
Check current stock levels, price, and reviews on Amazon
Features:
- 130 kg pushing pressure
- Ideal for applying silicone and acrylic
- Rotating grip sleeve for optimum working angles
- Ergonomic handle with two components
- Easy to change cartridges
- Auto drip-stop function to avoid mess
- Dimensions: 18 x 7 x 35 cm
- Weighs 366 grams
- Excellent ratings from others
- Very affordable price
- Made from sturdy plastic reinforced with fibreglass
- Fatigue-free operation
- Powerful performance
What to Consider:
- For use with 310 ml cartridges
If you are looking for one of the best caulking guns at a really low price, this could be a great choice for you. It offers a host of features and benefits and has received excellent reviews from past users who have found it effective, efficient, and easy to use.
Its ergonomic handle design means you can benefit from fatigue-free operation, and the drop-stop function enables you to avoid unnecessary mess.
#2: Ryobi CCG1801MHG ONE+ Caulking Gun
Check current stock levels, price, and reviews on Amazon
Features:
- Durable materials for solid design
- Variable speed adjustment
- Reload quickly with easy release rod
- Enhanced control with centre balanced handle
- Integrated puncture tool
- Higher force can be used for materials of increased viscosity
- Battery-powered operation
- 18 volts
- Dimensions: 46.8 x 120 x 246 cm
- Weighs 1.7 kg
- GripZone+ technology for greater comfort and enhanced grip
- Durable gears and carriage for longer life
- Switch lock for safety
- Hundreds of great ratings
What to Consider:
- For use with standard-sized tubes
While it is not the cheapest caulking gun on the market, this one certainly does pack a punch. This is a very solid tool that is designed to last, and it also provides you with powerful performance.
You can benefit from a range of features including safety features such as the switch lock. In addition, more force can be used if you are using materials of increased viscosity.
#3: ProDec MG11ES Extra-Strong Caulking Gun
Check current stock levels, price, and reviews on Amazon
Features:
- Trade-quality tool
- Stronger than standard guns
- Perfect for the application of caulk and silicone sealants including high viscosity ones
- Made with powder-coated steel
- Solid and robust design
- Ideal for heavy-duty use
- Finger-moulded trigger for smooth operation
- Designed to reduce fatigue during use
- Ideal for a range of cartridge sizes
- Release clip to stop flow when necessary
- Very low price
- Thousands of excellent reviews
- Weighs 0.46 grams
- Dimensions: 6 x 42.5 x 19 cm
- Rotating barrel for smoother operation
What to Consider:
- Can be used with a range of tube sizes up to 400 ml
For those who are on a strict budget but want a caulking gun that boasts trade quality and great performance, this is an excellent choice. It has thousands of excellent reviews from other users, and it is lightweight, solidly constructed, designed to last, and comfortable to handle. You can benefit from a range of features, and you use a variety of rube sizes up to 400 ml.
Our Experience With The ProDec MG11ES Extra-Strong Caulking Gun
I’ve been through a few of the really simple and cheap plastic caulking guns over the years, but when my last one broke I decided to go for something a little more robust.
While there are some fancier ones around now including electric ones and manual ones with a few added features, I wanted to balance quality against cost.
I don’t tend to need caulking guns too often so it didn’t seem right to spend much, but equally, I was tired with the cheap ones breaking so quickly.
This ProDec caulking gun seemed to do the job perfectly as it only cost a few quid, plus there was no plastic in sight – everything is metal. This means it’s much harder wearing and should stand the test of time.
However, because it’s fully metal, I’ve also found it much easier to use. It doesn’t bend and flex like some plastic ones do, so more of your force is applied to getting the materials out of the cartridge.
I’ve used it on several caulking jobs now as well as silicone sealant and it’s been a pleasure to use. Also, unlike the plastic ones, it still feels as good as new after a few years use!
#4: ProDec Advance PRCG11 Revolving Caulking Gun
Check current stock levels, price, and reviews on Amazon
Features:
- Heavy-duty design
- Boasts trade-quality construction and design
- Rotating barrel for smooth application
- Suited to 400 ml tubes
- Hundreds of great ratings
- Low price
- Dimensions: 6 x 40 x 22 cm
- Weighs 0.71 grams
- Hand powered tool
- Self-release to stop oozing and mess
- Easy to operate
- Robust metal construction
What to Consider:
- Designed for use with 400ml tubes
This is another very good choice for those who are on a budget, and it means that you can benefit from a trade quality caulking gun while also keeping your costs down.
Made from durable metal, this is a tool that is designed to last and offers heavy-duty performance. At the same time, it is compact and lightweight, which makes it easy to handle while in use.
