Understanding Staple Sizes – Wire Gauge & Shank Length

The key to understanding how staples are sized is easy – it’s all about simply knowing what the numbers in the size represent. The two numbers used in international staple sizing are the gauge of the wire and the length of the staple shank, given in millimetres. A lower wire gauge number means a thicker staple, while a higher shank number means a longer leg.

The most widely recognized standard for staple sizes reads wire gauge/shank length, such as 23/8, for example, where the gauge of the wire (23) is the former, and the shank length (8 mm) is the latter. One example of an exception to this rule is the standardized size No. 10 staple, which is used for mini staplers.

Heavy duty staplers range in purpose from holding together thicker packets (25 pages or more), to fastening boxes or various industrial purposes. Typical staples sizes for these purposes are 13/10, 13/14, 23/12, 23/15 and 23/24.

Household or classroom and office staples are the most commonly used type. Some of the more commonly used sizes are 13/6, 13/8, 24/6, 24/8 or 26/6. These staplers are usually used to fasten packets of twenty five (or fewer) pages together, or to hold just a few pages to a bulletin board or wall.

Before purchasing staples, always check the stapler that will be used for a specific staple size that may be stamped inside the cover or on the base. If so, use the manufacturer’s recommendation for the best stapling performance.

The Mouse Nouse, Mouse Mat is the brain child of a group of local young entrepreneurs from the Isle of Wight College. As part of the Young Enterprise UK scheme, seven students formed a company called Wight Focus whose aim was to design, produce and market a product; Mouse Nouse is a simple yet effective idea of turning a mouse mat into a useful and time saving tool in the office and at home.  By incorporating the functions of the ‘lesser known’ short cut keys on your computer’s  keyboard into the artwork of Mouse Nouse the user can  complete  standard task’s quicker, things like Refresh, Help menu, copy, undo etc.   Mouse Nouse has been developed with the help of local companies including Beardsalls (Marketing) , Graces Bakery (packaging) and Island CD (production / manufacture).  Mouse Nouse is available to buy from Beardsalls in Ryde and Shanklin as well as branches of the Earl Mountbatten Hospice, a registered charity offering care to people with life-shortening illnesses  who will benefit from a percentage of the profits from each sale.