The best staplers, compared.
Top pick: Rapesco 1602 Marlin stapler – It shares the highest score, has the strongest relevant review base among those tied listings, states 25 sheets of 80 gsm, accepts 24/6 and 26/6, and covers staple, pin and tack. Best value: Amazon Basics 25-sheet stapler – About £5.61, a 25-sheet claim, a versatile anvil and 4.6 from 49,905 reviews outweigh the unclear staple code and box contents. Updated October 2026.
A desk stapler, a hand staple gun and a cable tacker use different fasteners. Ten of these twelve amazon.co.uk listings fasten paper. The ValueMax is a manual 3-in-1 gun for type 140 staples (6–14 mm), type 28 staples (10–12 mm) and 15 mm type 8 brads. The uses 28 staples, 9–11 mm, on low-voltage cable under 50 V up to 4.5 mm. That fork is on the [stapler or staple gun](/hub/staplers-and-nail-guns/stapler/sub/stapler-or-staple-gun) page. For paper, read the sheet count and the staple code before the colour. Trade guides put half-strip tools near 10–30 sheets of 80 gsm and full-strip tools near 20–50. That is a rule of thumb, not a test of these listings. A paper stapler clinches sheets on a desk. A noticeboard may need a tool that opens flat for tacking, or an anvil that pins as well as clinches. Fabric, underlay or a garden membrane needs a hand gun and the fastener family that gun lists.
A desk stapler, a hand staple gun and a cable tacker use different fasteners. Ten of these twelve amazon.co.uk listings fasten paper.
42 products checked · 58 hrs invested · +21,400 readers
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Personal buying guide
Question 1 of 2
What are you fastening?
The Rapesco Marlin combines a 25-sheet rating for 80 gsm paper with a full-strip magazine and an 89 mm throat, making it the most complete everyday office stapler in this comparison. It accepts both 24/6 and 26/6 staples, and the amazon.co.uk pack includes 2,000 of the latter. A rotating anvil supports normal stapling, temporary pinning and tacking, while the refill window helps prevent an empty magazine interrupting work. Its 4.7-star average from 6,197 reviews provides stronger evidence than the other top-scoring desk models, and the listing carries a 15-year warranty. At £9 it costs more than the Amazon Basics options, but the clearly stated paper weight and staple compatibility remove common buying uncertainties. It is our top pick for a shared desk, although it is more tool than a bag or pencil case needs.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A shared office or busy home desk that needs clear staple compatibility and versatile paper placement.
Less suitable: Minimal occasional use, travel kits or stacks above 25 sheets.
Specifications
Common questions
Which staples does the Marlin take?
The listing says 26/6 mm and 24/6 mm. The included pack is 2,000 staples of 26/6 mm. Do not assume every other stapler on this page takes both codes.
What is the capacity and throat?
The listing states 25 sheets of 80 gsm and a throat depth of 89 mm. It is a full-strip, top-loading stapler. That sheet line is the seller claim, not a count measured here.
Can it pin and tack?
Yes. The bullets say the rotating anvil offers staple, pin and tack. A remover is not stated on this listing.
The Marsrock is the only desktop model here built around a 40-sheet headline, with listing bullets extending that to 40–50 sheets when its heavy-duty staples are used. The box contains 1,000 standard staples for 20–25 sheets, 1,000 heavy-duty staples and a magnetic remover. Its dual-lever mechanism and rubber base are intended to reduce effort and keep the 480 g body steady. Reviewers rate it 4.7 out of 5 across 300 reviews, though that is a smaller evidence base than the leading everyday staplers. The seller's 80% less effort and one-finger lines are not independent test results. At £16.99 it is worthwhile only if thicker stacks are a real requirement, and replacement staples need care because the listing does not name either code.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A desk that regularly handles more than 25 sheets and can keep the standard and heavy-duty staples separate.
Less suitable: Ordinary small bundles, portable use or buyers who need an easily identified replacement staple code.
Specifications
Common questions
Will the standard staples do 40 sheets?
No. The listing ties 20–25 sheets to the standard quarter-inch staples and 40–50 sheets to the heavy-duty staples. Both packs are included. Using the standard pack for the 40-sheet headline is a common mistake.
Is the effort claim measured?
No. The 80% less effort line and the one-finger line are seller wording, not a test recorded here. The dual-lever and rubber base are described on the listing.
What is the reload like?
The bullets say a button release. Reviews mention the back springing open for refilling. The listing does not name 24/6 or 26/6.
The Rapid PRO R28 is a specialist manual cable tacker for low-voltage cable under 50 V and up to 4.5 mm in diameter. It uses Rapid No. 28 cable staples in 9–11 mm lengths and has a three-step force adjuster. The all-steel 825 g body is made in Sweden and carries a five-year guarantee, giving it a more professional specification than the general-purpose hand gun. Its 4.7-star average is based on only 37 reviews, some from outside the UK, so the evidence is much thinner than the score alone suggests. At £58.83 it is expensive for occasional work, and the box contains no staples. This is a cable-guiding tool, not a premium desktop stapler, and it must not be used to fix mains cable.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Repeated fixing of compatible speaker, phone, antenna or computer cable with Rapid No. 28 staples.
Less suitable: Paper, upholstery, mains-voltage cable or anyone wanting a general-purpose staple gun.
Specifications
Common questions
Which staples, and are they included?
Rapid No. 28 cable staples, 9–11 mm. This listing's contents are the gun only. £58.83 is the amazon.co.uk price read on 16 October 2026, not a claim that it is the lowest UK price.
What cable is it for?
The bullets limit it to low-voltage cable under 50 V, up to 4.5 mm, such as speaker, phone, antenna and computer cables. Mains wiring needs an electrician. Keep hands clear of the nose.
Is type 140 the same thing?
No. This gun is Rapid No. 28 only. It is not the ValueMax type 140 gun, and ValueMax type 28 is a different family from Rapid No. 28.
The Amazon Basics 25-sheet model covers the everyday desk brief for £5.61, with a 210-staple magazine, rubber base and built-in remover. It opens fully for tacking, and reversing the anvil enables temporary pinning as well as normal clinching. Its 4.6-star rating is backed by 49,905 amazon.co.uk reviews, the largest review base in this set. That combination of low price, useful modes and broad buyer feedback makes it our best-value choice. The compromise is poor consumables clarity: the listing does not name 24/6 or 26/6 and does not clearly promise a box of staples. Buy staples separately only after checking the marking on the tool or packaging.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Home and office users seeking a versatile, inexpensive 25-sheet desktop stapler.
Less suitable: Anyone who wants a named staple code and a guaranteed starter pack in the box.
Specifications
Common questions
Does the listing include staples?
The bullets do not say a staple box is included. The fastener-count field is 1. Reviews include both notes that pins were supplied and notes that the parcel came without staples. Treat inclusion as unclear.
Which staple size is it?
The bullets do not name 24/6 or 26/6. Reviewers have asked the same question. Check the marking on the tool or the pack before you buy a refill.
Can it pin and tack?
Yes, as stated: it opens for bulletin boards, and the anvil reverses for pinning. A built-in remover is on the end. The listed weight is 147 g, while a bullet says 149 g.
The green deli is a light 150 g desktop stapler supplied with 640 staples and sold with a 25-sheet claim. Its 4.6-star rating comes from 6,401 amazon.co.uk reviews, giving it a much broader review base than several similarly priced models here. The two-year manufacturer warranty is a useful distinction at £8.99. However, the listing does not name the staple code, a remover or a pin-and-tack mode. One reviewer also found ten sheets difficult, so the advertised maximum should not be treated as a guaranteed everyday capacity. Choose it for routine small bundles, not because the headline number promises heavy-duty performance.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Routine paperwork where most bundles stay comfortably below the maximum sheet claim.
