Tacking Strips

Upholstery Tacking Strips and Plygrip

Shop upholstery tacking strips and Plygrip for creating neat, concealed fabric edges on outside backs, outside arms, furniture panels and other fixed upholstery sections. Livedale supplies cardboard tack strip, integral-nail metal strips, plastic-covered metal strips and flexible three- and five-tooth Plygrip options for straight edges, curves and corners.

Tacking strips allow the final covering fabric to be secured without leaving an exposed line of staples or tacks.

Depending on the chosen product, the fabric may be:

• Stapled through a cardboard strip and folded over
• Wrapped around an integral-nail metal strip
• Gripped within flexible toothed Plygrip
• Secured along a straight outside back or arm
• Finished around suitable curves and shaped furniture edges

The correct product depends on:

• Whether the edge is straight or curved
• Furniture-frame construction
• Covering-material thickness
• Required finished profile
• Available fixing surface
• Whether staples or integral nails will be used
• Length of the furniture section
• Whether the existing fitting is being replaced

Cardboard tack strip, metal tack strip and Plygrip perform related but different jobs. They should not be treated as interchangeable simply because each can produce a concealed finished edge.

Shop Upholstery Tacking Strips by Type

The range can be divided into three practical groups:

• Cardboard back-tacking strips
• Straight metal tack strips
• Flexible Plygrip and Plystrip

There are no further child categories beneath this page, so the sections below explain the seven direct products and their most suitable applications.

Cardboard Back-Tacking Strips

Cardboard tack strip is used to create a clean, straight fabric edge on suitable furniture backs, arms and panels.

The range includes:

• ½″ cardboard tack strip on a 137m roll
• ½″ × 40″ pre-cut cardboard strips

The strip is positioned along the required edge, secured through the fabric and then concealed when the fabric is turned into its finished position.

Potential applications include:

• Straight outside backs
• Outside chair and sofa arms
• Furniture rear panels
• Upholstered headboard panels
• Straight fabric facings
• Suitable furniture borders
• Production upholstery

Cardboard tack strip is best suited to straight or gently shaped edges. It should not be forced around a tight curve where it may crease, split or produce an uneven finished line.

½″ Cardboard Tack-Strip Roll

The ½″ cardboard tack-strip roll contains approximately 137 metres of fibre-backed strip.

It is available in quantities of:

• One roll
• Five rolls
• Ten rolls

The continuous roll allows the required length to be cut for each furniture section.

It is particularly useful for:

• Varied furniture sizes
• Long straight backs
• Trade workrooms
• Furniture production
• Jobs where several different strip lengths are required

Cut the strip squarely so its end sits neatly against a corner, adjoining strip or finishing point.

Do not leave a damaged, crushed or irregular end beneath the finished fabric, as the change in thickness may remain visible.

½″ × 40″ Pre-Cut Cardboard Strips

The ½″ × 40″ cardboard strips are supplied pre-cut in a box of 1,000.

The fixed 40-inch length can be useful for:

• Repeated furniture production
• Standardised backs and arms
• Workrooms that prefer ready-cut material
• Reducing repeated measuring and cutting
• Furniture models using consistent strip lengths

Where the furniture run is shorter than 40 inches, the strip can be cut to the required length.

Where a longer edge requires more than one strip, place the join carefully so the ends meet without overlapping.

An overlap creates a raised section beneath the covering. A gap may produce a softer section or visible change in the finished edge.

Using Cardboard Tack Strip

Position the furniture fabric with sufficient allowance to turn over the completed edge.

Place the cardboard strip along the marked finishing line and keep it straight.

The strip can then be fixed using suitable upholstery staples and a compatible pneumatic staple gun or tacker.

The exact sequence depends on the furniture construction, but the completed result should provide:

• A straight fabric edge
• No exposed staple line
• Even tension
• No visible cardboard
• No raised strip ends
• No gathered or twisted fabric

Keep staples centred across the strip and spaced closely enough to hold it without causing the cardboard to split.

The staple crown should secure the strip without cutting through it.

Straight Metal Tack Strips

Straight metal tack strips contain integral serrated nails.

The fabric is positioned around the strip, and the strip is driven into suitable furniture-frame timber to create a concealed straight edge.

The range includes:

• 30″ metal tack strips
• 30″ plastic-covered metal tack strips

These products are suitable for straight outside backs, arms and comparable furniture sections where the frame provides a sound fixing surface.

30″ Metal Tack Strip

The 30″ metal tack strip is manufactured from cold-rolled pressed metal with serrated integral nails.

It is available:

• Individually
• In packs of 500

The integral nails eliminate the need to staple the strip itself to the furniture.

Potential uses include:

• Outside chair backs
• Outside sofa backs
• Straight outside arms
• Upholstered panels
• Production furniture
• Suitable furniture facings

The strip should be positioned so the fabric wraps neatly around the metal and the integral nails enter sound furniture-frame material.

Check the position before driving the strip fully home. Once the serrated nails have entered the timber, removing and repositioning the strip may damage the fabric, strip or frame.

30″ Plastic-Covered Metal Tack Strip

The 30″ plastic-covered metal tack strip also uses cold-rolled pressed metal and serrated integral nails, but the strip is enclosed within a plastic sleeve.

It is available:

• Individually
• In packs of 250

The plastic covering separates the upholstery fabric from the bare metal strip and creates a covered working surface around which the fabric can be positioned.

It may be useful for:

• Outside backs
• Outside arms
• Straight fabric panels
• Furniture production
• Materials where a covered strip is preferred

The plastic covering does not remove the need to handle the integral nails carefully.

Inspect each strip before use and avoid damaged sections where sharp metal has become exposed through the sleeve.

Fitting Integral-Nail Tack Strips

Measure and mark the intended finished line before placing the strip.

Check that:

• The frame timber is sound
• The strip is straight
• The fabric is correctly tensioned
• Sufficient fabric is available to wrap the edge
• The nails are aligned with suitable timber
• No nail will enter a joint, void or damaged area
• The finished strip will remain concealed

Use a suitable upholstery hammer or mallet and protect the covering material while the strip is driven into position.

Work progressively along the strip rather than fully driving one end before checking the other.

The strip should sit evenly against the furniture without:

• Twisting
• Bending
• Crushing the upholstery
• Trapping a fabric fold
• Leaving a raised end
• Damaging the visible covering

Do not strike directly against delicate fabric with an unprotected steel hammer face.

Flexible Plygrip and Plystrip

Plygrip is a flexible toothed metal strip used to create a blind seam where two upholstery fabric sections meet.

It is particularly useful around:

• Curved outside backs
• Rounded outside arms
• Shaped furniture panels
• Corners
• Furniture edges where cardboard strip is too rigid
• Areas requiring a concealed fabric join

The current range includes:

• Three-tooth metal Plygrip on a 25m roll
• Three-tooth Plystrip in 1.5m lengths
• Five-tooth Plystrip in 1.5m lengths

Plygrip is stapled to suitable furniture-frame material. The final fabric edge is positioned within the toothed channel, which is then closed to retain the fabric and conceal the fixing.

Three-Tooth Metal Plygrip Roll

The three-tooth metal Plygrip is supplied in a 25-metre roll.

It is available:

• As one roll
• In packs of five rolls
• In packs of ten rolls

The continuous rolled format can follow curves and corners more readily than a rigid straight tack strip.

It is suitable for varied workroom applications where custom lengths are required.

Potential uses include:

• Curved outside chair backs
• Shaped sofa backs
• Rounded outside arms
• Furniture panels
• Blind fabric seams
• Production furniture with curved edges

Cut only the length required and retain the remaining roll in a dry, protected condition.

Three-Tooth Plystrip Lengths

The three-tooth Plystrip is supplied in 1.5-metre straight lengths.

It is available:

• Individually
• In packs of 267 strips

The straight format can be useful where:

• The furniture edge is largely straight
• A fixed production length is preferred
• Material needs to be stored flat
• Repeated furniture sections use similar dimensions
• A controlled straight starting line is required

Although supplied straight, it can bend around suitable curves and corners.

