Dimensions Guide

A hole punch is a very important office tool, which is basically used to organize numerous sheets of paper. Sometimes, it is also called perforator, holing pincer or paper puncher. Once holes are made, organizing the papers is a much easier thing to do. The sheets are then arranged neatly inside a folder or a binder. In addition to these basic facts, it is also nice to learn the different hole punches dimensions.

The Dimensions of Hole Punches

The sizes of hole punches vary based mainly on the model, type and design of the product. Weighing approximately 121 grams, the dimensions of a standard two-hole punch are close to 4.13 inches by 2.19 inches by 1 inch. For those who are looking for something more compact, a smaller two-hole punch can be as small as 3.94 inches by 3.15 inches by 2.76 inches. Aside from this, there is also a three-hole punch, the standard version of which has the dimensions 13.75 inches by 15 inches by 6 inches.

Additional Facts and Other Interesting Details

The International Standard ISO 838 states the position within the paper where the holes must be made using hole punches. For a two-hole punch, the diameter of every hole must be 5.5 millimeters to 6.5 millimeters. The distance between the center of the first hole and the center of the second hole must be 79.5 millimeters to 80.5 millimeters. From the upper edge, the two holes must be 11 millimeters to 13 millimeters away. This system is commonly used for papers that are 100 millimeters high at least.

For those who prefer to use a one-hole punch, the center of the hole must be made approximately 10 millimeters from the left side of the paper. From the top, the distance of the center must be close to 40 millimeters. In North America, the two most common systems used are the 2-hole file-binder and the 3-hole system. In the first one, the two holes are symmetrically arranged, the centers of which are 70 millimeters away from each other.

On the other hand, the 3-hole system is best for the 216-millimeter by 279-millimeter paper. This format is not only used in the United States, but also in other countries like the Philippines and Mexico. For this, the center of each hole must be 108 millimeters away from the next hole. Although the diameters of the holes vary, the average values remain within the range of 6 millimeters to 8 millimeters.

In terms of usage, a one-hole punch is commonly used when making paper crafts, scrapbooks and confetti. Furthermore, it can also be used to drill paper and punch holes on tickets. Aside from the usual one-hole, two-hole, three-hole and four-hole variations, some hole punches are designed to make five, six or even up to eight holes simultaneously.