Secure Anything from Holiday Decor to Insulation Using the Best Staple Gun
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DeWalt DWHTTR350 Brad Tacker and Heavy Duty Staple Gun -
Stanley SharpShooter Plus Brad Nail Gun/Heavy-Duty Staple Gun -
Arrow Fastener T59 Insulated Wire Tacker Staple Gun -
Stanley Bostitch PC2K - PowerSlam Hammer Tacker Staple Gun -
Arrow Fastener T55 Easy Squeeze Staple Gun -
Buyer's Guide
Staple guns are way useful to have around the home and garage because of how versatile they are. They can be used with everything from insulation, wiring and upholstery to hanging holiday decorations. I like to think of staple guns as an essential part of every toolbox, right alongside a hammer and a good socket set. Staple guns have a bit of infamy for being hard to use (in terms of the amount of strength it takes to pull the trigger and shoot a staple). Repeatedly using a staple gun can cause some serious hand fatigue. To help cut back on hand fatigue, every staple gun I have included below is very easy to use either by having an easy squeeze feature or eliminating a squeeze trigger. Furthermore, because staple guns are so versatile and can be used for so many different jobs, they need to be able to use a wide variety of different kinds of staples. For this reason, every staple gun I have included on this list can be used with a range of differently sized staples. Finally, best staple guns in 2022 come in electric, pneumatic and manual varieties. For the purposes of this list (and to keep costs down) I will be focusing on manual ones. This makes them easy to use and as cheap as possible.
Comparing the Best Staple Guns for 2022
DeWalt DWHTTR350 Brad Tacker and Heavy Duty Staple Gun - Best Staple Gun Overall
The DeWalt DWHTTR350 Heavy Duty Staple and Brad Tacker is the top staple gun because it can use both staples and brads. This makes it more versatile in terms of what you can fasten with it. Also, it has an anti-jam feature. This stops whatever staples or brads you’re using from accidentally jamming, which saves you time when you’re working. Furthermore, the gun is very lightweight (only two pounds), while still being strong, because it’s made from aluminum. Finally, it comes with a lifetime warranty, which makes your purchase a lot easier.
Stanley SharpShooter Plus Brad Nail Gun/Heavy-Duty Staple Gun - Runner Up
The Stanley Hand Tools TR250 - SharpShooter® Plus Heavy Duty Staple/Brad Nail Gun is on this list because like the DeWalt gun, it too can shoot brads in addition to staples. It also is made from aluminum, which keeps it both strong and light. This gun also has a hi/lo power lever that optimizes the gun for use with hard or soft materials. This makes it more useful because you can better customize it to whatever job you’re working on. I also love that the nose of the gun is flush, which means it’s incredibly easy to use in corners. My favorite feature of the gun though, is the quick view window near the nose. This allows you to tell what staples you’re working with (say if you’ve just pulled your gun out of storage) without removing them from the tool, which is very useful.
Arrow Fastener T59 Insulated Wire Tacker Staple Gun - Honorable Mention
The Arrow Fastener T59™ Insulated Staple Wire Tacker is a great staple gun because it features all steel construction. This makes it very strong and durable. Like the DeWalt gun, this tool also features a jam resistant mechanism. As I stated above, this helps to protect against accidental jamming in the middle of a job. Another thing I love about this gun is that it has a chrome finish. This protects your tool from corrosion, which extends its life, and makes it easy to clean because spills just wipe right off. Finally, this tool is great because it has insulated fasteners that can work on low voltage wires without crimping them.
Stanley Bostitch PC2K - PowerSlam Hammer Tacker Staple Gun - Consider
I have included the Stanley Bostitch PC2K - PowerSlam™ PowerCrown™ Hammer Tacker on this list because for one, the slap design of hammer style staple guns makes them very easy to use. You just have to slap the tool in order to shoot off the staple. I also love the fact that it has a high capacity. The quick loading magazine can hold two entire sticks of staples at the same time. This saves you time because you don’t have to reload as much. It also features a jam free mechanism, which is good for reasons I mentioned above. Finally, it’s a great gun because it has a non-slip, long reach grip that makes the gun safer and easier to use.
Arrow Fastener T55 Easy Squeeze Staple Gun - Best Staple Gun
The Arrow Fastener Arrow T55 Easy Squeeze Staple Gun is the final product on this list of best staple guns because it’s the perfect budget option. It’s super cheap while still being heavy duty. Furthermore, it has a chrome finish, which is good because it both helps to protect against rust and makes the gun easy to clean up, like some of the other tools mentioned above. I also love that it has a safety handle lock, which of course makes it safer and easier to use.