Do not force it around a curve tighter than the strip and furniture construction can accommodate.

Five-Tooth Plystrip Lengths

The five-tooth Plystrip is also supplied in 1.5-metre lengths.

It is available:

• Individually
• In packs of 267 strips

The five-tooth format provides more individual fabric-gripping points along each section than the three-tooth version.

The appropriate choice still depends on:

• Fabric thickness
• Fabric weave
• Furniture shape
• Curve radius
• Original furniture construction
• Required finished edge
• Workroom preference

Five teeth should not automatically be treated as suitable for every heavier material or every furniture edge.

Test the chosen strip using an offcut of the actual fabric before completing the furniture panel.

Three-Tooth or Five-Tooth Plystrip?

Choose according to the fabric, furniture edge and existing construction.

The three-tooth option may be appropriate where:

• The original furniture used a comparable strip
• A less densely toothed profile is preferred
• The fabric and furniture shape have been tested successfully
• The workroom already uses an established three-tooth method

The five-tooth option may be considered where:

• Additional gripping points are useful
• The fabric can be inserted and retained without damage
• The furniture construction suits the strip
• A matching original five-tooth fitting is being replaced

Neither option should be selected solely from its tooth count.

A strip with more teeth can still perform poorly if:

• It is fixed to damaged timber
• The staples are unsuitable
• The fabric is cut too short
• The fabric is too bulky for the channel
• The teeth damage a loose or delicate weave
• The channel is closed unevenly

Installing Plygrip

Mark the required finishing line on the furniture frame.

Position the Plygrip with its teeth facing the direction required to receive the final fabric edge.

Fix it using suitable upholstery staples and a compatible staple gun or tacker.

Check that:

• The strip follows the intended line
• Curves remain smooth
• Staples enter sound timber
• The strip does not twist
• Teeth remain accessible
• The fabric allowance is sufficient
• The final seam will sit in the correct position

Place the final fabric edge into the toothed opening and close the strip carefully using an appropriate upholstery hammer, mallet or suitable gripping tool.

Work progressively along the edge.

Check the fabric repeatedly for:

• Correct tension
• Pattern alignment
• Wrinkles
• Trapped folds
• Uneven seam width
• Damage from the teeth
• Changes around corners

Do not close the full length before checking the visible furniture face.

Creating a Blind Upholstery Seam

A blind seam conceals both the fabric edge and the fixing.

This type of finish is commonly used where an outside panel meets the previously upholstered section of the furniture.

The completed seam should appear:

• Straight or smoothly curved
• Evenly tensioned
• Free from exposed teeth
• Free from visible staples
• Consistent in width
• Appropriate to the furniture shape

Accurate fabric cutting is essential.

Too little fabric may pull out of the teeth or prevent the seam closing.

Too much fabric can create excessive bulk within the channel.

Use upholstery shears and snips to trim the final fabric edge cleanly before inserting it into the Plygrip.

Outside Backs and Arms

Tacking strips are commonly used when fitting the final fabric to an outside back or arm.

A typical outside panel may include:

• Sound furniture-frame timber
• Cardboard or fibreboard where required
• A light padding layer
• Upholstery fabric or vinyl
• Cardboard tack strip, metal tack strip or Plygrip
• Staples or integral nails
• A concealed finished edge

Browse upholstery cardboard and fibreboard for suitable panel and shaping materials.

Browse polyester wadding where a light padding layer is required beneath the final covering.

Browse upholstery fabric and vinyl for the visible furniture covering.

The panel should be smooth before the final fabric is fitted.

Tacking strip will create a neat perimeter, but it cannot conceal:

• Broken frame timber
• A warped panel
• Large hollows
• Heavy overlaps
• Poorly fitted padding
• Protruding staples
• Uneven furniture edges

Choosing Covering Material

Tacking strips can be used with many upholstery fabrics, but material thickness and construction affect the result.

Consider:

• Fabric thickness
• Weave
• Fraying
• Stretch
• Back coating
• Pattern
• Pile direction
• Vinyl or faux-leather thickness
• Whether the teeth may mark the material
• Number of layers within the finished edge

Loose-weave and delicate fabrics may require particular care around toothed Plygrip.

