A heat gun is a handheld tool that blows air heated to between 50 and 650 degrees Celsius, used to strip paint, shrink tubing, soften adhesive, bend plastic and thaw frozen pipes. The best heat guns in Australia offer at least two temperature settings, separate airflow control, and either a 1750W corded motor or a battery platform you already own.
Three formats cover the work. Corded heat guns run from 1600W to 2000W, never run flat and dominate paint stripping. Cordless heat guns trade peak temperature for reaching a roof or a subfloor without an extension lead. Mini craft guns put out around 300W for heat shrink, embossing and resin, where a full-size tool would melt everything around the work.
Temperature range is the specification that decides what a gun can do, and the spread here is enormous: roughly 100 degrees at the craft end against 650 degrees from the strongest corded units. The number of settings matters just as much, because vinyl softens near 100 degrees, adhesive releases around 250, and old enamel needs 500 or more, and a two-setting gun forces you either side of whichever one you need.
This guide compares ten heat guns on temperature range and number of settings, wattage, corded or cordless power, airflow control and which jobs each one is genuinely built for.
Best Heat Guns in Australia Compared
| Product | Link | Type | Best For | Key Spec |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black and Decker Corded Heat Gun | Check price | Corded 1750W | Paint stripping | 460C and 600C, 1750W |
| Bosch UniversalHeat Hot Air Gun | Check price | Corded 1800W | General home use | 1800W, 3 settings, case |
| DeWalt 1800W Corded Heat Gun | Check price | Corded 1800W | Daily site use | 1800W, dual air flow, 240V |
| DeWalt 20V MAX Cordless Heat Gun | Check price | Cordless 20V | Working away from power | 990F, 42 min runtime, LED |
| DeWalt 18V XR Cordless Heat Gun | Check price | Cordless 18V XR | XR battery owners | 530C and 290C settings |
| Einhell Power X-Change Hot Air Gun | Check price | Cordless 18V | Occasional DIY | 350C and 550C, PXC |
| Ryobi ONE Plus Cordless Heat Gun | Check price | Cordless 18V | ONE+ battery owners | 875F, 10 second heat-up |
| Teeno 2000W Hot Air Gun | Check price | Corded 2000W | Precise work | 2000W, 9 heat levels, 600C |
| Mini Electric Heat Gun | Check price | Mini 300W | Heat shrink and embossing | 300W, ABS and steel body |
| Craft Heat Gun for Resin | Check price | Mini 300W | Resin and craft | 300W, two speeds |
1. Black and Decker Corded Heat Gun – Best for Paint Stripping
Seventeen hundred and fifty watts drives two fixed heat settings, 460 and 600 degrees, with a separate airflow control. It is the highest rated unit in this guide.
Paint stripping is what most people buy a heat gun for, and it is a job that wants sustained high heat rather than fine adjustment. Six hundred degrees lifts old enamel off timber in sheets instead of flaking it, and the lower setting handles shrinking, thawing and drying without scorching. Two settings sound limiting until you realise nearly every domestic job sits at one end or the other.
Only two heat steps means no fine control for plastics or electronics work. For stripping paint off a weatherboard or a set of doors, which is the job most of these get bought for, it is the straightforward answer.
Pros
- Highest user rating in this guide
- 1750W with 460C and 600C settings
- Separate airflow control
- Strips old enamel in sheets rather than flakes
- Inexpensive for the output
Cons
- Only two heat settings
- Corded, so limited to where a lead reaches
Key specs: 1750W corded, two heat settings at 460C and 600C, adjustable airflow, paint stripping and shrinking
CHECK ON AMAZON2. Bosch UniversalHeat Hot Air Gun – Best Three-Setting Corded
Three temperature settings rather than two, 1800 watts behind them, and a removable heat protection collar that lets the nozzle get into tight spots.
The middle setting is the one that justifies the extra step. Between gentle warming and full stripping heat sits the range that bends plastic pipe, loosens adhesive and softens vinyl without melting it, and a two-setting gun forces a choice either side of it. Bosch quotes a short heating time from the element, so there is less standing around waiting for it to come up to temperature.
It is corded and the case takes up more shelf space than a bare tool. For a household doing a mix of jobs rather than one repeated task, the third setting earns its place more often than the wattage does.
