Upholstery Staples and Tacks for Furniture Making and Repair
Shop upholstery staples and tacks for furniture manufacturing, reupholstery, restoration, automotive trimming and general workroom use. Livedale supplies fine wire staples, framing staples, stainless steel staples, black staples, brad nails, hog rings, traditional upholstery tacks and gimp pins for professional upholsterers, furniture makers, repair workshops and experienced DIY customers.
Staples and tacks are used throughout furniture production and upholstery. They can secure fabric, hessian, calico, lining cloth, webbing and other materials to a suitable furniture frame. Brad nails and hog rings provide additional fastening options for more specialised construction, repair and trimming work.
Choosing the correct fastener is important. Staples that appear similar may have different crown widths, wire gauges, leg lengths and tool compatibility. A box described as an upholstery staple will not necessarily fit every upholstery staple gun.
Shop Upholstery Fasteners by Type
Our range is divided into two main sections: staples, brads and hog rings and traditional upholstery tacks and gimp pins.
The correct choice depends on the material being fixed, the furniture construction, whether the fastening will be visible and the tool being used.
Staples, Brads and Hog Rings
Browse our complete range of staples, brads and hog rings for furniture upholstery, frame construction, trimming and repair work.
This section contains the fasteners used with pneumatic staple guns, hand tackers, electric tackers, brad nailers and compatible hog ring pliers.
Always check the fastener series and dimensions against the tool manufacturer’s specification before ordering.
Upholstery Staples
Our upholstery staples include fine wire staples, hand-tacker staples, heavier frame staples, stainless steel staples and black staples.
Staples are widely used for attaching upholstery materials to timber frames. Common applications include securing:
- Upholstery fabric
- Vinyl and leathercloth
- Hessian and calico
- Platform and lining cloths
- Polyester wadding
- Elasticated and polypropylene webbing
- Piping tails and concealed fabric edges
- Protective or finishing materials beneath furniture
The staple series, leg length and wire gauge should be chosen according to the tool, material thickness and furniture frame.
71 Series Fine Wire Staples
The 71 Series is one of the most commonly used staple types in professional furniture upholstery and trimming.
Its relatively fine wire helps secure fabric and lightweight upholstery materials without creating an unnecessarily large hole or prominent fastening point. Different leg lengths allow the fastener to be selected for anything from delicate fabric work to thicker layers of covering material.
Shorter 71 Series staples can be useful where only a thin layer of fabric or lining cloth is being attached. Longer versions may be needed where several layers of material must be secured to the frame.
A longer staple is not automatically better. If the staple is unnecessarily long, it may fail to drive cleanly, bend within hard timber or emerge through a thin frame section.
The current Livedale range includes 71 Series staples in several leg lengths, together with stainless steel and black alternatives for more specialised applications.
13 Series Staples
13 Series staples are used with compatible hand tackers, electric tackers and certain specialist staple guns.
They are often selected for general fastening, light upholstery and jobs where a hand-operated or electric tool is more practical than a pneumatic upholstery gun.
The available leg lengths should be matched carefully to both the tacker and the material being secured. Two tools that look similar may use completely different staple series.
Never assume that a staple will fit because its stated length matches the fastener already in the tool. The crown width and wire construction must also be compatible.
14 Series Frame Staples
14 Series staples are heavier framing fasteners used for suitable furniture construction, frame assembly and other applications requiring a more substantial fixing.
They are different from the fine wire staples generally used to attach visible upholstery fabric. Their heavier construction makes them better suited to compatible framing tools and appropriate timber applications.
The staple gun must be specifically designed for the selected 14 Series fastener. Using an incompatible staple can cause feeding problems, repeated jams or damage to the tool.
Stainless Steel Upholstery Staples
Stainless steel staples are useful for marine upholstery, outdoor seating and other environments where increased resistance to moisture and corrosion is required.
They may be used for boat cushions, exterior furniture, campervan upholstery and similar projects where ordinary steel staples could be exposed to condensation or damp conditions.
The surrounding materials, timber and other metal components must also be suitable for the environment. Using stainless steel staples alone will not make an otherwise unsuitable furniture construction weatherproof.
Check that the stainless steel staple series is compatible with the selected gun before ordering.
Black Upholstery Staples
Black staples provide a less conspicuous fixing where the staple crown may remain slightly visible against black platform cloth, lining material or dark upholstery fabric.
They can be useful beneath furniture, around concealed edges and in finishing areas where a bright metal staple would be more noticeable.
Colour does not replace correct specification. The staple series, gauge and length must still match the gun and application.
Brad Nails
Browse brad nails for discreet furniture construction, trim fitting and detailed timber work.
Brad nails have a much smaller head than conventional nails. This helps create a less noticeable fastening where a large nail head would interfere with the appearance of the finished work.
They may be used for suitable decorative trims, mouldings, lightweight timber components and furniture details. Their narrow construction can also reduce the risk of splitting delicate timber, although the fixing position and timber condition must still be considered carefully.
Brad nails should be selected according to:
- The gauge accepted by the nailer
- The permitted nail length
- The thickness of the material being fixed
- The depth and condition of the receiving timber
- Whether the fixing will carry a structural load
- Whether the nail head must remain concealed
Brad nails are not a direct substitute for upholstery staples. Staples provide a wider crown that spreads the holding force across fabric and other sheet materials, while brads create a narrow point fixing more suited to timber and trim work.
Hog Rings
Browse hog rings for compatible furniture, automotive trimming and fastening applications.
Hog rings are open metal fasteners that are closed around materials or components using suitable hog ring pliers. They are commonly associated with automotive seat trimming, wire frames, spring assemblies and other applications where two components must be securely joined.
The correct ring size and wire strength depend on the materials being connected and the space available around the fixing point.
Hog rings should be closed firmly without cutting unnecessarily into the surrounding material. The correct pliers help form the ring consistently and reduce the chance of it twisting or closing unevenly.
Check the internal diameter, wire thickness and intended application before selecting a replacement.
Traditional Upholstery Tacks and Gimp Pins
Browse upholstery tacks and gimp pins for traditional furniture upholstery, restoration, fabric fitting and decorative trim work.
Although they appear together within one category, traditional tacks and gimp pins perform different jobs.
Upholstery tacks are used as functional furniture fasteners. Gimp pins are smaller finishing pins used primarily to secure decorative braid and trim.
Traditional Upholstery Tacks
Traditional cut upholstery tacks are used in antique restoration, traditional reupholstery and furniture making.
They may be used to attach fabric, hessian, calico, webbing and other upholstery materials to suitable timber frames. Their tapered form helps them enter the timber while still allowing them to be removed during future restoration.
Smaller tacks are generally used for lighter or more delicate materials. Larger tacks may be selected where thicker materials or heavier webbing require a more substantial fixing.
The Livedale range includes Challenge and Lion Brand upholstery tacks in a choice of sizes.
The appropriate tack size will depend on:
- The material being fixed
- The combined thickness of the upholstery layers
- The condition and hardness of the timber
- The strength required
- Whether the tack may need to be removed later
- The amount of space available within the frame rail
A tack should penetrate deeply enough to provide a secure hold without passing through the timber or damaging the visible face of the furniture.
Traditional tacks are normally driven with a suitable upholstery tack hammer. A magnetic tack hammer can help position smaller tacks before the final strike.
When working on older furniture, inspect the frame carefully before fitting replacement tacks. Timber weakened by previous holes, splitting or decay may not hold a new fixing securely.
Gimp Pins
Gimp pins are fine pins used to secure decorative gimp, braid and narrow upholstery trims.
They are generally fitted through the decorative trim at regular intervals, helping keep it flat and neatly positioned over seams, tack lines or finished furniture edges.
Gimp pins are available in different colours so the head can be matched more closely to the braid, fabric or surrounding finish.
They are intended to provide a discreet finishing fixing rather than a heavy structural fastening. They should not be relied upon to secure webbing, springs or heavily tensioned upholstery fabric.
Position the pins carefully and maintain even spacing. Irregular placement may remain visible once the furniture is completed, particularly on straight trim runs and exposed edges.
Understanding Staple Series and Sizes
The staple series identifies the fastener’s basic profile, including its crown width and wire construction. The second number in a product description commonly identifies the nominal leg length in millimetres.
For example, a 71/10 staple is from the 71 Series and has a nominal 10mm leg length.
This does not mean that every tool described as a 71 Series gun will necessarily accept every available leg length. Each tool has a minimum and maximum fastener capacity.
Before ordering staples, check:
- The staple series required by the gun
- The minimum and maximum permitted leg length
- Whether the gun accepts fine or heavy wire staples
- The material being fastened
- The thickness of all material layers
- The available timber depth
- Whether stainless steel or black staples are required
Where the tool’s model label is still visible, use the manufacturer’s specification rather than measuring an old staple and guessing.
Choosing the Correct Staple Length
The staple must pass through the upholstery material and penetrate sufficiently into the furniture frame to provide a dependable hold.
Thin fabric, calico and lightweight lining cloth may only require a short staple. Thicker fabric, multiple material layers or webbing may require a longer fastener.
However, staple length should not be increased without checking the timber beneath. Furniture rails may be thinner than they first appear, particularly around shaped backs, arms and decorative frame sections.
A staple that is too short may pull loose. A staple that is too long may bend, fail to drive fully or emerge through the opposite side of the timber.
Test the selected staple on a concealed section or a piece of similar timber before beginning the main work.
Which Upholstery Fastener Should You Use?
Different fasteners are intended for different jobs.
Use fine wire upholstery staples for efficiently attaching fabric, calico, hessian, lining materials and other suitable upholstery layers.
Use heavier frame staples only with compatible equipment and where a more substantial construction fixing is required.
Use stainless steel staples where increased moisture and corrosion resistance is important.
Use black staples where a bright metal crown would be unnecessarily visible against dark material.
Use traditional upholstery tacks for period furniture, traditional construction and work where a removable hand-driven fixing is preferred.
Use gimp pins for attaching decorative braid and lightweight finishing trim.
Use brad nails for suitable timber mouldings, trims and detailed furniture components.
Use hog rings for compatible wire, spring and automotive trimming applications.
Staple Gun Compatibility
Staple compatibility should be checked before any order is placed.
The following information may be printed on the gun, magazine, packaging or manufacturer’s instructions:
- Staple series
- Crown width
- Wire gauge
- Minimum leg length
- Maximum leg length
- Recommended fastener brand or equivalent specification
Do not force an unsuitable staple into the magazine. Even a small difference in crown width or wire thickness can cause feeding failures and repeated jams.
Livedale also supplies pneumatic staple guns and tackers for professional and general upholstery use.
When buying a new tool, it can be sensible to select the gun and its compatible staple supply together. This removes much of the uncertainty and helps ensure that replacement fasteners will remain readily available.
Removing Old Staples and Tacks
Old upholstery must normally be stripped before new materials can be fitted.
Use a purpose-made staple remover, tack lifter or ripping chisel to lift existing fixings while reducing unnecessary damage to the furniture frame.
Remove loose and broken fasteners before fitting new materials. Hidden staple legs and tack points can damage hands, tools and replacement fabric.
Where possible, pull fasteners out in the direction they entered the timber. Twisting them aggressively can enlarge the original hole or split an older frame rail.
Old upholstery tacks should not automatically be reused. Bent, corroded or blunted tacks may be difficult to drive accurately and may not hold securely.
Using Staple Guns and Tacks Safely
Staple guns, tackers and nailers can cause serious injury if handled carelessly.
Keep hands clear of the tool nose and never point a fastening tool towards another person. Pneumatic tools should be disconnected from the air supply before clearing a jam, opening the magazine or carrying out maintenance.
Wear suitable eye protection when driving or removing metal fasteners. Staples and tacks can deflect from hard timber, existing fixings or hidden frame components.
Check that the furniture is stable before applying pressure with a hand tacker or pneumatic gun. Avoid balancing the work awkwardly while fastening an unsupported section.
When using traditional tacks, begin with controlled hammer strikes. Excessive force can bend the tack, mark the surrounding material or split fragile timber.
Related Upholstery Materials and Tools
Staples and tacks are normally used alongside other furniture-making materials.
Browse our hessian and lining cloths for hessian, calico, platform cloth, base cloth and other materials commonly attached with upholstery staples or tacks.
Our springs and webbing range includes furniture support materials that may require staples, tacks, clips or hog rings during installation.
Explore our complete range of professional upholstery tools for tack hammers, staple guns, compressors, staple removers, tack lifters and other workshop equipment.
You can also browse workroom supplies for adhesives, tapes, threads, piping cord, fixing components and additional furniture-making sundries.
Trade Upholstery Staples and Tacks
Livedale supplies upholstery staples, furniture tacks, brads and related fasteners to professional upholsterers, furniture manufacturers, automotive trimmers, repair workshops and restoration businesses throughout the UK.
Approved trade customers can access preferential trade pricing across eligible products after registering for a trade account.
Browse the categories above to find the correct staples, tacks and upholstery fasteners for your tools and next furniture project.