Heat guns can have a variety of uses around the home, so if you want to get the most out of your heat gun, it’s best to buy a small one. Smaller heat guns are more easily handled, portable, and won’t take up as much space in your home.
So, what are the smallest heat guns? The smallest heat guns are lightweight, have a stand to keep the hot end off your working surface and a safety nozzle cover to protect your hands, reach high temperatures like a full-size heat gun, and are typically more cost-effective than full-size heat guns.
Small heat guns, also called mini heat guns, have a different shape. They look like a long tube or stick, rather than a power drill. This gives them versatility in movement, grip, and storage. Keep reading for more information on buying the smallest heat guns.
What To Look For In The Best Small Heat Gun
Lightweight
If you’re looking into small heat guns, chances are you’re looking for something compact, portable, and lightweight. Many full-size heat guns are bulky, awkward to hold, and can be heavy when using only one hand to manipulate it.
You should always feel like you have a safe, secure grip when dealing with the high temperatures that heat guns produce, so it’s important to make sure that whatever small heat gun you choose is lightweight.
Usually, this will mean it weighs 1 pound (16 ounces) or less. Anything under 1 pound will definitely be lightweight and small enough to use with confidence.
There are some small heat guns that go just over a pound, and as long as you’re not going up above 2 pounds, you’re likely still in the small heat gun range.
Having a lightweight, small heat gun can allow you to work on smaller projects or feel more confident when handling such a dangerous power tool.
Stand
Normally, full-size heat guns have the form factor of a power drill. They have an L-shape with a large handle to grip on which can also be used to stand up the heat gun when not in use.
Smaller heat guns won’t have that form factor. Usually, small heat guns look more like a tube. There’s no elbow or second piece to get a grip on or stand it up on.
Thankfully, manufacturers of mini heat guns have thought of this and come up with a solution: a built-in stand.
These built-in stands look like little curved metal wires. They can fold against the body of the heat gun when not in use, then be folded out to use as a stand when you want to rest the heat gun down on your work surface.
The attached stands are designed to keep the blisteringly hot nozzle from making contact with your work surface, potentially burning a hole, melting the material, or causing a fire.
Safety Nozzle Cover
Another great safety feature that small heat guns have is a safety nozzle cover. The nozzles of heat guns must be metal, since other materials may melt, scorch, or smoke, while metal can handle the high temperatures.
This also means that if you accidentally bump the exposed metal nozzle of your mini heat gun, you’ll be guaranteed to have a severe burn on your skin.
Thankfully, the manufacturers have thought of this, and many of them have created nozzle covers to protect users from an accidental touch of the metal.
These safety covers are often just a simple plastic barrier around the metal heat nozzle. The plastic will still get extremely hot and should not be touched, but it’s an extra safety measure that can still protect from further damage.
High Temperatures
Although mini heat guns won’t have the power or range of a typical heat gun, they should still be able to provide the heat you need for projects.
Heat guns for crafting are used for popping bubbles in epoxy, acrylic pouring or simply drying acrylic paint, removing adhesives, shrink wrapping, removing paint, and more.
Each of these activities have their own ideal temperatures for the heat gun to reach, so make sure you know the temperature range you’ll need for your crafts and find a heat gun that will match it.
Some small heat guns will only have one temperature setting, which can be as low as 392°F or as high as 662°F.
Other small heat guns will have dual-temperature settings, allowing you to choose from a low or high setting. The most common temperatures for the dual-temp settings are 480-850°F, though those temperatures can vary based on the model you choose.
Although mini heat guns have a smaller form factor, they should still be powerful and reach temperatures high enough to do the job right.
Cost-Effective
Since small heat guns are more compact, they take less materials to make. Therefore, it makes sense that they should be more cost-effective than full-size heat guns.
Smaller items are cheaper to produce and can therefore be cheaper to sell. Not only are mini heat guns smaller than full-size heat guns, but they often don’t have the capabilities of full-size heat guns.
Although it may feel like you’re losing a lot when you downsize to a smaller heat gun, you’re still getting the advantage of not only a more compact and easily used heat gun, but one with a smaller price.
Heat guns are a dime a dozen and should not come with a high price tag. You can find a wide variety of options online and at your local hardware store, so make sure you’re not paying more than you should.
Most mini heat guns are priced at $20 or less. While you can find full-size heat guns for the same price point, the better-quality ones will typically be pricier. In a mini heat gun, you’ll get a better-quality product for the same price.
The Smallest Heat Guns
| Rank | Product | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Bubble Buster Tool Mini Heat Gun | 8.9 ounces, can reach 392°F, 300 Watt, has an attached kickstand and safety nozzle cover, inexpensive |
| 2. | Homidic Mini Handheld Hot Air Gun | 11.1 ounces, can reach 392°F, 300 Watt, has an attached kickstand and safety nozzle cover, inexpensive, long cord |
| 3. | Wagner Spraytech HT400 Heat Gun | 11.2 ounces, dual-temp settings to reach 450°F-680°F, has an attached kickstand, inexpensive, long cord |
| 4. | Mini Heat Gun, PRULDE Dual Temp | 12.8 ounces, dual-temp settings to reach 480°F-850°F, 380 Watt, has an attached kickstand, inexpensive, long cord |
| 5. | Mini Dual Temp Hot Air Gun Tool | 13 ounces, dual-temp settings to reach 392°F-572°F, 150-300 Watt, has an attached kickstand and safety nozzle cover, inexpensive, long cord |
| 6. | Yeegewin Fast Heat Mini Hot Air Gun | 13.1 ounces, dual-temp settings to reach 480°F-850°F, 380 Watt, has an attached kickstand, inexpensive, long cord |
| 7. | SEEKONE Mini Heat Gun | 13.7 ounces, can reach 662°F, 350 Watt, has an attached kickstand and safety nozzle cover, inexpensive |
| 8. | CUBEWAY Mini Heat Gun | 15.6 ounces, can reach 662°F, 350 Watt, has an attached kickstand and safety nozzle cover, inexpensive |
| 9. | BATAVIA Mini Heat Gun for Crafts | 1.08 pounds, dual-temp settings to reach 480°F-850°F, 380 Watt, has an attached kickstand, inexpensive, long cord |
1. Bubble Buster Tool Mini Heat Gun
The lightest option on our list is this Bubble Buster Tool from Leceha. This mini heat gun weighs just 8.9 ounces, nearly half a pound.
