Staples Price Comparison
Compare 218 staples from Rapid, Rexel, Rapesco and more. Find the best price across top UK retailers — from basic office packs to heavy-duty industrial staples.
Staples price comparison UK
Staples might seem like a straightforward purchase, but spend five minutes browsing the options and it becomes clear there's considerably more to it than grabbing the cheapest box off the shelf. The range here spans from basic office staples at 3 £ right up to specialist industrial packs at 34 £, and choosing the wrong type for your stapler or application is a surprisingly common — and frustrating — mistake.
Rapid dominates this catalogue by a wide margin, accounting for well over half the products listed. That's not just market noise: Rapid has built a genuine reputation for consistency across both office and construction staples, and their Flatwire range in particular is worth knowing about if you're fastening into harder materials. Rexel and Rapesco round out the office-focused end of the market, while Bosch and Bostitch cater more to power tool users who need staples for tacker guns and pneumatic staplers.
The most important thing to get right before buying is compatibility. Staples are not universal — the gauge, crown width, and leg length must match your specific stapler model. A 26/6 office staple won't load into a heavy-duty tacker, and a 140-series flatwire staple designed for a Rapid electric gun won't work in a Bostitch. If you're unsure, check the stapler's manual or look up the model number alongside the staple series. Our listings include the series reference in the product name, which makes cross-referencing straightforward.
Bulk packs of 5,000 staples represent the sweet spot for most regular users — the per-staple cost drops significantly compared to smaller boxes, and the median price across our catalogue sits at 11 £. For occasional home use, smaller packs around 8 £ are perfectly sensible. At the upper end, specialist stainless steel staples or cable staples for wiring applications command a premium, but they serve a genuinely different purpose: galvanised steel corrodes in damp environments, making stainless the only sensible choice for outdoor or humid settings.
Worth noting: if you're comparing prices across John Lewis, Amazon.co.uk, and Currys, the variance on staple packs can be surprisingly wide — sometimes 30–40% on identical products. That's exactly where comparing before you buy pays off. You can also explore related fastening solutions in our paper clips and document clips categories, or browse clasp fasteners if you need a reusable alternative.
How to Choose the Right Staples
With 218 products listed and prices ranging from 3 £ to 34 £, picking the right staples isn't just about cost — it's about matching gauge, leg length, and staple series to your specific stapler and application. Get it wrong and you'll either jam your machine or end up with a fixation that pulls out under the slightest load.
Staple series compatibility with your stapler
This is non-negotiable. Every stapler — whether it's a desktop Rexel, a Rapid electric gun, or a Bosch tacker — is designed to accept a specific staple series. Common office series include 26/6 and 24/6; heavy-duty and construction staplers typically use the Rapid 140, 36, or 13 series. Never assume a staple will fit just because it looks the right size. Check the series number printed on your stapler or in its manual before buying. Mixing series is the single biggest cause of jams and misfires.
Leg length for your material thickness
The leg length (the distance from the crown to the tip) must be appropriate for what you're fastening. For standard office paper stacks, 6 mm legs are sufficient. Move into cardboard, upholstery, or insulation board and you'll want 10–14 mm minimum. For cable fixing or timber battens, 14–25 mm legs are the norm. A leg that's too short won't clinch properly; one that's too long will buckle or protrude dangerously. The product listings include leg length in millimetres — always check this before purchasing.
Flatwire vs standard round wire
Standard round-wire staples are fine for paper and light card. But if you're stapling into hardboard, MDF, or dense timber, Rapid's Flatwire technology makes a noticeable difference — the flattened wire profile reduces splitting and improves penetration consistency. Highwire staples go a step further, with a thicker gauge for maximum holding strength. For most office users, round wire is perfectly adequate. For anyone doing construction, joinery, or upholstery work, it's worth paying the modest premium for Flatwire.
Galvanised, stainless, or bare steel
Galvanised steel is the standard for general-purpose use — it resists light moisture and is suitable for most indoor applications. If you're working outdoors, in a greenhouse, or anywhere with persistent humidity, stainless steel staples are the only sensible choice. They cost more (typically over 17 £ for specialist packs), but galvanised staples will rust through in damp conditions, compromising the fixation entirely. Bare steel staples are the cheapest option but should only be used in completely dry, indoor environments.
Pack size and cost per staple
For regular office use, 5,000-staple packs are the most economical — the per-staple cost is typically a fraction of what you'd pay for a 650-pack. Most of the Rapid packs in our catalogue sit between 8 £ and 11 £ for 5,000 staples, which represents genuinely good value. Smaller packs (650 staples) make sense if you're buying a specialist type you won't use often, or if you're testing compatibility before committing to a bulk order. For high-volume office environments, buying in cases of multiple boxes is worth considering.
Crown width for delicate or specialist applications
The crown is the flat top section of the staple that sits against the surface of the material. A narrow crown (6–8 mm) concentrates force and is ideal for cable staples and fine joinery where you don't want visible marks. A standard crown (10–12 mm) suits most general purposes. Wide-crown staples (14–16 mm) distribute load across a broader area, making them the right choice for fixing insulation, roofing felt, or thin sheet materials that might tear under a narrow crown. Rapid's No. 36 cable staple, for instance, uses a narrow crown specifically to avoid damaging cable insulation.
- Basic office packs (From 3 £ to 8 £) : Mostly smaller packs (650 staples) or entry-level 5,000-count boxes from Rapesco and Yato. Fine for occasional home or light office use. Don't expect specialist sizes or premium materials at this end — you're getting standard 26/6 or 24/6 staples in bare or lightly galvanised steel. Perfectly adequate if your needs are simple.
