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).
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Product facts
- Product
- 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 range
- $$$5–20 per item
Notes on these facts
- Made by ACCO Brands Corporation. Country of manufacture 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. Price: example listing.
- Price bands are typical US retail, checked October 2026.
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, 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.
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 | 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, 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)
- Swingline: Tot Mini Stapler, Built-in Staple Remover, 12 Sheets, Assorted Colors
- Swingline: Tot and Tot Grip instruction sheet (2–12 sheets, 1,000 staples, Standard 35108 staples, limited 1-year warranty)
- Amazon: Swingline Tot Mini Stapler, Black (79171) (3.9 × 1.45 × 4.9 in, 2.72 oz)
- Staples: Swingline Tot Mini Stapler, 12-Sheet Capacity, Black (SWI79171)
- WebstaurantStore: Swingline 79171 Tot (3 7/8 × 1 1/2 × 4 3/4 in)
- On Time Supplies: Tot Mini Stapler SWI79171 (0.17 lb, Vietnam)
- PartsSource: Swingline 79171 (China; replacement staples)
- BabyBargains: The best mini stapler (Tiny Tot, 5–8 sheets in testing)