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Spruce / Kevin Liang
For projects that don't need the power of a nail gun, but do require multiple fasteners, a staple gun is a must-have. These tools drive a variety of staple types into soft wood, fabric, paper, flooring, drywall, and other materials that aren't very hard.
Deane Biermeier, general contractor and licensed carpenter, as well as a member of The Spruce's Home Improvement Review Board, notes, "Staple guns come in three basic types, including manual, electric, and pneumatic. Within those types, there are several styles from which to choose. How, and how often, you intend to use your staple gun, as well as your budget, will determine which one is best for you. For the average DIYer, however, a manual gun that can shoot a variety of staple types is the most affordable and useful type. Be sure to look for a staple gun that is designed to reduce stress on your hands and is relatively easy to use."
Before getting started on choosing a staple gun, it helps to know there are many different sizes and types of staples, but they can be grouped by their shapes: "D" shaped staples are the most common type, with a straight top and straight legs, "U" shaped staples have a rounded top and are useful for fastening cords or cables, "T" shaped staples are small brads used for fastening upholstery and similar tasks, and "I" shaped staples are small pins used for various delicate fastening jobs.
We evaluated staple guns based on their ease of use, sturdiness, versatility, effectiveness, and overall value.
Best Overall
WORKPRO 6-in-1 Manual Staple Gun
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WORKPRO
High/low power levels
Anti-jam mechanism
Can be used with a wide variety of fasteners
Can be difficult to squeeze
Included staples aren't the best quality
This versatile manual staple gun is an all-around workhorse that's perfect for many projects around your house, workshop, or garage. The WORKPRO 6-in-1 accepts six different types of staple: T50 heavy-duty "D" staples, narrow-crown T20 staples, or JT21 light-duty staples that are 1/4-inch to 9/16-inch long, T25 rounded "U" staples that are 3/8-inch to 9/16-inch long, and 18-gauge brads (also called "T" staples) and pins that are no longer than 5/8-inch. Should you forget, all of the accepted staple types and sizes are labeled right on the stapler handle. And it's easy to load this tool: Just press the red latch to release the staple magazine, which is the part that holds the loaded staples, pull the magazine out, and fill it with your desired size of staple before pushing it back in. A small window lets you easily see when it's time to reload.
While any manual staple gun admittedly takes some effort to use, this one has a comfortably padded grip that helps reduce hand fatigue and effort. Plus, there's a high/low power switch that lets you adjust the tool's force between hard and soft materials. An anti-jamming mechanism helps reduce annoying staple jams, although as with any staple gun, they still may occasionally occur. This stapler has a belt clip so you can carry it with you easily, and once you're done working for the day, the handle can be locked to prevent accidental discharge of staples.
Whether you need a staple gun for crafts, upholstery, insulation, hanging holiday lights or keeping cords in place, stapling lightweight flooring, or most other typical projects that require a stapler, this one can handle it, and handle it well without excessively wearing you out. Along with the stapler, you get 1,000 each of T50, JT21, and T25 staples and 1,000 18-gauge brad nails.
Price at time of publish: $40
Type: Manual | Staple Shapes: D, U, T, I | Weight: 2.2 pounds | Anti-Jam Mechanism: Yes | Belt Clip: Yes
Best Value
Wetols 3-in-1 Heavy-Duty Manual Staple Gun With Remover
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Wetols
Has tension adjustment knob
Includes staple remover
Easy to load
Handle not padded, can be difficult to squeeze
Included instructions are not detailed
You don't need to spend a lot of money on a staple gun, especially if you only need one for occasional light use. The Wetols 3-in-1 Heavy-Duty Staple Gun is a manual tool that includes a staple remover—a handy accessory that isn't often included with these tools. You can use three different types of staples with this stapler: D-shaped staples that are 1/2-inch or less, like the T50; U-shaped staples that are 1/2-inch or less, such as the T25; and T-shaped staples, which are 18-gauge brads. The stapler includes 1,000 of each type of staple.
The stapler has a pressure knob that lets you adjust the depth to which the staple is driven. Loading this stapler isn't too difficult; you press the latch, pull out the loading rod and fill it with staples, and then push the loading rod back into place. While it does not have a specific anti-jamming mechanism, it is relatively easy to open the stapler to retrieve jammed or bent staples. And while the handle isn't the most padded or comfortable, it's reasonably easy to depress. All in all, if you want a manual staple gun for crafts, hanging signs or other light materials, stapling upholstery, hanging decorations, or similar uses around the home, then this reasonably priced tool is more than satisfactory.