Pros
- Three temperature settings
- 1800W with fast element heat-up
- Removable heat protection collar for tight spots
- Supplied in a plastic case
- Handles plastics and adhesive without melting
Cons
- Corded operation
- Case is bulkier than a bare tool
Key specs: 1800W corded, three temperature settings, removable heat protection collar, plastic carry case
CHECK ON AMAZON3. DeWalt 1800W Corded Heat Gun – Best Corded for Trade Use
DeWalt has built this one around surviving a work site rather than a shelf, with added protection around the heating element and a dual air flow selector.
Heating elements are the part that fails on a heat gun, usually because the tool was set down while still hot or knocked off a bench. Guarding it is the difference between a gun that lasts a year on site and one that lasts five. Dual air flow matters for the same practical reason as the temperature range: low flow for precision, high flow for covering an area quickly.
It costs more than the domestic corded units and offers no more heat than they do. Someone using a heat gun weekly on site is paying for the element protection rather than the performance, and that is the right trade for them.
Pros
- Added protection around the heating element
- Dual air flow selector
- Lightweight and compact for its class
- Built for repeated site use
- 1800W output
Cons
- Costs more than domestic corded guns
- No more peak heat than cheaper units
Key specs: 1800W corded, 240V, dual air flow settings, reinforced heating element protection
CHECK ON AMAZON4. DeWalt 20V MAX Cordless Heat Gun – Best Cordless
Up to 990 degrees Fahrenheit from a 20V battery, with 42 minutes of run time quoted and an LED to light the work. It arrives as a bare tool.
Cordless changes where a heat gun can be used, and roof work, vehicle repairs and plumbing under a house are exactly the jobs where dragging an extension lead is the worst part. Forty-two minutes is plenty for intermittent use, since a heat gun is rarely run continuously. The LED sounds like a gimmick until you are working under a sink.
Battery heat guns draw hard and will flatten a pack faster than a drill does, so a spare battery is close to mandatory. Anyone already on DeWalt 20V MAX who works away from power will use this far more than a corded gun that stays in the shed.
Pros
- Cordless, no lead required
- Up to 990F output
- 42 minutes of quoted run time
- LED work light
- Shares the DeWalt 20V MAX platform
Cons
- Drains batteries quickly under load
- Bare tool, no battery or charger
Key specs: 20V MAX cordless, up to 990F, 42 minutes run time, LED light, bare tool
CHECK ON AMAZON5. DeWalt 18V XR Cordless Heat Gun – Best for the XR Platform
Two selectable temperatures, 290 degrees and 530 degrees Celsius, on the DeWalt 18V XR platform rather than the 20V MAX system above.
The two settings map neatly onto the two jobs a cordless gun actually gets used for. Two hundred and ninety degrees shrinks tubing, softens adhesive and thaws a pipe without cooking what is behind it, and 530 handles stripping and forming. Quoting in Celsius rather than Fahrenheit also makes it easier to match to the material data most Australian trades work from.
It reaches a lower peak than the 20V MAX model, and XR batteries are a separate investment from 20V MAX. This is the one to buy specifically because the XR packs are already in the van, not on its numbers.
Pros
- Two clearly useful temperature settings
- 530C high and 290C low
- Runs on the widely held 18V XR platform
- Temperatures quoted in Celsius
Cons
- Lower peak temperature than the 20V MAX unit
- Bare unit, battery not included
Key specs: 18V XR cordless, two temperature settings at 290C and 530C, bare unit
CHECK ON AMAZON6. Einhell Power X-Change Hot Air Gun – Best for Occasional Use
Einhell puts two settings on this one, 350 and 550 degrees, and hangs it off the Power X-Change battery system shared across its garden and workshop range.
Buying a heat gun for two jobs a year is hard to justify at trade prices, which is where a shared battery platform changes the sum. If the mower, the drill and the blower already run Power X-Change, the gun costs the price of a bare tool. The lower 350 degree setting is gentler than most, which suits deforming plastic without scorching it.
Output and duty cycle sit below the trade units, and it is not the tool for stripping a whole house. For a shed that already has Einhell batteries in it, the maths is hard to argue with.
