Stapler or staple gun: choose for paper, fabric or cable
Updated: October 2026
You need to fasten a document, re-cover a chair or secure a thin cable, and an online search offers all three jobs under “stapler”. The choice between a stapler or staple gun depends on the material and what should happen to the fastener after it enters. A desktop tool clinches through paper against an anvil; a manual gun drives into a supporting material; a cable tacker guides a rounded staple around compatible cable. Our [main stapler comparison](/hub/staplers-and-nail-guns/stapler) contains ten paper staplers, one general hand gun and one specialist cable tacker. Choose the family first, because their staples are not interchangeable.
You need to fasten a document, re-cover a chair or secure a thin cable, and an online search offers all three jobs under “stapler”.
You need to fasten a document, re-cover a chair or secure a thin cable, and an online search offers all three jobs under “stapler”. The choice between a stapler or staple gun depends on the material and what should happen to the fastener after it enters. A desktop tool clinches through paper against an anvil; a manual gun drives into a supporting material; a cable tacker guides a rounded staple around compatible cable. Our main stapler comparison contains ten paper staplers, one general hand gun and one specialist cable tacker. Choose the family first, because their staples are not interchangeable.
Our top picks
| Badge | Product | Type | Staple system | Staples in the box | Note | Price | Offer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall |  RAPESCO Rapesco 1602 Marlin stapler | Full-strip desktop paper stapler | Uses 26/6 mm and 24/6 mm. This pack includes 2000 x 26/6 mm. | 2000 staples of 26/6 mm | 9.5 | about £9.00 | View offer |
| Alternative |  Rapid Rapid PRO R28 cable tacker | Manual cable tacker | Rapid No. 28, 9–11 mm. Low-voltage cable under 50 V, up to 4.5 mm diameter. | None. Contents: 1 x Rapid PRO R28E. | 9.5 | about £58.83 | View offer |
| Preis-Tipp |  ValueMax ValueMax 3-in-1 staple gun | Manual 3-in-1 staple gun | Type 140, 6–14 mm; type 28, 10–12 mm; type 8 brads, 15 mm | 1000 D-type, 1000 U-type, 1000 T-type, plus a remover | 8.9 | about £11.36 | View offer |
On this page
Use a desktop stapler for paper
A desktop stapler is the right answer for letters, reports and handouts. Its driver pushes a short office staple through the sheets, and the metal anvil bends the two legs inward to hold the bundle.
The Rapesco Marlin accepts 24/6 and 26/6, while the Sting Rays and ASTARON name 24/6. None of those office codes belongs in the two hand guns.
Do not use a paper stapler to re-cover a chair. Even a model that opens for tacking lacks the fastener range, nose and driving action expected for repeated upholstery work, and a noticeboard function is not evidence of suitability for timber-backed fabric. If paper is your material, use the desktop stapler buying guide. If the job is fabric or underlay, move to the manual gun below.
Use the ValueMax for fabric and light DIY
The ValueMax B08DFK3PWM is a manual 3-in-1 staple gun listed at £11.36. It takes type 140 staples from 6–14 mm, its listed type 28 fasteners from 10–12 mm and type 8 brads at 15 mm. The box contains 1,000 of each type plus a remover, and a top knob adjusts driving force and depth. Reviews name chair fabric, carpet underlay and garden membrane, which are much closer to its intended work than paper documents.
The listing's “TÜV GS Tested” wording is a seller claim; it is not an independent finding from this comparison. Some reviewers report misfires when the magazine runs low.
Wear eye protection, keep your other hand clear of the nose and press the gun squarely against stable work before squeezing.
Use the Rapid R28 only for compatible low-voltage cable
The Rapid PRO R28 is a purpose-built manual cable tacker, not a more expensive general staple gun. It accepts Rapid No. 28 rounded cable staples in 9–11 mm lengths and is listed for low-voltage cable under 50 V, up to 4.5 mm in diameter. The guide at the nose helps position the fastener around the cable rather than driving a flat crown blindly across it.
At £58.83, the R28 costs much more than the ValueMax, and the gun is supplied without staples. Its 4.7-star average comes from only 37 reviews, and the underlying review set is not exclusively British, so the rating should not be compared uncritically with a desk model carrying tens of thousands of reviews.
Do not use the R28 on mains cable. Its listing limit is under 50 V, and a staple that is too tight, misplaced or incompatible can damage insulation. If the cable or route is outside the stated specification, stop and use an appropriate fixing method or qualified installer. Skip this tool for upholstery as well: its rounded No. 28 system is designed to bridge cable, not to spread holding force across chair fabric.
These guns are not office staplers or powered nailers
The repeated numbers create traps. ValueMax “type 28” at 10–12 mm is not automatically Rapid No. 28 at 9–11 mm, and neither is related to 24/6 or 26/6 office staples. Match the full fastener family and tool specification, not one number on a box. Our 24/6 or 26/6 explanation covers paper refills separately.
Both guns here are manual. They do not have a battery, compressor hose or electric firing system.
Powered nail-gun controls and HSE guidance should not be copied blindly onto these hand tools, but basic discipline still applies: eye protection, a clear firing area, hands away from the nose and no improvised staples. A manual mechanism can still eject metal or puncture a finger. For paper-loading steps rather than gun technique, use how to use a stapler.
Common questions
Can a desktop stapler re-cover a chair?
No. A desk stapler is designed to clinch short staples through paper against its anvil. A noticeboard-tack mode does not make it an upholstery gun. Use a manual or powered staple gun that lists the correct fastener for the fabric and backing.
What fasteners does the ValueMax take?
The listing names type 140 staples at 6–14 mm, a type 28 fastener at 10–12 mm and type 8 brads at 15 mm. It includes 1,000 of each. It does not take 24/6 office staples.
Are ValueMax type 28 and Rapid No. 28 the same?
No. They are different stated systems with different ranges and jobs. The Rapid No. 28 staple is a rounded 9–11 mm cable fastener. Buy against the complete tool specification, not the shared number.
Does the Rapid R28 include staples?
No. The listing contents specify one Rapid PRO R28 gun without staples. Add the cost of compatible Rapid No. 28 staples when comparing its £58.83 shelf price with other tools.
Can I use the Rapid R28 on a mains cable?
No. The listing restricts it to compatible low-voltage cable under 50 V and up to 4.5 mm. Do not extend that claim to UK mains wiring; use an appropriate fixing method or qualified installer.
Do I need eye protection with a manual staple gun?
Yes. A jammed, deflected or incorrectly seated fastener can leave the tool unpredictably. Wear eye protection, stabilise the work, keep your free hand away from the nose and unload the magazine before clearing a fault.
When should I choose a cordless or air staple gun?
Consider powered equipment when a large job makes repeated manual squeezing slow or tiring. Choose cordless for mobility or air power for suitable workshop volume, but only after matching the powered tool's fastener, material and safety instructions.
Related pages
Sources
Public UK sources on staple codes, strip capacity, cable staples and work equipment. Listings checked 16 October 2026. Prices on amazon.co.uk move.
- AOS staple size guide (retrieved 16 October 2026)
- Office Stationery stapler guide (retrieved 16 October 2026)
- Euroffice stapling guide (retrieved 16 October 2026)
- Rapesco ECO Sting Ray (retrieved 16 October 2026)
- Rapesco Marlin (retrieved 16 October 2026)
- Rapid Electronics R28 (retrieved 16 October 2026)
- PUWER 1998 Schedule 2 paragraph 13 (retrieved 16 October 2026)
- HSE nail guns (retrieved 16 October 2026)