Best Upholstery Staple Guns of 2023
IMAGE | PRODUCT | DETAILS | ||
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Top Pick ![]() | Top Pick |
Our Rating: 4.2 | Check Price at AmazonSurebonder 9615A Review Surebonder 9615A Review | |
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Our Rating: 4.2 | Check Price at AmazonFasco 11081F F1B Review Fasco 11081F F1B Review | ||
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Our Rating: 4.8 | Check Price at AmazonPorter-Cable US58 Review Porter-Cable US58 Review | ||
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Our Rating: 4.0 | Check Price at AmazonUnicatch USC71/16L Review Unicatch USC71/16L Review | ||
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Our Rating: 4.6 | Check Price at AmazonFreeman PFWS Review Freeman PFWS Review |
Things TO Consider Before Buying An Upholstery Stapler
Good for
Before you opt for a particular model, you have to choose between three power sources – manual, electric, and pneumatic. It all comes down to how big are the projects you want to deal with. If it’s something that doesn’t require heavy duty service, manual and electric models should offer enough power. On the other hand, if you’re planning on tackling a large task, it might be a good idea to check some pneumatic models out. As you can assume, these units are mainly designed for reupholstering and minor fixes. The main characteristic of these units is the elongated nose which offers you a possibility to reach tight corners and remote places.
Not recommended for
If you’re thinking about doing a small to mid-sized project that involves reupholstering of any kind, don’t hesitate to invest a bit of money in one of these units. Also, you can choose which source of power suits you the most. Therefore, if you don’t own an air compressor, you can invest in an electric or manual gun without thinking about whether it’s going to be enough for your project. There aren’t many things these units are not recommended for, but you should avoid massive projects with electric and manual models. On the other hand, pneumatic ones are able to cope with large tasks without much hassle.
Top Rated Upholstery Staplers
- Design
- Functionality
- Price
The design is somewhat standard. There aren’t a lot of “wow” factors when it comes to the design, but it’s satisfactory nonetheless. While it doesn’t work best with massive projects, it has no issues with small to mid-sized ones. Therefore, if you have a couple of old chairs laying around waiting for some better times, don’t hesitate to check this particular model out and see if it offers enough performance for your needs.
The thing you might not like about it is the finishing touch. In simpler words, it doesn’t thrive when it comes to the beauty of finishing the projects. However, if you take the affordability into consideration, you know it’s not exactly going to perform miracles. There is no need to panic though; it’s a minor flaw which is unnoticeable for the most part. It’s only visible when some antique and super-sensitive upholstery is in question.
Despite the few minor downsides, it’s a pretty good unit in general. The one thing people really like about it is the safety mechanism. Unlike some other pneumatic models, this one has its own safety system which allows you to have full control when firing staples. Therefore, the risk of injury is at a bare minimum. Apart from doing upholstery with it, you can also do some minor roofing adjustments and insulation. While it is an entry-level all-around model, you should stick with upholstery because it isn’t the best when it comes to other similar projects.
- Design
- Functionality
- Price
The design is not bad at all. The non-slip handle offers a firm grip, especially for people who tend to get sweaty hands. As you may know, safety should always be a priority, and this particular model does well in the safety department. The thing people like the most about it is its versatility. While it’s recommended for upholstery, it can cope with some other more demanding tasks. For example, installing roof insulation or fixing your laminate is entirely possible and easy with this particular model.
However, as with all other products, there are some disadvantages. Although there aren’t many downsides, we still feel it should be mentioned so that you can get an idea of what to expect if you opt for this model. The main shortcoming is the misfires, as expected. As you may already know, a vast majority of these units have problems with misfires; it’s only a matter of how frequently does it happen. Luckily, it’s not a frequent occurrence with the Fasco 11081FF1B.
When it comes to the price, it’s what makes this model so desirable among the DIY enthusiasts. While it’s not a cheap unit per se, it’s certainly the one that’s worth investing in. The price-to-quality ratio is excellent, and it should prove to be a valuable investment after a couple of projects.
