The Ultimate Office Supply Checklist

Gold pencils on a gold tabletop

Do you want an office supply checklist to help you purchase must-have items for your home or work office?

Do you need help keeping track of your office supply list…or what you’ll need to purchase in the first place?

Shopping for office supplies may seem like a relatively simple exercise.

Sure, you’ll obviously need pens, pencils, paper, a stapler, and staples for your desk for starters.

But if you’ve ever worked or spent time in an office, then you’ll know that list of items quickly snowballs into a long list.

As soon as you identify one must-have office supply item, you realize you’ll need more items, and even more items than you previously imagined!

In this practical post, you’ll find a list of common office supplies found in offices around the globe.

Whether you’re streamlining your home office, or need an office supplies list for a new work space, the following office supplies list has got you covered!

The Ultimate Office Supply checklist

Paper

  • Printer paper
  • Three-hole punched paper
  • Graph paper
  • Tracing paper
  • Carbon paper
  • Color card stock
  • Heavy-duty card stock
  • Wrapping paper
  • Greeting cards and envelopes
  • Business cards
  • Letterhead
  • Poster board

Envelopes and Boxes

  • #10 regular envelopes (4 1/8 x 9 1/2 inches)
  • Legal envelopes
  • Manila mailing envelopes
  • Padded legal envelope mailers
  • Mailing labels
  • Return address labels
  • Postage scale
  • Postage stamps
  • Envelope sealer
  • Packaging bubble
  • Cardboard boxes (small, medium, large)

Notebooks and Notepads

  • Composition notebooks
  • Spiral-bound notebooks
  • Legal pads
  • Steno pads
  • Notepads
  • Planners

Binder Items

  • Binders
  • Binder tabs
  • Binder pockets
  • Binder dividers
  • Binder labels
  • Binder sheet reinforcements
  • Clear binder document holders
  • Hole puncher
  • Three-hole puncher

Filing Cabinet

  • Manila folders
  • File folder labels
  • Hanging folders
  • Folder tabs

Small Office Supplies

  • Stapler
  • Staples
  • Stapler remover
  • Scissors
  • Box cutter
  • Box cutter blades
  • Paperclips (small, medium, large)
  • Binder clips (small, medium, large)
  • Rubber bands (small, medium, large)
  • Clear cellophane tape
  • Clear cellophane tape dispenser
  • Masking tape
  • Packing tape
  • Tape gun
  • Duct tape
  • Twine
  • Sticky notes (small, medium, large)
  • Bookmark sticky flags (small, medium, large)
  • Bookmarks
  • White glue
  • Rubber cement
  • Tacky wall mount gum
  • Hanging hooks
  • Magnifying glass

Writing Implements

  • Pencils
  • Pencil sharpener
  • Mechanical pencils
  • Mechanical pencil lead refills
  • Erasers
  • Pens
  • Black all-purpose markers
  • Highlighters
  • Rubber stamps
  • Ink pads
  • Correction fluid
  • Wall calendar
  • Desk calendar
  • Dry/Wet erase board
  • Dry/Wet erase markers
  • Dry/Wet erase spray
  • Ruler
  • Protractor
  • Compass
  • T-square
  • Clipboards

Office Storage

  • Bookends
  • Paperweight
  • Magazine holders
  • Bulletin board
  • Pushpins
  • Letter opener
  • Pen holder
  • In/Out box
  • Document sorter/holder
  • Supply trays and containers
  • Desktop organizers
  • Desk drawer organizers

Electrical Items

  • Computer and monitor
  • Keyboard
  • Mouse
  • Mouse pads
  • Monitor stands
  • Wireless router
  • Thumb drives
  • Printer
  • Toner or print cartridges
  • Telephone
  • Speakerphone
  • Headset
  • Calculator
  • Postage meter
  • Projection device
  • Photocopier
  • Digital camera
  • Lamps
  • Lightbulbs
  • Label maker
  • Laminating machine
  • Scanner
  • Fax machine
  • Paper shredder
  • Extension cords
  • Surge protectors
  • Walkie-talkies