Very heavy material may create too much bulk inside a narrow channel.

Vinyl and coated materials retain permanent puncture marks, so avoid repeatedly positioning and removing them from the teeth.

Test the actual material on a short strip before fitting the complete panel.

Measuring and Marking

Use measuring and marking tools to establish:

• Finished panel size
• Tack-strip position
• Furniture centre line
• Corner positions
• Fabric allowance
• Strip length
• Join positions
• Curve transitions

Measure the actual furniture frame rather than relying on the removed fabric as the only pattern.

Old covering material may have stretched or distorted during use and removal.

Mark the finishing line consistently around the furniture.

A tacking strip fixed accurately along an incorrect line will still produce an incorrect panel—just a very tidy one.

Cutting Tacking Strips

Cardboard strip can be cut using suitable sharp upholstery shears or snips.

Metal strips require a cutting method appropriate to their material and profile.

After cutting metal Plygrip or tack strip:

• Check for sharp edges
• Remove loose fragments
• Avoid distorted teeth
• Keep the end away from visible fabric
• Position joins carefully
• Handle the strip safely

Do not leave a sharp cut end exposed beneath a loosely fitted panel.

Where necessary, position the cut end at a corner, frame joint or another suitably protected location.

Corners and Curves

Flexible Plygrip is the most suitable option in this category for curved and shaped furniture edges.

Around a curve:

• Fix the strip progressively
• Maintain the intended line
• Avoid sudden changes in direction
• Keep staple spacing consistent
• Prevent the strip twisting
• Check that the fabric teeth remain accessible

Around an outside corner, the strip may require careful shaping or a controlled join.

Do not create an abrupt metal overlap.

Two overlapping toothed strips can produce a hard lump and may damage the final fabric.

Cardboard strip and straight integral-nail strips are more appropriate for suitable straight sections.

Joining Strip Lengths

Where more than one length is required, the strip ends should meet neatly.

Avoid:

• Large gaps
• Overlapping ends
• Different fixing heights
• Misaligned teeth
• Raised corners
• Sharp exposed metal

Place joins away from the most prominent visible area where possible.

Check the completed join by touch before fitting the final fabric.

Any ridge that can be clearly felt through the padding is likely to remain visible after the panel is closed.

Removing Old Tacking Strips

During reupholstery, remove existing strips carefully to avoid unnecessary damage to the frame.

Browse staple removers, tack lifters and ripping chisels for suitable furniture-stripping tools.

Before removing an old strip:

• Photograph its position
• Note its orientation
• Measure its width and length
• Record whether it has three or five teeth
• Check the fixing method
• Retain a sample for comparison
• Protect the surrounding frame

Old Plygrip and metal tack strips may contain sharp teeth, staples and integral nails.

Handle removed material carefully and dispose of it so it cannot cause injury within the workroom.

Inspecting the Furniture Frame

Tacking strips depend on sound fixing material.

Inspect the furniture for:

• Split timber
• Enlarged staple holes
• Loose frame joints
• Missing rails
• Damaged panel edges
• Previous unsuitable repairs
• Protruding staples
• Weak particle board
• Water damage
• Distorted outside panels

Do not fit a new strip over loose or broken timber and expect the concealed edge to remain secure.

Repair the supporting furniture construction before fitting the final outside panel.

Tacking Strips and Decorative Nails

Tacking strips create a concealed edge.

For a deliberately visible furniture finish, browse decorative upholstery nails and nail strip.

The two approaches create different appearances:

• Tacking strips conceal their fixings beneath the fabric.
• Decorative nails create a visible line of furniture trim.
• Plygrip creates a blind fabric seam.
• Nail strip produces a repeated decorative nail-head effect.

A furniture design may use concealed tacking strips on the outside back and decorative nails around a separate arm or facing.

These products complement one another but are not substitutes.

Tacking Strips and Edge Profiles

Upholstery profiles and edge rolls shape or soften furniture-frame edges beneath the padding and covering.

Tacking strips secure and finish the final fabric edge.

