--- title: "Swingline Tot Mini Stapler: 12 Sheets & Staple Remover" canonical: "https://stationerytimes.com/guides/swingline-tot/" description: "Swingline Tot mini stapler (79171) explained: 12 sheets of 20 lb paper, 50-staple load, 1,000 staples included, built-in remover, size, weight and origin." category: "Accessories" type: "Mini stapler" published: 2026-10-20 updated: 2026-10-20 author: "Ellis Penhale" publisher: "Stationery Times" sources: 9 products: - name: "Swingline Tot Mini Stapler, 12-Sheet Capacity, Black (79171)" brand: "Swingline" brand_origin: "United States" made_in: "Not stated" material: "High-impact plastic body with built-in staple remover (per Swingline)" price_band: "$$ ($5–20 per item, typical US retail, October 2026)" manufacturer: "ACCO Brands Corporation" model: "79171" mpn: "SWI79171" sku: "S7079171" url: "https://www.swingline.com/p/staplers/desktop-staplers/mini-staplers/tot-mini-staplers/" --- # Swingline Tot Mini Stapler: 12 Sheets & Staple Remover > The Swingline Tot (model 79171) is a pocket-size plastic stapler that Swingline rates for 12 sheets of 20 lb paper. It takes standard 1/4 in staples, holds 50 at a time and comes with a box of 1,000, and its rear end is a built-in staple remover. Amazon lists it at 2.72 oz (77 g). - URL: https://stationerytimes.com/guides/swingline-tot/ - Category: Accessories - Author: Ellis Penhale - Published: 2026-10-20 - Updated: 2026-10-20 ![Swingline Tot mini stapler in black, drawn in proportion, with a steel staple remover at the rear, beside a 50-staple load and five stapled sheets; an inset shows the remover lifting a staple](https://stationerytimes.com/images/raster/swingline-tot-16x9.png) *The black Tot 79171 with its built-in remover at the rear (drawn in proportion).* Original drawing (SVG): https://stationerytimes.com/images/swingline-tot-cover.svg. Drawings © 2026 Stationery Times, reusable with credit under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). ## Product facts | Product | Brand | Brand origin | Made in | Material | Released | Price range (typical US retail, October 2026) | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | Swingline Tot Mini Stapler, 12-Sheet Capacity, Black (79171) | Swingline (by ACCO Brands Corporation) | United States | Not stated | High-impact plastic body with built-in staple remover (per Swingline) | – | $$: $5–20 per item | - Made in (Swingline Tot Mini Stapler, 12-Sheet Capacity, Black (79171)): Not stated. Swingline's product page (SKU S7079171) doesn't state it, and retailers disagree: PartsSource lists China and On Time Supplies listed Vietnam for model 79171 when we first checked. Check the package. ## Key takeaways - Swingline rates the Tot for 12 sheets of 20 lb paper; one tester got 5 to 8 sheets in everyday use. - It holds 50 standard staples (1/4 in leg) and ships with a box of 1,000. - Amazon lists the black 79171 at 2.72 oz (77 g), about a fifth of the 13.12 oz it lists for a Swingline 747. - The rear of the stapler is a staple remover, so one tool both adds and takes out staples. - Swingline gives the Tot a limited 1-year warranty, and its instruction sheet for the Tot and Tot Grip gives a 2 to 12 sheet range. ## What is the Swingline Tot? **It's Swingline's smallest everyday stapler: a plastic mini stapler that takes standard staples and has a staple remover built into its back end.** The black version is model 79171, and Swingline also sells it in assorted colors. Swingline is an American brand owned by ACCO Brands. Its full-size sibling is the [Swingline 747](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/swingline-747/), a metal desk stapler that holds four times as many staples. ## Swingline Tot specs | Spec | Value | |---|---| | Maker | ACCO Brands Corporation (brand: Swingline) | | Model | 79171 (black); Swingline SKU S7079171; dealer code SWI79171 | | Capacity | 12 sheets of 20 lb paper | | Staples | Standard, 1/4 in (6.35 mm) leg | | Staples per load | 50 | | Included | Box of 1,000 staples | | Extras | Built-in staple remover | | Listed size | 3.9 × 1.45 × 4.9 in (99 × 37 × 124 mm), likely including packaging | | Weight | 2.72 oz (77 g), per Amazon | | Body | High-impact plastic, with spare-staple storage | | Colors | Black, Rio Red, Periwinkle, True Blue (Swingline) | | Warranty | Limited 1-year | Capacity, staples, body, colors, warranty and the included box are from Swingline's page for SKU S7079171. Size and weight are from Amazon; WebstaurantStore gives 3 7/8 × 1 1/2 × 4 3/4 in, which suggests a carded package rather than the bare stapler. ## How many sheets does it really staple? **Swingline says 12 sheets of 20 lb paper; BabyBargains' tester got 5 to 8 sheets depending on paper weight.** The same review named the Tiny Tot its best budget mini stapler but noted occasional jams. A Staples customer review also reports staples sticking in the exit channel. Swingline's instruction sheet, which covers both the Tot and the Tot Grip, gives a 2 to 12 sheet range. ## What staples does it take, and how many? **It takes the same standard 1/4 in staples as a desk stapler and holds 50 at a time.