The invention relates to a pneumatic gripper which comprises a gripper body (21,121), at least two pneumatic control pistons (23) operating within at least one chamber (22,122) defined by the gripper body and movable in opposite directions with respect to each other by a driving fluid supplied to the chamber, at least two guide columns (34) associated with each piston and emerging from the ends of at least the chamber, and at least two jaws (37) movable with the pistons between an active position for gripping a work-piece and an inactive position for releasing the work-piece. The guide columns (34) are attached directly in front of and inside the profile of a respective piston (23), and each gripping jaw (37) may be attached directly to the ends of the columns of a relevant control piston.