6 Best Drywall Screw Guns of 2023 – Reviews & Buyer’s Guide

When searching for a new drywall screw gun, you may be pleasantly surprised to see how many new models have sprung up over the last several years. Battery-powered tools have improved thanks to the invention of the lithium-ion battery, but it can be challenging to sort through all the new models to find a brand that’s right for you.

We have chosen six drywall screw guns that are powerful enough to do the job. We’ll go over the pros and cons of each to help you learn the differences between them. We’ve also included a short buyer’s guide where we examine the drywall screw gun to see what makes it different from an ordinary screw gun so you can see what to look for while you shop.

Join us while we take an in-depth look at drywall screw guns and discuss RPMs, weight, power source, LED headlights, and more to help you decide which tool is right for you.

A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2023

Rating	Image	Product	Details
Best Overall		Milwaukee 2866-20 M18 FUEL Drywall Screw Gun	18-volt battery Long battery life 4 500 RPM	CHECK PRICE
Best Value		Ryobi 18-Volt ONE+ Brushless Drywall Screw Gun	Heavy-duty clutch Brushless motor Removable belt clip	CHECK PRICE
Premium Choice		DEWALT DCF620B Dry-Wall Screw Gun	LED headlight 20-volt battery 4 400 RPM	CHECK PRICE
		Makita FS6200 Drywall Screwgun	6 000 RPM Steel reinforced belt clip Directed exhaust	CHECK PRICE
		DEWALT DCF620D2 Cordless Drywall Screw Gun	Lithium-ion battery Cone-lock 20-volt battery	CHECK PRICE

The 6 Best Drywall Screw Guns

1. Milwaukee M18 FUEL Drywall Screw Gun – Best Overall

The Milwaukee 2866-20 M18 FUEL Drywall Screw Gun is our pick for the best overall drywall screw gun. It uses lithium-ion batteries to deliver 18 volts of power to a brushless motor. Brushless motors deliver more torque and last longer per charge than their brushed counterparts, and this one can produce up to 4,500 revolutions per minute (RPM). It’s lightweight for a battery power tool at 2.5 pounds and well-balanced with a comfortable grip.

The Milwaukee 2866-20 is a fantastic drywall screw gun, and the only real downside is that it doesn’t include the battery or charger, and you’ll need to purchase them separately. If you already have a line of battery power tools from another company, the additional battery and charger might seem excessive.

2. Ryobi 18-Volt ONE+ Brushless Drywall Screw Gun – Best Value

The Ryobi 18-Volt ONE+ Brushless Drywall Screw Gun is our pick or the best drywall screw gun for the money. It’s battery-powered and uses a modern lithium-ion battery to power a brushless motor at a rate of up to 4,700 RPMs. You can adjust the speed while you work using the variable speed trigger, and an adjustable and removable nose cone lets you get into tight spots and makes the tool more versatile.

The heavy-duty clutch won’t wear out and automatically engages when you press it against a fastener. It weighs only 2.59 pounds, is well-balanced, and won’t cause fatigue in the arms and hands, even when used for extended periods. The removable belt clip attaches to either side of the tool and allows you to keep it with you.

The Ryobi 18-Volt ONE+ is another brand that does not include the battery or charger with purchase, and they can be pretty expensive to obtain. It also had difficulty setting screws 2 inches or longer and bogged down and hopped off the screw.

3. DEWALT Dry-Wall Screw Gun – Premium Choice

The DEWALT DCF620B Dry-Wall Screw Gun is our premium choice drywall screw gun. It has a brushless motor for more torque and lasting charges. The 20-volt battery pushes the motor to create up to 4,400 RPMs, and the variable speed trigger lets you adjust the speed while you work or use the lock-on feature to keep working without pressing the trigger.

The nosecone is removable but locks on securely when you need it. It only weighs 2.7 pounds and has an LED headlight to help you illuminate the work area. The 2.7-pound body is well-balanced and features an ergonomic, easy-grip handle. Like most other brands, the DEWALT DCF620B does not come with a battery or charger, and the tool is expensive without it. The only other problem was the sensitive direction setting switch, which is very easy to bump and change the screwing directions.

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4. Makita FS6200 Drywall Screwgun

The Makita FS6200 Drywall Screwgun is a corded model that uses a 6-amp motor to drive the tool up to 6,000 RPM. Directed exhaust keeps the wind out of your face as you work, and an LED headlight makes it easier to see what you are doing. A steel-reinforced reinforced belt clip lets you keep it with you, and it’s heavier than the others but still lightweight at 3 pounds.