Price at time of publish: $26
Type: Manual | Staple Shapes: D, U, T | Weight: 2.4 pounds | Anti-Jam Mechanism: No | Belt Clip: No
Best Electric
Arrow T50ACD Compact Electric Staple Gun
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Arrow
Safety mechanism
8-foot cord
Easy to use
Doesn't include staples
Relatively expensive
If you want an electric staple gun that can shoot as many as 60 staples per minute, then look no further than the Arrow T50ACD, which is a corded electric stapler that takes heavy-duty T50 (D-shaped) staples from 1/4 inch to 1/2-inch in length. The staple gun is very easy to load and has a window that lets you see when staples are running low. Although compact in size, this staple gun has a lot of power and easily drives the staples into wood or other fairly hard materials without problem. As a safety feature, the device has an on/off button for power, but must actually be in contact with the material being stapled before you'll be able to depress the trigger to shoot the staple.
The handle is comfortably padded and ergonomically shaped for comfort, and the stapler has an 8-foot cord so you have enough room to maneuver while you work. This is an ideal tool for most DIY projects around the house, such as hanging decorations, repairing upholstery, tacking down light carpeting, hanging signs, and other similar tasks. Note that this stapler does not accept U-shaped staples, so is not the best choice for affixing cords in place. Other than Amazon, most sellers do not include staples with the purchase of this stapler, so you will need to buy staples separately.
Price at time of publish: $60
Type: Electric | Staple Shapes: D | Weight: Not specified | Anti-Jam Mechanism: No | Belt Clip: No
Best Manual
Rexbeti 3-in-1 Manual Staple Gun
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Rexbeti
Tension adjustment knob
Includes staple remover and storage box
Padded handle
No window to check remaining number of staples
Not for heavy-duty use
The Rexbeti 3-in-1 is an easy-to-use, comfortable-to-grip manual stapler that has a rubbery handle and "shock absorbers" to reduce hand fatigue even during long work sessions. This sturdy tool is easy to load, and although it has no specific anti-jam mechanisms, it's relatively easy to open up for retrieving the inevitable occasionally jammed staple. You can use this stapler with three different types of staples: D-shaped, such as the T50, U-shaped, such as the T25, and T-shaped brads. This stapler comes with 1,000 D staples and 800 each of U and T staples. It also includes a staple remover and a plastic storage box, something that you get with very few of these tools.
There's a tension adjustment knob atop the stapler that lets you somewhat adjust the depth to which it drives the staples. While not the heaviest-duty stapler, this is a good choice for tasks such as fastening insulation or upholstery, crafts, hanging decorations, light furniture repair, holding cords in place, tacking down lightweight flooring, or affixing signs or other materials to wood, walls, or fences. Unlike many manual staplers, however, this one does not have a window to easily see when staples are running low.
Price at time of publish: $17
Type: Manual | Staple Shapes: D, U, T | Weight: 3.3 pounds | Anti-Jam Mechanism: No | Belt Clip: No
Best Cordless
NEU MASTER NTC0070 Cordless Staple Gun
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NEU MASTER
Safety mechanism
Shoots up to 500 staples on a single charge
Somewhat tricky to load
Battery-powered staple guns are undeniably more expensive than the other options, but if you want a sturdy and reliable tool that does the heavy work for you and doesn't require a nearby electrical outlet, then you'll find that the cordless Neu Master is worth a second look. The staple gun fully charges in just 90 minutes and can shoot up to 500 staples on a single charge. When it needs more power, just use the included USB cord and adapter to attach it to your laptop or other USB port, or plug the charger into a wall outlet. The device accepts only D-shaped (T50) staples up to 1/2-inch in length, and has both a viewing window and indicator lights to tell you when the staples are running low.
The stapler has a comfortable handle that won't tire out your hands. For safety, there's an on/off switch and a trigger that won't depress to shoot staples unless the tool is pressed against the material being stapled. While a bit trickier to load staples than some other staple guns, once you get the hang of loading the staples into the bottom of the gun, it's not too difficult. Use this staple gun for affixing materials to most soft woods, tacking down upholstery or rugs, crafts and DIY projects, and other similar projects. The staple guns comes with 300 T50 staples and a USB charging cord.
