Best Cordless Rivet Gun in 2023 & Its Alternatives

If you are reading this you must be looking for the best cordless rivet gun for your next project. Well, the wait is over! You have come to the right place where you can learn all about cordless rivet guns.

Cordless Rivet guns are the modern fastening tool, especially in the construction and automotive repair industry. Although cordless rivet guns are the same as manual rivet gun, the differences is cordless rivet gun work much faster and efficiently. They make challenging work situations more enjoyable for everyone.

Whether you are in the manufacturing business or run a repair shop, you need a cordless rivet gun. But not all rivet guns are affordable and have what it takes to meet the expectations. In some cases, spending tons of money on the wrong tools will do more harm than good.

For that exact reason, we’ve curated this article after thorough research so you can read up on the best cordless riveting tools available in 2023. And as a bonus, you can also find great alternatives along with a helpful buying guide at the end.

Which Cordless Rivet Gun Is Best in the Current Market?

Best Overall: King Showden ‎18V Cordless Rivet Gun (Its Automatic, Brushless, 2X Faster and more Reliable Riveter.) 

There are many cordless rivet guns available on the market. Depending on the model and features, the applications may vary. But for workshops and individuals, it is very important to have the right cordless rivet gun that has all the required features.

To make your search for the best cordless rivet gun easier, here are the 6 cordless rivet tools available on the market right now.

• King Showden ‎18V Cordless Rivet Gun (Best Overall)
• MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC 2550-22 M12 Rivet Tool Kit
• Avhrit 21V AVA01 Cordless Rivet Gun
• Metabo – 18V Riveting Gun 3/16″
• Makita XVR01Z 18V LXT Brushless Rivet Gun
• ACDelco 20V Cordless Heavy Duty Rivet Gun

Comparison Table of Top 3 Cordless Rivet Gun

Check out the full review of these tools below.

Why Are Cordless Rivet Guns So Expensive?

Cordless rivet guns are often more expensive than their corded counterparts. In general, this is due to the added cost of designing and implementing the latest tech into the tool. Plus, the overall convenience and versatility are also good reasons Cordless Rivet guns are so expensive.

Industries like manufacturing, construction, aerospace, automotive, and engineering use rivet guns all the time. But the old corded and pneumatic rivet guns were a bit tricky to use in intricate places. As a result, this causes longer operation time and a lot of inconveniences.

So tool manufacturers put a lot of effort and ingenuity into developing compact yet powerful rivet tools. Hence they charge a premium for these time-saving tools.

If you think Cordless Rivet guns are too big for your wallet, here we have listed the 2 best electric rivet gun adaptor kits for you. These adapters are best used with cordless drill. Read here about budget cordless drill.

1. DoubleSun Cordless Drill Rivet Gun Adapter
2. Swpeet Electric Rivet Gun Steel Adapter Kit

Why Are Cordless Rivet Guns So Popular?

Cordless rivets are gaining popularity because they have a lot of benefits. Unlike the standard Rivet gun, cordless Rivet guns are more convenient and fairly powerful. On top of that, they have a faster execution time than hand rivet tools.

The cordless variation also comes with powerful battery packs, a fast charger, and various nose pieces. This reduces downtime and the need to carry different tools for different operations. Even with all the accessories, Cordless rivet guns are compact in size.

Nevertheless, it’s very capable of pulling rivets without the need for an air compressor or corded power source. This makes them ideal for use on remote sites, DIY projects, and so on. No wonder why cordless rivet guns are becoming so popular.

What Are The Benefits Of Using A Cordless Rivet Gun?

For assembly work, one of the prevalent tools professionals use is the Rivet gun. The standard type of Rivet gun either runs on air pressure or needs an external power source from the wall outlet.

In the pneumatic Rivet gun, you need an air compressor which alone is a big machine. And combined with lots of hoses and pipes, it is impossible to work outside let alone carry the tool on the go.

But everything changes with the cordless Rivet gun. You can now work outside on various projects and don’t have to worry about hoses and cables. Here are a few major benefits of using a Cordless rivet gun.

