24/6 or 26/6 staples: which refill fits?
Updated: October 2026
You are holding two nearly identical boxes and the stapler's magazine appears wide enough for either one. Choosing 24/6 or 26/6 staples is not simply a matter of matching their 6 mm leg: the wire differs, and a machine should use both only when its maker lists both. Our [main stapler comparison](/hub/staplers-and-nail-guns/stapler) includes models that clearly name one code, a Rapesco that accepts both and several listings that name neither. The safest answer is therefore model-specific: read the marking on the stapler or instructions, then buy that code rather than inferring it from sheet capacity.
You are holding two nearly identical boxes and the stapler's magazine appears wide enough for either one.
You are holding two nearly identical boxes and the stapler's magazine appears wide enough for either one. Choosing 24/6 or 26/6 staples is not simply a matter of matching their 6 mm leg: the wire differs, and a machine should use both only when its maker lists both. Our main stapler comparison includes models that clearly name one code, a Rapesco that accepts both and several listings that name neither. The safest answer is therefore model-specific: read the marking on the stapler or instructions, then buy that code rather than inferring it from sheet capacity.
Our top picks
| Badge | Product | Staple system | Sheet capacity | Staples in the box | Note | Price | Offer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall |  RAPESCO Rapesco 1602 Marlin stapler | Uses 26/6 mm and 24/6 mm. This pack includes 2000 x 26/6 mm. | 25 sheets of 80 gsm | 2000 staples of 26/6 mm | 9.5 | about £9.00 | View offer |
| Alternative |  Amazon Basics Amazon Basics 25-sheet stapler | Code not named in the bullets. | 25 sheets | Not stated. Bullets do not list a staple pack. | 9.3 | about £5.61 | View offer |
| Preis-Tipp |  RAPESCO Rapesco 1483 ECO Sting Ray, soft white | 1000 x 24/6 mm | 20 sheets | 1000 staples of 24/6 mm | 9.3 | about £5.99 | View offer |
On this page
The same leg length does not mean the same staple
In each code, the second number gives the leg length in millimetres, so both 24/6 and 26/6 have a 6 mm leg. The AOS staple size guide describes 24/6 as the thicker wire and advises using both codes only when the stapler states that it accepts both.
The practical rule is clearer than the terminology. Match the whole code printed for your machine. A thicker wire does not independently raise the stapler's sheet capacity; capacity comes from the mechanism, compatible fastener and paper. Loading 24/6 into a 20-sheet tool does not turn it into a heavy-duty model, just as fitting a longer leg without approval can leave the staple unable to clinch correctly.
If you are choosing a new machine rather than refilling one you own, the desktop stapler buying guide explains why capacity and strip length should be decided before refill price.
Models here that name 24/6 or 26/6
The Rapesco 1602 Marlin is the least ambiguous model in this set. It accepts both 24/6 and 26/6 staples, and the amazon.co.uk pack includes 2,000 of 26/6. Its capacity is stated as 25 sheets of 80 gsm.
The black Rapesco 1482 and soft-white 1483 ECO Sting Ray listings include 1,000 staples of 24/6 and state a 20-sheet capacity. The relevant pages do not add 26/6 as an alternative. Buy 24/6 for these models unless your particular tool or its instructions explicitly say otherwise. Their shared brand with the Marlin does not make every refill interchangeable.
ASTARON also names standard 24/6 and supplies 400 staples. Its listing claims two to 24 sheets and a 40-staple magazine.
What to do when the listing says quarter-inch or nothing
The blue deli describes a standard quarter-inch leg but does not call it 24/6 or 26/6. A quarter of an inch is about 6.35 mm, which explains the broad comparison with a 6 mm office staple but does not identify the wire series. Use the code stamped on the actual stapler, its starter box or instructions instead of renaming “quarter-inch” as a specific code.
Marsrock also uses quarter-inch language. Its listing supplies 1,000 standard quarter-inch staples for 20–25 sheets and another 1,000 heavy-duty staples for the 40–50-sheet claim. Neither pack receives a 24/6 or 26/6 code in the listing. Keep the two supplied types separate and order replacements only against the machine's documented specification; do not assume that a generic 24/6 refill reproduces its heavy-duty capacity.
The Amazon Basics 10-sheet and 25-sheet products do not name a code in their bullets. Deli green and G4GADGET are similarly unclear. With these models, remove an intact staple box if one was supplied and record its code before throwing it away. If the packaging gives no answer, inspect the base, magazine and manual or ask the manufacturer or seller. Anyone who wants a refill named from the outset can select the Marlin, Sting Ray or ASTARON in the best desktop stapler guide, with the capacity trade-offs described there.
Do not solve a fit problem with longer or gun staples
A 24/8 or 26/8 staple has an 8 mm leg, not a stronger version you can automatically load for more sheets. Longer legs need enough paper to clinch and a magazine and driver designed for them. Use them only when the stapler lists the exact code. Forcing a longer staple into a 6 mm mechanism can cause poor clinching or a jam.
Staple-gun fasteners belong to another family entirely. Type 140 staples for the ValueMax have a wide crown and lengths from 6–14 mm in this listing. The same gun also lists another type 28 fastener and type 8 brads. Rapid No. 28 staples are rounded cable fasteners, 9–11 mm, for the Rapid R28 tacker. The repeated number “28” does not make those systems interchangeable with each other or with 26/6 paper staples.
If your material is fabric, underlay or compatible low-voltage cable, go to stapler or staple gun. For paper, stop and verify the printed office-staple code rather than choosing a gun fastener that happens to share a number or leg length.
Common questions
Are 24/6 and 26/6 staples the same length?
Yes, both codes specify a 6 mm leg. They are not identical staples, however: 24/6 uses thicker wire according to the AOS guide. Use both in one stapler only when that model lists both codes.
Does the Rapesco Marlin take both sizes?
Yes. Rapesco lists the Marlin for both 24/6 and 26/6, and this Amazon pack includes 2,000 staples of 26/6. Its stated capacity is 25 sheets of 80 gsm.
Can I put 26/6 staples in a Sting Ray?
The Sting Ray listings used here name 24/6 and include 1,000 of that code; they do not add 26/6. Use 24/6 unless the marking or instructions supplied with your exact unit explicitly state otherwise.
Is a quarter-inch staple definitely 24/6?
No. A quarter inch is about 6.35 mm and describes leg length approximately, but it does not identify the full wire code. If a listing says only “quarter-inch”, check the tool or instructions before choosing 24/6 or 26/6.
Are type 140 staples a form of 24/6?
No. Type 140 is a staple-gun family for materials such as fabric and underlay. It is not a desktop-paper refill and should not be loaded into a 24/6 or 26/6 office stapler.
Related pages
Sources
Public UK sources on staple codes, strip capacity, cable staples and work equipment. Listings checked 16 October 2026. Prices on amazon.co.uk move.
- AOS staple size guide (retrieved 16 October 2026)
- Office Stationery stapler guide (retrieved 16 October 2026)
- Euroffice stapling guide (retrieved 16 October 2026)
- Rapesco ECO Sting Ray (retrieved 16 October 2026)
- Rapesco Marlin (retrieved 16 October 2026)
- Rapid Electronics R28 (retrieved 16 October 2026)
- PUWER 1998 Schedule 2 paragraph 13 (retrieved 16 October 2026)
- HSE nail guns (retrieved 16 October 2026)