A stapler is an office staple. Although there’s a common standard size, various different staple sizes are available, depending on what you need to bind and the type of stapler you have. Our guide will cover staple types and sizes,including a handy staple sizes chart that will ensure you buy the staples that suit your binding needs.
Our customers often ask what size staples go with each type of Blue Summit Supplies stapler. We’ve included a visual staple guide for each type of stapler we sell below.
Staple Sizes Explained
Staple Length
The length of a staple refers to its legs, the parts of the staple that push through the layers of paper and fold underneath the pages. If you need to staple a thick pile of paper at once, you’ll need a staple with long legs. Ensure you purchase the correct leg length as standard staplers are only designed to hold 1/4 inch legs.
When you see the size of a staple in millimeters or inches, it’s referring to the length of the staple’s legs.
Staple Width
The width of a staple, sometimes called its crown, is the top or crossbar of a staple. It’s the part of the staple you will see flat across the top of whatever you bind.
Wire Gauge
The wire gauge of a staple refers to the thickness of the staple itself. The thicker the wire is, the more stable and durable the staple. If you’re stapling pieces of cardboard together to form a box, you’ll want a thicker wire gauge than if you’re stapling together a couple of pieces of paper. There are a few different kinds of wire gauges.
Fine Wire: The thinnest staple, ranging from 20 - 23 gauge thickness. This is the type of staple you’ll find around an office.
Medium Wire: Usually between 18 - 19 gauge thickness. It’s stronger than a fine wire staple, but not quite strong enough to be used in construction.
Heavy Wire: The thickest kind of staple, usually between 15 - 16 gauge thickness. This kind of staple is best utilized in heavy-duty projects like construction or roofing.
Gauge is used to indicate the thickness of metal. The higher a gauge number is, the thinner the metal will be.
Staple Point
The staple point, also known as the teeth, refers to the end of each leg that pierces the paper. Most staples have a chisel point to help the staple push smoothly through materials.
Different Types Of Staples
Full Strip Staples
A full strip of staples usually consists of 200 or more staples per strip.
Half Strip Staples
As the name suggests, a half strip is half the size of a full strip, usually consisting of 100 or more staples.
Staple Cartridge
Staple cartridges may contain the same size staples, but they are a completely different style. This type of staple is used mainly for electric staplers or certain heavy-duty staplers. The staples come in a flat sheet (often 5000 staples) that’s rolled up into a cartridge.
What Size Are Standard Staples?
At this point, you may be wondering what’s the standard staple that fits the standard stapler found in nearly every standard classroom and office?
Standard-size staples are 1/4 inch (6mm) in length, capable of stapling anywhere from 2 to 30 pages together at once and designed to fit any standard-size stapler. Most of the time, this is the only staple you’ll need around the office or classroom.
Staple Sizes Chart
Most staplers will say on the bottom what size staple they take, so before you make a purchase, check the bottom of your stapler first. Often, the size will appear in the metric, two-number form, for example, 23/6. The first number refers to the gauge of the staple, and the second number refers to the length of the staple’s legs. Generally, for office use, it’s the leg length that will vary, depending on how many pages you need to staple at once.
Staple Type | Staple Length | Uses |
23/6 (standard staple size) | 6mm leg length (or 1/4 inch) | up to 30 sheets at a time (depending on the stapler) |
23/8 | 8mm leg length (5/16 inch) | up to 50 sheets at a time |
23/10 | 10mm leg length (3/8 inch) | up to 70 sheets at a time |
23/13 | 13mm leg length (1/2 inch) | up to 100 sheets at a time |
23/15 | 16mm leg length (9/16 inch) (Video) Adam Savage's Guide to Staplers and Nail Guns! | up to 140 sheets at a time |
23/17 | 17mm leg length (5/8 inch) | up to 160 sheets at a time |
23/20 | 20mm leg length (3/4 inch) | up to 200 sheets at a time |
23/24 | 24mm leg length (15/16 inch) | up to 240 sheets at a time |
Different Types Of Staplers
Standard Stapler
Also known as a desktop or office stapler, the standard stapler is the most common stapler on the market. These lightweight, portable staplers are usually capable of stapling 2 to 30 pieces of paper at a time and are best at keeping low-volume documents together. They hold strips of standard 1/4 inch (6mm) staples.
Mini Stapler
Mini staplers are similar to a standard stapler, but they are smaller and more portable. If you don’t use a stapler very often or your desk real estate is limited, a mini stapler might do the trick. The downside to mini staplers is that you may not be able to staple as many sheets of paper together at once, and you’ll need to refill it much more often.
