Best Staple Guns for DIYers
A staple gun fastens upholstery, insulation, house wrap, screen, wiring, and craft material fast. The choice is manual, electric, or pneumatic, plus matching the staple type to the job. Power helps when driving lots of staples.
What to look for
- ·Manual staple guns are cheap and grab-and-go; electric and pneumatic save effort when driving many staples or into hard material.
- ·Match the staple type and leg length to the job (T50 is the common heavy-duty size). Some guns also shoot brad nails.
- ·For upholstery and lots of stapling, a powered gun (electric or pneumatic) reduces hand fatigue a lot.
Quick comparison
| Product | Tier | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| DeWalt Heavy-Duty Staple & Brad Tacker | Editor's pick | $25 to $40 | The most powerful manual gun |
| DeWalt Electric 5-in-1 Multi-Tacker | Editor's pick | $50 to $80 | The best electric stapler |
| Arrow PT50 Pneumatic Staple Gun | Editor's pick | $30 to $60 | Heavy, high-volume work |
| Arrow T50 Heavy-Duty Staple Gun | Best value | $15 to $30 | The classic value manual |
| Arrow Electric Staple Gun Kit | Best value | $30 to $50 | Value electric stapling |
| Arrow T50DCD Cordless Staple Gun | Best value | $40 to $70 | Cordless convenience value |
| Stanley SharpShooter Staple Gun | Budget pick | $12 to $25 | Budget general stapling |
| Surebonder Staple Gun | Budget pick | $10 to $20 | Budget crafts and upholstery |
| Store-Brand Staple Gun | Budget pick | $6 to $14 | Lowest-cost occasional use |
Editor's pick
DeWalt Heavy-Duty Staple & Brad Tacker
$25 to $40
Rated the best overall, this manual gun packs more punch than any other, driving long staples nearly flush into construction lumber and also shooting brads. The pick for a powerful manual gun.
Best for: The most powerful manual gun
Typically available at Home Depot, Lowe's, Amazon.
DeWalt Electric 5-in-1 Multi-Tacker
$50 to $80
The best electric option, driving multiple staple types and brads with consistent corded power. The pick for upholstery and high-volume stapling.
Best for: The best electric stapler
Typically available at Home Depot, Amazon.
Arrow PT50 Pneumatic Staple Gun
$30 to $60
A substantial heavy-duty pneumatic stapler for frequent, large-scale work, fast and powerful with a compressor. The pick for upholstery shops and big jobs.
Best for: Heavy, high-volume work
Typically available at Home Depot, Amazon.
Best value
Arrow T50 Heavy-Duty Staple Gun
$15 to $30
A value-forward manual gun with chrome-polished all-steel construction that is durable and rust-resistant, shooting common T50 staples. The classic, reliable manual pick.
Best for: The classic value manual
Typically available at Home Depot, Lowe's, Amazon.
Arrow Electric Staple Gun Kit
$30 to $50
A consistent corded electric stapler with included staples that saves time over manual guns. A strong value for upholstery and repetitive stapling.
Best for: Value electric stapling
Typically available at Home Depot, Amazon.
Arrow T50DCD Cordless Staple Gun
$40 to $70
A cordless electric stapler that saves considerable time over manual guns, grab-and-go with no cord. A good value for cordless convenience.
Best for: Cordless convenience value
Typically available at Home Depot, Amazon.
Budget pick
Stanley SharpShooter Staple Gun
$12 to $25
A dependable manual staple gun for general home and craft use at a budget price. Basic but reliable for light stapling jobs.
Best for: Budget general stapling
Typically available at Home Depot, Walmart, Amazon.
Surebonder Staple Gun
$10 to $20
An affordable manual stapler for crafts, upholstery, and light fastening. A cheap, serviceable pick for occasional projects.
Best for: Budget crafts and upholstery
Typically available at Amazon, Walmart.
Store-Brand Staple Gun
$6 to $14
The cheapest manual staple gun for occasional, light stapling. Basic and harder to squeeze, but the lowest cost for a one-time project.
Best for: Lowest-cost occasional use
Typically available at Home Depot, Walmart.
Frequently asked
Manual, electric, or pneumatic staple gun?+
Manual guns are inexpensive, portable, and fine for occasional stapling. Electric guns drive staples with the press of a trigger, great for upholstery and lots of staples without hand fatigue. Pneumatic guns are the most powerful and fast for heavy, frequent work, but need a compressor.
What staples do I need?+
Match the staple type and crown to your gun (T50 is a common heavy-duty standard) and the leg length to the material thickness, longer legs for thicker material. Use the staple type the gun is rated for, and use specific staples for wire, fabric, or fine work.
What is a staple gun used for?+
Upholstery and reupholstering, attaching insulation and house wrap, installing screen and weatherstripping, securing low-voltage wiring (with insulated staples), and countless craft and DIY tasks. A staple gun is a fast fastener for thin material.
Is an electric staple gun worth it?+
For upholstery, repetitive stapling, or driving into harder material, yes, it saves real time and hand fatigue compared to squeezing a manual gun hundreds of times. For occasional light stapling, a quality manual gun is cheaper and perfectly fine.
Why do my staples not go all the way in?+
Usually the material is too hard for a manual gun, the staples are too long, or the gun lacks power. Press firmly and flush, use the right staple length, and for hardwood or lots of staples, step up to an electric or pneumatic gun that drives them flush.