Buyer's Guide
What To Consider When Buying A Staple Gun
Choosing the right staple gun for your project or toolbox may seem daunting but it’s all about defining use and purpose. This is an item that can be incredibly helpful around the house, whether you’re looking to fix a material on a surface without damaging it or you just want to get into some fun DIY projects. So let’s get into what you’ll need to know in order to choose the right one for your purposes.
Types of Guns
There are three main types of staple guns that can serve different purposes and functions, as follows.
Manual Staple Gun
Manual staple guns are the most energy intensive for you, as a user, as it relies on your own push to drive the staple into the material. It’s a simple tool based on a straightforward mechanism. Unlike the office stapler that is probably the most purchased and well known type of stapler, the manual stapler will not fold the ends of the staple in the material but rather shoot the staple into the material and fix the ends into the target.
This simple tool is operated by the press of a trigger which can be taxing on your hand and may result in strain after repeated use.
This option is ideal for odd jobs around the house or DIY projects. Because it’s manually operated and light, you’ll have no trouble hauling it where you need it and it doesn’t require much in ways of precaution or preparation. Make sure it’s stapled up and you’re ready to go.
Electric Staple Guns
Now this is a staple gun that won’t be causing wrist strain any time soon. Electric staple guns, as their name would suggest, are powered by electricity. They’re suitable for hobbyists as well as professionals and they can be incredibly versatile. Because of the fact that they don’t rely on manual labor, they’re able to drive staples into much harder materials.
They come in two main variations: cord or battery powered. Battery powered ones are much more portable as you don’t have to work around the cord. Additionally you won’t have to worry about finding a power supply when you’ve got something to staple. The disadvantage, however, is that the batteries will not last for too long. Depending on their power you will probably be able to shoot from 500 to a few thousand staples. By contrast, a cord powered staple gun will allow you to keep going for as long as you need but you will be sacrificing portability.
Pneumatic Staple Guns
Last but not least, pneumatic staple guns can be used for a variety of jobs but they’re likely to be most useful in a professional environment such as a construction site. It’s the most powerful of the options mentioned and it’s ideal for big projects such as fencing an area. They can be used for smaller projects as well but because of the bulky air compressor that you have to haul around and noise they produce, they don’t exactly rack too high in portability and stealth. Actually, if you’re going to use one, it’s important to wear earplugs. They’re probably not your best choice if you’re not anticipating a few big projects but if you are, they’ll make your life much easier by stapling faster and harder than their electric counterparts.
What Else Should You Consider?
Staple Size
The staple size that the gun can support is likely to be one of the key features you should be looking out for. This is going to dictate what kind of projects your staple gun can handle.
When it comes to staples lower numbers mean more thickness. For example a 16 gauge one is thicker than an 18 gauge one. The reason for this quirk is because the thickness is actually measured in fractions of an inch. A 16 gauge staple is actually a 7/16”.
These are a few of the essentials of staples:
1. Fine wire staples - best suited for upholstery or stapling any kind of thin material
2. Flat wire staples - great for fastening plastic foil or carpets
3. Narrow crown staples - good for wood boards or floors
Portability and Frequency of Use
Another important aspect to consider when choosing a nail gun is what you’ll be needing it for and how often. There’s no reason to invest heavily in a power tool if you’re only going to staple the odd Christmas decoration. A manual staple gun would accomplish that goal nicely without breaking the bank.
If you’re a more serious DIY-er or you constantly like to undertake projects around the house, it might be an idea to go for an electric staple gun. But consider your portability needs when assessing if you’re going for cord or battery.
Budget
Lastly, consider the budget. Staple guns can run you as low as 20 bucks but also as high as 300. When it comes to power tools we always recommend going for durability, but if you’re just trying your hand at DIY, you can try out a more affordable alternative before committing to a more significant investment.
FAQ
Q: Can you use a staple gun for upholstery?
A: Yes, a staple gun is actually ideal for use on upholstery. You will need a gun that can support different size staples so that it can fix different types of material to the wood. These tools make it easy to fasten the fabric while avoiding creases or damage.
Q: What is the crown on a staple?
A: The crown is the top part of the staple that will show in the material once the staple is fastened. It can be flat or rounded and the width of the crown can vary from 3/16” to 1 ⅜”.
Q: Can you use a staple gun on concrete?
A: Staple guns are not very well suited to this material. Nail guns are going to serve you much better for this kind of work. However, staples can be used to fasten materials to metal without damaging it.
Q: What is the most common staple size?
A: The most common sizes you’ll find used in staple guns are the 16 gauge and 18 gauge. These are specific to all purpose staple guns and are mostly used in upholstery.