#5: Navaris Caulking Gun
Check current stock levels, price, and reviews on Amazon
Features:
- Heavy-duty professional tool
- For use with 310 ml cartridges
- 12:1 high-thrust ratio
- Enables easier flow of even thicker adhesive
- Powerful and robust
- Allows for precise application
- Steel barrel and trigger
- Cast aluminium and zinc alloy handle
- Grip designed to provide comfort
- Easy to clean
- Swivel handle rotates 360 degrees for optimum angle
- Dimensions 34.4 x 21.38 x 4.66 cm
- Weighs 504 grams
- Ideal for home and trade use
- Ergonomic design for comfort
- Great price for quality
- Excellent reviews
What to Consider:
- For use with 310 ml cartridges
If you are looking for a robust, high-performance, and affordable caulking gun, this is one of the best caulking guns you can choose. The tool comes with a range of features and is ergonomically designed for your comfort. It can be used for both home projects and by those in the trade who need a versatile caulking tool to carry out jobs.
How to Choose the Best Caulking Gun
When it comes to deciding which of the best caulking guns you should go for, you need to take some important factors into consideration. Some of the main things to consider when making your choice are:
The Thrust Ratio
One of the important things you need to look at is the thrust ratio of the caulking gun, as this determines the force that is generated each time you squeeze the trigger.
Remember, the higher the ratio, the greater the force. If you plan to work with different viscosity products, it is important to know that your caulking gun can handle the thicker ones.
That was one of the reasons I opted for an entirely metal one. It’s much stronger so can handle the thicker products without bending or flexing. That leads to me being able to get a more even application and cleaner finish.
Rod Type
Also, consider the rod type of the caulking gun when you are making up your mind. You can get ratchet rods, which are serrated and ideally suited to more basic projects. These tend to be the cheaper option for those who are on the budget. There are also smooth rods that offer greater ease and enable easier release of pressure on the sealant.
Price
The price is another important factor that you need to consider, and the cost of some of the best caulking guns can vary considerably. You can get really low-priced ones that are ideal for home use and for some professionals to carry out basic tasks.
You can also get heavier-duty ones at a low price. Make sure you check the features, quality, and reviews before you make your choice rather than just focusing on the price.
For me, the ProDec metal caulking gun gave me the perfect mix of quality versus price as it was less than half the price of some of the fancier models, yet only a couple of quid more than a cheap plastic one.
Reviews and Ratings
It is always a good idea to look at reviews and ratings from other people when you are deciding which of the best caulking guns to go for. This will give you a much better idea of what you can expect in terms of quality, ease of use, and effectiveness. In addition, it means greater peace of mind when making your selection.
Tube Capacity
One other thing to keep in mind is the tube capacity allowed by the caulking gun, which can vary from one tool to another. Some will only work with standard-sized tubes while others allow you to use a variety of tube sizes.
Do Caulking Guns Come in a Range of Sizes?
Yes, caulking guns come in a range of designs and sizes, so think about the best type for your needs. Obviously, the larger ones are also heavier, so you need to ensure you are happy to work with a heavier tool.
Some of the smaller ones are very lightweight and easy to handle, which is ideal for more basic jobs where you want speed and comfort.
Do You Push or Pull when Caulking?
This is a great question and even the experts aren’t fully agreed. Some say that pulling the gun provides a smoother finish, but others suggest pushing it forces more material into gaps.
Personally I’ve always pulled the gun without even thinking about it. Given I can then go over it with a smoothing tool (or wet finger, as is my preference!) which helps to force the material into any gaps, this seems to work best for me.
Either way, the tube should be held at an angle of 45 degrees to the joint, and steady pressure needs to be applied to the trigger to ensure even flow. I always keep some kitchen roll or old cloth nearby to quickly mop up any mistakes or excess material.
Is It Better to Caulk or Paint First?
One thing a lot of people are curious about is whether it is better to caulk or paint first. Well, there are some caulks that may need you to prime the surface first before you apply.
However, most caulk can be painted over. You should make sure that the caulk is completely dry before you do apply any paint over it, as it can otherwise cracking and warping of the paint.
I’ve always done caulking before painting so the paint helps to cover the caulk. It’s also worth using flexible caulk for gaps that may expand and contract in heat and cold (such as window frames) to avoid cracking.
As silicone cannot be painted over, I tend to paint first then silicone last, but with silicone it’s even more important you take your time to get a neat finish.
How Do I Choose the Right Caulking Gun?
You have to take a range of factors into consideration to choose the best caulking gun for your needs, as shown in this review.
It is important to look past the cost of the gun and consider the suitability, quality, and reviews from others. Of course, you should consider the price as well as these things to ensure you do not go over your budget.
As I say, when I bought my caulking gun I wanted a mix of quality and affordability. Since I only use mine for occasional DIY and decorating, it didn’t make sense for me to spend much, but I didn’t want something that would fall apart quickly either.
If you’re doing larger jobs or us it in your trade, it might make more sense for you to invest in a more expensive one with extra features. If you’re only doing a small one-off project, the cheapest plastic one might suit you better.
The Bottom Line
With the great choice of caulking guns available, finding the best caulking guns for your specific needs and your budget is easier than you think.
Just make sure the one you choose is suited to your needs based on whether you need a heavy-duty tool or one for lighter projects. Also, make sure you always check the features of the gun you are considering to help you to make the right choice.
I’m certainly pleased with the caulking gun I got and I wish I’d switched from the cheap plastic ones years ago.
The 5 Best Caulking Guns – Our Expert Picks:
