Office essentials

• Copy paper
• Staplers and punches
• Pads and notes
• Featured types

Copy paper

Standard US copy paper is 8.5 × 11 inch Letter, sold by the ream (500 sheets) or the case (usually ten reams). 20 lb bond (about 75 gsm) is the everyday default. 24 lb feels more substantial and cuts down on show-through for double-sided printing, and 28–32 lb is a premium feel for resumes and proposals. Legal (8.5 × 14) and Tabloid (11 × 17) are the other common sizes. Brightness ratings (like 92 or 96) describe how white the paper looks.

Staplers and punches

Staplers are rated by sheet capacity, usually based on 20 lb paper. A compact stapler handles a handful of sheets; desktop models manage a typical report; heavy-duty staplers tackle thick stacks. The US binder standard is the 3-hole punch, with holes spaced 4.25 inches apart, which lines up with nearly every binder you'll buy.

Pads and notes

The yellow legal pad is an American office icon; you'll find it in 8.5 × 11 "letter" and 8.5 × 14 "legal" lengths, plus junior 5 × 8 pads. Sticky notes in 3 × 3 inches are the classic square, with lined and larger sizes for longer notes.