Long Reach Stapler
A long reach stapler, also known as a longneck stapler, is designed for large binding projects, such as a catalog, booklet, or brochure. Its extra-long throat makes it ideal for stapling large projects along a folded spine. This type of stapler generally comes with an adjustable paper stop with measurements so you can staple precisely where you intend to. The stop feature helps align multiple staples across a folded document.
Heavy Duty Stapler
If you want to bind hundreds of pages together at once, you’re going to need the big dog: the heavy-duty stapler. Its large handle provides greater leverage so the staples can cleanly penetrate through every page with minimal effort on your part. Heavy-duty staples can bind over 200 pages at once.
Electric Stapler
Electric staplers eliminate the work involved in stapling. They can provide a cleaner staple, so you don’t need to worry about jammed staplers, twisted staples, or ripped pages. They are best suited for offices that need to do a lot of stapling, as they save time and reduce any strain on your hands.
Some electric staplers use standard staple strips, while others require staple cartridges. The downside is they rely on a power source, so you’ll either need to be in range of an outlet or be prepared to change batteries every so often.
Types Of Staples Needed For Blue Summit Supplies Staplers
Stapler Type | Staple Sizes | Staple Recommendations | Uses and Features |
Standard Stapler (6000 staples included) | Holds standard size staples: -1/4 inch -6mm -23/6 | - Blue Summit Supplies Standard Staples | - desktop use in the office, home, or classroom -up to 15 sheet capacity -opens flat for tacking (posting on a wall/corkboard) -12 inch (30cm) range from edge |
Effortless Stapler (2000 staples included) | Holds standard size staples: -1/4 inch -6mm -23/6 | -Blue Summit Supplies Standard Staples | -desktop use in the office, home, or classroom -heavy-duty and everyday stapling tasks -up to 60 sheet capacity |
Long Reach Stapler (2000 staples included) | Holds standard size staples: -1/4 inch (Video) 15 CLOTHING STAPLES FOR EVERY CLOSET -6mm -23/6 | -Blue Summit Supplies Standard Staples | -bind booklets, catalogs, or pamphlets -offices, churches, crafting, or classrooms -up to 20 sheet capacity -extra large range of up to 12 inches -adjustable sliding paper stop with integrated ruler measurements |
Heavy Duty Stapler (1000 23/13 staples and 1000 23/24 staples included) | Holds staples sized from 8mm to 24mm in length (23/8 - 23/24) | Bostitch Heavy Duty Premium Staples(various lengths) | -staple small or large amounts of paper -up to 240 sheet capacity -holds staples sized from 8mm in length to 24mm length |
A Little Bit of Staple History
So, now you know a little bit more about staples. Still hungry for more? How about learning how the first stapler came to be?
Legend has it the stapler was first created in France in the 18th century, commissioned into existence by no other than the King of France at the time, King Louis XV. Lou was looking for a more expedient way to fasten his royal documents together, and et voila, the stapler was born. The staples the King used were a bit different than the ones we’ve described above: Lou’s staples bore his royal court’s insignia, and some claim they were made of gold and encrusted with jewels. Gawdy to us, maybe, but pretty on-brand for a King.
A stapler for the common man didn’t appear for public use until the 19th century. For whatever reason, several different people filed patents for devices designed to staple paper toward the bottom half of the 1800s. There is some dispute as to who actually deserves the credit, but the first stapler appeared in 1879 and was called the McGill Single-Stroke Staple Press.
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FAQs
What are the different sizes of staples? ›
Common sizes for the home and office include: 26/6, 24/6, 24/8, 13/6, 13/8 and No. 10 for mini staplers. Common sizes for heavy duty staplers include: 23/8, 23/12, 23/15, 23/20, 23/24, 13/10, and 13/14.
How do I know what size staples my staple gun takes? ›Most staplers will say on the bottom what size staple they take, so before you make a purchase, check the bottom of your stapler first. Often, the size will appear in the metric, two-number form, for example, 23/6.
What do the staple sizes mean? ›Staple sizes are usually displayed as two numbers split with a forward slash i.e. 26/6 or 10/5. The first number indicates in the gauge of wire used in mm. The second number indicates the depth of the leg in mm (also known as the shank length) So 26/6 means the staple has a 26mm gauge and a 6mm shank length.
How do I know what size staple wire to use? ›Most staples have two reference numbers that are normally standard throughout the brands. The first digits, i.e. 24/## or 26/## indicate the gauge of the wire, the thickness. The second number reflects the length of the staple leg, or shank, and is measured in millimetres.
What are the 5 uses of stapler? ›- stapling papers together (Staplers don't use pins...they use staples).
- hemming pants that are too long.
- nailing co-workers to the cubical wall 4) melting it down and casting 25 mm figures for wargames 5) Sell it on Craigslist to someone that has staples but no stapler.
