26/6 Standard Staple vs. Paper Clips
Comparing 2 standards across 13 specifications. 13 key differences identified.
The 26/6 staple (standardized under DIN 7405) is the most common standard for desktop office staplers worldwide. The numbering designates a 26-gauge wire (approx. 0.40 mm diameter) with a 6 mm (1/4 inch) leg length and a 12.7 mm (1/2 inch) crown width, engineered to fasten 20 to 30 sheets of standard 80 gsm paper.
The Gem Paper Clip (introduced by The Gem Manufacturing Company in the 1890s) is a single looped piece of galvanized spring-steel wire that binds loose sheets using torsional elastic deflection. Available in standard No. 1 (33 mm / 1.3 in) and Jumbo (50 mm / 2.0 in) sizes, alongside specialized Butterfly/Trefoil wire clamps for thick 50-sheet reports.
Specification Comparison Table
13 Parameters| Parameter / Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Crown Width
|
12.7 mm (0.50 in / 1/2 in) | — |
|
Leg Length
|
6.0 mm (0.24 in / approx. 1/4 in) | — |
|
Conductor Wire Gauge (AWG)
|
26 AWG (approx. 0.404 mm / 0.0159 in wire diameter) | — |
|
Standard Sheet Capacity
|
20 to 30 sheets (80 gsm bond paper) | — |
|
Strip Quantity Standard
|
Full strip (210 staples) or Half strip (105 staples) | — |
|
Comparison to 24/6
|
26/6 has thinner wire (0.40 mm) than 24/6 (0.51 mm), providing lower stapling effort on normal stacks | — |
|
Primary Applications
|
Universal desktop office staplers (Swingline 747, Bostitch, Rexel, Rapid) | — |
|
Standard No. 1 Gem Clip
|
— | 33 mm (1.30 in) length — capacity 10 to 15 sheets (0.8 mm to 0.9 mm wire) |
|
No. 2 Gem Clip
|
— | 28 mm (1.10 in) length — capacity 5 to 10 sheets |
|
Jumbo Gem Clip
|
— | 50 mm (2.00 in) length — capacity 20 to 35 sheets (1.0 mm to 1.2 mm wire) |
|
Butterfly / Trefoil Clip
|
— | Large circular loops (up to 50 sheets without fiber indentation) |
|
Surface Finishes
|
— | Smooth zinc galvanized, vinyl color-coated, serrated 'non-skid' grooves |
|
Elastic Limit Physics
|
— | Operates strictly in the steel's elastic zone without permanent plastic deformation |