The Best 3 Hole Punches

Best image of 3 hole punches
Photo: Swingline 3 Hole Punch, 20 Sheet Capacity Three Hole Puncher 3 Ring, Paper Punch, SmartTouch Low Effort, Black & Silver (74133)
UPDATED NOVEMBER 23, 2024

To help you find the perfect 3 hole punch, we continuously put forth the effort to update and expand our list of recommendable 3 hole punches. Our team collects, edits and publishes new information, in order to present it to you in an accurate, significant and neatly arranged way.

Our Picks

Bostitch Office EZ Squeeze Punch image
EZ Squeeze technology by PaperPro requires 50% less force
ACCO Brands Swingline Punch image
PRECISION PUNCHING – Professional-grade, 2-3 hole metal punch is specially de...
Officemate Heavy Duty Adjustable Punch image
Lever handle for ease in operation
Our Choice
Bostitch Office EZ Squeeze Punch image
EZ Squeeze technology by PaperPro requires 50% less force
ACCO Brands Swingline Punch image
PRECISION PUNCHING – Professional-grade, 2-3 hole metal punch is specially de...
Low Price
Officemate Heavy Duty Adjustable Punch image
Lever handle for ease in operation

8 More 3 Hole Punch Alternatives

EZ Squeeze technology requires 50% less force during use

All metal design for long lasting superior performance

Integrated paper guide for hole punching consistency

Durable, all-metal design

Easy-to-clean chip tray

Rubber base pad for stability during use

LEVER HANDLE – Durable metal punch is designed with a wide, comfortable lever handle th...

ADJUSTABLE PUNCHING SYSTEM – Patented punch head system comes with 3 punch heads, but c...

20-SHEET CAPACITY – Punch neatly pierces as many as 20 sheets of paper, creating precis...

EASY PUNCHING – Durable metal construction ensures that this sturdy punch provides long...

10-SHEET CAPACITY – Handy punch creates precise 9/32” holes, piercing through up to 10 ...

ADJUSTABLE – Manual, semi-adjustable 2-3 hole punch offers flexibility, with 7 location...

Easy to empty chip drawer

Built in paper guide

Durable metal construction and base

EZ Squeeze technology by PaperPro requires 50% less force

Easily punches up to 40 sheets

No-Jam technology for smooth, hassle-free punching

EZ Squeeze technology by PaperPro requires 50% less force

Easily punches up to 12 sheets

No-Jam technology for smooth, hassle-free punching

SMARTTOUCH: Durable, 3 hole punch with strong, metal construction and an edge guide for...

COMFORT HANDLE: Wide, soft grip handle adds comfort and makes it easier to punch. It co...

20 SHEET CAPACITY: Sturdy punch pierces up to 20 sheets of paper, creating precise 9/32...

Buying Guide

Introduction


If you're putting together binders and booklets for presentations or classroom work, a quality 3-hole punch can be invaluable. Three-hole punch paper is available, but it's more expensive than regular paper and doesn't help you when you need to insert colored paper or custom tabs.
Three hole punches work by forcing a sharpened steel die through paper, shattering the bond. While the steel die punches seldom fail, the brackets that hold the paper and serve as a sleeve for the punches are generally not so durable and can fracture over time. If you for a 20 page tool to punch 30 pages at a time, you'll put a lot of stress on these brackets. Don't buy too small a unit that you have to replace in a short amount of time!

Choosing The Most Appropriate Unit For Your Needs


Investing in a 3-hole punch requires consideration of several factors. For example,
1) Manual or Electronic? Electronic 3-hole punches are quite reliable and generally durable, but require access to power and a permanent spot on your desk or counter.
2) Portable or permanent? If you'll be using this tool often, a larger, heavier unit is likely in order. Do you have the space? If you plan to keep it in a drawer or under a counter, is the tool lightweight enough to make it easy to move?

