The Verdict

Amazon Basics Office Stapler Review: Is the $6 Stapler Worth It?

Some products are so cheap that you almost don’t care if they work. The Amazon Basics Office Stapler is one of those products. At $6.31 (for a 3-pack), each stapler costs about the same as a fancy coffee. If it breaks, you throw it away and grab another from the drawer.

Except it doesn’t break. With 52,000+ reviews and a 4.6-star average, this might be the most universally loved product in the entire Amazon Basics lineup. That’s a stunning rating for a $2 stapler.

Let’s find out why.

Who Should Buy This

Anyone who needs a stapler. Seriously. If you don’t already own a stapler and you need to staple paper occasionally, buy this pack. You’ll have a stapler for home, a stapler for the office, and a spare. Total investment: the price of lunch.

Students who need a stapler for their backpack. The compact size fits in a pencil case or small organizer pouch. The plastic construction means it won’t rust in a damp bag. And when it inevitably gets lost or borrowed permanently, you’re out two bucks.

Budget-conscious offices that equip desks without spending Swingline money. One reviewer put it perfectly: “It’s funny how we have to steal stuff from home for the office. I’m occupying a new office space and there is no stapler to be found. The basics stapler does what it is supposed to do and it does it well.”

Who Should Skip This

Heavy-duty office users who staple hundreds of pages a day. If you’re in a mailroom or administrative role where the stapler is in constant use, invest in a metal Swingline or Stanley Bostitch for $15-20. The all-plastic construction won’t hold up to that level of abuse.

Aesthetics-conscious buyers who want their desk accessories to match a design theme. The Amazon Basics stapler is functional but anonymous. It comes in black. That’s the extent of the styling.

Build and Design

The Amazon Basics stapler is all plastic — the body, the mechanism, even the spring-loaded staple pusher. The only metal parts are the staple-forming plate and the striking arm. This is not a premium product, and it doesn’t pretend to be.

But the plastic is decent. The body has a matte texture that resists fingerprints and doesn’t look cheap. The top-loading magazine is straightforward — push the release button, slide the magazine open, drop in a strip of staples, and close.

The non-slip base is a real feature, not a marketing bullet point. The bottom has a rubberized strip that keeps the stapler in place even on smooth desks. You don’t chase the stapler around as you press down.

One reviewer who bought the 3-pack for their home and school needs summed up the value proposition: “This 3-pack of Amazon Basics Desktop Staplers is an excellent product that offers essential functionality and fantastic value. The staplers are lightweight, easy to use, and reliably handle their 25-sheet capacity.”

Staple Performance

The stapler reliably penetrates 20-25 sheets of standard copy paper. It’ll do 30 if you push hard, but you’re at the limit. The staple legs curl properly and lie flat — no bent staples or half-formed crimps.

On thicker stacks: Multi-page reports and stapled booklets require more pressure. The plastic mechanism flexes under heavy load, which is the limiting factor. If you regularly staple 30+ pages, the stapler will work but you’ll feel the strain.

On thin stacks: 2-5 sheets staple cleanly with minimal effort. This is where the stapler excels — quick, one-handed operation for small documents.

Staple compatibility: Uses standard 24/6 staples (the most common size). The included 1000-staple strip will last a casual user months.

Longevity Expectations

Let’s be realistic: this is a $2 stapler. If you get a year of regular use, you’ve gotten your money’s worth. If you get five years, you’ve beaten the system.

The most common failure mode is the plastic magazine spring losing tension over time. Eventually, staples won’t feed reliably. When that happens, throw it away and grab the next one from the 3-pack.

The second most common issue is jamming from overfilling. The magazine holds a full strip of staples, but if you try to cram in a second strip while one is already partially loaded, the mechanism can bind. Solution: use one strip at a time.

The Three-Pack Magic

The 3-pack is the real genius here. For $6.31, you get:

• One stapler for your desk
• One for your home office
• One spare

Or one for your desk, one for the kitchen junk drawer, and one to lend to the coworker who never returns things. At this price, you can afford to be generous.

The Verdict

The Amazon Basics Office Stapler is the definition of good enough. It’s not the best stapler you’ll ever own, but it’s the cheapest one that actually works well. For the price of a single McDonald’s meal, you get three staplers that will handle 95% of your stapling needs for years.

The 4.6/5 rating from 52,000+ reviews is a testament to the power of meeting expectations perfectly. This stapler doesn’t try to be more than it is, and it delivers exactly what you expect for the price.

Score: 8.8/10

Buy it if… you need a stapler and don’t want to overthink it. The 3-pack at $6 is the best value in office supplies.

Skip it if… you staple hundreds of pages daily, or you want a metal stapler that will last a decade.

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This review contains affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. All opinions are my own based on analysis of customer reviews and product research.