4V or 18V staple gun
Updated: October 2026
A £29.99 tacker with its battery and staples can look directly comparable with an £85 body marked 18 V, but the two prices buy different systems. Choosing a 4V or 18V staple gun is mainly about the fastener, material and battery you already own, not assuming that the larger voltage must perform every job better. The [main cordless staple gun comparison](/hub/staplers-and-nail-guns/cordless-stapler) shows the complete UK shelf. This page compares what the listings actually specify rather than inventing a power test.
A £29.99 tacker with its battery and staples can look directly comparable with an £85 body marked 18 V, but the two prices buy different systems.
A £29.99 tacker with its battery and staples can look directly comparable with an £85 body marked 18 V, but the two prices buy different systems. Choosing a 4V or 18V staple gun is mainly about the fastener, material and battery you already own, not assuming that the larger voltage must perform every job better. The main cordless staple gun comparison shows the complete UK shelf. This page compares what the listings actually specify rather than inventing a power test.
Our top picks
| Badge | Product | Voltage | Battery in the box | Staple system | Note | Price | Offer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall |  RYOBI Ryobi R18ST50-0 18 V stapler, body only | 18 V | No — body only. ONE+ battery not in included components. | 10 mm crown staples | 9.3 | about £85.00 | View offer |
 Tacwise Tacwise Hobby 53-13EL 4 V staple gun | 4 V | Yes — integrated USB-rechargeable 4 V lithium-ion | Type 13 or 53 staples and type 180 (18-gauge) brad nails | 9.4 | about £29.99 | View offer | |
| Preis-Tipp |  Anesty Anesty 3.6 V 2-in-1 cordless stapler | 3.6 V | Yes — 3.6 V 1.5 Ah Li-ion (listing claim) | Type 53 / JT21 staples and 18-gauge T-brad nails | 9.0 | about £24.20 | View offer |
On this page
What you get with a 4 V kit
Most 3.6 V and 4 V products here are complete, integrated-battery tools intended for fabric, crafts and thin softwood. Entry prices run from £24.20 for Anesty to roughly £32 for PHALANX, with the battery already built in. Tacwise Hobby costs £29.99 and includes a USB cable, bag and 2,000 type 53/8 mm staples.
Choose the fastener first; "4 V" does not define which strip fits. AMPFORCE says it is not suitable for hardwood, solid timber or skirting, and POPULO excludes hardwood and MDF. The disadvantage is that an integrated battery cannot be exchanged for a charged spare. For choosing between the compact kits themselves, see the best cordless staple gun guide.
What the 18 V body still needs
The Ryobi R18ST50-0 is the only 18 V product in this set. Its £85 amazon.co.uk price is explicitly for the body, with no ONE+ battery or charger in the included-components list. A first-time buyer must add the cost of both power items before comparing it with a complete 4 V kit.
Ryobi uses 10 mm-crown staples with 6–14 mm legs, not the type 53 strips common among compact tackers. It adds tool-free depth-of-drive adjustment, a material-grip attachment and belt clip. Weight is the trade-off. The body is listed at 1.4 kg before the battery is attached, and reviewers warn that a high-capacity pack makes it noticeably heavy. It has no stated brad mode and does not share type 53 consumables.
The 12 V option in between
Tacwise's 140-180EL sits between the two approaches at £58.99. The package includes a removable 12 V 1.3 Ah battery, UK mains charger, Euro plug adapter, storage bag and 400 mixed fasteners. Unlike the type 53 kits, it uses type 140 staples from 6–12 mm and type 180 nails at 10 mm. That fastener requirement should drive the decision before its voltage does.
It also offers single-shot and bump firing, an LED and a belt hook, although the listing states a three-to-five-hour charge and does not identify a drive-force adjuster. Choose this middle option when you specifically need type 140 and want the battery included. The cordless staple gun buying guide gives the complete family-first filter.
Which should you buy?
Buy a complete 4 V kit when your job is fabric, crafts or thin softwood, the specified type 53 or brad range fits, and you do not already own a power-tool battery platform. Check every box list, however: POPULO does not clearly name its charger or cable, and BLUEMARS gives conflicting fastener quantities.
Choose the 18 V Ryobi when you already own a suitable ONE+ battery and charger, need its stated 10 mm crown and value tool-free depth adjustment. Choose the 12 V Tacwise when type 140 is the required staple and you want the pack and charger supplied.
Common questions
Is 4 V enough for fabric and thin pine?
It can be when the listing names those materials, the staple family is correct and an offcut test finishes flush. Compact 4 V tools are commonly positioned for fabric, canvas and thin softwood. They are not automatically suitable for hardwood, MDF or skirting, and several listings explicitly exclude those materials.
What am I paying for with the £85 Ryobi?
You are buying the R18ST50-0 body, its 10 mm-crown system, tool-free depth adjustment, material grip and ONE+ compatibility. The amazon.co.uk box does not include a battery or charger. Existing ONE+ owners can reuse their power system; everyone else must add those costs before comparing it with a complete kit.
Where does the 12 V Tacwise fit?
The Tacwise 140-180EL is a complete £58.99 kit for type 140 staples and type 180 nails. It includes a removable battery, UK charger, Euro adapter and bag, plus single or bump firing. Choose it for that fastener system and feature set, not simply because 12 V lies between 4 V and 18 V.
Do I need a depth adjustment dial?
It is useful when material density varies and you need more control over how flush staples finish. Ryobi states tool-free depth adjustment; most compact 4 V listings do not. A dial still cannot make an unsuitable fastener or hardwood job safe, so test the specified staple on matching scrap first.
Will a larger Ryobi battery make the tool heavy?
Yes. The Ryobi body is already listed at 1.4 kg, and reviewers say a high-capacity pack adds noticeable weight. A larger battery may improve endurance, but balance matters under chair seats and on vertical work. Use a compatible pack suited to the job rather than choosing capacity without considering handling.
Can I use type 53 staples in the Ryobi?
No basis in the listed specification supports that. The R18ST50-0 uses a 10 mm crown with 6–14 mm legs, while type 53 is a different family used by many compact tools. Buy staples explicitly specified for the Ryobi model instead of matching by leg length alone.
Which plug comes with the 12 V Tacwise?
The included-components line lists a UK mains charger and a Euro plug adapter. One UK review reports needing an adapter, so inspect the delivered charging kit before use and contact the seller if it differs. Do not improvise with unsuitable mains hardware; UK supply is 230 V and uses BS 1363 plugs.
Related pages
Sources
Public UK sources on nail-gun safety, work equipment, satisfactory quality, electrical equipment and batteries, plus the Bosch and Ryobi UK pages and a Toolstation staple listing. amazon.co.uk listings for the twelve ASINs checked 16 October 2026. Prices move.
- HSE, nail guns (retrieved 16 October 2026)
- PUWER 1998 (retrieved 16 October 2026)
- Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 9 (retrieved 16 October 2026)
- GOV.UK, Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016 (retrieved 16 October 2026)
- GOV.UK, batteries (retrieved 16 October 2026)
- Bosch PTK 3,6 LI (retrieved 16 October 2026)
- Ryobi R18ST50-0 (retrieved 16 October 2026)
- Toolstation, Tacwise 53 series staples (retrieved 16 October 2026)