What are upholstery staples?
These thin-gauge, fine-wire staples are designed specifically for building and repairing furniture, linings, and soft furnishings. Upholsterers rely on specific sizes, such as the 71, 80, and 53 series, for precise tasks like securing padding, thin fabrics, and bottom dust covers.
Typical leg lengths range from 6mm to 16mm. Galvanised steel is corrosion-resistant and is mainly used indoors. Stainless steel is the preferred material for marine applications or outdoor furniture.
Recommended types of fabric staples
Undoubtedly, our 71 series and tacking staples are top choices for upholstery work:
71 series
These 71 series fine wire fasteners are the industry benchmark for professional upholstery and furniture manufacturing. They feature a slim 9mm crown width that allows them to sink completely flush into delicate fabrics without tearing your materials. We stock a wide range of leg lengths to suit varying fabric thicknesses. Choosing our premium galvanised staples ensures your linings remain securely anchored and well-protected against atmospheric moisture.
Tacking staples
Our 13 series hand tacker staples offer a reliable alternative perfectly configured for lighter upholstery projects. The 26 series staples are another lightweight option and are excellent for thinner materials and quick interior trimming repairs. It is important not to use other hand tacker staples in our range, as they are heavy-duty and could ruin your fabric.
Other staples for upholstery staple gun use
Here are four other common staple series used for specialist furniture and upholstery tasks:
1) 80 series fine wire staples
Selecting this classic product line gives your crew an excellent, wide-crown option for secure clamping of furnishing fabrics. They provide massive holding power on thin webbings without cutting into delicate textile fibres. As an excellent trade alternative, the 80 series fine wire staple provides the ideal profile for building sturdy, traditional armchair bases.
2) BEA 95 series fine wire staples
These premium staples offer excellent precision for intricate furniture restoration and re-upholstery work. The 95 series staples slide cleanly into compatible air tacker magazines, feeding reliably to eliminate frustrating tool jams and keep your assembly moving.
3) 90 series narrow crown staples
These heavy-duty narrow crown fasteners drive effortlessly through tough plywood sub-layers and straight into the main timber frame, providing long-term structural durability in high-traffic commercial booth seating. Click here to view the 90 series.
4) Type 53 fine wire staples
Many lightweight manual hand tackers accept these versatile staples for quick fabric repairs and general on-site adjustments. Our type 53 fine wire staples are ideal for neat domestic stool cover replacements or fixing thin protective dust covers. This budget-friendly fastener choice is highly practical for minor workshop furniture touch-up jobs.
Benefits delivered
These trade-approved fasteners provide excellent holding power across your entire range of furniture building projects.
1) Secure fabric fastening
Choosing the right staple gauge ensures heavy elastic webbing stays firmly anchored to the timber frame under tension. Our trade-quality staples deliver an exceptional grip that withstands continuous seating tension without slipping over time.
2) Neat and professional results
Our fine wire staples are engineered to sink cleanly into your timber frame. They sit perfectly flush with the wood grain, leaving a neat, professional finish that keeps fabric surfaces completely taut.
3) Fast and efficient
Using these collated strips in a pneumatic fine wire stapler (like the Bostitch 21680B-E Pneumatic 80 Tacker (4-16mm) dramatically speeds up production times, helping your team handle large commercial orders efficiently.
4) Preventing fabric damage
Choosing a specialised thin wire gauge protects expensive covering materials from tearing or puckering during the installation phase. We supply various sizes to fit your exact upholstery tool magazines perfectly on every single job. This smart choice reduces material waste in case you have to adjust a crooked panel.
Key features to consider before buying
Use this quick guide to select the right staple specifications for your workshop benches:
Staple length
Choosing the proper prong depth helps your team assemble a sturdy timber framework without splitting the wood. Short 6mm legs are ideal for pinning thin calico linings neatly into position. You will need longer 14mm versions to bite deep into chunky structural sofa corners. This approach ensures total stability and safeguards your furnishings.
Wire gauge
The overall thickness of the metal wire affects the final appearance of your finished work pieces. Heavy flat wire 140 series staples are excellent for site insulation, but useless for delicate furniture. Fine wire 71 series rows fit lightweight trade tools beautifully to leave a clean surface.
Crown width
The horizontal top dimension affects how neatly your chosen fastener sits across different textile weaves. Wide 80 series profiles offer excellent surface clamping force to keep slippery vinyl linings flat. Narrow crown 90 series staples drive deep into structural frame joints to provide extra clamping force where fabric staples cannot reach.
Material and coating options
Choosing the right metal finish prevents rust bleeding through expensive fabrics and ruining your finished work. Budget-friendly bright steel bundles are ideal for dry indoor framing jobs. Please note our stainless steel lines provide maximum corrosion resistance for marine trimming and outdoor garden furniture.
Compatible tools
We do not have any cordless models, but for upholstery staplers, we do have options for pneumatic (air), electric (corded) and manual (hand) models:
Pneumatic upholstery staplers
These speed up furniture assembly because the automated air action fires fasteners with minimal hand effort. You need a dedicated workshop air compressor to provide the reliable pressure required to drive these tools cleanly into dense hardwood frames.
Electric upholstery staplers
The next option is electric (or corded) staplers. These do not require a compressor to operate. These simply plug into the electric mains supply and provide a powerful way to staple upholstery. An example is the Maestri ME53 Electric Upholstery Staple/Nail Gun (8-20mm).
Manual upholstery staplers
We also have a hand model in the Rocama Maestri 71 Hand Upholstery Staple Gun (8-16mm). This fires 71 Series upholstery staples from 8-16mm and is a “handy” tool, which does not require an air supply or electricity.
Contact Betco Fasteners
Unsure which wire gauge or leg length matches your gun? Contact our experienced trade team today for expert technical advice. Contact us in these ways:
