The best stapler will help you keep on top of your paperwork, and you might sometimes use it in your arts and crafts work too. You'll want one that's strong, reliable and durable, because no-one wants a jammed or broken piece of equipment.
Our top picks take this into consideration, as well as a range of price points and use cases. We've based our selections on the consistency of customer reviews and reputation. Need more advice? Scroll down to the bottom of the article to find useful tips to help.
For more office essentials for creative businesses, see our guide to the best office chairs, the best pencil sharpener, the best printer and the best label makers. You might also want to see our pick of the world's coolest coworking spaces for some inspiration for your own workplace.
The best stapler available now
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The best office stapler for general use
+ Compact
+ Jamless
While some compact staplers can only handle a few sheets of paper at a time, this tough cookie can staple at least a couple of dozen. Its no-Jam technology is designed to avoid those familiar frustrating jams you get with more flimsy staplers, and it opens 180 degrees for tacking or crafting use.
The best stapler for stylish looks
+ Smart looks
+ Very durable
This is the most elegant stapler on our list. Its double-coasted die-cast zinc construction and sleek, streamlined looks means it will fit at home in even the fanciest office, especially if you opt for the gold or silver finish. As for the mechanics, you get a jam-resistant mechanism for accurate stapling.
The best stapler without staples
+ Lightweight
+ No staples
Instead of using metal to fasten sheets of paper, this stapler makes a small hole and tucks tiny pieces of the paper inside themselves to fasten the sheets together. It's easy to use and it's a lot more effective than you might expect. It's also highly portable, easily fitting into the palm of one hand.
Best automatic stapler
+ No need to press
+ Efficient
Staple up to 30 sheets at a time on AC or battery power with this automatic stapler. It has no less than 14 different settings for supreme adjustability. You can adjust the throat depth between .25 inches and 1.5 inches and lock it, and it comes with 210 staples included, which is refreshing.
Best long-arm stapler
+ Solid build
+ Long reach
The Rapesco ECO 790 is a heavy duty long-arm with a a full metal chassis and a front loading magazine. It has a calibrated adjustable paper guide/margin adjuster and offers a stapling depth of up to 300mm. It's able to take both 24/6 and 26/6mm staples, or 24/8 and 26/8mm staples.
The best plier stapler
+ Strong build
+ Multi-material
If you need to staple tougher materials, use this. It functions just like a pair of pliers – you just squeeze the two handles together. It's still a reasonably compact device, but it can bind up to 70 sheets of paper at a time and can handle thicker material like card, canvas, sack cloth and plastic wrapping.
Best staple gun for crafts
+ Powerful
+ Great value
If you need to staple things to a surface like a wall or a frame, then you're getting into staple gun territory. this relatively lightweight staple gun is maneuverable enough to access tight spots, and the chrome-plated steel construction makes it a durable tool with a jam-clear mechanism.
The best mini stapler
+ Small and portable
+ Very cheap
This mini stapler is very compact but takes regular-sized staples. It performs as well as a lot of larger desktop staplers, the only difference being its lower capacity and perhaps its durability, since it's made mostly of plastic. Also, the tab that holds staples in place is a little temperamental.
How should I choose the best stapler for me?
Staplers come in a huge range of shapes, sizes and weights, which means the best stapler for you will depend on what you want to use it for. If you're only going to use a stapler to fasten a few sheets of paper together, you can get away with a fairly lightweight option, which offers the advantage of being portable so you can easily move it from desk to desk or even carry it around with you.
We've rated the Bostitch Office Heavy Duty 40-Sheet Stapler as the best stapler for general use since it's small, portable and also fairly resistant. You might even get away with a very small stapler like the Swingline Tot Mini Stapler at number eight, and the Plus Paper Clinch at number three is a novel solution if you don't need the strength of metal staples. However, if you need to staple booklets or thicker supports like card, plastic or textiles, then you'll want a more heavy-duty tool, probably a long-arm stapler, a plier stapler or even a staple gun.
Read more:
- Best pencil sharpener: Treat your pencils to the best
- Best office chair: Get your sitting right
- 7 factors that make an office chair ergonomic