Less suitable: Tacking to boards, buyers who need a named staple code or repeated thick-stack work.
Specifications
Common questions
What is the sheet claim?
The listing says up to 25 sheets. One review said 10 sheets were already difficult. The 25-sheet line remains the seller's claim, not a count measured for this comparison.
Do staples come with it?
Yes. The title and bullets include 640 staples. The staple code is not named, so a refill is less clear than on the Rapesco models.
Does the listing say it opens for tacking?
No. Pin and tack are not in the bullets. One reviewer wrote that it does not open flat. That review is not a listing claim.
The deli blue staples ordinary desk bundles and claims up to 25 sheets, while its 80 mm paper feed gives useful reach for placing the staple. Its rotatable anvil supports temporary and permanent fastening, and the body opens for tacking to a board. The pack is unusually complete at this price, with 1,000 staples and a separate remover. A low-staple indicator and a magazine holding up to 210 staples suit frequent desk use. The listing does not identify the included fasteners as 24/6 or 26/6, however, so replacement buying is less clear than with the Rapesco models. It is a practical choice when versatility matters more than having a named staple code.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A home or office desk that needs ordinary stapling, temporary pinning and occasional noticeboard tacking.
Less suitable: Buyers who want a clearly named replacement staple code or regularly bind stacks above 25 sheets.
Specifications
Common questions
How many sheets does this deli stapler claim?
The listing capacity is 25 sheets. The magazine holds up to 210 staples, and the paper-feed depth is up to 80 mm. The fasteners are described as a standard quarter-inch leg, not as 24/6 or 26/6.
Are staples and a remover in the box?
Yes. The title and bullets include 1,000 staples and one staple remover. The warranty field on the listing is the digit 1, which is not a clear warranty term, so the table leaves that cell blank.
Can it pin or tack?
The listing says a rotatable anvil for temporary and permanent stapling, and that it opens for tacking into a bulletin board. The body colour on this ASIN is blue.
The black Rapesco ECO Sting Ray is a compact half-strip stapler supplied with 1,000 clearly identified 24/6 staples. Its 20-sheet claim covers normal letters and handouts, while top loading and a safety lock-back simplify refilling. The recycled-plastic housing and all-metal feeder offer a more considered construction than its £6.23 price suggests. A 15-year warranty and a 4.6-star rating from 2,891 reviews strengthen the case for routine desk use. Some reviews nevertheless report jams below the stated capacity, so it is wiser to keep regular bundles comfortably under 20 sheets. The listing does not claim a remover, pinning or flat-opening tack mode.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Routine home-office bundles where a compact tool and an unambiguous 24/6 refill are priorities.
Less suitable: Frequent near-capacity stapling or users who need noticeboard tacking.
Specifications
Common questions
Which staples are in the box?
1,000 staples of 24/6 mm. The listing does not say it also takes 26/6. The maker page for this ECO Sting Ray states 20 sheets of 80 gsm.
What is the sheet claim?
20 sheets. Some reviews report jams well below that. Treat 20 as the stated ceiling and keep regular bundles under it. Germ-Savvy antibacterial protection is a maker claim, not a lab result recorded here.
Who warrants it?
The listing says 15 years. The contact address is Rapesco Office Products PLC, Kent. Origin is China. A remover, pin mode and tack mode are not claimed.
The soft-white Rapesco 1483 offers the same core ECO Sting Ray format as the black 1482 for £5.99. It is a half-strip, top-loading stapler with a 20-sheet claim, an all-metal feeder and 1,000 24/6 staples in the box. The 15-year warranty is unusually long at this price, and 2,465 amazon.co.uk reviews produce a 4.6-star average. Its compact format suits a personal desk better than a high-throughput stationery point. Review feedback includes failures near the claimed 20-sheet limit, so the capacity should be treated as a ceiling rather than the normal workload. As with the black version, the listing does not promise a remover or pin-and-tack functions.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A personal desk handling small and medium paper bundles with standard 24/6 staples.
Less suitable: Shared-office volume, thick stacks or jobs requiring a stapler that opens flat.
Specifications
Common questions
How is this different from the black 1482?
Same ECO Sting Ray description: half strip, 20 sheets, 1,000 staples of 24/6, a Germ-Savvy maker claim and a 15-year line. This ASIN is model 1483 and the highlight says soft white. The shelf price here is £5.99.
Does it include staples?
Yes. 1,000 staples of 24/6 mm. The listing does not say the pack is 26/6, and it does not claim a remover.
What do reviews say near the 20-sheet claim?
Small stacks are fine in several notes. At least one review says it jams or fails to go through cleanly near 20 sheets. Item weight is not stated on this ASIN.
The Amazon Basics 10-sheet stapler is a simple £5.39 option for letters, receipts and small homework bundles. Its full-strip magazine holds up to 200 staples, while the rubber base helps the 186 g body stay put. The tool opens for tacking and has a reversible anvil for temporary pinning, features that are not universal at this price. A 4.5-star rating from 24,330 reviews gives a broad picture of everyday ownership. The ten-sheet ceiling is restrictive for office packs, and the bullets do not identify the staple code. The product-style line mentions 1,000 staples but the box contents are not explicit, so do not rely on a starter pack being supplied.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Light home use where bundles rarely exceed ten sheets and the tool stays on one desk.
Less suitable: Shared offices, reports or buyers who want a named consumable standard.
Specifications
Common questions
How many sheets?
The listing says 10-sheet capacity and a magazine of up to 200 staples. It calls the capacity full strip. That is the lowest sheet claim among the paper tools here, and the lowest shelf price at £5.39.
Are 1,000 staples definitely included?
The product-style line and the fastener count say 1,000 staples. The five bullets do not say a box is in the pack. Treat inclusion as unclear. The staple code is not named.
Can it pin?
Yes. The bullets say it opens for bulletin boards and the anvil reverses for pinning. A remover is not stated. The warranty field is the digit 4, which is not a clear term.
The ValueMax is a manual 3-in-1 staple gun for fabric, underlay and light DIY rather than paper bundles. It takes type 140 staples from 6–14 mm, type 28 from 10–12 mm and 15 mm type 8 brads, with 1,000 of each supplied. A top force knob lets you adjust the drive, and the box includes a remover. The 1 kg body feels substantial, while reviews naming chair fabric, carpet underlay and garden membrane show the sort of jobs buyers use it for. Its 4.4-star rating comes from 10,150 reviews, but some owners report misfires when the magazine runs low. The listing's TÜV GS wording is a seller claim rather than a certification checked here, and this gun must not be loaded with 24/6 office staples.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Occasional upholstery, underlay and garden-membrane jobs using the listed manual-gun fasteners.
Less suitable: Office paper, precision cable fixing or prolonged high-volume work better served by a powered gun.
Specifications
Common questions
Will it take office 24/6 staples?
No. The listing is type 140 (6–14 mm), type 28 (10–12 mm) and type 8 brads (15 mm). Type 28 on this gun is not Rapid No. 28.
What jobs do reviews name?
Carpet underlay, chair fabric and garden membrane. The bullets name fabric, light upholstery and DIY. The box includes 1,000 of each fastener type and a remover.
What happens when the magazine is low?
One review says it misfires when staples run low and then needs a reload. The force knob is on the top. The TÜV GS line is a listing claim, not a certificate inspected here.
The ASTARON is a 50 g mini stapler that fits a pencil case or compact desk drawer without giving up a named staple standard. It takes 24/6 staples, includes 400 and holds 40 at a time. The listing claims a range of two to 24 sheets and adds a built-in remover, which is useful for occasional study or travel use. Its 4.4-star rating from 552 reviews is respectable but below the stronger full-size desk options. The small magazine needs more frequent refilling, and the listing explicitly does not position it as an all-day office tool. It makes sense for portability, provided you do not buy it as a substitute for a robust shared-office stapler.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Students, travel kits and occasional home paperwork where size and weight matter.
Less suitable: High-volume shared desks or frequent work at the top of the 24-sheet claim.
Specifications
Common questions
Which staples does it take?
The listing says standard 24/6 staples, and 400 are in the pack. It does not claim 26/6. The warranty field is no.
How many sheets, and how many staples in the magazine?
The highlight says 2–24 sheet capacity. A bullet says it holds 40 staples at a time. The capacity-description field says 40 staples, which matches the magazine, not the sheet count.
Is there a remover?
The highlight says a built-in staple remover. The listing does not sell it as an all-day office tool. This ASIN is green, while the bullets mention three colours.
The G4GADGET packages a manual office stapler with 5,000 staples, which is far more stock than the other desk models include. Its stated capacity is 20 sheets and the 350 g body should remain planted during ordinary use. At £8.99, the bundle initially looks economical if you would otherwise buy staples separately. The weakness is reliability: several reviewers report that the follower moves without feeding staples, leaving the tool unable to fasten even one sheet. Its 4.1-star rating from 73 reviews is also the weakest evidence line in this comparison. The listing does not name the staple code and contains an erroneous air-operated attribute, so this is a manual desk tool with avoidable specification uncertainty.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A low-volume desk where the large included staple supply matters and returns are straightforward.
Less suitable: A shared office or any job where dependable feeding is more important than the accessory bundle.
Specifications
Common questions
Is this an air stapler?
No. The title and bullets describe a manual office stapler for 20 sheets of paper. One Amazon attribute says air-operated. That field contradicts the product text. Do not treat this as a pneumatic tool.
How many staples are included?
The listing says 5,000 galvanised steel staples. The staple code is not named. The printed dimensions of 25 x 13 x 3 mm sit oddly next to a 350 g body, so they are not used in the table.
What do reviews say when it fails?
Several reviews say the follower moves but does not push staples, so it will not staple even one sheet. Others say it works and like the staple pack. The review base is 73.
Scores use amazon.co.uk listing data captured on 16 October 2026. They combine the star rating and review volume with stated capacity, staple compatibility, included items, useful operating features and value at the listed GBP price. Deductions cover an unclear staple code, contradictory listing fields, repeated feed or jam complaints, a small review base and limited fit for desktop paper. The score is an editorial comparison aid, not a laboratory test. A fabric or cable tool is scored on its stated job. That does not make it a better desktop stapler.
Stars and review volume
30%The amazon.co.uk star average and the size of the review base both count. A 4.7 from 37 reviews cannot carry the same weight as a 4.7 from several thousand.
Capacity and job fit
25%The printed sheet count matters for paper tools. A hand gun or cable tacker is judged on its stated job, not as if it were a desktop stapler.
Staple compatibility
20%A named code, such as 24/6, 26/6, type 140 or Rapid No. 28, scores above a listing that only says a quarter-inch leg or leaves the code blank.
Box contents and features
15%Named staple packs, a remover, a pin or tack anvil and a stated throat or force control add points. Unclear box contents do not.
Price
10%Value is the listed GBP price against what the listing actually states. A low price does not repair a missing staple code.
Match the job, the sheet count and the staple code before you compare prices. Ten tools here are for paper. The ValueMax and the Rapid are not. A longer staple leg does not raise the sheet count of a 6 mm stapler.
Buy the job first. A paper stapler clinches sheets on a desk. A noticeboard may need a tool that opens flat for tacking, or an anvil that pins as well as clinches. Fabric, underlay or a garden membrane needs a hand gun and the fastener family that gun lists. Low-voltage cable under 50 V, up to 4.5 mm, is the Rapid PRO R28 brief, with Rapid No. 28 staples at 9–11 mm. A 24/6 stapler does not hold cable. The Rapid does not staple invoices. Mains wiring needs an electrician.
