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When it comes to buying SOD Staples, you come across a number of different characteristics of metal wire from which these garden staples are made. The key attributes defining the nature of landscape staples include:

• Gauge of Wire
• Length of Wire

About Gauge Size Chart

Gauge sizes serve as numerical indicators of sheet metal thickness, where a higher number signifies a thinner sheet. Each gauge size standard has its corresponding equivalent thicknesses, determined by the weight of the sheet material. For instance, the Manufacturers’ Standard Gage outlines thicknesses for standard steel, galvanized steel, and stainless steel, while the Brown and Sharpe Gage (or American Wire Gage – AWG) is utilized for non-ferrous metals like aluminum and brass. In the UK, the Birmingham Gage (BG) applies to various metals, distinct from the Birmingham Wire Gage (BWG), which specifically measures wires.

Additionally, a standard for Zinc employs a higher gauge number to denote a thicker sheet. The provided chart aids in determining the equivalent sheet thickness, expressed in inches or millimeters, across different gauge size standards. Furthermore, it presents the sheet’s weight per unit area in pounds per square foot and kilograms per square meter.

For Galvanized steel, the gauge size chart values are as follows:

	Thickness		Weight Per Area
Gauge	in	mm	lb/ft²	kg/m²
8	0.1681	4.270	6.858	33.482
9	0.1532	3.891	6.250	30.514
10	0.1382	3.510	5.638	27.527
11	0.1233	3.132	5.030	24.559
12	0.1084	2.753	4.422	21.591
13	0.0934	2.372	3.810	18.603
14	0.0785	1.994	3.202	15.636
15	0.0710	1.803	2.896	14.142
16	0.0635	1.613	2.590	12.648
17	0.0575	1.461	2.346	11.453
18	0.0516	1.311	2.105	10.278
19	0.0456	1.158	1.860	9.083
20	0.0396	1.006	1.615	7.888
21	0.0366	0.930	1.493	7.290
22	0.0336	0.853	1.371	6.692
23	0.0306	0.777	1.248	6.095
24	0.0276	0.701	1.126	5.497
25	0.0247	0.627	1.008	4.920
26	0.0217	0.551	0.885	4.322
27	0.0202	0.513	0.824	4.023
28	0.0187	0.475	0.763	3.725
29	0.0172	0.437	0.702	3.426
30	0.0157	0.399	0.640	3.127
31	0.0142	0.361	0.579	2.828
32	0.0134	0.340	0.547	2.669

Two Important Gauge Size Chart Factors for Landscape Staples

While selecting Landscape Staples, the following 2 important factors are to be considered.

• Gauge of SOD Staples
• Size of Staples

Gauge of SOD Staples

Gauge defines the thickness of a wire, and hence, the strength of the metal. The lower the value of gauge, the thicker and stronger will be the wire, resulting in a strong yard staple. Common wire gauge sizes include 8 gauge, 9 gauge, and 11 gauge for landscape staples as shown in the gauge size chart table above.

Size of SOD Staples

This defines the size of wire in inches that can penetrate into the ground to hold your objects to the ground such as weed barrier fabric, chicken wire, drip irrigation pipes, soaker hose, Christmas decorations, artificial Turf, birdbath, and many others. Common sizes include 6 inches, 8 inches, 9 inches, and 12 inches with 1-inch width, resulting in common staple sizes as 6 x 1 x 6, 8 x 1 x 8, 9 x 1 x 9, and 12 x 1 x 12″ whose wire diameter can be selected as per the gauge size chart from above table.

Which Staple Size Should I use?

The choice of landscape staples depends on the nature of soil/ground where these are to be penetrated. Careful selection of SOD staples based on the gauge and size should be made keeping in view the soil type. The gauge size chart helps you in determining the type and size of wire to be used for staples. Following guidelines should be used when buying yard staples.

• Compact Soil – Use 8 or 9 gauge with 6 x 1 x 6 staples size. They will hold tight and will not bend when hammered into the ground
• Soft/Loose Soil – In such soil, Staple gauge doesn’t matter. Long staples work better in loose soil and will ensure the firm grip in soil after installation.

In most cases, 6 x 1 x 6 size staples work and are the ideal choice. Longer staples should be chosen for looser soil.