Tools & DIY · Head-to-head
DEWALT DCN680B 20V MAX XR 18 Gauge Cordless Brad Nailer vs Makita XNB01Z 18V LXT Lithium-Ion Cordless 18 Gauge Brad Nailer
Which should you buy? Our verdict on both, pulled from our full The Best Brad Nailers: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) comparison.
The DEWALT drives the longest brads here and puts the sequential and contact modes on a tool-free switch, so the safer setting is genuinely accessible. The Makita matches it on cordless convenience with a two-mode selector and a tool-less depth dial.
DEWALT DCN680B 20V MAX XR 18 Gauge Cordless Brad Nailer
Buy itThe longest nail range here with a tool-free trigger selector, so the safer sequential mode is a switch rather than a service operation.
- A tool-free selectable trigger for sequential or contact actuation, which puts the mode with half the injury rate within reach at any moment.
- Drives 18 gauge brads from 5/8 in. to 2-1/8 in., the longest range in this comparison.
- Brushless motor and no compressor, hose, oil or fittings to buy, maintain or drag around.
- Integrated tool-free stall release lever to reset the driver blade when the tool jams, which on a nailer is a routine event.
- At 6.34 lb bare it is heavier than both pneumatic tools here, and a nailer is held at odd angles for long stretches.
- Bare tool, so batteries and a charger are a substantial separate cost.
- Cordless nailers can have a short delay between trigger and drive compared with pneumatic, which takes adjusting to.
Makita XNB01Z 18V LXT Lithium-Ion Cordless 18 Gauge Brad Nailer
Buy itA 100-nail magazine, with the trigger mode on an explicit two-position selector switch.
- A two-mode selector switch for contact or sequential nailing, stated plainly in the specification rather than implied.
- Magazine capacity of up to 100 nails, which matters on long runs of trim.
- Tool-less depth dial, so nail depth can be corrected on the spot rather than with a wrench.
- Cordless on the LXT platform, so no compressor and no hose across the floor.
- Drives to 2 in. rather than the DEWALT's 2-1/8, which occasionally matters on thicker casing.
- Bare tool, so the platform cost applies unless you already own LXT batteries.
- Brushed motor, so run time per charge is shorter than a brushless equivalent.
Side by side
The 7 criteria below are the ones our full comparison judged every product on, narrowed to these two.
| DEWALT DCN680B 20V MAX XR 18 Gauge Cordless Brad Nailer Our pick | Makita XNB01Z 18V LXT Lithium-Ion Cordless 18 Gauge Brad Nailer | |
|---|---|---|
| Our verdict | Buy | Buy |
| Best for | Trim and moulding work away from a compressor, where the nail range and switchable actuation matter more than weight. | Long runs of trim and moulding where reloading interrupts the rhythm and depth needs frequent adjustment. |
| Price tier | $$$ · premium | $$$ · premium |
| Trigger actuation | Tool-free selectable sequential or contact | Two-mode selector, contact or sequential |
| Nail range | 5/8 to 2-1/8 in. | 5/8 to 2 in. |
| Power source | 20V cordless brushless | 18V cordless brushed |
| Magazine capacity | 110 nails | Up to 100 nails |
| Weight | 6.34 lb bare | 7.7 lb with battery |
| Depth adjustment | Tool-free | Tool-less dial |
| Jam or stall release | Tool-free stall release | Not published here |
Which one is right for you?
Pick the DEWALT DCN680B 20V MAX XR 18 Gauge Cordless Brad Nailer if
trim and moulding work away from a compressor, where the nail range and switchable actuation matter more than weight.
Know before buying: at 6.34 lb bare it is heavier than both pneumatic tools here, and a nailer is held at odd angles for long stretches.
Pick the Makita XNB01Z 18V LXT Lithium-Ion Cordless 18 Gauge Brad Nailer if
long runs of trim and moulding where reloading interrupts the rhythm and depth needs frequent adjustment.
Know before buying: drives to 2 in. rather than the DEWALT's 2-1/8, which occasionally matters on thicker casing.
The bottom line
Our overall pick is the DEWALT DCN680B 20V MAX XR 18 Gauge Cordless Brad Nailer - The longest nail range here with a tool-free trigger selector, so the safer sequential mode is a switch rather than a service operation. Choose the Makita XNB01Z 18V LXT Lithium-Ion Cordless 18 Gauge Brad Nailer instead if long runs of trim and moulding where reloading interrupts the rhythm and depth needs frequent adjustment.
Want the full picture, including the other options we compared and the popular one we'd skip? Read the complete The Best Brad Nailers: 4 Compared (and One to Skip).