A furniture arm may therefore use:

• An edge roll to shape the frame
• Foam and wadding to provide padding
• Upholstery fabric as the covering
• Tacking strip to create the concealed outside-arm finish

The edge profile establishes the furniture shape. The tacking strip closes the final panel.

Tools and Associated Products

The products genuinely associated with fitting tacking strips are:

Upholstery Fabric and Vinyl

Browse upholstery fabric and vinyl for the final outside-back, arm or panel covering.

Cardboard and Fibreboard

Browse upholstery cardboard and fibreboard for suitable outside-back panels, arm facings and furniture templates.

Polyester Wadding

Browse polyester wadding for light padding and smoothing beneath suitable outside panels.

Upholstery Staples

Browse upholstery staples for fixing cardboard strip and Plygrip to suitable furniture frames.

Pneumatic Staple Guns and Tackers

Browse pneumatic staple guns and tackers for compatible upholstery-stapling equipment.

Hammers and Mallets

Browse upholstery hammers and mallets for fitting suitable integral-nail strips and closing appropriate metal profiles.

Pliers and Pincers

Browse pliers, stretchers and pincers for gripping, positioning and closing suitable upholstery strip.

Measuring and Marking Tools

Browse measuring and marking tools for setting panel dimensions, strip positions and fabric allowances.

Shears and Snips

Browse upholstery shears and snips for cutting fabric, cardboard strip and other suitable workroom materials.

Staple Removers and Tack Lifters

Browse staple removers, tack lifters and ripping chisels when removing old outside panels and tacking strips during reupholstery.

These links follow the actual process of stripping, preparing, padding, covering and finishing a furniture back or arm.

Safe Handling

Metal tack strips and Plygrip contain sharp nails, teeth and cut edges.

Handle them carefully and keep them away from children.

Use suitable hand and eye protection when:

• Cutting metal strip
• Removing old strips
• Driving integral nails
• Closing Plygrip
• Removing damaged staples
• Disposing of offcuts

Collect metal offcuts, damaged strips and removed staples immediately.

Do not leave them:

• On the workshop floor
• Inside furniture
• Beneath cushions
• Mixed with fabric offcuts
• Loose in ordinary waste bags
• Where customers or children could reach them

Common Tacking-Strip Mistakes

Avoid:

• Using straight cardboard strip around a tight curve
• Treating every toothed strip as interchangeable
• Selecting three or five teeth without testing the fabric
• Fitting strip to damaged timber
• Leaving too little fabric allowance
• Creating excessive fabric bulk inside Plygrip
• Closing the complete strip before checking the visible panel
• Overlapping strip ends
• Leaving sharp cut metal exposed
• Using unsuitable staples
• Driving integral nails into weak board
• Stretching patterned fabric out of alignment
• Hiding protruding old staples beneath new padding
• Assuming the tack strip will flatten a warped outside panel
• Using visible decorative nail strip where a blind seam is required
• Using Plygrip where a straight cardboard back-tack edge would be simpler

The best product is the one that suits the furniture shape, covering material and required finish—not necessarily the most complicated strip in the box.

Related Workroom Supplies

Return to the Workroom Supplies hub for furniture panels, profiles, sewing supplies, adhesives and other upholstery sundries.

For a typical outside-back or outside-arm project, the most relevant product journey is:

• Cardboard or fibreboard panel material
• Polyester wadding
• Upholstery fabric or vinyl
• Upholstery tacking strip or Plygrip
• Upholstery staples
• Pneumatic staple gun or tacker
• Hammers, mallets or gripping tools
• Measuring and marking tools
• Staple removers and tack lifters for reupholstery work

Trade Upholstery Tacking Strips

Livedale supplies cardboard tack strip, metal tack strip and flexible Plygrip to professional upholsterers, furniture manufacturers, repair workshops and trade customers throughout the UK.

Products are available individually and in larger rolls, boxes and production quantities for one-off repairs or repeated furniture manufacture.

Approved trade customers can access preferential trade pricing across eligible products after registering for a trade account.

Choose the tacking strip according to the furniture shape, covering material, fixing method and required concealed finish.