Manual Hole Punches


PaperPro inPRESS 20


This manual hole punch uses the entire handle as your method of moving the steel dies, so it will reduce the amount of force you need to use. The base is rubberized so it won't slide around and the capture container for paper waste is easy to access and empty.
The PaperPro inPRESS 20 is less than 2 pounds, has a locking feature for storage that results in a very low profile and can be easily tucked away. It will easily punch 20 pages at a time, making it a very efficient tool.

CARL 63040


The CARL 63040 3 hole punch is built to handle 40 pages per punch. It also has very durable springs that reduce the risk of jamming. If you're putting together binders for client presentations, the last thing you need is to find your presentation materials stuck in your punch!

The handle of the CARL 63040 is broad and can take the pressure. The wide base is non-skid and won't require you to chase it across the desk. You can easily store this tool thanks to the locking feature on the handle, and the waste tray removes quickly for easy clean up.

Swingline Desktop Hole Punch


For lighter duty punching, the Swingline Desktop Hole Punch can easily handle ten sheets at a time, is easy to clean up and requires little storage space. Many scrapbooking fans enjoy this hole punch for their projects.

The Swingline Desktop Hole Punch is built to be used as a gripping tool or on the desktop. The base is non-skid if you need to add a little pressure, but the handle is soft grip for easy handheld use. It's less than 2 pounds and will take up very little space on your desk or craft table.

Officemate Heavy Duty Adjustable 2-3 Hole Punch


This countertop unit has no need of springs to reduce the risk of jamming because the handle can be easily retracted once you've finished punching the holes. The base is rubberized so it won't slide around, and the chip tray is easy to access.

The Officemate Heavy Duty Adjustable 2-3 Hole Punch weighs in at five pounds and will probably need a square foot of countertop space. It's also important to note that the handle on this unit is on the right, so if you're left-handed, you may find it awkward.

Manual Hole Punch Winner!


For light duty, the Swingline is very serviceable. If you need more punching power, invest in the CARL 63040 for years of fuss-free paper punching.

Electric Hole Punches


Swingline 3 Hole Punch


The electric Swingline 3 Hole Punch is an excellent light duty option and will switch from corded to battery use with ease. It requires only 6 AA batteries, and is light enough to fit easily into a tote bag. If you've got a scrapbook project or presentation binder to put together on the run, this unit travels light! Also, the location of the hole punches is adjustable, so you can put together custom projects with ease.

The chip tray is easy to access and clean out. This unit has a reverse button on the back for clearing jams. As with any hole punch, it's critical not to overload this tool.

Bostitch Electric 3-Hole Punch


The Bostitch is a medium duty three hole punch with great staying power. It can be used with corded power or battery, and will handle up to 12 sheets of 20 pound paper. The paper guide is adjustable, but the punches are fixed.

This unit is unlikely to jam unless you overload it, but once it jams it can be hard to clear. As with any tool, if used for its intended purpose, it will generally last through many uses. It's very compact and will travel easily if needed.

Business Source 3-Hole Punch


This desktop hole punch doesn't offer battery power but has plenty of flexibility. It switches easily from three hole to two hole punching and the paper guide can be adjusted for custom configurations.

The Business Source hole punch will handle up to 30 pages at a time. The paper guide also acts as a support to keep the paper elevated while you punch, so no flopping or fussing around with stacks of paper. Additionally, you can use this guide to square up the pages before you punch.

Staples Electric 3-Hole Punch


The Staples 3-Hole Punch is a basic tool that offers designers and artists a big plus: It's beautiful on the desktop. This is not a utilitarian hole punch, but an elegant and crisp white tool with sleek lines and plenty of grace.

There is a lead warning in reference to this product, but not much additional data as to risk to the user. If your creative juices get flowing when surrounded by visually striking objects, this hole punch may be a great addition to your workspace.

Electric Hole Punch Winner!


For flexibility and durability, the Business Source unit should fulfill many needs and last for years. If you need custom hole punching for craft work but don't require tremendous volume, check out the Swingline electric.

Top Rated 3 Hole Punches

If you're looking into finding the best rated 3 hole punch, you should probable check out the Bostitch Office EZ Squeeze Punch. We looked at various sources of reviews and found this one to have the best mix between review count and average rating stars.