Pros
- Shares the broad Power X-Change battery range
- Gentle 350C setting suits plastics
- 550C handles stripping and shrinking
- Inexpensive as a bare tool
Cons
- Lower duty cycle than trade units
- Supplied without battery or charger
Key specs: 18V Power X-Change cordless, two temperature settings at 350C and 550C, solo tool
CHECK ON AMAZON7. Ryobi ONE Plus Cordless Heat Gun – Best for ONE Plus Owners
Ten seconds from trigger to operating temperature and a maximum of 875 degrees Fahrenheit, running on the Ryobi ONE+ battery that a great many Australian sheds already contain.
Heat-up time is the specification nobody compares and everybody notices. Ten seconds means the gun is ready before you have positioned the workpiece, where a slower unit has you standing and waiting on every single application. Across a job of many short bursts, which is how heat guns are actually used, that adds up more than peak temperature does.
Eight hundred and seventy-five Fahrenheit is a lower ceiling than the DeWalt units, so heavy paint stripping is slower. For the very large number of households already holding ONE+ batteries, it is the cheapest way to have a cordless heat gun at all.
Pros
- Ready to work in about 10 seconds
- Runs on the widely owned ONE+ battery
- Light and easy to handle
- Tool-only purchase keeps cost down
Cons
- 875F ceiling is lower than the DeWalt guns
- Slower on heavy paint stripping
Key specs: 18V ONE+ cordless, maximum 875F, approximately 10 second heat-up, tool only
CHECK ON AMAZON8. Teeno 2000W Hot Air Gun – Best Temperature Control
Nine levels of temperature regulation up to 600 degrees, driven by the highest wattage in this guide at 2000W.
Nine steps is a genuinely different proposition from two or three. Shrink film, vinyl wrap, epoxy resin and electronics each want a specific temperature rather than a rough band, and overshooting by a hundred degrees ruins the work. Having fine gradations turns the gun from a stripping tool into something usable for finishing work, and the 2000W motor still has the output for heavy jobs.
It is a lesser-known brand than the trade names above and the long-term durability is unproven against them. Where the work needs a specific temperature rather than simply hot, nothing else here offers this much adjustment.
Pros
- Nine temperature levels up to 600C
- 2000W, the highest output here
- Suits shrink film, vinyl and resin work
- Fine control that two-setting guns cannot match
Cons
- Lesser-known brand than the trade names
- Long-term durability unproven
Key specs: 2000W corded, 9-stage temperature regulation, maximum 600C, paint removal and shrink work
CHECK ON AMAZON9. Mini Electric Heat Gun – Best for Heat Shrink Tubing
Three hundred watts in a body small enough to hold like a pen, built from ABS with a stainless steel barrel.
Full-size heat guns are the wrong tool for small work. Pointing 1800 watts at a piece of heat shrink over a wire melts the insulation either side of it, and the same applies to embossing powder and small resin pieces. A 300 watt gun delivers heat you can direct at a centimetre of work, held about five centimetres away, without cooking everything around it.
It will not strip paint, thaw a pipe or bend conduit, and it is not meant to. Anyone doing electrical terminations, card making or resin work needs this rather than a scaled-down version of a builder tool.
Pros
- Small enough for precise work
- 300W will not melt surrounding material
- Stainless steel barrel in an ABS body
- Light and easy to control
- Suits heat shrink, embossing and resin
Cons
- Cannot strip paint or thaw pipes
- Not a substitute for a full-size gun
Key specs: 300W mini heat gun, ABS body with stainless steel interior, heat shrink, embossing and craft work
CHECK ON AMAZON10. Craft Heat Gun for Resin – Best for Crafts
Two speeds on a 300 watt craft gun, reaching working temperature within seconds of the trigger.
Resin is the job that needs the second speed. Bubbles rising out of a fresh pour want a gentle stream of warm air, because anything stronger ripples the surface and sets that texture permanently, while embossing powder wants the faster setting to melt cleanly. One fixed speed forces a compromise between the two, and resin work is where the compromise shows most.
Like the mini above it, this is not a workshop tool and the two overlap heavily. Choose this one over the other if resin pouring rather than heat shrink is the main use, because the dual speed is aimed squarely at that job.
