Best Pneumatic Staple Guns — Buyers Guide, Top Picks, and Comparison
Pneumatic Staple Gun Comparison Table
IMAGE | PRODUCT | DETAILS | ||
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Best for Speed
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Best for Speed
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Features
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Check Price at AmazonArrow PT50 Pneumatic Staple Gun Review Arrow PT50 Pneumatic Staple Gun Review | |
Best for Wide Staples
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Best for Wide Staples
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Features
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Check Price at Amazon Metabo HPT N5024A2 Pneumatic Stapler Review Metabo HPT N5024A2 Pneumatic Stapler Review | |
Best Back to Basics
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Best Back to Basics
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Features
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Check Price at AmazonWEN 61710 Pneumatic Stapler Review WEN 61710 Pneumatic Stapler Review | |
Best for Contact Nailing
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Best for Contact Nailing
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Features
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Check Price at AmazonMetabo HPT N3804AB3 Finish Stapler Review Metabo HPT N3804AB3 Finish Stapler Review | |
Best for Brads
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Best for Brads
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Features
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Check Price at AmazonWEN 61720 Brad Nailer Review WEN 61720 Brad Nailer Review | |
Best for Power Nailing
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Best for Power Nailing
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Features
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Check Price at AmazonMetabo HPT NT65MA4 Finish Nailer Review Metabo HPT NT65MA4 Finish Nailer Review | |
Best for Comfort
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Best for Comfort
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Features
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Check Price at AmazonFreeman PSS50 Pneumatic Crown Stapler Review Freeman PSS50 Pneumatic Crown Stapler Review | |
Best Prosumer
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Best Prosumer
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Features
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Check Price at AmazonFreeman G2ST9040 Pneumatic Crown Stapler Review Freeman G2ST9040 Pneumatic Crown Stapler Review |
Best Pneumatic Staple Gun Buying Guide
Incredibly powerful, rapid, and the ultimate hardcore tools across all the stapling categories — pneumatic staple gun machines are ideally suited to construction sites and heavy-duty jobs.
Using compressed air as their source of power, they’re capable of providing significant grunt — permitting them to drive hefty staples and nails into dense materials.
If you’re planning to do a big project like remodeling the fence, roofing, or installing laminate, these air-powered tools are your safest bet. You could go with a manual or electric stapler, but they lack the brawn of their air cousins.
Pneumatic machines are also relatively low-maintenance — although they do require a staple gun air compressor to function.
When choosing your ideal air powered staple gun, consider:
- Pressure requirement.
- Staples and nail compatibility.
- Weight.
- Balance and comfort.
- Magazine capacity.
- Directional exhaust.
How To Choose the Best Air Staple Gun
There are a few things you should bear in mind when selecting your perfect air stapler or nailer. It’s crucial that your prospective fastening tool meets the demands and requirements of your project — together with your personal preferences.
Think about the following when looking at individual pneumatic stapler units:
Pressure Requirement
As the name suggests, a pneumatic stapling gun requires air power to drive the fasteners — supplied by an air compressor. Therefore, it’s crucial to check that your existing compressor — or a compressor that you’re planning on buying — has sufficient grunt to drive your gun.
Most standard shooters demand around 60-90 PSI at about 4.0 CFM (cubic feet per minute), although power requirements can vary slightly across guns. Hence, always check the manufacturer’s specifications to prevent disappointment.
Staple and Nail Compatibility
Ensure your machine not only drives the size of fastener you require, but also the correct type. Heavy-duty jobs, such as roofing, require sizable and durable fixers, and light-duty work, like veneer laying, needs smaller fasteners.
Furthermore, consider the finish you need to achieve. Wall paneling demands inconspicuous brad nails — while unseen picture frame backs can use more obvious crown staples.
Some guns offer a wide spectrum of compatibility across sizes and nails/staples — others are more specific. Therefore, check that your chosen gun can use the fasteners your current and future projects need.

Magazine Capacity
One of the main attractions of pneumatic staplers over their manual and electric cousins is their speed. Able to knock out fasteners in rapid succession, they’re ideal for repetitive jobs such as fencing, paneling, and floor laying.
However, the faster you use your gun, the more often you need to reload.
So, think about the capacity of the magazine/cartridge — more staples mean less downtime. That said, pneumatic shooters with massive magazines have a greater tendency to jam.