Black, white, blue and green do not tell you the staple code or the sheet count. The soft-white Sting Ray and the black Sting Ray share a 24/6 pack. The two deli colours do not share the same pin-and-tack claim.
Only a listing that names 26/6 should be treated as taking it. The Marlin does. The Sting Ray listing supplies 24/6 and does not say it also takes 26/6. A quarter-inch leg is not the same sentence as a code.
The Marsrock bullets tie 20–25 sheets to the standard quarter-inch staples and 40–50 sheets to the heavy-duty staples. Both packs are in the box. Mixing them up is how the headline capacity fails.
Paper, a noticeboard, fabric or membrane, and low-voltage cable are four purchases. A desktop stapler that lists 24/6 or 26/6 is for sheets. AOS says those two codes share a 6 mm leg and that 24/6 is the thicker wire. A longer leg does not belong in a 6 mm stapler, and thicker wire does not raise the sheet count. Buy both codes only when the stapler lists both. In this set that is the Marlin. Its amazon.co.uk pack is 26/6. The Sting Ray and ASTARON packs are 24/6.
Use the sheet count printed on the listing, and treat it as a claim. In this set the figures run from 10 sheets on the Amazon Basics DHST002 to a 25-sheet line on the Marlin, stated for 80 gsm, and a 40–50 line on the Marsrock only with heavy-duty staples. Trade guides put half-strip tools near 10–30 sheets of 80 gsm and full-strip tools near 20–50. That range is a rule of thumb, not a test of these twelve tools. Half strip here is the two ECO Sting Rays, each with 1,000 staples of 24/6.
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
You want a known sheet count and a known paper staple, with staples in the box. The soft-white Rapesco 1483 ECO Sting Ray claims 20 sheets, includes 1,000 staples of 24/6 and costs about £5.99. Keep everyday bundles under that ceiling. Reviews include jams near 20 sheets.
You want a named code, pin and tack, and a larger review base than a half-strip personal stapler. The Rapesco 1602 Marlin states 25 sheets of 80 gsm, takes 24/6 and 26/6, and includes 2,000 staples of 26/6. Rapesco also states antibacterial protection and a 15-year line. Those are maker statements.
A 24/6 stapler does not hold fabric or carpet underlay. The ValueMax takes type 140 staples from 6–14 mm, type 28 from 10–12 mm and 15 mm type 8 brads, with 1,000 of each in the box. It is not a cable tacker. Low-voltage cable under 50 V belongs on the Rapid PRO R28.
The top pick is the Rapesco 1602 Marlin. It shares the highest score, and it has the strongest relevant review base among the listings tied at that score: 4.7 from 6,197 reviews. It states 25 sheets of 80 gsm, accepts 24/6 and 26/6, covers staple, pin and tack, and includes 2,000 staples of 26/6, at about £9.00. The best value is the Amazon Basics 25-sheet stapler at about £5.61. A 25-sheet claim, a pin-and-tack anvil and 4.6 from 49,905 reviews outweigh an unnamed staple code and unclear box contents. The Marsrock and the Rapid also reach that top score. One is a thick-stack desk claim. The other is a cable tacker.
Rapesco 1602 Marlin stapler
It shares the highest score, has the strongest relevant review base among those tied listings, states 25 sheets of 80 gsm, accepts 24/6 and 26/6, and covers staple, pin and tack.
Amazon Basics 25-sheet stapler
About £5.61, a 25-sheet claim, a versatile anvil and 4.6 from 49,905 reviews outweigh the unclear staple code and box contents.
Editorial
Peter F. is the editor for DIY & tools at productscompared.co.uk. Comparisons in this category are checked against amazon.co.uk listings, review evidence and public UK sources.
Guides on what to look for, how to use a product, and common mistakes.
Public UK sources on staple codes, strip capacity, cable staples and work equipment. Listings checked 16 October 2026. Prices on amazon.co.uk move.
This page contains affiliate links to amazon.co.uk. If you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Scores compare published listings and review texts. They are not a laboratory test.
