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The Best Hole Punchers

Pheelings media/Shutterstock.com
🕚 Updated March 2022

Hole punchers are a must-have for every office or classroom. Keep your papers in order with a hole puncher that makes it easy to punch those stacks lying around. Here's a list of great options.

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  Best Comfort Grip Best Manual Choice Best Electric Choice Best One-Hole Pick
 
  Officemate
Heavy-Duty 2-Hole Punch
Bostitch Office
3-Hole Punch
AFMAT
Electric Hole Punch 3-Ring
Swingline
1-Hole Punch
 
Our SummaryA great option for a two-hole puncher with a comfortable grip.A standard three-hole punch that cuts 12 papers at once.An electric hole puncher that works effectively without requiring much effort from you.A standard, single handheld hole puncher that works quickly and effectively.
ProsWorks on up to 50 pages, comes with a padded handle, includes prong fasteners.Works on up to 12 pages, all-metal design, doesn't take up much space.Works electrically, punches up to 20 pages at a time, includes a battery.Easy to operate, punches up to 5 sheets of paper at once, easy to clean.
ConsNot up for professional tasks.May take a moment to align pages.Not great for large stacks of paper.Not great for large stacks of paper.
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How Did We Research?

15 Models Evaluated

5 Hours Researched

27 Reviews Analyzed

The Best Hole Punchers

Close up of woman hands doing holes with paper punch on documents sitting on a desk at home.
Pheelings media/Shutterstock.com

Buying Guide for Hole Punchers

Hole puncher and confetti isolated on white.
Xray Computer/Shutterstock.com

Why buy a hole puncher?

For those who like to keep organized, a hole puncher is a great tool to keep loose paper sheets from getting messy. Hole punches come in various types, depending on the number of pages you need to punch at one time. Whether working in an office or at home, a hole puncher is a great tool to have nearby.

What should you consider in a hole puncher?

  • Holes: Consider how many holes you want to punch; three holes are the standard for 8.5- x 11-inch paper. However, sometimes you want something that can handle more than the standard binder rings or even punch a single hole.
  • Capacity: Determine how many sheets you need to punch at a time. Hole punchers can get jammed like anything else, and some can only take a few sheets at a time.
  • Portability: Some hole punchers are a bit smaller, making it easy to take on the go with you; others are larger and are best left in one place. Think about what works best for your needs.

How much should you expect to pay for a hole puncher?

There’s a relatively wide range of prices for hole punchers. You can find one for as little as $5, while a premium option can be reasonable at even $30. The larger the paper capacity and the number of holes, the higher the cost. If you need a basic one-hole punch or one that has a smaller capacity for the number of paper it can hold, you’ll most likely pay a lower price.

Our Picks for the Best Hole Punchers

Best Comfort Grip

Officemate Heavy-Duty 2-Hole Punch

A great option for a two-hole puncher with a comfortable grip.

Pros: The Officemate Heavy-Duty 2-Hole Punch is an excellent option if your paper needs two holes. It works on up to 50 pieces of paper so that you can fly through even thick stacks of paper. There’s even a padded handle, which makes it comfy to punch your paper. There are prong fasteners, making it easy to punch the paper you need accurately.

Cons: This is a great option for home use, but if you’re looking for something more professional-grade, this may not be the best fit.

Bottom Line: Get busy punching with this two-hole puncher that gets the job done. While it may not be up to the most complex tasks, it works great on almost any basic task in your home or office.

 

Best Manual Choice

Bostitch Office 3-Hole Punch

A standard three-hole punch that cuts 12 papers at once.

Pros: The Bostitch Office 3 Hole Punch has three holes and can punch up to 12 sheets of paper at once. This durable, all-metal design comes with an easy-to-clean chip tray and a rubber base pad for stability during use. It is a slim and lightweight product, which takes up minimal space on the desktop and is easily stored in cabinets and drawers. This option works great for classrooms, offices, and homes.

Cons: It can be difficult to align your paper with this puncher.

Bottom Line: This quality option looks and works well on your desk or table at home. It provides a clean three-hole punch for up to 12 pages and even holds the punched-out paper so that it won’t make a mess.

 

Best Electric Choice

AFMAT Electric Hole Punch 3-Ring

An electric hole puncher that works effectively without requiring much effort from you.

Pros: The AFMAT Electric Hole Punch 3 Ring is a time-saving hole puncher that works electrically. It also has a paper guide that helps ensure you get a clean and accurate punch for your papers. It can punch up to 20 pages at a time for a quick and easy way to keep your papers together. All you have to do is push a button to get this hole puncher going. It also comes with a battery to take it on the go.

Cons: This does not work well to punch a hefty amount of pages.

Bottom Line: Take the work out of hole punching with this electric option that works for you. All you have to do is press a button, and this option will punch up to 20 pages of paper.

 

Pros: The Swingline 1 Hole Punch is a handheld, single-hole punch made from metal. The slim handle plier design is easy to operate. It can also punch up to five sheets of paper at once, creating precise 1/4-inch holes. The metal hole punch opens easily to allow for disposal of scraps, and it fits easily in pockets to take along to school or store in a desk.

Cons: This hole puncher works best if you need to hole-punch a few sheets of paper. It can take a while to hole punch one at a time if you have a whole stack.

Bottom Line: This sturdy option won’t have any trouble hole punching your homework or small stacks of paper. While you wouldn’t want it for a major job, it’s a convenient way to punch holes.

Final Thoughts

Make your life a little easier and keep your important documents and papers in order with a quality hole puncher. It’s easy to find the right one if you know what you want, considering the amount of paper tasks you have and where you will store them—either at home, the office, or the classroom.

Rachel Shubin Rachel Shubin
Rachel Shubin is a freelance journalist who is passionate about telling stories. Along with writing reviews for LifeSavvy, she writes a book column for Cape May Magazine and is a reporter for the Cape May Star & Wave Newspaper. When Rachel is not writing, she can be found advocating for mental health awareness and animal rescue, reading novels, exploring Cape May, or working on her polymer clay jewelry business, Piper + Pearl Co. Read Full Bio »
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