Weight
Using a tool that weighs five or six pounds for a couple of hours is pretty tough — especially for older people or individuals who lack hand and arm strength.
Due to the internal air-driven pistons, the necessary build strength to withstand high pressure, and large magazines — pneumatic guns are typically heavier than manual or electric models.
Therefore, always check the overall weight of the machine, including the cartridge, to ensure that fatigue will not lead to costly downtime.
Balance and Comfort
Although many people don’t care about the balance, it can save quite a lot of time and effort.
The balance is what makes quality units different from cheap models. As long as it’s easy to use and it feels balanced in your hands, you’re good to go. If you stumble upon a model that doesn’t seem pretty stable, a good idea would be to avoid it.
Directional Exhaust
Since they use compressed air, pneumatic nail and staple guns require an exhaust to vent off excess gasses.
Personally, I’d suggest opting for a machine that offers a directional exhaust — allowing you to direct the rather nasty oil and metallic-smelling air away from your face. Although the gas emitted from a well-maintained unit isn’t dangerous, it can be unpleasant — especially if you’re subject to lengthy exposure.
Top Rated Pneumatic Staple Guns
- Design
- Functionality
- Price
This staple gun offers more than enough features for small to mid-sized projects. In fact, you can do some construction work, such as roofing, without worrying much about the unit itself.
This particular model does offer a fair amount of versatility, especially when it comes to staple sizes. It can load and fire six different sizes, and that makes it one of the most flexible units in this category.
It’s a pretty straightforward tool — you don’t need any previous experience to use this model. However, remember to read the user manual before operating any heavy-duty devices.
Pleasingly for the home user, you don’t need a super-expensive compressor to power up this gun. Any affordable compressor that’s able to deliver up to 120 PSI can be used.
Jamming doesn’t happen very often, and when it does, the anti-jam mechanism helps you solve the issue in a matter of seconds. If you’re looking for a neat entry-level pneumatic gun, this one might be the real deal.
Our Rating: 4.5
Although it’s not a pro model, it performs well in almost any situation. Whether you’re a beginner or a professional, you’ll certainly find this particular model quite beneficial and useful. Effortless to wield and straightforward to operate — all you have to do is hook it up to a compressor and squeeze the trigger.
Particularly impressive is the unit’s capacity. It can hold up to 157 staples at once — meaning you won’t have to reload frequently. The penetration depth can be set on the go by adjusting the nose of the unit. And, knocking out three staples per second, its rapid speed makes it ideal for long and repetitive projects.
The Metabo HPT N5024A2 replaces the Hitachi N5024A2. The two models are identical, the only difference being the branding — as a clue, the HPT in the model name stands for Hitachi Power Tool.
- Design
- Functionality
- Price
The design is pretty standard and conventional. There are no over-complicated or pro functions — but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. It can hold up to a hundred staples, and is compatible with 0.375-1.0-inch crowns and 18-gauge brads.
When it comes to the required compressor, it’s the part in which this model thrives. While others need high-class compressors, the WEN operates with a standard 100 PSI compressor.
Occasional DIY tasks and small-sized projects are ideal for this particular model. Relatively lightweight and with a rubberized handle that promotes comfort — it should stave off fatigue on longer jobs. However, if you’re planning on tackling heavy-duty projects, consider a more powerful machine.
The most notable thing is that you can change the shooting mode on the go — the single sequential actuation mechanism allows you to alter the type of delivery, whether contact or non-contact firing.
It weighs only around 2.3 pounds — incredibly light for a prosumer-grade machine. Furthermore, it’s designed so that it can reach the tightest places with its narrow nose. The rubber grip is a pretty neat touch to the whole design because it ensures a firm grip for people who have issues with sweaty hands.
User-selectable depth adjustment allows you to pick the most suitable penetration level for your target material. And, compatible with 0.5-1.5-inch crowns, it can handle both small and large fastening projects.
- Design
- Functionality
- Price
While some don’t like its overly-simplistic looks — it’s a functional machine for the home user. It can fire brad nails from 0.75 to 2.0 inches in length and operates at 60 up to 100 PSI, meaning you can use any affordable compressor without investing a lot of money.
The nailer can hold up to 100 brads — quite convenient, especially if you’re working on a large project. As far as the comfort goes, it’s on a satisfying level. The non-slip grip ensures stability for people who tend to sweat during work. Also, it’s pretty light, so there shouldn’t be any issues with fatigue.
