Swingline 747 Classic: Sheet Capacity, Staples & Size

Swingline 747 Classic stapler in black drawn to scale, 184 mm (7.25 in) long and 44 mm tall, beside five sheets joined by one staple, with an inset of the anvil that turns between stapling and pinning — The black 747 Classic at 7.25 in long; the anvil turns for pinning (drawn at 1 mm = 2.5 px).

Product facts

Product: Swingline 747 Classic Stapler, Black (74701)
Brand: Swingline
Brand origin: United States
Made in: Not stated^*
Material: Metal body and cover, die-cast base
Released: 1968^*
Price range: $$$$20–75 per item

Notes on these facts

Made by ACCO Brands Corporation. Country of manufacture not stated: Swingline's product page (SKU S7074701) and About page don't state it. A Canadian dealer (Monk Office) lists China as the country of origin for the black 74701, as On Time Supplies did when we first checked. ACCO moved Swingline production from Long Island City, New York, to Nogales, Mexico, in 1999, so older 747s may differ. Check the box of the one you buy. Price: example listing. Released: Swingline's company history (via Wikipedia) dates the 747 to 1968. Swingline's own About page mentions only the 2002 launch of the 747, which was the red version made after Office Space.
Price bands are typical US retail, checked October 2026.

Key takeaways

Swingline rates the 747 Classic for 30 sheets of 20 lb paper with S.F. 4 Premium staples; older listings say 20 sheets.
It loads a full strip of 210 standard staples with a 1/4 in (6.35 mm) leg.
Retailer spec sheets give about 7.25 × 2.40 × 1.75 in (184 × 61 × 44 mm) and roughly 13 oz to 1.3 lb.
The anvil turns for pinning and the base swings open for tacking, and Swingline gives it a limited lifetime warranty.
The red 747 dates from 2002, when Swingline answered fans of the 1999 film Office Space.

What is the Swingline 747?

It’s Swingline’s full-size metal desk stapler, made since 1968 and still sold as the 747 Classic. Swingline lists it as a full-strip stapler with a metal body and die-cast base that staples, pins and tacks, and a reviewer at BabyBargains calls it the iconic Swingline desktop stapler.

Swingline is an American brand owned by ACCO Brands, the company behind the Five Star 5 Subject notebook. The black version is model 74701; other colors have their own numbers, such as 74736 for Rio Red.

Swingline 747 Classic specs

Spec	Value
Maker	ACCO Brands Corporation (brand: Swingline)
Model	74701 (black); Swingline SKU S7074701; dealer code SWI74701; UPC 074711747011
Capacity	30 sheets of 20 lb paper with S.F. 4 staples (older listings: 20)
Staples	Standard, 1/4 in (6.35 mm) leg
Staples per load	Full strip, 210
Size (L × W × H)	About 7.25 × 2.40 × 1.75 in (184 × 61 × 44 mm)
Weight	About 13 oz to 1.3 lb (370–580 g), by listing
Throat depth	Listed at 3.6–4 in (92–102 mm)
Build	Metal, die-cast base
Functions	Stapling, pinning, tacking
Warranty	Limited lifetime
Introduced	1968

Capacity, staples, build, functions and warranty are from Swingline’s specification table for SKU S7074701. Size, weight and throat depth are from retailer spec sheets, which differ a little; Amazon gives 7.4 × 1.7 in and 13.12 oz.

Swingline 747 Classic side view to scale: 184 mm (7.25 in) long and 44 mm (1.75 in) tall, with the hinge and turning anvil, and a staple with a 1/4 in (6.35 mm) leg — The 747 side-on at 7.25 in long, and the 1/4 in staple it takes.

How many sheets can it staple: 20 or 30?

Swingline’s current page says 30 sheets of 20 lb paper, but only with its S.F. 4 Premium staples. Older product copy, still shown by retailers such as LD Products, rates the 747 Classic at 20 sheets even with S.F. 4 staples, so 20 is the safer figure with ordinary staples.

Twenty-pound paper is the usual US copy paper, such as Hammermill copy paper. Thicker stacks need a heavy-duty stapler with longer staples.

What staples does the 747 use, and how many does it hold?

It takes standard staples with a 1/4 in (6.35 mm) leg and loads a full strip of 210. Retailers list Swingline Standard staples (35108) as a refill, and Swingline recommends its S.F. 4 Premium staples for the 30-sheet rating.

A full strip means fewer reloads than a mini stapler. The Swingline Tot holds 50 staples at a time.

What do pinning and tacking mean?

Pinning folds the staple legs outward so the sheets come apart easily; tacking fixes paper to a wall or board. Swingline says the 747’s anvil rotates for pinning, and a button latch lets the stapler swing open for tacking.

Stapling: the anvil turned so the legs fold inward, for a permanent join.
Pinning: the anvil turned so the legs fold outward, for a temporary join.
Tacking: the base swung back, so the staple goes straight into a bulletin board.

How does it compare with a staple-free stapler?

The 747 joins far more paper and holds it more firmly; a staple-free stapler leaves no metal.

	Swingline 747 Classic	KOKUYO Harinacs Compact Alpha
Method	Metal staple	Cut-and-tuck paper flap
Capacity	20–30 sheets of 20 lb paper	About 5 sheets of 64 g/m² paper
Size	About 184 mm long	87 mm long
Refills	1/4 in staples, 210 per strip	None

Is the Office Space stapler a 747?

No: the red stapler in the 1999 film Office Space was a custom-painted Swingline 646. Swingline didn’t sell a red stapler then, and fans asked for one. In 2002 it launched an official red model, and this time it was a 747.

Where is the Swingline 747 made?

Swingline doesn’t say on its product or About page; a Canadian dealer, Monk Office, lists China for the black 74701. On Time Supplies also gave China when we first checked.

ACCO closed Swingline’s Long Island City, New York, plant in 1999 and moved production to Nogales, Mexico. So a secondhand 747 may come from New York or Mexico; check the box of a new one.

Frequently asked questions

How many sheets can a Swingline 747 staple?

Swingline's current page rates the 747 Classic for 30 sheets of 20 lb paper when you use its S.F. 4 Premium staples. Older product copy, still shown by retailers such as LD Products, says 20 sheets, which is a safer figure with ordinary staples.

What staples does the Swingline 747 use?

Standard staples with a 1/4 in (6.35 mm) leg, such as Swingline's S.F. 4 Premium or Standard staples (35108). It takes a full strip of 210.

How big is the Swingline 747?

Retailer spec sheets give about 7.25 in (184 mm) long, 2.40 in (61 mm) wide and 1.75 in (44 mm) tall. Amazon lists 7.4 × 1.7 in, so allow for small differences between listings.

Can the Swingline 747 pin and tack?

Yes. The anvil rotates so the staple legs fold outward for temporary pinning, and a button latch lets the stapler swing open to tack paper onto a board, per Swingline.

When did the Swingline 747 come out?

Swingline's company history dates the 747 to 1968, when it became the company's most popular model. Swingline's own About page highlights the 2002 launch of the red 747.

Is the Office Space red stapler a Swingline 747?

Not quite. The stapler in the 1999 film was a custom-painted red Swingline 646; Swingline made an official red 747 in 2002 after fans asked for one.

Where is the Swingline 747 made?

Swingline doesn't say on the page we found, and retailers disagree, with several giving China for the black 74701. Swingline is an American brand owned by ACCO Brands; check the box for the country of origin.

Sources (11)

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