Price at time of publish: $50
Type: Cordless Battery | Staple Shapes: D | Weight: 2.5 pounds | Anti-Jam Mechanism: No | Belt Clip: No
Best Heavy-Duty
DEWALT DWHTTR350 Heavy-Duty Staple Gun
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DEWALT
Powerful
Lighter than many similar models
Doesn't include staples
This heavy-duty beast of a manual staple gun has a steel magazine for holding staples, as well as a steel handle covered with a molded comfortable grip for extra durability while still remaining comfortable and relatively easy to squeeze. The DEWALT DWHTTR350 shoots heavy-duty D-shaped (T50) staples that are 1/4-inch to 9/16-inch in length as well as 18-gauge brads that are 1/2-inch or 5/8-inch in length. The gun loads easily from the bottom and has an anti-jam mechanism to cut down on annoying misfires and staple jams. And the tool's heavy-duty ratchet provides more force when driving staples into hard materials.
While you are unlikely to need such a forceful staple gun for simple crafts, this is a great choice for tougher projects such as installing siding, house wrap, or insulation, tacking down carpets, carpentry, attaching chicken wire or other materials to boards or fencing, and similar heavy-duty jobs. Note that this gun does not come with any staples, so you will need to purchase them separately.
Price at time of publish: $39
Type: Manual | Staple Shapes: D, T | Weight: 2 pounds | Anti-Jam Mechanism: Yes | Belt Clip: No
Best for Upholstery
Yeahome 4-in-1 Heavy-Duty Manual Stapler Gun
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Yeahome
Tension adjustment knob
Easy to use
Shoots four types of staples
Included instructions are not very clear
If you want to tack down new upholstery on a chair, couch, or bench, or you need to repair existing upholstery that is coming loose, you'll find that a manual stapler is a far easier way to accomplish the task than using a hammer and tacks. And with the Yeahome 4-in-1 stapler, you can quickly and easily get the job done without too much wear and tear to your hands. This heavy-duty stapler accepts four different types of fasteners: D-shaped (T50) staples up to 7/16-inch in length, U-shaped (T18) staples up to 1/2-inch in length, T-shaped brads up to 1/2-inch in length, and I-shaped pins up to 5/8-inch in length. A tension knob lets you adjust how deeply the stapler drives the fasteners.
While this stapler is relatively easy to load, it does not have a mechanism specifically to avoid staple jams, and like all such tools, it can be prone to this annoying issue. However, the magazine pulls out for easy access to jammed staples. You can lock the stapler handle when not in use to prevent accidental firings. While an excellent choice for upholstery projects, you can also use this versatile stapler for many other tasks, including crafts, light carpentry, tacking down cables and wires, fastening light flooring or insulation, hanging holiday decorations, and similar around-the-house projects. The stapler comes with 1,000 each of D, U, T, and I staples.
Price at time of publish: $23
Type: Manual | Staple Shapes: D, U, T, I | Weight: 2.3 pounds | Anti-Jam Mechanism: Yes | Belt Clip: No
Best for Crafts
Mr. Pen Light-Duty Manual Staple Gun
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Mr. Pen
Very light
Easy to squeeze handle
Excellent for paper crafts and similar lightweight projects
Might be too small for users with large hands
It's not made for heavy-duty use, but if you need a staple gun for crafts, including paper or fabric crafts, stapling into soft wood, stapling cardboard, or similar projects, then the Mr. Pen manual staple gun is ideal for your needs, and it is very reasonably priced as well. This stapler uses only D-shaped, 5/16-inch-length staples and includes a box of 2,000. It's easy to load the staples into the gun and while there is no anti-jam mechanism, it's easy to open the gun up to remove blocks or jams.
The lightweight design of this staple gun makes it easier to use than heavier-duty staple guns, so it won't tire or hurt your hands. It's a compact stapler, so it doesn't hold a lot of staples at one time. But unless you are tackling a big project that involves stapling many pieces together, it shouldn't be an issue. The Mr. Pen is a useful addition to anyone's tool box or craft kit.
Price at time of publish: $10
Type: Manual | Staple Shapes: D | Weight: 1 pound | Anti-Jam Mechanism: No | Belt Clip: No
Best Pneumatic
Arrow PT50 Pneumatic Staple Gun
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Arrow
Safety mechanism
Can fire staples very quickly
Powerful
Relatively expensive
Does not include staples
Typical DIYers or homeowners won't need a pneumatic staple gun, which is powered by air from an air compressor, but if you need a very powerful, professional-quality staple gun for big projects such as installing roofing, insulation, house wrap, flooring, or upholstery, then the Arrow PT50 is worthy of your attention. This oil-free, light in weight, and comfortable-to-hold pneumatic gun uses only D-shaped, T50 staples in lengths of 1/4-inch, 5/16-inch, 3/8-inch, 1/2-inch, and 9/16-inch. The magazine is easy to load and the staple gun attaches easily to the air hose connected to an air compressor capable of delivering between 60 and 100 psi.