Bostitch Office EZ Squeeze Punch

The Lowest Price We Could Find

Often, going for the best price is a simple but good option. With a price of $10.98 (last checked this morning), we do not list any other 3 hole punch cheaper than the Bostitch Office Premium Punch. Just remember that it's not always the best option to go for the cheapest one.

Bostitch Office Premium Punch

The 3 Hole Punch With the Most Reviews

With at least 997 reviews and counting, the ACCO Brands Swingline Punch might be another option to consider. This large amount of reviews signalizes that many people are using it, with most of them beeing satisfied.

ACCO Brands Swingline Punch

High Quality 3 Hole Punches

It's quite rare that the saying "You get what you pay for" turns out incorrect. If you have the money on the sideline, feel free to choose the most expensive item from our list: The Officemate Heavy Duty Adjustable Punch currently sells for $41.45.

Officemate Heavy Duty Adjustable Punch

The 3 Hole Punch With the Most Clicks

If you trust us and our users, feel free to check out the Bostitch Office EZ Squeeze Punch. Our statistics say that it is the most favorite 3 Hole Punch from the list above.

Our Bestseller

If you're still undecided, I would recommend that you go with the masses and choose the top selling 3 hole punch: The ACCO Brands Swingline Punch is the hottest bestseller in this category right now.

ACCO Brands Swingline Punch

3 Hole Punch Reviews

There are no reviews on 3 hole punches, yet.
Be the first to write a review, or check for additional reviews in the Further Reading section below.

Further Reading on 3 Hole Punches

New: Our editorial list of additional articles. We decided to gather informartion all around the internet and present you a list of helpful, external links to interesting reads about reviews, pros & cons and similar products.
How to punch holes without a hole puncher - Quora
If you will allow me to MAKE a hole rather than specifying “punch” a hole, an electric Frank Duncan, Chemist, retired, Class III Radiographer (both source and  ...
0 persons liked this post.
helpful or not helpful
How to Hole Punch Without a Hole Puncher | eHow
A hand drill serves as an alternative to a hole punch in a pinch. To create holes in a stack of paper or cardboard at least 1/8-inch thick, a drill and drill bit  ...
0 persons liked this post.
Source: www.ehow.com
helpful or not helpful
How to choose a binding system for your planner (com...
Related: Arcing my Plum Paper Planner – everything you need to know if you'd like Pros of discbound planners . Cons of spiral bound planners easier to hole punch but the pages are more likely to slide out than if you use a 3 ring ... ...
0 persons liked this post.
helpful or not helpful
Homemade Hole Puncher | Bizfluent
You can make a hole puncher able to accommodate one or three holes from Measure, from the black mark in Step 3, up toward the center 4 ¼ inches, and 1  ...
0 persons liked this post.
helpful or not helpful
Why I don't use ring bound planners (and what I ...
Can punch more pages at a time with discbound punches than a 2 hole punch For larger size binders, unless you get one with 3 rings, stuff will be prone to falling out . Buying a planner versus DIYing and making your own (pros and cons)... ...
0 persons liked this post.
helpful or not helpful
Hole punch - Wikipedia
A hole punch most commonly refers to an office tool that is used to create holes in sheets of paper, often for the purpose of  ‎Standards - ‎North America - ‎Uses of hole punches - ‎Single hole punches ...
0 persons liked this post.
helpful or not helpful

Research

Do you want to know more about 3 hole punches? Check out the links below to gain knowledge about the whole topic of 3 hole punch products.

Comments

Comments on this page are currently disabled.

About this Article

This page about 3 Hole Punch was composed by and published by Alternative.me.
It was last updated on and has been viewed 4569 times.

Did you like this article about 3 Hole Punch? Please rate it!

4 of 6 liked this article. This is equivalent to a star rating of 3.33 / 5.
4 out of 6 people liked this article. This is equivalent to a star rating of 3.33 / 5.

Vote Now:

Like or Dislike
Copyright Notice: Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.