** That's about a quarter of the 210-staple strip a 747 holds, so a full strip won't fit in one load. Retailers list Swingline 35108, 35450 and 35556 as refills. Because the size is standard, any box of standard 1/4 in staples should fit; the Tot ships with a box of 1,000. ![Swingline Tot vs 747 Classic, drawn to scale by count: Tot 12 sheets and 50 staples per load; 747 Classic 30 sheets and 210 staples per load](https://stationerytimes.com/images/swingline-tot-vs-747.svg) *Per Swingline, the Tot staples 12 sheets and holds 50; the 747 staples 30 and holds 210.* ## How does the built-in staple remover work? **The back end of the Tot is shaped as a staple remover, so you can lift a staple out without a separate tool.** Swingline and Amazon both list the remover as built in; Swingline doesn't publish a diagram of it, and our cover drawing of its shape is by eye. That makes the Tot a two-in-one for a desk drawer or school bag: one small tool both adds and removes staples. ## How does it compare with other small staplers? **The Tot is the cheap, metal-staple option; a staple-free stapler avoids metal but holds fewer sheets.** | | Swingline Tot (79171) | [KOKUYO Harinacs Compact Alpha](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/kokuyo-harinacs-compact-alpha/) | Swingline 747 Classic | |---|---|---|---| | Method | Standard staple | Paper flap, no staple | Standard staple | | Capacity | 12 sheets | About 5 sheets | 20–30 sheets | | Staples per load | 50 | None | 210 | | Weight | 2.72 oz (77 g) | Not published | About 13 oz to 1.3 lb | | Price band | $$ | $$ | $$$ | ## Is it a good school stapler? **For handouts and short reports, yes: it's light, inexpensive and uses the same staples as the desk stapler at home.** Typical US listings put it at the low end of our $$ band ($5–20). At 2.72 oz it slips into a [pencil pouch](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/five-star-pencil-pouch/), though a full-size stapler is better for stacks over about 12 sheets. ## Where is the Swingline Tot made? **Swingline doesn't say on its product page, and retailers disagree.** PartsSource lists China for model 79171, while On Time Supplies listed Vietnam when we first checked, so check the package of the one you buy. ## Frequently asked questions ### How many sheets can a Swingline Tot staple? Swingline rates it for 12 sheets of 20 lb paper. BabyBargains got 5 to 8 sheets in its own testing, depending on paper weight, so expect less with thicker paper. ### What staples go in a Swingline Tot? Standard staples with a 1/4 in (6.35 mm) leg, the same size as a full-size desk stapler uses. Retailers list Swingline 35108, 35450 and 35556 as refills. ### How many staples does a Swingline Tot hold? Swingline gives a staple capacity of 50, about a quarter of a standard strip. The box it comes with holds 1,000. ### Does the Swingline Tot have a staple remover? Yes. The Black 79171 has a staple remover built into the rear of the body, per Swingline and Amazon's listing. ### How big is the Swingline Tot? Amazon lists 3.9 × 1.45 × 4.9 in (99 × 37 × 124 mm) and 2.72 oz (77 g). Listings don't say whether those dimensions include packaging, so treat them as an upper bound. ### Is the Swingline Tot good for school? It's light and cheap and takes the same staples as a desk stapler, which suits a pencil case or backpack. For more than about 12 sheets, a full-size stapler like the 747 is the better tool. ### Where is the Swingline Tot made? Swingline doesn't say in the sources we found, and retailers disagree between China and Vietnam. Check the package; Swingline is an American brand owned by ACCO Brands. ## Sources - [Swingline: Tot Mini Staplers, black SKU S7079171 (12 sheets of 20 lb paper, standard staples, 1/4 in leg, 50-staple capacity, high-impact plastic, built-in remover, 1,000 staples included, limited 1-year warranty)](https://www.swingline.com/p/staplers/desktop-staplers/mini-staplers/tot-mini-staplers/) - [Swingline: Tot Mini Stapler, Built-in Staple Remover, 12 Sheets, Assorted Colors](https://www.swingline.com/p/staplers/desktop-staplers/mini-staplers/tot-stapler-built-in-staple-remover-12-sheets-assorted-s7079141j/) - [Swingline: Tot and Tot Grip instruction sheet (2–12 sheets, 1,000 staples, Standard 35108 staples, limited 1-year warranty)](https://www.mybinding.com/media/manuals/swingline-tot-grip-portable-mini-stapler-79168-manual.pdf) - [Amazon: Swingline Tot Mini Stapler, Black (79171) (3.9 × 1.45 × 4.9 in, 2.72 oz)](https://www.amazon.com/Swingline-Stapler-Capacity-Remover-Standard/dp/B008DQY89M) - [Staples: Swingline Tot Mini Stapler, 12-Sheet Capacity, Black (SWI79171)](https://www.staples.com/swingline-tot-mini-stapler-12-sheet-capacity-black-swi79171/product_2537641) - [WebstaurantStore: Swingline 79171 Tot (3 7/8 × 1 1/2 × 4 3/4 in)](https://www.webstaurantstore.com/swingline-79171-tot-12-sheet-black-mini-stapler/139S7079171.html) - [On Time Supplies: Tot Mini Stapler SWI79171 (0.17 lb, Vietnam)](https://www.ontimesupplies.com/swi79171-tot-mini-stapler-12-sheet-capacity-black.html) - [PartsSource: Swingline 79171 (China; replacement staples)](https://partssource.com/parts/swingline-gbc/79171B1613869) - [BabyBargains: The best mini stapler (Tiny Tot, 5–8 sheets in testing)](https://www.babybargains.com/the-best-mini-stapler/)