For safety, this staple gun has two triggers that must be depressed to shoot staples. It also has a bump feature, meaning that as long as you keep the trigger depressed, the gun will shoot a staple as soon as the front of the tool is pressed against the work surface. This allows you to work very quickly when stapling along a long stretch of material. An adjustable exhaust cover lets you direct hot air away from you while you work. Note that this stapler does not come with any staples, so you will need to purchase them separately.
Price at time of publish: $37
Type: Pneumatic | Staple Shapes: D | Weight: 3 pounds | Anti-Jam Mechanism: No | Belt Clip: No
Best for Carpet
Arrow HT50 Heavy-Duty Hammer Tacker
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Arrow
Very powerful
Easy to use
Holds a lot of staples
Doesn't include any staples
Relatively expensive
A hammer tacker is a type of staple gun that doesn't have a trigger to squeeze. Instead, you strike the tool against the work surface like a hammer, and with each blow of the stapler, a staple is driven into the work surface. Hammer tackers are heavy-duty staplers used for professional and DIY purposes that require a lot of staples, but don't require those staples to be precisely or neatly driven, such as when laying carpet or other flooring, installing roofing, attaching insulation or house wrapping, or light carpentry projects. The Arrow HT50 is a heavy-duty hammer tacker that is easy enough for the average DIYer to use, but suited to professionals, as well. It takes D-shaped T50 staples in lengths 5/16-inch, 3/8-inch, or 1/2-inch. Staples are easily loaded into the magazine at the back of the tool, which can hold two full strips of Arrow staples at a time, reducing the frequency with which you have to reload. Plus, it has an anti-jam mechanism to reduce misfires and staple jams.
The steel frame of this stapler is extremely durable. It has a molded, sure-grip covering for a comfortable and secure grip, which helps to reduce hand fatigue during long work sessions. Thanks to the hammer action, the tool drives staples with more force than a regular manual stapler could deliver, making it ideal for heavy-duty use. The stapler does not come with staples, so you will need to buy them separately.
Price at time of publish: $50
Type: Hammer tacker | Staple Shapes: D | Weight: 2.2 pounds | Anti-Jam Mechanism: Yes | Belt Clip: No
Best Lightweight
DEWALT DWHT80276 Carbon-Fiber Composite Staple Gun
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DEWALT
Very light in weight
Designed with easy-squeeze handle
Doesn't include staples
Relatively expensive
The DEWALT DWHT80276 is light in weight, thanks to its carbon-fiber composite construction, rather than the more common steel or other heavy metal: It weighs well under a pound, as compared to most other heavy-duty manual staplers that weigh between one and two pounds. Plus, its trigger is designed to be much easier to squeeze than similar tools. But this general-purpose manual staple gun is no lightweight in terms of performance. It shoots either D-shaped (T50) staples 1/4-inch to 9/16-inch in length or 18-gauge brads that are 1/2-inch to 5/8-inch in length, which are easily loaded into the bottom magazine.
This is an ideal staple gun for general use around your home; use it for tacking down upholstery, insulation, lightweight flooring, or for any task that calls for a heavy-duty stapler. It has a metal belt clip so you can keep it right at hand when working, and there's an indicator so you can easily tell when it's time to reload staples. While it's more expensive than many other options, it's a worthwhile investment if you need a stapler that's not as tough on your hands as heavier models.
Price at time of publish: $53
Type: Manual | Staple Shapes: D, T | Weight: 0.014 pounds | Anti-Jam Mechanism: No | Belt Clip: Yes
Best for Beginners
Stanley TRE550Z Electric Staple Gun
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Stanley
High/low power selection
Easy to use
Fits into tight spots
Not for heavy-duty projects
Relatively expensive
If you are new to staple guns, and you want one that is very easy to use, versatile enough to tackle most common DIY project, and yet still reasonably powerful, then you'll appreciate the Stanley TRE550Z. This electric staple gun takes D-shaped (T50) heavy-duty staples that are 1/4-inch to 9/16-inch in length or brad nails that are up to 1/2-inch in length. It's easy to load the staples, and the gun has an anti-jam mechanism to cut down on misfires and staple jams, although of course, it's still possible to occasionally have a jam. There's also a high/low power button, which lets you choose lower power for softer materials and higher power when you want to drive a nail into something hard.