Light duty staple guns load three sizes of staples: 1/4, 5/16- and 3/8-inch staples. Since the heavy duty stapler can handle a greater variety of staple sizes, it might seem that there's really no need for the light duty model.
What size are Type 5 staples? ›Length: 6mm. Width: 9.5mm.
What size are no 10 staples? ›10 Mini Stapler & 1000 Staples (10/4mm)
Are all staples the same size? ›Unlike nails, staples are often sold by series, which doesn't tell you much about size. Furthermore, staples are not "one-size-fits-most," contrary to most categories of collated nails. Staples are instead measured not only by leg length and wire gauge, but also by crown width.
What are staples made of? ›General office staples are made of zinc-plated steel wire. They start their life in a thick coil. The coil is unrolled, drawn through steel dies to reduce the wire to its proper diameter, and rolled back into heavy 2,500-pound rolls.
How do you use staples safely? ›
Hold objects you intend to staple in place with clamps instead of your hands. Never walk with your finger on the trigger of a staple gun and do not disable the gun's safety features. You should also never drag or pull it by its cord. You do not want to cause it to fire accidentally.
What size is T50 staples? ›The T50 Genuine Arrow Staples are made in the United States from quality steel material, ensuring your stapling is precise, strong and long-lasting – first time, every time. Available in 6mm (¼"), 8mm (5/16"), 10mm (3/8"), 12mm (½"), 13mm (17/32") and 14mm (9/16") sizes with a flat crown width of 10mm.
What size are #4 staples? ›#4 Heavy Duty Narrow Crown Staples - 9/16" - 5000 ct.
What is the shape of staple wire? ›The shape of the wire comes into play, too—staple wire may be round or flat, and the shape makes a difference in the proper uses for the staple.
What are two types of staples? ›Staples are manufactured in two styles. Staples include flat crown and rounded crown styles. Flat crown staples have a flat top or crown and are used for general fastening. Rounded crown staples have a curved top and are used to secure wire, tubing, and other rounded items to flat surfaces.
What size is 20 Gauge staple? ›20 Gauge 1/2"(13.2mm) Crown 3/4" to 7/8" Length Fine Wire Staples.
What is staple crown size? ›Crown measurements typically range from 3/16” for projects like molding or trim, where the staple shouldn't be noticeable, to 1” when visibility isn't an issue and a heavy-duty hold is needed, such as installation of wire lathing or roofing shingles.
What is the importance stapler? ›The Reliable Fastener
A stapler is essential when it comes to ensuring that your documents stay together. This is especially important when you're handling larger paper stacks, such as when putting together a manual or training guide. A heavy-duty electric stapler is an efficient and reliable way to get the job done.
How To Refill A Stapler-Tutorial For Putting More Staples In - YouTube
Who created staples? ›Staples
What is the standard staple gun size? ›
Common gauge sizes for all-purpose staple guns are 16, 18, and 20 gauge, with some upholstery guns firing 22-gauge staples.
Can you put any staples in a staple gun? ›STAPLE GUN,USE ANY HD STAPLE
Never buy the wrong staple again it will use any brand or size of heavy duty staple.
Each one is a standard 1/4-inch size, making it compatible with most common staplers, and the metal construction gives it the durability needed for holding thick stacks of papers firmly.
What size are no 25 staples? ›Rexel No. 25 staples are recommended for a variety of Rexel staplers, including the Mini Bambi stapler. With a staple leg length of 4mm and maximum width of 7.2mm, these high quality steel staples can penetrate up to 10 sheets of 80gsm paper. This pack contains 5,000 staples.
What is Type 50 staple? ›T50 staples are the world's best-selling heavy-duty staple platform. Made to deliver exceptional holding power, these staples are used for all heavy-duty stapling applications – from installing insulation, housewraps, and roofing underlayments to upholstering fine furniture and window treatments.
What size are 53 staples? ›The 53 Series Staples come in leg lengths of 6mm, 8mm, 10mm, 12mm, 14mm and 16mm. All leg lengths are galvanised; have a crown width of 11.35mm; and come in boxes of 5,000 staples. The 53 Series Staple Selection Pack comes with 2,000 x 6mm; 2,000 x 8mm; and 2,000 x 10mm staples.
Are T50 and 140 staples the same? ›Introducing the fantastic 140 Series Staples! Known also as T50 staples, these are a great addition to any upholsterer's kit.
What size staples should be used for upholstery? ›Almost any fine wire and medium wire staples can be used for upholstery, depending on your fabric. 20 and 22 gauge staples are the most common staples for upholstery. #7 series staples 22 Gauge, #8 (80) series staples 20 Gauge, and T-50 series staples 20 Gauge are commonly used for these applications.