Portability

The cordless rivet gun looks almost like a power drill. You can hang it on your belt while working. Depending on the models the typical cordless rivet gun weighs around 4-8 pounds. Heavier rivet guns are usually for thick plate assembly.

Highly Versatile

With the same rivet gun you can use various sizes of rivets for your operation. You just change the required jaw and work from there. And the power output is also great for steel, aluminum, and ss rivets.

Easy to Operate

Cordless rivet guns are such an easy tool to use. You only need to set the appropriate jaw, plug the battery and press the trigger. The tool will do the rest. There’s not much maintenance to do apart from occasional lubricating.

What to Look For When Buying the Best Cordless Rivet Gun?

Buying the best cordless rivet gun for your particular job is undoubtedly crucial. As these are expensive you need to make sure you have the right features that complement your job requirement.

If budget isn’t an issue for you, it still matters. Ultimately it’s an investment on your part and you do want your tool to provide service as long as it can. One way to do that is to have a complete understanding of each and every component of a rivet kit.

Battery power

Batteries are the main power source for the cordless rivet gun. The bigger the battery capacity is the more run time you will get. Plus the voltage and Ampere rating also gives a general idea of how powerful your rivet gun is. You will see most batteries having 12-20 Volt and Ampere ranging from 2.5-3.5.

Motor

The heart and soul of the rivet gun is the Motor. Previously manufacturers were using a traditional brushed motor which was heavy. Also it generates a lot of heat. But the new cordless rivet gun uses a brushless motor. That’s a far better alternative in terms of power and longevity.

Weight

Most of the rivet gun’s weight comes from the motor and the body. For intricate and longer work you would want the lighter tool. Typically the cordless rivet guns have a weight of around 4 -8 pounds.

Pulling Force

This is another vital detail to be aware of. The higher pulling force will allow you to pull the mandrel in one go. Depending on the rivet size, you may need 2000 -5000 lbs. of pulling force to have a clean and secure lock on the rivet.

Pulling Capability

All the great Rivet guns are capable of pulling multiple Rivet types. For example, stainless steel, aluminum, and other steel rivets are very common. So make sure your rivet gun supports your particular rivet type.

Traction Power

The mandrel of the rivet gun also comes in different sizes. The most common mandrels are between 2 – 6 mm in thickness. Some rivet guns may not have that kind of traction power to clamp on to that level of thickness. So double-check the traction power in the spec list.

How to Use A Cordless Rivet Gun?

Compared to other variations of the rivet gun, cordless is more fun and easy to operate. You don’t need to be an expert in this; you can pick up the tool and start working from the get-go. Here is a quick guide on how to use a cordless Rivet gun.

Step 1: First, attach the appropriate nose/jaw piece rated for your particular-sized rivets. You will have detailed instructions and the necessary tools on how to change the jaw in the instruction manual. Then plug in the battery. Make sure your battery is fully charged.

Step 2: Now the preparation is out of the way, let’s begin the main work. At this point, you should have pre-drilled the panels for riveting. Now you can either place the rivet in the gun or in the drilled hole whichever you find easy.

Step 3: Once you are ready, Push down and press the trigger button to pull the mandrel. In seconds, the rivet would compress and build a secure lock with the panels. Now release the trigger and pull back. Discard the bare mandrel if you don’t have a container in the back.

Step 4: Check the status of the first rivet if it is a good lock. This is also a great chance to note if you need to adjust your pressure and trigger duration. If all goes well, move on to the next one, apply the same pressure and trigger duration.

Cordless Rivet Gun Vs. Pneumatic Rivet Gun (Which Is Best?)

We have a pneumatic rivet on one side and a cordless rivet on the other. Technically both do the same thing which is to join panels together. But which is best among these two? Well, both tools have their own pros and cons.

Cordless Rivet Gun

Cordless rivet guns are best for small to medium projects. It could be for your workshop, offsite jobs, or house garage in DIY assembly.