- Design
- Functionality
- Price
The design is pretty neat. It doesn’t have any impressive elements, but it’s a solid gun nonetheless. It an air-powered unit meaning you’l have to buy an additional compressor in order to use it. Luckily, it doesn’t require a super-expensive air compressor to work. In fact, any model that can deliver up to 120 PSI is perfectly fine for this unit. The Porter-Cable US58 works on around 60 to 100 PSI which is great because a vast majority of affordable compressors can deliver those values without too much hassle.
The things you might not like are the absence of safety mechanisms and the customer support. First of all, cutting corners in the safety department is a big no-no for every staple manufacturer. These things can be deadly if not used in a proper manner, especially the pneumatic models which are known as the most powerful ones. Safety is of utmost importance here, and this model has a few issues with it. However, as long as you follow the rules and read the user manual, you shouldn’t be in any danger whatsoever. As far as the customer support goes, some people reported they couldn’t get a hold of Porter-Cable’s customer support for days. Although it may be a lonely case, ignoring the buyers definitely doesn’t look good for the company at all.
As you can see, it’s a pretty versatile device, but it works best with upholstery projects. As far as the price goes, it’s reasonable, acceptable, and fair. While you may encounter a few misfires here and there, the overall usefulness of this model exceeds the shortcomings.
- Design
- Functionality
- Price
The design is what makes this stapler different from the others. While it’s aesthetically pretty close to most upholstery guns, the things under the hood make it a unit that’s worth investing money in. First of all, the reliability is at a high level. It means you don’t have to worry much about the misfires and safety. The second thing you might like about it is the long nose which makes it great for getting into the hard-to-reach places.
The disadvantages are almost non-existent. Some people reported a few misfires, and that’s it. Others don’t like the fact that it’s a pneumatic model as most of them are, but there’s nothing you can do about it. The good news is that it doesn’t require a fancy compressor whatsoever. Any affordable one that can output up to 100 PSI should be more than enough. This particular model operates on 60 to 80 PSI.
The price is good. One can’t say it’s a cheap product, but it offers more than enough for the given price. Apart from being quite reliable, it can also cope with some larger projects like carpentry, roofing, insulation, and more. Therefore, you don’t have to focus only on upholstery; there is a variety of tasks that this unit can withstand without too much pressure. Take a look and see if it’s the thing you’re looking for, and don’t hesitate to check it out – it’s worth the effort.
- Design
- Functionality
- Price
The design is slick and modern. The non-slip elements come in handy, especially for people who are prone to sweating. Instead of holding bare metal with your hands and risking injury, you can safely use this unit thanks to the rubber handles on the casing. The reloading mechanism is what makes this particular model different from the others. It has a well-engineered reload system meaning you don’t have to think about the hassle you would otherwise go through with other models.
The main disadvantage of it is the occasional misfires. However, it’s not a frequent problem at all. In fact, only a few people reported the issue. Some other people didn’t like the fact that it only works with a specific kind of staples. Although it is true, the supplies aren’t hard to get. Truth be told, every well-equipped hardware store should sell the Arrow T50 Staples and Generic Fine Wire Staples.
One of the things that make this model worth checking out is the ease of use. Furthermore, it’s a very lightweight model meaning even people who have joint problems can use it without worrying much about fatigue. As far as the complexity goes, it’s a piece of cake. All you have to do is read the manual once, and you should be able to use this product without any major issues.
The price is okay. Considering the prices of other models from the same category, this one seems like the most reasonable one. People who are on a tight budget love this particular model because it sits in the middle when it comes to quality and performance. While it’s not a professional unit per se, it definitely can cope with any DIY task you can imagine.