What is the difference between stapler and staple? ›A stapler is a mechanical device used for joining papers together. The fastener, called a staple, is a 2-pronged shape that's usually made of metal.
How do staples stay together? ›Companies have employees lick them so they stick, just like papertowels stuck to the bathroom ceiling.
How many pages can a standard stapler staple? ›
A normal stapler will staple up to ~10 sheets easily enough, but given many more, even as little as 18, it's defeated.
How do you make staples? ›How It's Made: Nails and Staples - YouTube
What is the length of a staple wire? ›Standard office staples are made of fine wire, 22 or 23 gauge, and their legs are ¼ inch long. Charts and packaging identifying staples will express this measurement as “23/6”, meaning the wire is 23 gauge, and the legs are 6 millimeters long.
How long should staples stay in? ›You will need to have the staples removed, usually in 7 to 14 days. The doctor has checked you carefully, but problems can develop later. If you notice any problems or new symptoms, get medical treatment right away. Follow-up care is a key part of your treatment and safety.
Why do my staples keep bending? ›Jams usually occur when staples get cramped, bent, or wedged in the very top of the gun head. This makes it very difficult or even impossible for the tool to function correctly. So, if you find that your staples aren't firing properly, your device likely has a blockage.
How far can a staple gun shoot? ›At your best bet, a manual, electric or pneumatic heavy-duty staple gun will be able to shoot as far as around 9.8 to 16.4 feet. This is also exactly why you need to understand the difference between a staple gun and a nail gun.
How do you staple paper? ›Location of the Staple
The staple should be at a 45-degree angle from the top edge of the paper and slightly in from the edges. Make sure both staple sides are on the paper and not floating off. If the staple is too far in from the edges of the paper, internal pages are difficult to read.
The T50 Genuine Arrow Staples are made in the United States from quality steel material, ensuring your stapling is precise, strong and long-lasting – first time, every time. Available in 6mm (¼"), 8mm (5/16"), 10mm (3/8"), 12mm (½"), 13mm (17/32") and 14mm (9/16") sizes with a flat crown width of 10mm.
Are T50 and 140 staples the same? ›Introducing the fantastic 140 Series Staples! Known also as T50 staples, these are a great addition to any upholsterer's kit.
What size are no 25 staples? ›Rexel No. 25 staples are recommended for a variety of Rexel staplers, including the Mini Bambi stapler. With a staple leg length of 4mm and maximum width of 7.2mm, these high quality steel staples can penetrate up to 10 sheets of 80gsm paper. This pack contains 5,000 staples.
What is Crown size on staples? ›
Crown measurements typically range from 3/16” for projects like molding or trim, where the staple shouldn't be noticeable, to 1” when visibility isn't an issue and a heavy-duty hold is needed, such as installation of wire lathing or roofing shingles.
What is Type 50 staple? ›T50 staples are the world's best-selling heavy-duty staple platform. Made to deliver exceptional holding power, these staples are used for all heavy-duty stapling applications – from installing insulation, housewraps, and roofing underlayments to upholstering fine furniture and window treatments.
What size is Arrow T50? ›| Manufacturer | Arrow Fastener |
|---|---|
| Size | 3/8 Inch |
| Color | Gray |
| Style | T50 |
| Material | Alloy Steel |
JT21 staples are the T50's little brother. Although often referred to as light-duty, there's really nothing “light” about them. Built with the same quality and precision as the T50, these staples utilize a thinner wire in a smaller staple format to deliver great holding power.
What size is a 140 staple? ›Tacwise Type 140 (T50, G11) Heavy Duty Staples Stainless Steel 8 x 10.6mm 2000 Pack (201CC)
What are 140 series staples? ›140 Series Staples are popular in the building trade as the large surface area of the flatwire 140 series staple is ideal for holding up plastic sheeting and insulation. These high strength staples are made from flat galvanized steel wire for the best strength fixing. Also available in stainless steel.
What size staples should be used for upholstery? ›Almost any fine wire and medium wire staples can be used for upholstery, depending on your fabric. 20 and 22 gauge staples are the most common staples for upholstery. #7 series staples 22 Gauge, #8 (80) series staples 20 Gauge, and T-50 series staples 20 Gauge are commonly used for these applications.
What size are Bambi Staples? ›25/4mm staple length.
What size are no 10 staples? ›10 Mini Stapler & 1000 Staples (10/4mm)
What size is 20 Gauge staple? ›20 Gauge 1/2"(13.2mm) Crown 3/4" to 7/8" Length Fine Wire Staples.
What size are #4 staples? ›
#4 Heavy Duty Narrow Crown Staples - 9/16" - 5000 ct.