Pros

• Very lightweight and compact in size
• Able to take various types and sizes of rivet
• Take it anywhere and work in the trickiest places

Cons

• Need to keep track of battery level

Pneumatic Rivet Gun

On the other hand, pneumatic rivet guns shine in a large assembly line such as automotive, aerospace, and various construction-related operations.

Pros

• Very powerful and handles heavy-duty operations
• Have a higher level of reliability
• More efficient than any other rivet tool

Cons

• The tool is only good as the air compressor
• Impossible use on the go

Best Cordless Rivet Guns- Quick Overview

1. King Showden ‎18V Cordless Rivet Gun

We begin our list with the King Showden 18V blind riveter, one of the best cordless rivet guns out there. This popular brand in the power tool industry believes in quality and innovation. With years of research and development, King Showden 18V cordless Rivet gun manages to address both perfectly.

Highly accurate 

If you have used the old manual riveting tools you know how inaccurate it can be. You have to check every time to make sure the rivet has flared properly. But with King Showden you can relax and work on riveting rather than checking constantly.

Powerful Operation 

Obviously it has the latest and greatest brushless motor. And along with the proprietary engineering, the rivet gun performs twice as fast. That results in almost 60% less stress on your hand.

Massive Pull

The tool already has a powerful motor inside to rivet accurately. That same motor also pulls out the mandrel and ejects in a blink of an eye. The reason it can do that is the 2023lbs massive pulling it can generate. And the spring load nozzle ejects the pin.

Four Different Nose Pieces

For convenience, the manufacturer provides all four sizes of rivet nozzle. From the smallest 3/32” to 3.16” rivet sizes along with tools to swap those noses quickly.

Accessories

Unlike other riveting guns the manufacturer of King Showden provided a sleek-looking case. It can hold the entire kit with a battery and charge. That way when you need to go offsite, it will be ready and organized.

We Liked:

• Less muscle effort
• 2 Pack battery included
• Comes with a carrying case
• Quick rivet and auto-eject capability

We Didn’t Like:

• A bit heavy

2. MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC M12 Rivet Tool Kit

Milwaukee started producing tools in 1924. Their main goal was to increase the productivity and maximum durability of the tools. Their M12 Electric rivet tool kit is such an iteration of ingenuity that promises faster work, performance, and durability in a small package. And that’s the reason it earns second place in our best cordless rivet gun list.

Practical Design 

Unlike other rivet guns on the market, this is a bit different. Instead of being head-heavy, it distributes the weight evenly throughout the handlebar. So you feel less fatigue and work faster in any condition.

Heavy-Duty Battery

The performance of cordless power tools truly lies in how well each component works together. In this case, the efficient brushless motor and heavy-duty battery combo bring out the best run time possible.

Rivet Chamber

With rivets, it’s always a hassle to collect the discarded mandrel or leave it in the open space. But with the MILWAUKEE M12 electric rivet kit, forget about the tedious nail gathering. As it has a convenient chamber on the back to catch all discarded nails.

Adequate Stroke Length

For trying different mandrels, you have to make sure that the tool has an adequate stroke length. With M12 you can adjust up to 0.8” to house different riveting nails.

Supports All Rivet Material

If you are someone who does a lot of riveting with different materials, this M12 is great. As it supports all four rivet sizes and types of rivets you can find in the shop. Steel, aluminum, stainless steel you name it, it can rivet all sorts.

We Liked:

• Has a nice belt clip
• 450 rivets on a single charge
• Comes with a beautiful satchel

We Didn’t Like:

• Longer charging time

3. Avhrit 21V AVA01 Cordless Rivet Gun

Next, we have another great cordless rivet gun from Avhrit. If you don’t know Avhrit, it’s a renowned and leading power tool manufacturing company. The Avhrit 21V cordless rivet gun is their prized possession with the latest and greatest tech integrated into the tool.

Efficient Brushless Motor 

Being a brushless motor inside, the tool already performs better than any brushed power tool. In addition to that, longer run time reduces heating issues, and low maintenance just makes it a sweet deal for any user.

