Stationery chosen with British desks, A4 binders and the September school term in mind
I Want StationeryPaper, pens & the joy of a fresh page

Shop drawer

Office essentials

The unglamorous heroes of the stationery cupboard. You only notice them when they run out.

Staplers and staples

Staplers are rated by how many sheets of 80gsm paper they can fasten in one go. A small stapler handles a few sheets; a desktop stapler is fine for everyday letters and reports; heavy-duty models deal with thick documents. Staples come in sizes such as 24/6 and 26/6, and they're not interchangeable, so check which your stapler takes before stocking up.

Hole punches

In the UK the standard is the two-hole punch, with holes 80mm apart to fit ring binders and lever arch files. Four-hole punches suit four-ring binders. Like staplers, punches are rated by sheet capacity. A punch with a paper guide helps line up A4 and A5 sheets.

Paper

Everyday printer and copier paper in the UK is A4, 80gsm, sold by the ream (500 sheets) or in boxes of five reams. 90–100gsm feels more substantial and suits CVs, letters and double-sided printing. Check that paper is described as suitable for your printer type (laser, inkjet or both).

The minimum home office

  • A ream of 80gsm A4 paper
  • Desktop stapler and a box of matching staples
  • Two-hole punch
  • Sticky notes and a notepad
  • Sticky tape, scissors and correction tape
  • A few black and blue pens that actually work

Office basics to browse

Staplers

Mini, desktop and heavy-duty staplers. Check the sheet capacity and staple size.

Shop now for Staplers

Sticky notes

Classic square notes, lined notes, page markers and flags for reminders and bookmarking.

Shop now for Sticky notes

Correcting and sticking

Correction tape is tidier than liquid correction fluid and dries instantly, which is why many offices and schools prefer it. For sticking, keep ordinary clear sticky tape for parcels and paperwork, and invisible matt tape for documents you'll photocopy. Browse correction tape or head to desk accessories for somewhere to keep it all.

Browse another drawer

Notebooks & Journals Pens Pencils Planners & Diaries Desk Accessories Filing & Organisation Art & Sketch School Supplies Cards & Envelopes Washi Tape & Stickers Gifts for Stationery Lovers

Not sure where to start? Our paper weights guide and fountain pen guide are good first reads.