Upholstery Staple Gun Product Comparisons
REQUIRED SUPPLIES | MATERIAL | WEIGHT | PRICE | ||
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![]() Surebonder 9615A, Upholstery | 22 gauge staples from 5/16″ to 5/8″ in length | Metal | 3 lbs | $ | Check Price |
![]() Fasco 11081F F1B 50-16 | 1/4-Inch to 5/8-Inch leg length staples | Aluminum | 2.8 lbs | $$$ | Check Price |
![]() Porter-Cable US58 1/4-Inch | Standard Senco Type, 22-Gauge | Steel, aluminum, plastic | 1.8 lbs | $$$ | Check Price |
![]() Unicatch USC71/16L (US2238AL) | 22 gauge 3/8″ crown staples | Metal and plastic | 2.5 lbs | $$ | Check Price |
![]() Freeman PFWS Professional | Arrow T50 Staples and Generic Fine Wire Staples | Anodized Aluminum | 2.8 lbs | $ | Check Price |
Things to Consider When Choosing the Best Upholstery Staple Gun
Size of your project
Whether you’re buying a tool for one or hundred projects, it doesn’t matter. The only thing that matters is how large those projects are. If you’re planning to tackle a massive renovation and furniture redesigns, consider investing a bit of money in a high-end unit. There is no use in buying cheap ones because you’ll end up buying five of them before you bring the project to an end. By using some simple math, you can draw a pretty clear conclusion – it’s always better to invest in quality instead of quantity.
Safety
As we already mentioned, safety is of utmost importance when it comes to these tools, especially the pneumatic ones. Because there’s a lot of force and power involved, stray staples can be deadly if the unit suddenly misfires or if you mess something up by not using it correctly. Either way, it’s very bad news. However, many models have different safety mechanisms integrated so that these things don’t happen. As you may assume, the ideal thing for you would be to find the one that’s rated as safe(st).
Apart from counting on the safety precautions within the unit itself, you have to think about wearing the required equipment. In fact, there’s nothing to think about, just do it. Goggles and gloves are the two most important pieces of equipment, and you should never work without wearing either one of those.

Required power source
A vast majority of upholstery staple guns use air as a source of power. While it’s one of the most reliable sources, there are some things you should think about. The first one is – How much pressure does a unit need in order to operate at an optimal level?
Most models work fine with 60 to a 100 PSI, but there are some that require more. It could be a big deal for some people because it means you’ll have to invest some money in the air compressor as well. Although, you shouldn’t worry too much about it because the ones that do require more power usually cost a lot more than the ones we’ve covered.
Either way, pay special attention to the power requirements because it’s one of the most frequent mistakes people do. They buy a high-end machine but oversee the fact that they also need a high-end compressor which requires at least two or three hundred dollars more.

The price
The devices we’ve covered are all affordable and accessible to people with a limited budget. However, the market is huge, and there are a ton of other models that can cost up to few hundred dollars. The one thing you need to remember is that a higher price doesn’t necessarily mean better quality. In fact, the ones that cost too much usually have similar features as the cheaper ones but are manufactured by well-known brands. Therefore, you’re probably paying for the brand instead for quality.
Famous companies do offer better warranty conditions and a 24/7 customer support, but it’s not something that should be overpaid. In the end, it all comes down to your personal preferences, and of course the size of your budget.
Usefulness
Not all models are useful; it’s a well-known fact. The easiest way to check the value of a particular unit is to read other people’s impressions. There are tons of reviews on the Internet that offer more than enough info about the quality and usefulness of some units. Take a moment and conduct some research, you’ll get a lot of new and valuable info.
The conclusion
Dealing with upholstery isn’t always an easy thing, especially if you don’t have the right tools for it. We’ve made a list of few models that we think are worth checking out. The things we considered are reliability, durability, and affordability. You can rest assured that every single model we’ve reviewed does meet these conditions and performs as advertised.
Occasional DIY projects are much easier with the right staple gun. As long as you have a bit of time to read and research, you shouldn’t have any problems to find the suitable one for your future plans. Make sure you know what are you doing before starting a project, and if you don’t – read the user manual. Remember, safety first!