Grease Guns: Lever, Pistol-Grip and Cordless Grease Guns
A grease gun pushes grease into fittings on vehicles and equipment. Choose by how much greasing you do and where.
- 4 roundups · 2 reviews · 1 comparisons · 1 guides
- Updated
- No paid placements
Best grease guns for every buyer
Ranked shortlists for specific budgets and use cases. Start with the one that matches yours.
- Best Cordless Grease Guns 2026: 10 Battery-Powered Guns Compared for Pressure and RuntimeCordless grease guns eliminate hand fatigue on vehicles with 10-20 grease fittings.See the picks
- Best Grease Gun Coupler 2026: 10 Hydraulic Fittings Compared for Seal QualityThe coupler is the most failure-prone component in the greasing process.See the picks
- Best Grease Guns 2026: 10 Manual, Cordless, and Pneumatic GunsLincoln, DeWALT, Milwaukee, and Lumax compared for automotive and heavy equipment use.See the picks
- Best Pneumatic Grease Gun 2026: 10 Air-Powered Guns for Shop and Fleet UsePneumatic grease guns eliminate battery charging and provide unlimited runtime for fleet maintenance.See the picks
About Grease Guns
Lever-action guns give high pressure with two hands. Pistol-grip guns work one-handed in tight spots. Cordless guns save effort when you have many fittings, such as farm equipment or trucks.
Most guns take standard 14 oz cartridges or bulk grease. A good coupler that locks onto fittings prevents wasted grease.
How to choose a grease gun
Type
Lever for power, pistol-grip for one-handed access, cordless for volume.
Hose length
Flexible hoses reach fittings behind wheels and under equipment.
Coupler
Locking couplers hold onto fittings and reduce leaks.
Cartridge size
14 oz cartridges are standard. Check compatibility.
Air bubbles
A bleeder valve helps release trapped air when loading.
Research-based picks from specs, independent reviews and owner feedback.
No paid placements, ever.
Our methodologyWhat matters most in grease guns
- Lever for power, pistol-grip for one-handed access, cordless for volume.
- Flexible hoses reach fittings behind wheels and under equipment.
- Locking couplers hold onto fittings and reduce leaks.
- 14 oz cartridges are standard. Check compatibility.
- A bleeder valve helps release trapped air when loading.
In-depth reviews
- Lincoln Industrial 1134 Grease Gun Review: Best Manual Lever Gun for Heavy EquipmentLincoln Industrial 1134 lever-action grease gun reviewed for pressure output, build quality, heavy equipment greasing, and how it compares t
- Milwaukee M12 Cordless Grease Gun Review: Best Battery-Powered Gun for Field UseMilwaukee M12 2446-20 cordless grease gun reviewed for pressure, shot counter accuracy, battery life per cartridge, and how it compares to m
Buying guides & how-tos
- Buying guideHow to Choose a Grease Gun: 4 Steps to Type, Pressure, and Coupler FitChoose the right grease gun for your application, pistol grip vs lever vs cordless, working pressure for zerks, cartridge vs bulk vs suctioRead
- Buying guideGrease Gun Not Pumping: 8 Fixes for Air Lock, Blocked Zerks, and Coupler ProblemsFix a grease gun that won't pump, air lock in the barrel, blocked or seized zerks, cartridge seal issues, coupler blow-off, and how to bleeRead
Grease Guns: common questions
How do I choose the right grease guns?
Start with your main use and budget, then compare our shortlists: Best Cordless Grease Guns 2026, Best Grease Gun Coupler 2026, Best Grease Guns 2026.
What should I look for when buying grease guns?
Lever for power, pistol-grip for one-handed access, cordless for volume.
How do I know how much grease to inject into a fitting?
Over-greasing is as damaging as under-greasing, excess pressure blows the grease seal and expels the grease that was protecting the bearing. For most automotive and light-equipment zerks: inject until you see fresh grease appear at the seal lip. Count the number of pumps and record it for future reference, a wheel bearing might take 3 pumps, a U-joint 1 pump. For fittings with a grease nipple that vents: pump until the vent releases. Do not force grease against resistance, if a zerk feels blocked, switch to a needle coupler and check the fitting before continuing.
What type of grease should I use?
NLGI grade 2 multipurpose lithium grease handles most automotive chassis, wheel bearing, and general purpose applications. For high-temperature applications (brake components, oven conveyor bearings): use a high-temp red grease rated for the operating temperature. For marine or wet environments: a water-resistant marine grease. For food-processing equipment: NSF H1-rated food-grade grease. Do not mix grease types, different base oils and thickeners are chemically incompatible and can break down lubrication properties. If switching grease types: purge the old grease fully before switching.
Why is grease coming out around the coupler instead of into the fitting?
Grease bypassing the coupler is a coupler-to-zerk mismatch. Cause 1: the zerk is a metric size (common on European vehicles) while the coupler is SAE, use a metric coupler. Cause 3: the coupler ball check is worn, replace the coupler. Cause 4: insufficient engagement angle, reposition the coupler to engage squarely with the zerk.
Can I use a grease gun for all lubricants?
Grease guns are designed for grease (semi-solid lubricants) only. They are not suitable for oil injection or thin lubricants, the valve and check ball are designed for the viscosity and pressure of grease. For oil fittings on older equipment: use an oil can. For chain lube or penetrating oil: use the appropriate aerosol or drip applicator.
How do I know if a zerk fitting is bad?
A bad zerk fitting either will not accept grease (blocked ball check) or leaks grease past the coupler (damaged seat). Test: disconnect the coupler, press the center ball of the zerk with a small pick, it should depress easily and spring back. If the ball is stuck or frozen: the zerk needs replacement. If the zerk accepts the coupler but grease bypasses around the outside: the zerk seat is damaged. Zerks are inexpensive and should be replaced rather than worked around.