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Best stapler for office and home use: top picks on Amazon

A stapler drives metal staples through stacked paper sheets to hold them together. Sheet capacity, spring force, staple type compatibility, whether it handles heavy-duty stacks and whether it works upside-down for booklet stapling separate the core stapler types.

By Pickspry EditorialUpdated September 27, 20264 picks

The short answer

The Swingline 747 Business Stapler at $25 is the best stapler for most desks: the all-metal construction has held up in offices for decades, the 20-sheet capacity handles the typical stack of papers requiring stapling and the classic design makes it the most frequently copied stapler on the market for good reason.

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Quick picks

01
Best classic desktop stapler
Swingline 747 Business Stapler
Anyone who wants the most reliable standard desktop stapler at a fair price, where the Swingline 747's all-metal construction and decades of consistent design make it the reference-standard office stapler.
02
Best jam-free stapler
Bostitch B8 Premium Desktop Stapler
Office workers who staple frequently and want to avoid the most common stapler frustration, where the Bostitch B8's patented jam-free magazine design reduces the staple misfeed that causes jams in standard staplers.
03
Best heavy-duty stapler
Swingline Heavy Duty Stapler 160-Sheet
People who staple thick documents including reports, manuals, booklets and presentation materials 25 to 160 sheets thick, where a standard 20-sheet stapler requires multiple attempts or bends the staple rather than driving it cleanly through.
04
Best compact travel stapler
Durable Pocket Stapler Mini
Students, teachers and traveling workers who need a compact stapler that fits in a bag, purse or pencil case and is always available rather than being limited to the stationary desk stapler.

How we chose

Staplers are evaluated by sheet capacity, staple size compatibility (standard 26/6 vs heavy-duty), jam frequency claims from manufacturer specs, construction material (metal vs plastic), whether the stapler functions inverted for tacking, pin depth adjustment and price. Specs from manufacturer product pages. We did not test these products.

The picks, in detail

4 picks reviewed

Best classic desktop stapler

Swingline 747 Business Stapler

Brand: Swingline

Best for

Anyone who wants the most reliable standard desktop stapler at a fair price, where the Swingline 747's all-metal construction and decades of consistent design make it the reference-standard office stapler.

Skip if

Stacks thicker than 20 sheets need to be stapled regularly. The Swingline 747 handles up to 20 standard sheets. For reports, manuals or documents 25 sheets and thicker, the Swingline Heavy Duty at $50 provides the lever force required to drive staples through thick stacks without jamming.

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The Swingline 747 uses an all-metal housing and a spring mechanism that drives staples consistently through up to 20 sheets without requiring extra hand force. The full-strip staple magazine reduces the frequency of reloading compared to half-strip configurations.

The flat-clinch option available on some 747 models folds the staple legs flat rather than inward, which reduces the added thickness under the staple and allows stacked pages to lay flatter. The classic design accepts standard S.F. 4 staples widely available in bulk.

At $25, the Swingline 747 is the durable standard desktop stapler.

Specifications

Specifications for Swingline 747 Business Stapler
Capacity	20 sheets
Staple type	Standard 26/6 and S.F. 4
Construction	All-metal
Price	$25

Specs from Swingline 747, business stapler Amazon search

Best jam-free stapler

Bostitch B8 Premium Desktop Stapler

Brand: Bostitch

Best for

Office workers who staple frequently and want to avoid the most common stapler frustration, where the Bostitch B8's patented jam-free magazine design reduces the staple misfeed that causes jams in standard staplers.

Skip if

Stapling thick documents over 25 sheets. The Bostitch B8 handles up to 25 sheets. For manuals and documents 30 to 100 sheets thick, a heavy-duty stapler with a longer arm provides the mechanical advantage required to drive a staple through thick stacks.

Check price on Amazon

The Bostitch B8 uses a spring-loaded magazine that maintains tension on the staple strip throughout the full load, preventing the loose-staple condition that causes most jams near the end of a staple strip. The 25-sheet capacity handles most standard stapling tasks in an office environment.

The B8 is available in multiple colors and accepts standard Bostitch Premium Staples. The flat-clinch feature folds staple legs flat against the back of the paper rather than inward, reducing bulk in stapled documents.

At $20, the Bostitch B8 is the jam-reducing stapler at a below-average price.

Specifications

Specifications for Bostitch B8 Premium Desktop Stapler
Capacity	25 sheets
Jam protection	InJoy spring technology
Construction	Metal
Price	$20

Specs from Bostitch B8, premium desktop stapler Amazon search

Best heavy-duty stapler

Swingline Heavy Duty Stapler 160-Sheet

Brand: Swingline

Best for

People who staple thick documents including reports, manuals, booklets and presentation materials 25 to 160 sheets thick, where a standard 20-sheet stapler requires multiple attempts or bends the staple rather than driving it cleanly through.

Skip if

The primary stapling task is single sheets or documents under 25 pages. A heavy-duty stapler requires more hand force per press than a standard stapler. For everyday 5 to 20 sheet stapling, a standard stapler like the Swingline 747 at $25 is easier to press repeatedly.

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The Swingline Heavy Duty stapler uses a longer arm and a stronger spring mechanism than standard staplers, providing the mechanical force to drive a staple cleanly through thick stacks of 25 to 160 sheets in one press without the bent-staple or jam condition that occurs when a standard stapler is used on thick documents.

The unit requires heavy-duty staples sized for thick-stack applications. It also functions as a standard stapler for thin stacks when needed.

At $50, the Swingline Heavy Duty is the thick-document stapler for offices that regularly prepare manuals, reports and presentations.

Specifications

Specifications for Swingline Heavy Duty Stapler 160-Sheet
Capacity	Up to 160 sheets
Staple size	Heavy-duty staples
Construction	All-metal
Price	$50

Specs from Swingline, heavy duty stapler 160 sheet Amazon search

Best compact travel stapler

Durable Pocket Stapler Mini

Brand: Durable

Best for

Students, teachers and traveling workers who need a compact stapler that fits in a bag, purse or pencil case and is always available rather than being limited to the stationary desk stapler.

Skip if

Stapling more than 10 sheets at a time. Mini staplers sacrifice sheet capacity for portability. Most compact staplers handle 8 to 12 sheets per pass. For offices where thick stacks are stapled regularly, a full-size desktop stapler provides better capacity.

Check price on Amazon

The Durable compact stapler uses mini staples in a small magazine that fits in a pocket, pencil case or bag without adding bulk. The reduced size accepts mini staples rather than standard staples, which must be purchased separately in the correct size.

The stapler is appropriate for thin documents, handouts and classroom materials where portability is more important than high sheet capacity.

At $15, the Durable compact stapler is the portable stapler for bags and travel.

Specifications

Specifications for Durable Pocket Stapler Mini
Size	Compact, pocket-sized
Capacity	8 to 12 sheets
Staple type	Mini staples (26/4 or 8mm)
Price	$15

Specs from Durable, compact mini stapler Amazon search

Stapler comparison

Model	Sheet capacity	Jam protection	Construction	Price
Swingline 747	20 sheets	Standard	All-metal	$25
Bostitch B8	25 sheets	InJoy spring	Metal	$20
Swingline Heavy Duty	160 sheets	None needed	All-metal	$50
Durable Pocket	8-12 sheets	N/A	Compact	$15

Compare the picks

Side by side comparison of every pick
Specification	Swingline 747 Business Stapler	Bostitch B8 Premium Desktop Stapler	Swingline Heavy Duty Stapler 160-Sheet	Durable Pocket Stapler Mini
Our verdict	Best classic desktop stapler	Best jam-free stapler	Best heavy-duty stapler	Best compact travel stapler
Capacity	20 sheets	25 sheets	Up to 160 sheets	8 to 12 sheets
Staple type	Standard 26/6 and S.F. 4	Not listed	Not listed	Mini staples (26/4 or 8mm)
Construction	All-metal	Metal	All-metal	Not listed
Price	$25	$20	$50	$15
Jam protection	Not listed	InJoy spring technology	Not listed	Not listed
Staple size	Not listed	Not listed	Heavy-duty staples	Not listed
Size	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	Compact, pocket-sized
Buy	Check price	Check price	Check price	Check price

Questions people ask

What staples do I need for a standard stapler?

Most standard desktop staplers use 26/6 staples, which is the most widely available staple size globally. The '26' refers to the staple gauge (wire thickness) and '6' refers to the leg length in millimeters. Swingline's equivalent staple designation is S.F. 4, which is the same size in their numbering system. Staples are available in quarter-strip, half-strip and full-strip formats that correspond to the magazine configuration of the specific stapler. Full-strip magazines hold more staples and require less frequent reloading. Heavy-duty staplers use longer-legged heavy-duty staples, typically 23/13 or similar, to penetrate through thick stacks of paper. Check the stapler's manual or packaging to confirm the correct staple designation.

Why does my stapler bend staples instead of going through the paper?

A staple that bends or fails to penetrate the paper stack indicates that either the stack is thicker than the stapler's rated capacity, the staples are the wrong size for the stapler, or the stapler's spring mechanism has weakened and no longer provides sufficient driving force. Loading one or two fewer sheets than the rated capacity typically resolves bent-staple failures at the capacity limit. If the problem occurs at lower sheet counts, check whether the loaded staples are the correct size: mismatched staples cause driving failures even at low counts. A spring mechanism that has weakened after years of use often requires replacing the stapler rather than repairing the mechanism.

Can I use a standard stapler to staple a booklet?

A standard desktop stapler can be used to staple a booklet if it allows the magazine to swing open flat so the stapler can be placed over a folded sheet and driven downward through the fold. This configuration, called saddle stapling, requires the stapler to have an open base that catches the staple legs on the other side of the folded paper. Not all standard staplers support this mode; the Swingline 747 and most full-strip staplers do. A dedicated booklet stapler with a longer arm holds the paper further from the magazine and is used for multi-sheet booklets where the arm length of a standard stapler cannot reach the center fold.

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Best stapler for office and home use: top picks on Amazon