A tufting gun punches yarn through a stretched primary cloth, building up the pile stitch by stitch, it’s how a tufted rug gets made, and it’s the one piece of equipment that shapes what you can create. The pile height it reaches, how it handles over a three-hour session, and whether you’ll need a second machine later all come down to which gun you pick.
There are three tufting guns in our range, but for most people this isn’t really a three-way decision. The AK-V is the gun we recommend overall, both for someone buying their first machine and for tufters who’ve been at it for years. The other two exist for specific reasons, and this guide explains what those are.
Start here: the AK-V tufting machine
The AK-V is our brand new model, it does both cut and loop pile, weighs 1.4kg, is less loud and needs no air compressor. That covers what the overwhelming majority of rugs require, from a first 40x40cm piece to full-size floor rugs.
Three things make it stand out:
It’s quiet. Tufting guns are mechanical, metal parts strike each other to make the stitch and cut motion, and you hear it. The AK-V runs noticeably quieter than the alternatives. Over a three-hour session, or in an apartment, that difference stops being a nice-to-have.
It shows you your speed. A real-time speed display sounds like a gimmick until you understand what causes patchy, uneven pile: inconsistent gun speed. Beginners speed up and slow down without noticing. A gun that shows you your pace lets you find one and hold it, and experienced tufters use it to match speed across sessions on a large piece.
It lights your stitch line. A built-in LED means you can see where the needle is actually going, which matters most on dark yarn and fine outlines.
Pile height runs 8–16mm, which covers standard cut and loop pile work. It ships from our EU warehouse with a 2-year warranty and 14-day returns, like all our guns.
When to add the AK-1H Long Pile 40mm
The AK-1H isn’t an alternative to the AK-V, it’s a second gun for a specific effect. It tufts at a fixed 40mm pile, which is what’s behind rugs with thick, cloud-like sections and rounded 3D shapes. No standard-pile gun gets close.
It’s heavier at 2kg and larger, and that fixed long pile makes fine detail harder to tuft cleanly. That’s not a flaw; it’s what a specialised tool looks like. You wouldn’t want it as your only gun, and you wouldn’t want to be without it if plush high-pile work is where you’re heading.
Most people who own one own it alongside a standard-pile gun, so they can switch between short and long pile within a single design without recalibrating. Our guide on creating high-pile contrast explains why that’s usually a two-gun job.
Where the AK-1N Duo fits
The AK-1N Duo is our 2023 model. We still sell it, still stock parts for it, and still support it, it’s a proven machine that does the fundamentals properly: cut and loop pile, 1.4kg, 8–16mm, no compressor.
What it doesn’t have is the newer generation of features. No LED, no speed display, and it runs louder than the AK-V. If those things don’t matter to you, or if price is the deciding factor right now, it’s a capable machine that will make good rugs. If you’re weighing the two, the honest answer is that the AK-V is the better machine and the AK-1N Duo is the lower-priced one.
The three guns side by side
| AK-V | AK-1H Long Pile | AK-1N Duo | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Role in the range | Our recommendation | Long pile specialist | 2023 model, still supported |
| Cut & loop pile | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Pile height | 8–16mm | 40mm (fixed) | 8–16mm |
| Weight | 1.4kg | 2kg | 1.4kg |
| Noise | Quietest | Noticeable | Noticeable |
| LED light | Yes | No | No |
| Real-time speed display | Yes | No | No |
| Air compressor needed | No | No | No |
Which starter kit is right for you?
Our tufting starter kit gathers all necessary tools to make rugs into one. If you’re building a setup from scratch, it’s almost always cheaper than sourcing each part separately, and you don’t have to check whether everything fits or is the right material.
All three kits are built around the same question: how much of the setup do you already own?
| Ultimate Kit | Starter Kit | Basic Kit | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tufting gun | AK-V | AK-V | Included |
| Primary cloth | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Finishing tools | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Carving tools | Yes | Yes | — |
| Anti-slip backing | Yes | Yes | — |
| Frame | Yes | — | — |
| Best for | Starting from nothing | You have a frame, want the full toolset | You have a frame and want the leanest way in |
Ultimate Kit — everything including the frame. You can tuft the day it arrives.
Starter Kit with AK-V — the full toolset around a frame you already own or plan to build. Building your own is a sensible route if you want a larger size than standard; our beginner’s guide covers how.
Basic Kit — the leanest entry, for people who already have a frame and want to find out whether tufting is for them before going further.
Quick answers
“It’s my first rug and I own nothing.” Ultimate Kit. One box, frame included, nothing to source or check for compatibility.
“I already have a frame.” Starter Kit with AK-V, or the Basic Kit if you want to keep it minimal.
“I tuft in an apartment and noise matters.” AK-V, clearly. It’s the quietest gun in the range and that’s the biggest practical difference you’ll notice day to day.
“I want deep, plush high-pile rugs.” AK-1H — alongside a standard-pile gun, not instead of one.
“I’m not sure I’ll stick with it.” The AK-1N Duo or the Basic Kit keeps the entry cost down. You still get both pile types.
“I’ve been tufting for years — should I upgrade?” If you’re on an AK-1N and the noise or inconsistent pile bothers you, yes. If neither does, your current gun is fine.
The rest of your setup
A gun alone doesn’t make a rug. You’ll also need primary cloth, a frame, yarn, and finishing tools. A kit covers most of that; if you’re assembling it yourself, our beginner’s guide walks through every item and why it matters, and our yarn calculator tells you how much yarn to order so you don’t run out mid-project.
Choosing between wool and polyester? Our wool vs polyester guide covers the difference.
Shop tufting guns or starter kits.