Massive Torque 

The tool can perform an 1000 rivets pulling operation with just a single charge. Thanks to the powerful Brushless motor as it can pull at a rate of 3000lbs. force. That’s a huge torque for a tool that size.

One Button Operation 

Unlike the manual Riveting tool, the Avhrit rivet gun works 4 times faster. All you have to do is pull the trigger. The machine will automatically pull the rivet pin in a matter of seconds for you. It has memory function that is more efficient.

Wide Working Scope

It’s annoying to have multiple riveting tools lying around when that tool is only good for a particular type of rivet. Well, with the Avhrit rivet gun you can pull various types of rivets like steel, aluminum, and copper. The tool also supports rivet sizes like 3/32” (2.4mm), 1/8” (3.2mm), 5/32” (4mm), and 3/16” (4.8mm).

Tons of Accessories

When it comes to accessories, it looks like the manufacturer thought of everything. In the package, you will get one 21v high amps batteries, a quick charger, and tools to change various rivet jaws.

We Liked:

• Comes with two 4 Amp battery
• Fast charger included in the package
• Faster work progress

We Didn’t Like:

• No chamber for discarded rivet nail

4. Metabo – 18V Riveting Gun 3/16″

Metabo is a German tool manufacturing company providing outstanding tools since 1924. With the promise to deliver high-tech power tools and freedom of work anywhere, Metabo made a strong place in the tool industry. Metabo 18v Riveting Gun is a prime example of that.

Robust Gearbox

Along with the high-efficiency brushless motor, the manufacturer added a robust gearbox to complement the overall performance. So every time you go on a riveting task you know the tool has your back.

Transparent Rivet Container

In most rivet guns, it’s annoying to remove the used nail and toss it on the floor every time after use. Well, with the Metabo 18v Riveting gun you don’t have to. The used nail will be sent back in the transparent container with a slight tilt. Immediately you are ready for the next one.

Supports Various Rivet Sizes 

The Metabo 18v Riveting gun can work with any rivet material up to 3/16” (5mm) size. With the aluminum rivet, it supports a maximum 6mm rivet nail.

Powerful LEDs 

Having trouble with riveting intricate places? Not to worry anymore as the Rivet gun has bright LED light just below the nozzle. It will make the working area clear and make you confident to finish the job as early as possible.

Quick Nozzle Swap 

No need to look for nozzle swapping tools whenever you need to operate on different rivet sizes. The backside of the rivet container has a nifty feature that allows the user to fasten the new nozzle in a matter of sec.

We Liked:

• Comes with a handy belt hook
• Features hand guard for safety
• One-hand operation

We Didn’t Like:

• Comes with Only 2 Amp batteries

5. Makita XVR01Z 18V LXT Brushless Rivet Gun

To talk about Makita, they started more than 100 years ago as a motor sales and repair company. Since then, the brand continues to innovate and becomes a global power tool brand. Their Makita Brushless Rivet gun has the same ingenuity along with a feel for the best-in-class tool kit.

Brushless DC motor

Due to lack of friction, brushless motors generate less heat. That results in less wear and tear, allowing you to use the tool for years to come. And the performance can be 30% to 40% better than the traditional DC motor.

Compact Design

Again user-friendly design is the most vital part of any tool. If it isn’t practical, it would be hard to reach your progress goal. With a smaller form factor combined with a lightweight design, you can do a long riveting session with ease.

Supports Up to 4.8mm Rivet

This particular Brushless Rivet gun supports up to 4.8mm mandrel. The minimum size it can clamp is 2.4 mm. It’s safe to say you are well within the range to work on construction, auto repair, and DIY projects.

High Discharge Batteries

Makita tools are most popular for their Batteries. Due to the fact they use very high-quality cells, the tool also runs for longer without much degradation to the cell capacity.

Rapid Riveting

Combined with the powerful motor and other internal components, the tool executes operation very fast. You just set the rivet and pull the trigger. The rest happens in seconds from locking the shield to safely discarding the mandrel.