Admittedly it only fires brad nails — making it unsuitable if you require a staple-compatible machine. Although, bear in mind that many dual-operation units have a greater tendency to jam than single function.
Capable of firing 1.25 to 2.5-inch 15-gauge brad nails at an eye-watering 120 PSI — the Metabo NT65MA4 targets extreme users who demand the ultimate in brawn.
Looking like a futuristic weapon, this genuine prosumer unit is as suited to fixing trim and moldings as it is to cabinet building and staircase installation. And, with a welcome 360-degree rotatable exhaust port — you can redirect unpleasant waste gasses for a more enjoyable nailing experience.
Whether you want hardcore deep penetration or a teasingly lighter touch, you can effortlessly adjust depth without the use of additional tools — allowing for a flush, pro-finish. Furthermore, how you deliver your massive load is up to you — with a choice of bump or contact firing.
Arriving with a hard carry case, safety glasses, and an NPT (National Pipe Taper) pneumatic connector, you can operate the gun straight outta the box — assuming you have a compatible 4.0 CFM compressor.
- Design
- Functionality
- Price
Capable of delivering 0.75 to 2.0-inch 16-gauge crowns, this pneumatic stapler is as suited to deck laying and floor installation as it is to paneling and fencing. And, built from quality steel and aluminum, it promises reassuring durability.
Its dual-mode trigger permits you to effortlessly switch between bump-firing or sequential delivery — depending on whether you demand accuracy or speed. Furthermore, a quick-jam release allows you to rapidly remove misaligned fasteners, reducing downtime.
A straightforward depth adjustment knob enables you to change penetration levels without the use of additional tools. And, arriving complete with pneumatic-compatible oil — you can lubricate your tool before initial use.
Our Rating: 4.6
Capable of firing 18-gauge crowns of 0.625-1.0-inches — either with bump or sequential firing — this machine can be utilized for a multitude of projects, including wall sheathing, deck laying, carpeting, and roof installation.
Its magnesium body and steel blade offer both durability and lightweight operation — ideal for intense projects. And, with tool-free depth adjustment, you can either deliver flush staples or countersunk brads depending on the finish you require.
Boasting an optimized airflow design, this pneumatic stapler requires less air than many units — permitting its use with smaller compressors.
In addition to the tool, the Freeman stapler arrives complete with a metal belt clip and NPT connector. Furthermore, backed by a mammoth seven-year warranty, it promises reassuring longevity.
Conclusion
Pneumatic staple guns and nailers are the mother-of-all fastening tools — delivering immense grunt for hardcore projects.
Whether you opt for the powerful Metabo HPT NT65MA4, the prosumer-grade Freeman G2ST9040, the speedy DIY Arrow PT50, or the brad nail focused WEN 61720 — there’s a tool for every casual user, serious DIYer, and trade pro.
Offering reliable fastening, rapid firing, and dense material penetration — a pneumatic staple gun is crucial for your toolbox.
Pneumatic Stapling Guns and Nailer FAQs
Q: What Is a 1 4 Inch Staple Gun?
A 0.25-inch pneumatic staple gun is designed to deliver one-quarter-inch crown fasteners — typically utilized for lighter projects, such as attaching posters to fabric boards or building small picture frames.
Q: What Is a Pneumatic Staple Gun?
A pneumatic staple gun is a fastening tool that’s powered by air — in most circumstances from a compressor. Offering greater brawn than electric and manual staplers, they’re typically used for construction purposes.
Q: What Are the Benefits of a Pneumatic Staple Gun?
Compared to manual and electric staplers, pneumatic staple guns offers the advantages of:
- Higher power.
- More rapid staple delivery.
- Lower maintenance.
- Ability to penetrate dense materials.
- Choice of bump or sequential firing.
- Lower physical effort.
Q: What Materials Can You Use With a Pneumatic Stapler Gun?
Impressively powerful, pneumatic guns can be utilized to drive into metal, wood, fabric, and plastic. However, ensure that the staples or brad nails are suitable for penetrating the target material.
Q: What Is a 3 4 Staple Gun Used For?
Firing 0.75-inch staples, these staple guns are typically used for low-to-medium duty projects — most commonly for upholstery applications.