A nail bomb is an explosive device packed with nails to increase its destructive power. The nails act as shrapnel, leading - almost certainly - to greater loss of life and injury in inhabited areas than would explosives alone.

A nail bomb is the preferred weapon of a suicide bomber since it causes large number of casualties when detonated in crowded places. However, nail bombs can be detected via electromagnetic sensors and standard metal detectors.

An infamous nail-bombing incident occurred in 1999 when David Copeland planted several devices in London targeted against ethnic minorities and homosexuals.

See also: explosive belt.