DeWalt 20V MAX 9-Gauge Cordless Fencing Stapler (Tool Only)

Why I reached for a cordless fencing stapler

Repairing pasture and perimeter fence used to mean a hammer, a pouch of U-staples, and a sore elbow by lunchtime. I put the DeWalt fencing stapler to work across barbed and woven-wire stretches on treated pine posts and rough-cut hardwood. Cutting the hose and gas out of the equation was the draw; what surprised me was how consistently and quickly it puts 9-gauge staples where I want them, at the depth I set, without drama.

Setup, staples, and getting the feel

This is a tool-only purchase, so you’ll need a 20V MAX battery and charger. I ran it primarily with a 5Ah pack. The stapler takes standard 9-gauge fencing staples in 1-1/2, 1-3/4, and 2 inches. I swapped between 1-1/2-inch for softer posts and light wire and 2-inch for hardwood posts and high-tension sections. Loading is straightforward: slide the magazine open, drop in a stick of staples, and let the spring do its thing. The magazine holds 35 staples—enough for a short run, but expect frequent reloads during big repair days.

Trigger mode switches are tool-free. I used Sequential mode for precise fence corners and brace work, then flipped to Rapid Cycle for long line runs where speed matters. Depth adjustment is also tool-free and easy to dial in. On treated pine, I backed the depth off slightly to avoid crushing the wire; on hard oak I bumped power up and added a click of depth to sink 2-inch staples flush.

Performance and control

The core strength here is control. The multi-angle contact nose lets me place a staple at a slight angle to trap a wire without pinching it, which is critical for tensioned fence that needs to float. The nose profile gives good visibility to the workpiece, and the LED lights help under the tree line or when I’m racing dusk.

Drive consistency is excellent once you match power and depth to post material and staple length. In Rapid Cycle mode, the tool keeps pace with a steady walking rhythm—press, fire, move—without outrunning the driver. In Sequential mode, it’s easy to feather the trigger for one-and-done placement.

On a single 5Ah battery, I averaged roughly 200 staples—more in softer posts with shorter staples, fewer when I ran 2-inch on hardwood. That’s a solid half-day of typical maintenance work for me. The brushless motor’s efficiency shows up in the lack of lag between shots and the way it holds drive power near the end of the pack.

Jams and reliability

Any fencing stapler will jam eventually, and I did encounter a few. The difference is how quickly you clear them. DeWalt’s tool-free jam release at the nose is well designed: flip it open, pull the bent staple, close it, and you’re back to work in under a minute. The low-staple lockout is valuable too; the tool simply refuses to dry fire, which saves the driver and avoids mystery misfires when you’ve run a magazine empty.

I didn’t have issues with double-feeds, and misfires were rare once I matched staple length to the material and avoided trying to drive deep into knots.

Ergonomics and weight

This is a substantial tool. It’s listed at 8.73 lb bare; add a 5Ah battery and you’re around the 10 lb mark. The weight is front-biased due to the magazine and driver assembly. After a few hours, you’ll feel it in your forearm if you try to one-hand everything. Two-handed operation—dominant hand on the grip, support hand steadying the nose—makes a big difference in accuracy and fatigue. The adjustable belt hook is nice on a ladder but I used it more on my tool rack between runs.

Balance aside, the grip texture and trigger feel are excellent. Recoil is present but well controlled; the tool resets quickly without bouncing off the post. The overall build feels like it’ll tolerate getting dusty, banged around in a UTV, and exposed to the occasional drizzle (though I keep mine covered and out of sustained rain).

Accuracy at the wire

A good fencing stapler must do more than just drive metal—it has to place staples so wire can move. The contact trip shape makes it easy to place the crown just over the wire without trapping it, and a quarter-turn angle on the nose helps catch the strand on grade transitions. Depth control is repeatable: set it once, test on a scrap post, then run that line. With the hardest hardwood posts, I occasionally needed a second hit when using 2-inch staples; bumping the power up solved that.

Battery platform and maintenance

Being on the 20V MAX platform is a real advantage if you already own DeWalt tools. I rotated two 5Ah packs throughout the day with no waiting. No compressor, no hose, and no gas cells is more than convenience—it means fewer points of failure in the field and one less thing to haul to the back pasture.

Maintenance is minimal. Keep the nose clean, blow out debris from the magazine, and avoid leaving galvanized staples to rust in damp storage. The included jam access makes occasional housekeeping easy. Warranty coverage is generous at three years limited with a year of free service, which is reassuring for a tool that will see outdoor abuse.

Costs and consumables

The reality: 9-gauge fencing staples aren’t cheap, and that adds up quickly on long runs. The tool is compatible with DeWalt’s galvanized staples and other 9-gauge in the supported lengths, which gives you options. Plan your project counts—35 per magazine means frequent top-ups. The low-staple lockout prevents you from wasting time on dry fires, but it also means you’ll do more reloads than with a larger-capacity tool.

What I’d change

• Weight and balance: it’s heavy for extended overhead or awkward angles. A lighter magazine or a slightly rear-biased balance would help.
• Magazine capacity: a few more staples per load would reduce interruptions on long stretches.
• Price of staples: outside DeWalt’s control, but it’s part of the total cost of ownership you should plan for.

Where it shines

• Rapid repair days: broken insulators, popped wires, loose staples—this tool turns an all-day chore into a morning loop.
• New runs on mixed posts: adjustable depth and variable power let you move from pine to hardwood without switching tools.
• Remote work: no compressor, no hose, no generator. Throw it and a couple batteries in the UTV and you’re independent.

Tips from the field

• Match staple length to the post. Use 1-1/2-inch for softer posts and non-structural holds; 2-inch for hardwood or high-tension points.
• Set depth to avoid pinching. The wire should slide freely under the crown; if it can’t move, you’ll fight it during tensioning and temperature swings.
• Use Rapid Cycle for straight runs and Sequential near corners, gates, and braces for more control.
• Bring extra staples. Thirty-five goes fast when you’re in a groove.

The bottom line

The DeWalt fencing stapler trades hose-and-hammer hassles for speed, consistency, and real control at the wire. It’s powerful enough to sink 9-gauge staples in hardwood, precise enough to avoid pinching, and efficient enough that a single 5Ah battery can cover a sizable repair loop. You’ll feel its weight after a few hours, and you’ll reload often. But the time saved, the reduction in fatigue compared to hand driving, and the freedom from air and gas make it a highly practical upgrade for regular fence work.

Recommendation: I recommend it to anyone maintaining or building agricultural or utility fencing, especially if you’re already on the 20V MAX platform. It’s fast, consistent, and field-friendly. If you only repair a fence once or twice a year, the cost and weight might not justify it. For frequent use, it quickly earns its spot on the UTV rack.