On the face, staplers seem pretty straight forward and not something you would think too much about when ordering. However, selecting the right stapler and staples for your needs is key to neat and tidy paperwork.
What types of stapler are there?
There are a few different types of stapler, from your standard desktop half strip or full strip stapler, to a heavy duty staple gun or electric stapler. Below you can find brief explanations of what each type is-
Half Strip Stapler- These are designed for light duty office use and will staple up to (depending on the specific stapler) 30 sheets of 80GSM paper. These are the most common type of stapler and are best when used on a flat surface such as a desk or worktop. They can be loaded with half a strip of staples at one time.
Full Strip Stapler- Very similar to a half strip stapler, these are just double the size. Again they are ideal for everyday office use and will staple up to (depending on the specific stapler) 50 sheets of 80GSM paper. These staplers can be loaded with a full strip of staples at one time.
Mini Stapler- Brilliant for stapling whilst on the move, mini staplers are much smaller in size and can be easily transported in a pencil case or bag. These are designed for very light use and can staple up to 20 sheets of paper together. Many can take standard size staples however a few of the really small ones will need specialist smaller staples.
Long Arm Staplers- Long arm staplers are ideal for stapling larger sheets and documents. These allow you to reach further into the paper making them perfect for booklets, magazines etc. Some of these staplers allow you to reach up to 32cm into the sheet of paper opposed to 6cm on a standard half strip stapler.
Heavy Duty Staplers- Heavy duty staplers are built and designed for high use office environments, using a metal structure with extra long arms, these allow you to apply maximum force with minimum effort. The larger design can take standard staples as well as larger staples that will enable you to staple up to (depending on the specific stapler) 250 sheets of 80GSM paper at one time.
Staple Guns- Also known as tackers, these are designed for stapling items to flat surfaces. Most commonly they are used for displaying papers onto display boards or walls. They can also be used to staple wood, leather, materials and carpets. They are spring loaded providing enough force to puncture harder surfaces.
What staples do I need?
There are a large number of staple sizes to choose from and it can sometimes seem daunting to look at the different numbers. Staples are normally displayed by numbers describing their size, e.g. 26/6 or 23/6. The first number describes the total length of wire used in the staple (in mm). The second number describes the length of the teeth on the staple.
The most common sizes to be used for general office stapling are 26/6 and 24/6. Heavy duty staplers and mini staplers can take different sizes so we advise for you to check your stapler manual for the best staple size to use.