How do I use a staple gun and which type do I need?
Manual, electric and pneumatic compared, matching staple type to the job, and stopping staples sitting proud.
- Difficulty
- beginner
- Time
- 20 min
- Read
- 3 min
- Safety
- caution
Short answer
Manual staplers suit light fabric and sheeting; electric or pneumatic handle upholstery, carpet underlay and cable clipping. Match the staple leg length to the material and always check the crown width fits your gun.
Staple guns are simple until the staples do not go in flush, which is nearly always a mismatch between staple, tool and material.
Safety
Step by step
- Choose the type by workload.Manual for occasional light work. Electric for upholstery, underlay and repeated use. Pneumatic for heavy or all-day work. Manual staplers are hard work in anything dense.
- Check the staple type it takes.Guns take specific crown widths and leg lengths. The pack states which tools it fits, and the wrong staples jam immediately.
- Match leg length to the material.Long enough to hold, short enough not to come out the other side. For fabric onto softwood, 8 to 10mm is typical; for underlay, 10 to 12mm.
- Use narrow crown for trim and wide for fabric.Narrow crown staples hold thin material without showing. Wide crown spreads the load and is right for membranes, underlay and insulation.
- Hold the tool firmly against the work.Any gap and the staple only partly enters. Firm downward pressure while firing is most of the technique.
- Fire square.Angled firing bends staples and leaves one leg proud. Keep the base flat against the surface.
- Adjust the power setting.Most electric staplers have one. Too low and staples sit proud, too high and they cut through fabric. Test on scrap.
- Work systematically on fabric.Fix the centre of each side first, then work outwards, pulling the material taut as you go. Starting at a corner puts the tension all in one place.
- Use a hammer to seat proud staples.A tap with a light hammer and a nail punch finishes any that did not go fully home.
- Never staple electrical cable directly.Ordinary staples cut through insulation and cause shorts and fires. Use purpose-made cable clips or an insulated cable stapler.
Tips
- Check the staple pack lists your gun. Crown width is not interchangeable.
- Press hard against the work while firing. Most proud staples are a pressure problem.
- Never staple through electrical cable with an ordinary staple gun.
Common mistakes
- Using ordinary staples on cable — The staple crown crushes and cuts the insulation, which causes shorts and is a genuine fire risk. Use insulated cable clips designed for the purpose.
- Starting at a corner when stapling fabric — All the tension ends up in one place and the material puckers. Fix the centre of each side first, then work out towards the corners.
If it doesn't work
Staples sitting proud
Cause: Not enough pressure, low power setting, or dense material — Fix: Press harder, raise the power setting, or use a more powerful tool.
Staples bending over
Cause: Fired at an angle, or hitting something hard — Fix: Hold the base flat and check for a nail or knot at that point.
Frequent jams
Cause: Wrong staples or a dirty magazine — Fix: Check the staples match the tool exactly, and clear debris from the channel.
Staples cutting through fabric
Cause: Power too high or crown too narrow — Fix: Lower the setting and use a wider crown staple.
Questions people ask
Can I use any staples in my gun?
No. Guns take specific crown widths and leg lengths, and the packet lists compatible tools. Wrong staples jam and can damage the mechanism.
Is an electric stapler worth it?
For upholstery, underlay or any repeated work, yes — manual staplers are genuinely hard on the hand and struggle in dense timber.
What staples for carpet underlay?
Wide crown, around 10 to 12mm legs, into a timber subfloor. Check the underlay manufacturer's guidance, as some specify a particular fixing.