Best Electrical Cable Staples AI pick
Chosen by an AI model from its trained knowledge, with its reasoning.
AI pick (brand): Gardner Bender
Gardner Bender's insulated cable staples are widely sold, offered in sizes for common NM cable, and made specifically for securing electrical cable to framing.
Not for: Anyone fastening low-voltage, coax, or data cable, which needs smaller, rounded staples or clips, or anyone fastening into masonry.
What the AI looks for in Electrical Cable Staples
- Securing intervals
- NM cable is typically secured within 12 inches of a box and at intervals not exceeding 4.5 feet (NEC 334.30); check your local code. This spacing is what inspectors check, and it decides how many staples you need.
- Size matched to cable
- Choose staples sized for your cable's profile and count, such as flat 14/2 or 12/2 NM, 10/3 or round cable, or stacked or double-cable staples. Undersized staples crush the jacket; oversized ones let cable shift.
- Insulated, non-crushing design
- Use staples with a plastic or insulated saddle and drive them snug, not tight. Bare metal staples driven too hard can cut the jacket and nick conductors.
- Listed for NM cable
- Use staples marked as listed for the cable type, not general-purpose or upholstery staples. Code requires fasteners designed so they will not damage the cable.
Brands that matter
- Gardner Bender: Common, broad range of plastic and insulated cable staples.
- Arrow Fastener: Staple guns and matching insulated staples for low-voltage cable.
- Southwire: Wire maker that also sells cable fastening accessories.
What to avoid
- Uninsulated metal staples driven tight against NM cable.
- Gun-driven general staples used on line-voltage cable.
- Stapling flat cable on its edge, or putting two cables under one single-cable staple.
Questions
Can I staple two NM cables under one staple?
Only with a staple made and marked for stacked or multiple cables. Standard single staples must hold one cable.