- The everyday sweet spot (From 8 £ to 11 £) : This is where the bulk of the Rapid, Rexel, and Leitz 5,000-pack staples sit. Good quality galvanised steel, reliable consistency, and broad compatibility with most office and light-duty staplers. The best value for anyone who staples regularly. Novus and Fellowes also appear here with solid mid-range options.
- Heavy-duty and specialist staples (From 11 £ to 17 £) : Flatwire and Highwire staples from Rapid, plus Bostitch packs for power staplers. Longer leg lengths (14–25 mm), wider crowns, and better steel quality. Suited to construction, upholstery, and joinery work. Bosch staples for tacker guns also appear in this range. Worth every penny if you're doing serious work — overkill for a standard office stapler.
- Professional and industrial (Over 17 £) : Stainless steel staples, large-format cable staples, and bulk industrial packs. Rapid's No. 140 stainless and No. 36 cable staples sit here, as do Lexmark-branded specialist packs. These are niche products with a specific purpose — corrosion resistance, outdoor use, or high-volume industrial fastening. Not for the average office buyer, but genuinely necessary for the right application.
Top products
- Rapid 11856250 staples Staples pack 5000 staples (Rapid) : The most affordable 5,000-pack in the Rapid range — excellent value for high-volume office use. No frills, but consistent quality and broad stapler compatibility make this the sensible default for most desks.
- Rapid 24861800 staples Staples pack 5000 staples (Rapid) : The cheapest 5,000-pack in the entire catalogue — hard to argue with for basic office stapling. Best suited to light-duty manual staplers; don't expect it to perform in a heavy-duty electric gun.
- Rapid 11905711 staples Staples pack 5000 staples (Rapid) : A solid mid-range 5,000-pack sitting right around the median price. Good all-rounder for office environments — reliable feed, consistent clinch. The go-to recommendation for anyone upgrading from a budget brand.
- Rapid No. 36 Cable staple White 14 mm (Rapid) : The specialist pick for cable fixing — narrow crown, 14 mm leg, designed to secure cables without damaging insulation. Pricier than standard staples, but there's no safe substitute for this application. Don't use standard staples on cables.
- Einhell 4137875 staples Staples pack 3000 staples (Einhell) : The only non-Rapid product to crack the top 15 by offers, and worth noting for Einhell tacker gun owners. A 3,000-pack at a competitive price point — but compatibility is limited to Einhell tools, so check your model before buying.
Related categories
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know which staples are compatible with my stapler?
Check the staple series number printed on your stapler or in its manual — this is the definitive reference. Most office staplers use 26/6 or 24/6 staples; heavy-duty and electric staplers often specify a proprietary series such as Rapid 140 or Rapid 36. Never rely on physical appearance alone — two staples can look identical but differ in gauge or crown width enough to cause jams. If you've lost the manual, the manufacturer's website will list compatible staple series by model number.
What does the '26/6' or '24/6' designation actually mean?
The first number refers to the gauge of the wire (a higher number means thinner wire), and the second number is the leg length in millimetres. So a 26/6 staple has a thinner wire and 6 mm legs — standard for most desktop office staplers. A 24/6 uses slightly thicker wire and is more common in heavy-duty office staplers. The two are not interchangeable, even though the leg length is the same, because the gauge difference affects how the staple feeds and clinches.
Are Rapid staples worth the premium over cheaper alternatives?
For most users, yes — particularly for electric and heavy-duty staplers where consistency matters. Rapid staples are manufactured to tight tolerances, which means fewer jams and more reliable clinching. Cheaper alternatives can vary in wire thickness and crown width between batches, which causes misfires in precision staplers. For a basic manual office stapler, budget brands are usually fine. For a Rapid electric gun or a construction tacker, using off-brand staples risks voiding the warranty and damaging the mechanism.
Should I avoid buying staples in very small packs?
Small packs (typically 650 staples) are genuinely poor value for regular use — the cost per staple can be three to four times higher than a 5,000-pack of the same type. The only good reason to buy a small pack is to test compatibility before committing to a bulk order, or if you need a specialist staple type you'll rarely use. For anything used weekly in an office, go straight to the 5,000-count box. The price difference between 8 £ and 11 £ for 5,000 staples versus a 650-pack is stark when you work out the per-staple cost.
What type of staples should I use outdoors or in damp conditions?
Stainless steel staples are the only reliable choice for outdoor or humid environments. Galvanised staples will resist light moisture for a while, but in persistently damp conditions — garden structures, greenhouses, outdoor cabling — they will rust through and the fixation will fail. Bare steel staples should never be used outdoors. Rapid's stainless steel range (including the No. 140 stainless) is specifically designed for these applications, though it commands a significant price premium over standard galvanised packs.
What are cable staples, and when do I need them in 2026?
Cable staples are a specialist type with a narrow crown and a rounded profile designed to secure electrical cables, data cables, or coaxial cables to walls and skirting boards without pinching or damaging the insulation. Using a standard staple to fix cables is dangerous — the sharp crown can cut through insulation and create a fire or shock hazard. Rapid's No. 36 cable staple is the most widely available option in the UK. They're used with a dedicated cable tacker, not a standard office stapler.
Is there a meaningful difference between Flatwire and standard staples for everyday office use?
For standard paper stapling, no — Flatwire offers no practical advantage over round-wire staples. Flatwire's benefits (better penetration, reduced splitting, superior holding strength) only become relevant when you're fastening into harder or denser materials like hardboard, MDF, or thick card. In an office context, you'd be paying a premium for a feature you'll never use. Save Flatwire for construction, upholstery, or joinery applications where it genuinely earns its keep.