The nose cone is removable and features a convenient holder that prevents you from losing it while doing other work. We like the depth adjustment feature that the Makita FS6200 has, but it kept drifting on us, and for every few screws, we needed to readjust it, or the screws wouldn’t seat properly. The nose cone on our model was also very loose and didn’t seem as sturdy as many of the other brands.

5. DEWALT Cordless Drywall Screw Gun

The DEWALT DCF620D2 Cordless Drywall Screw Gun is the second drywall gun on our list from DeWalt. It uses a 20-volt lithium-ion battery to create up to 4,400 RPM. The brushless motor uses less power, and a single charge can last up to 24 hours. It features a Cone-lock, which is a unique system for locking on the nose cone or removing it, and an LED headlight that makes it easier to see what you are doing in low-light conditions. This screw gun is also one of the few models with a battery and charger, so you can get to work immediately.

The downside of the DEWALT DCF620D2 is that at 7 pounds, it’s significantly heavier than the other tools on this list, and it can contribute to significant fatigue while working. The all-plastic gearcase does not do much to inspire faith in its durability. The carry bag Dewalt includes with this model is also very flimsy.

6. Hitachi W6V4 Drywall Screwdriver

The Hitachi W6V4 Drywall Screwdriver is the first Hitachi on this list, but it is another well-known company that produces quality tools. This screw gun is a corded electric model that features a 42-foot cord to help you reach anywhere you need. It’s lightweight at 3.1 pounds and has a removable nose piece. Its powerful 6.6-amp motor can drive the tool at a rate of 4,500 RPM with plenty of torque.

Although we are huge fans of the Hitachi brand, the Hitachi W6V4 has a few problems we need to mention. It features a silent clutch that is supposed to reduce noise levels to less than 76 dB, but we found it the loudest tool on this list by a significant margin. The nose is very long, which throws the balance off, and the cone is not easy to adjust. The depth setting is also loose and drifts while you are working.

Buyer’s Guide – Finding the Best Drywall Screw Gun

Let’s look at a few of the most important things to consider when choosing a drywall screw gun.

What is a drywall screw gun?

Putting up drywall takes several screws, and each needs to be at the perfect depth. If the screw goes in too far, it can tear the paper and damage the wall’s structural integrity. If the screw doesn’t go in far enough, it will stick out and look unsightly. To put up drywall, you need a tool that can drive a screw into the ideal depth every time. The tool you need is the drywall screw gun.

A drywall screw gun is an electric drill with special modifications. It has a built-in clutch and a nose cone that work together to ensure each screw is the perfect depth. You can adjust the screw depth with the nose cone, and when it comes in contact with the surface, it disengages the clutch, which stops the spinning. This system allows you to drive screw after screw to the ideal depth faster than any other method.

Nose Cone

The nose cone is where you make depth adjustments. Some brands will be easier to adjust, and the nose cone can wobble and shake on some models. We’ve tried to point out models on our list that weren’t as good as others.

Power Type

Next, you will need to decide whether you will use battery power or a corded model.

Corded Drywall Screw Guns

Corded drywall screw guns are usually the cheaper of the two types. Corded guns often have more power and provide a more consistent experience as you use them because they don’t lose their charge. They also usually weigh less than the battery-powered units because the battery can be quite heavy. The downside to these tools is that you must lug around the long cord, preventing you from using it in some areas. The cord can also get in the way or throw the tool off balance, making it more difficult to use.

Battery Powered Drywall Screw Guns

Modern drywall screw guns often use battery power because of their portability. Lithium-ion batteries provide much more power than the NiCad batteries of a few years ago and can rival corded power tools while at full charge. The downside to battery power is that you often need to buy the battery and charger separately, which can significantly add to the tool’s price. If you have other battery-powered tools or are thinking of starting to use a specific brand, the cost is easier to justify.

Brushless Motor

One thing to look for when choosing a battery-powered tool is a brushless motor. Brushless motors use a unique design that reduces friction in the motor. The reduced friction allows the machine to deliver more torque for longer before the charge begins to diminish. It also allows the tool to run cooler.

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Conclusion

When choosing a drywall screw gun, we recommend our top choice, the Milwaukee 2866-20 M18 FUEL Drywall Screw Gun. It’s a lightweight, battery-powered unit that features a brushless motor. It works very well, and the charge lasts for several hours, even with heavy use. Another smart choice is the Ryobi 18-Volt ONE+ Brushless Drywall Screw Gun, our choice for the best value. It is remarkably similar to our top choice but has a little less power.

We hope you have enjoyed reading our reviews and that they helped you find a model you like. If you have found our reader’s guide helpful, please share these six best drywall screw guns on Facebook and Twitter.

• See Also: Screw Gun vs Drill: What is the Difference?