While this isn't an appropriate choice for very heavy-duty applications, it's well suited for common DIY purposes such as tacking down upholstery, carpet, or insulation, doing crafts, hanging holiday decorations or signs, or for many other easy projects around your home. It has a flattened nose that fits into tight or awkward spots, and the trigger and handle are easy to grip, even if your hands aren't the strongest. It does not include any staples, however, which must be purchased separately.
Price at time of publish: $33
Type: Electric | Staple Shapes: D, T | Weight: Not specified | Anti-Jam Mechanism: Yes | Belt Clip: No
Best for Around the House
Haushof Light-Duty Staple Gun Kit
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Haushof
Includes staple remover
Easy to squeeze handle
Uses lightweight D staples only
Small for those with large hands
Not everyone needs a heavy-duty staple gun. If you want one mostly for crafts or for easy DIY projects such as tacking down loose upholstery, putting up holiday decorations, fixing torn window screens, hanging signs, or similar jobs, then you'll find that the Haushof Light-Duty Staple Gun is a very reasonably priced option that is well suited to light tasks around the house or craft studio. This staple gun takes only lightweight D-shaped staples (JT21 not T50) that are 1/4-inch, 5/16-inch, or 3/8-inch in length.
The staples are easy to load and there's a window so you can see when you are running low. The stapler comes with a box of 800 5/16-inch staples as well as a handy staple remover, which isn't often included with these tools. For safety, you can lock the handle when not using the stapler so it can't accidentally fire a staple if bumped. Overall, this easy-on-your-hands and light-on-your-wallet stapler is a worthy addition to your around-the-house tool kit.
Price at time of publish: $13
Type: Manual | Staple Shapes: D | Weight: 0.6 pounds | Anti-Jam Mechanism: No | Belt Clip: No
If you want a versatile staple gun that can shoot six different types of fasteners, is easy to use, and is fairly easy on your hands, then our top choice, the WORKPRO 6-in-1, is your best bet. But if you want an electric staple gun that shoots staples quickly and easily, then give the Arrow T50ACD a look instead.
What to Look For In a Staple Gun
Although staple guns aren’t very complicated tools, there are quite a few different types and models to choose from. When shopping for a staple gun, think about what you’ll be using it for. Having an idea of the sort of projects you’ll be facing makes it easier to whittle down your options to the one that’s best for your needs. But as a rough guideline, the two most important factors when buying a staple gun are the power source and the type of staples the gun can handle. Based on these two considerations, you’ll find staple guns for light tasks like stapling fabric to wooden frames up to beasts that can drive staples through roofing tiles or into hard materials.
Power Source
There are three basic types of staple guns, differentiated by their power source.
Manual staple guns are the most common type. These tools are powered by your own exertion in squeezing the handle, which compresses a spring to drive the staple into the material being fastened, whether that’s fabric, paper, wood, or some other relatively soft substance. Manual staple guns are the least expensive type and the most suited to simple tasks such as stapling paper or fabric, light upholstery work, stapling into soft wood, or even tacking down lightweight floor coverings. On the downside, it can be tiring to use a manual staple gun for driving a great many staples, or for projects involving very hard wood or other materials.
Hammer tackers are a subset of manual staple guns. These powerful tools are used with a hammering motion. Each blow against the material drives in a staple. That makes this a good choice for repetitive tasks such as laying flooring or attaching insulation.
Electric staple guns come in two types: those that are powered by a battery and those with a cord that plugs into an electrical outlet. But either type requires very little physical effort on your part in comparison to a manual staple gun, and electric staple guns have a lot more power. While these are quite a bit more expensive than manual staplers, an electric staple gun is a good choice if you’ll be taking on projects that require a great deal of stapling or involve large staples or hard materials.
Pneumatic staple guns are powered by air from an air compressor. These are most often used for construction-type projects, such as laying flooring, installing roofing, or carpentry. They aren’t a popular choice for the average DIYer, although if you are taking on a large home remodeling project, this might be a good option. These staple guns can handle the largest staples and small nails.
Staple Types
There are many different types of staples from small staples used to fasten light or delicate materials to large and thick staples for heavy materials such as wood or carpet. Some staple guns only work with one size of staple, but many can accept a range of staples, which greatly increases the versatility of the tool. There are a few things to know about staples.
Staple gauge is a measure of the thickness of the staple wire. The lower the gauge number, the thicker the wire. So for example, a 12-gauge staple is thicker than a 16-gauge staple. As a general rule, all-purpose staples are between 16 and 20 gauge. Upholstery staples are usually 22-gauge, as these thinner staples won’t show up on the finished furniture. Heavy-duty staples used for fastening roofing or in construction can have gauges as thick as 14, 12, or 10.