We Liked:

• Great for long use
• Easy to reach tight places
• Transparent mandrel container

We Didn’t Like:

• Hefty price tag

6. ACDelco 20V Cordless Heavy Duty Rivet Gun

ACDelco Heavy Duty Rivet Gun is one of the most powerful cordless tools in the segment. With over 35 years of manufacturing experience and affordable pricing, they provide the best tool your money can buy. Let’s rundown the key features ACDeleo 20v has to offer.

High Voltage Operation

Unlike the 18V Riveting tool, this Rivet gun runs on 20V power delivery. What that means is the tool will have a higher response rate along with a smooth operation.

SS Gearbox

The main reason the ACDelco Rivet gun runs so smoothly is the BL motor and the stainless steel gearbox. The combination greatly reduces any rattling or heating issue in any given work situation.

High RPM Pull

The maximum 3000rpm, as well as over 3000 foot-pounds of torque, makes the pulling job much easier. This is a great addition if you are someone looking to improve productivity.

Rivet Support

Because of such power, the tool can work with up to a 6.4mm Rivet set. So you can concentrate on your work rather than finding an alternative for the task.

Tons of Accessories

The manufacturer provides all the necessary accessories like different jaw sizes, fastening tools, and a fast charger. That’s not all; the entire tool kit comes in a blow-molded case nicely organized.

We Liked:

• Less Vibration
• Auto-reverse capability
• Comfortable rubber grip

We Didn’t Like:

• Slightly heavy

Electric Rivet Gun Adapter Kit

‎1. DoubleSun Cordless Drill Rivet Gun Adapter

With an affordable price tag and various nose pieces, DoubleSun Rivet gun adapter is a lifesaver. If you have to do occasional riveting, you don’t need to get a full-fledged rivet gun. All you need is a cordless drill and the DoubleSun Rivet adapter.

Also read: Best cordless drill under $50

Metal Design:The adapter has a forged metal body to increase durability and longer service life. And for you, it gives higher confidence to getting the job done.

Plastic Handlebar: Attaching the long adapter with the drill may pose an unstable situation. But the included plastic handlebar adds an extra layer of stability.

Four adapter Pieces: No matter what size Rivet set you are working with, DoubleSun has got your back. It comes with 4 different nose sizes such as; 4.8mm, 4.0mm, 2.4mm, and 3.2mm.

Low Noise Components: All the parts in the adapter work so well that it hardly makes any noise. So when working, you don’t have to undergo the annoying noise therapy every time you pop a rivet.

More Convenient:In all fairness, it can’t be as efficient as the standalone rivet gun. But, in exchange for a hand rivet, it’s much more efficient and convenient.

We Liked:

• Works faster than manual Rivet
• Much affordable than rivet gun
• Comes with a nose swap tool

We Didn’t Like:

• Ejecting Mandrels takes time

2. Swpeet Electric Rivet Gun Steel Adapter Kit

With more than 5 million happy customers, Swpeet has been working to provide the best tool solution. That said, their Steel Rivet adapter kit follows the same ambition and is a solid alternative for professional Rivet guns.

Steel Alloy build: The entire body of this tool has a black alloy steel finish. Not only does this add extra strength to the body, but also gives it a nice look overall.

Secure Nozzle holding: All the nozzles and jaw parts have great build quality with precise measurement. So every time you insert a Rivet, the tool clamps on more securely.

Convenient Head swap: Head swapping in this tool is relatively easy. They even provide you with the wrench you need to attach the new head.

Clamping Handle: It’s hard to control such a long tool extension without any supportive measure. For which the hexagonal clamping handle gives more grip and control over rapid Riveting operation.

We Liked:

• Easy installation
• Provides a multifunction wrench
• Comes with 500pcs Blind Rivet

We Didn’t Like:

• Mandrel Jams often

Final Words

In the end we hope our reviews of the Best Cordless Rivet Guns have answered all the questions you have on the tool. Before we go, we would like to remind you of our best choice, the King Showden ‎18V Cordless Rivet Gun.

Considerably, it has all the necessary features along with a pretty sweet price tag. It will definitely be a great addition to your tool arsenal for any upcoming riveting task.