Pros
- Two speed settings for resin and embossing
- Heats within seconds
- Gentle setting will not ripple a resin pour
- Small and light for detailed work
Cons
- Overlaps heavily with other mini guns
- No use for building or stripping work
Key specs: 300W craft heat gun, two speed settings, resin, embossing and small craft applications
CHECK ON AMAZONHow to Choose a Heat Gun
Match the temperature range to the job, not the wattage. Vinyl and shrink film soften near 100 degrees, adhesive releases around 250, plastic pipe bends near 350, and old enamel paint needs 500 or more. A gun that only offers 460 and 600 degrees is excellent for stripping and useless for resin. Count the settings before comparing watts.
Decide between corded and cordless on where you work. Corded delivers full output indefinitely and costs less for the same heat, which suits a workshop or a room being stripped. Cordless earns its price on a roof, under a house or in a vehicle, where the lead is the worst part of the job. Heat guns draw hard, so budget for a second battery.
Look for separate airflow control. Temperature and air speed do different things. High airflow covers an area quickly for stripping; low airflow concentrates heat on one spot without blowing lightweight material around, which matters for shrink wrap and small components. A gun with one fixed fan speed is doing half the job.
Do not buy a full-size gun for craft work. Pointing 1800 watts at heat shrink over a wire melts the insulation either side, and the same applies to embossing powder and resin. A 300W mini gun is a different tool for a different job, not a cheaper version of the same thing. Households doing both usually need one of each.
Treat a heat gun as a fire risk, because it is one. These reach temperatures well above the ignition point of paper, dust and timber, and they stay dangerously hot for several minutes after switching off. Use the stand or lay it on something non-combustible, never leave one running unattended, and keep an extinguisher nearby when stripping paint. Paint made before 1970 in Australia may contain lead, and heating it releases fumes that need a respirator and proper containment.
Think about what else the job needs. Stripping paint generates debris and dust that wants collecting rather than sweeping, which is what our industrial vacuum cleaners guide covers, and the nozzles, scrapers and spare batteries need somewhere to live between jobs, which is where the tool boxes guide comes in.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a heat gun used for?
Stripping paint and varnish, shrinking heat shrink tubing and wrap, softening adhesive to lift tiles or vinyl, bending plastic pipe, thawing frozen pipes, drying damp timber and removing bubbles from epoxy resin. It is not a substitute for a hair dryer and should never be used on skin or hair.
What temperature do I need for stripping paint?
Around 450 to 600 degrees Celsius. Lower settings soften paint without lifting it and waste time; higher heat risks scorching the timber underneath. Work in small sections and keep the gun moving, and use a scraper immediately behind the heat rather than trying to strip after it cools.
Can I use a heat gun instead of a hair dryer?
No. A hair dryer tops out near 60 degrees while a heat gun reaches 600, and it will cause serious burns and set hair alight. They look similar and are not interchangeable in either direction, since a hair dryer lacks the heat for any of the jobs above.
Is a cordless heat gun powerful enough?
For shrink tubing, adhesive, thawing and light forming, yes. For stripping paint off a whole room, a corded gun is faster and will not stop for a battery change. Cordless models generally peak lower than corded ones, so check the maximum temperature rather than assuming parity.
Are heat guns dangerous?
They reach temperatures well above the ignition point of paper, dust and timber, and the nozzle stays hot for minutes after switch-off. Never leave one running unattended, always use the stand, and keep an extinguisher nearby when stripping. Australian paint applied before 1970 may contain lead, which releases toxic fumes when heated.
What is the difference between a heat gun and a mini craft heat gun?
Output. A full-size gun runs 1600W to 2000W for building work; a craft gun runs about 300W for heat shrink, embossing and resin. Using a full-size gun on craft work melts the surrounding material, and a craft gun will not strip paint. They are separate tools rather than sizes of one tool.
Verdict
For the job most people buy a heat gun for, the Black and Decker strips paint as fast as anything here and costs the least of the corded units. Anyone working on a roof or under a house should take the DeWalt 20V MAX instead, where losing the lead matters more than the last hundred degrees. And if the work is resin, embossing or heat shrink rather than building, buy one of the 300W mini guns rather than a scaled-down builder tool, because a full-size gun will melt everything around the piece.