Within the various gauges, you’ll also find different widths and lengths of staples. The width of the staple is typically indicated as narrow crown, medium crown, or wide crown. Wide-crown staples are very large fasteners often used in construction. Medium-crown staples are more of an all-purpose fastener. Narrow-crown staples, which often are rounded as well as narrow, are used for fastening wires or cables in place, as well as other applications where you don’t want the staple to show, such as crafts, furniture, trim, and other delicate projects. Some brands use letters to identify the shape of the staples. A “D” staple has a flat crown, or top. A “U” staple has a curved or rounded top. A “T” staple is a small nail or brad. An “I” staple is a small pin.
Staples also come in different lengths. Generally, staples that are ¼-inch to ½-inch are good for most general purposes, but you’ll find staples as long as 2 inches for heavy-duty applications.
You’ll frequently encounter “T50” when looking at staple gun specifications. T50 is a trademark of the Arrow company, which manufactures many popular staple guns. You can generally only use T50 staples, which are D-shaped and come in many different sizes, in an Arrow product. However, many other manufacturers design their staple guns to also be able to accept T50 staples.
Some heavy-duty staple guns can also drive small brad nails.
Comfort
It can be very tiring to use a manual staple gun for long. That’s why many have ergonomic grips with cushioning or rubber on the handle to help reduce hand fatigue or pain. If you have weak or painful hands, however, an electric staple gun can be your best option.
Depth Adjustment
Some heavy-duty staple guns have adjustments to control the depth to which the staple is driven. This is a useful feature if you are choosing a staple gun for use in remodeling projects such as laying carpet, fastening trim, or stapling wood pieces together.
Anti-Jamming
Unfortunately, staple guns are prone to jamming. Some have various anti-jamming mechanisms to lessen this annoying issue, however.
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How many staples does a staple gun hold?
While the exact number can vary from brand to brand, and also can depend on the size of the staple being used, as a general rule, most staple guns hold around 200 staples at a time. Many have a small window that lets you see at a glance if you are getting low.
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What's the difference between a staple gun and a nail gun?
While there is overlap between these two tools, as some staple guns can drive small nails and some nail guns can drive large staples, as a general rule, staple guns are used for smaller fasteners, such as “D” or “U” shaped staples, whereas a nail gun is used to fire nails. Staple guns are ideal for projects where you need something held in place, such as upholstery, cables, roof tiles, or house wrap. Nail guns are ideal for securing pieces of wood or other hard materials together, such as in framing, installing cabinets, or other construction or remodeling projects. Also, nail guns are better for projects where it is important that the fasteners don’t show or where the fasteners can be easily removed. Staples often are more visible in the finished project and are more difficult to remove if necessary.
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Why does my staple gun keep jamming?
Whatever type of staple gun you choose, you are likely to experience jams on occasion. These tools get jammed when a staple becomes bent or wedged within the staple gun head, which then prevents the staple from coming out at all, or from fully driving into the material being stapled.
Staple guns with anti-jamming mechanisms reduce the frequency of this annoying problem, but still might get jammed on occasion. You can usually remove a jam by opening your stapler's magazine (the part of the tool where staples are loaded) and carefully removing the obstruction with your fingers or a pliers.
You can reduce the chance of jams by not overloading your stapler, by using only staple sizes the stapler is designed to handle, and by not breaking up bars of staples when loading your tool.
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Are staples included with a staple gun?
Many brands do include a starter pack of staples with their staple guns. These can range from a few hundred to a couple of thousand staples. Some staple guns include starter packs of different sizes and shapes of staples. However, there are some staples guns that do not include any staples with purchase. It's always a good idea to include extra boxes of staples in the size and type you use most frequently when buying a staple gun, as it's very annoying to run out of fasteners in the middle of a project.
Why Trust The Spruce?
Michelle Ullman is the home improvement/tool expert for The Spruce. She has extensive experience not only in writing about all things related to the home, but also in carrying out various DIY projects, including landscaping, painting, flooring, wallpapering, furniture makeovers, and simple repairs around the house and yard.
For this roundup, she considered dozens of staple guns, evaluating each for effectiveness, weight, versatility, ergonomics, and overall value. She also considered feedback from customers, both positive and negative, and received further input and advice from Deane Biermeier, a licensed contractor, carpenter, and member of The Spruce's Home Improvement Review Board.