The Best Desk Staplers

No home office is complete without a stapler. This piece of ingenious technology has been around for a long time, so it's no wonder that the different models and options are seemingly endless. That's why we took it upon ourselves to scour the market for the best of the best. We found awesome bulk buys, heavy-duty options, and even some models that don't require refills. Read on to discover the perfect pick to help tackle all your stapling needs.

AmazonBasics Office Stapler

Simple and Sleek

This stapler isn't fancy, but it sure works well and comes at a bargain price. You can staple up to ten pages at a time with it.
Best Overall

Find on Amazon

Are you looking for an inexpensive desk stapler that’ll handle all of your basic stapler needs? Would you prefer one that doesn’t cost a ton? If yes, this is a fantastic option. This AmazonBasics stapler does all of the basics and works well in a home office. It’s strong enough to securely fasten 10 sheets of paper together. And, you won’t have to worry about it sliding all over your desk as you’re trying to use it, since the bottom is covered in rubber. Additionally, you can open this stapler up to tack decorations or notices onto a bulletin board or wall.

It comes with 1,000 staples. You can fit up to 200 inside, so it’ll last quite a while between refills. Best of all, the sleek black design looks professional and fits in with any office decor.

Pros

  • Fantastic price point
  • Modern design that’ll look nice on your desk
  • Easy to push down, so you won’t have to break out the muscles to get this stapler to depress

Cons

  • Limited capacity, so if you need to staple large packets you’ll want a heavier duty one

Swingline Desktop Stapler

Super Stapler

Have a lot of pages to staple together? This stapler can handle 40 sheets at once.
Best Heavy Duty

Find on Amazon

If you’re looking for a heavy-duty stapler that can handle a large load, you need this Swingline stapler. It can staple up to 40 pages with ease, as long as you load it up with the longer staples that have the leg length to go through that much paper. Additionally, the soft grip material at the top makes it easy on your hands as you’re pushing down.

Even though this stapler is tough, it isn’t large. Its compact design is the perfect size for smaller desks. While it doesn’t hold as many staples as some larger options, you can still fit about 100 staples in at once. You’ll get plenty of stapling done with this desk stapler.

Pros

  • Low-staple indicator so you always know when it’s time to refill
  • Spring-loaded design that lets you quickly load more staples
  • Sturdy and durable, this stapler will last a long time
  • Doesn’t jam easily

Cons

  • Works best when you use the slightly longer Optima Premium staples from Swingline, so you may have to spend a little more on staples

Plus Paper Clinch Staple Free Stapler

No Sharp Staples

Want to staple your pages, but worry that your child is going to get stabbed or cut from a staple? Go with this one, it clinches your pages together without a staple.
Best Staple-Free Stapler

Find on Amazon

One downside of using metal staples is that it’s harder to recycle your documents with them. You need to take the time to remove the staples before shredding or recycling them. To help you save time, give this handy device a try. It doesn’t use any staples, so it’s a green alternative. It holds up to five pages together securely. As you push down on it, it quickly punches a hole and folds the paper tightly together. You can use it with up to five sheets of paper, so it’s great for smaller stacks. It’s also safer to use, especially for kids, since there aren’t any sharp staple legs to poke their little hands.

Pros

  • Never run out of staples – this staple-free stapler doesn’t require any
  • Always ready to use, you won’t have to stop and refill it when you need it
  • Lightweight and compact, you can store it in your backpack or a desk drawer

Cons

  • You do need to use a little bit of force to ensure you push it all the way down. If you don’t, it won’t fasten securely.
  • It’s not as secure as metal staples – the pages will come apart more easily if they’re tugged on.

AmazonBasics Desktop Stapler Pack of 3

Staple Here, Staple There

Sometimes you need several staplers instead of just one. This set comes with three quality staplers for all your stapling needs.
Best in Bulk

Find on Amazon

You might want to consider getting this 3-pack of staplers, so you can always keep one handy. Each one can handle up to 20 sheets of paper, so it’s perfect for nearly any home office use. And although it’s a bulk buy, these staplers are far from cheaply-made.

These staplers are built to last. They’re made from durable metal instead of flimsy plastic, so they’ll hold up well to a lot of use. They also don’t jam easily and they’re easy to refill.

Pros

  • Excellent price point per stapler for a set of three
  • Sleek black metal design that’ll look very professional in your office
  • Low-staple indicator to help you know when you’ll need to add more staples

Cons

  • If you’re stapling 20 pages, you’re going to have to put your muscles into the down press or it won’t work.
  • Doesn’t come with any staples, so you’ll need to buy those.

Sparco Long Reach Stapler

Bind Your Books

If you're trying to staple longer documents or put a booklet together for your kids, a standard-sized stapler won't work. You need a long reach stapler like this.
Best Long Reach

Find on Amazon

It’s time to stop struggling with the rinky-dink staplers and invest in one of these long-reach ones. They don’t cost a ton of money and they’ll save you time and energy when you’re trying to staple larger pieces of paper or make a book that actually opens.

This stapler can adjust to reach up to 12-inches in depth. And, since it takes standard staples, you won’t have to worry about buying anything special. It may not be a stapler you’ll use every day, but when you need it, you’ll sure be glad you have it.

Pros

  • Can staple up to 20 sheets of paper
  • If you use chiseled point staples, it’s tough enough to go through a card stock cover on a booklet
  • You can use it as a normal stapler if you don’t want to keep another one around
  • Adjustable paper stop and guide so you can easily put the staple right where you want it

Cons

  • It takes up a lot of desk space with its long arm
  • Doesn’t open up for tacking on the wall, so if you plan on decorating with a stapler, you’ll need a standard one in addition to this one.

Frequently Asked Questions

What size staple do I need?

Most staplers take standard size staples. These are 1/4-inch (6mm) long and can connect 2-30 pages with ease. You might see these listed as 23/6 staples. That’s because they use 23 gauge wire and the leg is 6mm in length.

If you need to staple more pages, you’ll need to get larger staples. They come in several different sizes (up to 15/16-inch long). However, if your stapler can’t accommodate the longer staples, you’ll need to buy a heavy-duty one that can hold them.

How do you remove a staple?

When you’re done with your packet of paper, you’ll need to remove the staple before recycling it. You’ll also need to remove staples if you’ve used them to hang up decorations. To easily remove staples, use a staple remover. These slide in underneath the staple and pull it out easily. Alternatively, you can try to slide your fingernail underneath and yank. However, this can break your fingernail so it’s not recommended, especially if you have several staples to remove.