It has the stand for setting it safely on your work surface and the nozzle cover to help prevent serious burns or injuries from the metal heat nozzle.
This heat gun is also the cheapest on our list, currently available for just $10.
It has a lower temperature setting than some of the other heat guns on our list, only reaching a maximum of 392°F.
You can get it in black or blue depending on your color preference.
2. Homidic Mini Handheld Hot Air Gun
Homidic also has a great mini heat gun option, just a few dollars more expensive than the first mini heat gun on our list.
This Homidic Mini Handheld Hot Air Gun only weighs 11.1 ounces and can reach 392°F. While it’s lightweight and easy to hold, it also reaches a high temperature perfect for a lot of crafts.
It has the attached stand for laying it down on your work surface, as well as the safety nozzle cover to protect your skin from the metal of the heat nozzle.
One extra bonus feature of this mini heat gun is that it has a longer power cord. While some power cords are only 3-5 feet long, this one is 6.56 feet long, giving you more room to work.
3. Wagner Spraytech HT400 Heat Gun
Coming in a different form factor from the typical mini heat gun, this Wagner Spraytech HT400 Heat Gun weighs only 11.2 ounces.
It’s shaped as if someone took the typical long form of a mini heat gun and bent it just a little in the middle, creating a slight curve.
This slight curve allows for a different type of hand hold, which may be perfect depending on the way that you comfortably hold your heat gun.
It has dual-temp settings to reach temperatures of 450-680°F. It also has a built-in stand to prevent it from damaging your work surface when not in use.
4. Mini Heat Gun, PRULDE Dual Temp
If you’re looking for a mini heat gun with a higher temperature range, look no further than this mini heat gun from NEU MASTER.
This heat gun can reach temperatures of 480-850°F with its dual-temperature setting, all while only weighing 12.8 ounces. That’s a lot of power in a small tool!
It works great for removing bubbles in epoxy, drying paintings, embossing, and more.
It has a stand to keep it off your work surface while not in use but does not have a safety cover over the nozzle. Be careful when the tool is on or cooling down.
It also has a power cord 6.56 feet long to give you more flexibility in movement while you work.
5. Mini Dual Temp Hot Air Gun Tool
If you’re someone who values the look of your power tools and wants a lot of color options, then this Mini Dual Temp Hot Air Gun Tool from Chandler Tool is a great choice.
It comes in blue, green, pink, red, and yellow. No matter the color, this heat gun weighs 13 ounces and has dual-temp settings to reach 392-572°F.
It has a kick stand to rest safely on your work surface, a protective cover over the metal nozzle, and a 5-foot long cord to give you more space to work.
It’s one of the more expensive options on our list, but still coming in at under $20 with a good deal.
6. Yeegewin Fast Heat Mini Hot Air Gun
Another great option for crafters who need a higher temperature range is this Yeegewin Heat Gun. It has a dual-temperature setting to reach 480-850°F.
This mini heat gun weighs 13.1 ounces, giving you a more lightweight and easy-to-use heat gun for your projects.
It does not have a protective safety cover over the nozzle, but it does have a built-in stand to rest it on, so you don’t damage your work surface.
It heats up quickly and has a 4.9-foot power cord to help you get your projects done quickly and easily, with plenty of room to move around and reach the right angles for heat application.
7. SEEKONE Mini Heat Gun
SEEKONE has a line of different heat guns, so it should come as no surprise that they have a mini heat gun for those needing a more compact and portable tool.
This mini heat gun weighs 13.7 ounces and has a 4.9-foot power cord. It can reach temperatures as high as 662°F, which is a much higher temperature than most single-temp mini heat guns.
It has a protective cover over the metal heat nozzle and a stand to rest on to keep the nozzle off your work surface.
8. CUBEWAY Mini Heat Gun
The CUBEWAY Mini Heat Gun is another great option for a small heat gun. It weighs 15.6 ounces, which is a bit of a jump from the others on this list, but still coming in at just under a pound.
It has a protective cover over the heat nozzle and a stand to rest it on when not in use. It only has a single temperature setting, but that temperature is 662°F, giving you plenty of heat for your projects.
The power cord is 6.56 feet long, so not only will this be easy to use with its ergonomic form factor and lightweight aspect, but it will also be easy to work with around your craft room thanks to the longer power cord.
9. BATAVIA Mini Heat Gun for Crafts
The final small heat gun on our list comes from BATAVIA. Their Mini Heat Gun for Crafts is a great choice for anyone looking to get those higher dual-temperature settings.
It can be set at the low temperature mode of 480°F or the high temperature mode of 850°F, giving you more temperatures to play with for different types of projects.
It does not have a protective cover over the nozzle, but it does have the safety stand to rest it angled away from your work surface.
It also has an extra-long power cord that’s 6.8 feet long. Although this is the heaviest mini heat gun at 1.08 pounds, it’s still a great choice for anyone looking to buy a compact, small heat gun.
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