CLEANING MATERIALS

  • Hand soap
  • Disinfectant wipes
  • Hand sanitizer
  • Facial tissues
  • Air freshener
  • Computer screen and keyboard cleaner
  • Pressured air (to clean keyboard)
  • Toilet bowl cleaner
  • Floor cleaner
  • Mop
  • Mop bucket
  • Wet floor sign
  • Window cleaner
  • Dishwasher tabs
  • Dishwashing liquid
  • Sponges
  • Paper toweling
  • Broom
  • Dustpan
  • Duster
  • Duster cloths
  • Vacuum cleaner
  • Vacuum cleaner bags
  • Garbage bags
  • Recycling bags
  • Cleaning material cart
  • Cleaning material carrier

SAFETY ITEMS

  • First-aid kit
  • Flashlight
  • Fire extinguisher
  • Smoke detectors
  • Carbon monoxide detectors

Furniture

  • Desk
  • Chairs
  • Chair floor mats
  • Filing cabinets
  • Tables
  • Bookcases
  • Shelves
  • Safe
  • Microwave
  • Coffee pot
  • Coasters
  • Refrigerator
  • Water cooler
  • Clocks
  • Waste basket
  • Recycling bin

Miscellaneous

  • Batteries
  • Lightbulbs
  • Shredder oil or shredder lubrication sheets
  • “Open/Close” sign to hang on exterior door

Organize your office so you can get things done

The business world moves quickly. That’s why it’s crucial to keep things organized at the office so you can find things with ease.

My Work Notebook Workshop can help you organize important ideas, notes, and information at work.

If you want to organize your business office or workspace so you can work more productively, then check out my productivity consulting services. Book a strategy session with me today!

How about you? What do you think of the above list? Are there any office supplies you’d like to add? Join the conversation and leave a comment below!

5 Unexpected Things You Need to Organize a Work Notebook Mockup
About the Author

Rashelle

Rashelle Isip is a New York City-based productivity consultant who helps successful entrepreneurs and business owners manage their time and energy so they can reduce stress, work less, and make more money in their businesses. She has been featured in Fast Company, Forbes, NBC News, The Washington Post, NPR, and The Atlantic. Get her free guide, 5 Unexpected Things You Need to Organize a Work Notebook, by clicking here.

36 Comments

  1. Jennifer Andrews

    Thank you so much for the checklist! I usually forget the small office supplies and things like disinfection wipes. I use much more of those than I realize. I haven’t considered a fire extinguisher an office supply before but I will have to check the expiration date on ours now.

    Reply
    • Rashelle

      You are quite welcome, Jennifer. I have a friend who once had a fire in her office. Thanks to her planning, they had a working fire extinguisher, flashlights, and walkie-talkies handy. In case you were wondering, the fire was contained and extinguished and everyone was Ok. It always pays to be prepared. Thanks for stopping by!

      Reply
  2. Deanna

    Very much appreciate the checklist. I have to resupply my office and this hits all the major items. I will be printing this off to take with me. Thank you!

    Reply
    • Rashelle

      You are welcome! I hope it helps you.

      Reply
  3. Wolfie53

    I don’t actually have an office but I always spent time at the office supply aisle in practically every store. Maybe I can convince my parents to let me have the desk in the living room…..

    Reply
  4. JK

    Thank you so much for the checklist! My list would be incomplete without your help!

    Reply
    • Rashelle

      You are quite welcome! Glad to be of help.

      Reply
  5. Rachel

    This is such a great, comprehensive checklist. It made me realize how much stuff I needed to get! Thanks for sharing this.

    Reply
    • Rashelle

      You’re quite welcome, Rachel!

      Reply
  6. Hope

    This is so fantastic. There are items on this list I has not even thought of.
    Thank you for this.

    Reply
    • Rashelle

      You’re welcome, Hope! 🙂

      Reply
  7. Kimberly

    Perfect List!!!

    Reply
    • Rashelle

      Thanks! You’re quite welcome, Kimberly.

      Reply
  8. Vikki Hoffee

    How about tissues and Hand Sanitizer and maybe even an open /close sign or a return back in sign ?

    Reply
    • Rashelle

      Those are great ideas, Vikki. They are certainly common in any office/workplace and I’ll be sure to add them above. Thanks for stopping by and for your comment!

      Reply
  9. LNWeaver

    Thanks for this list of office supplies. I just moved so I have to restock my study. I’ll make sure to get all those types of paper you mentioned which includes printer paper and other types.

    Reply
    • Rashelle

      You’re most welcome!

      Reply
  10. surur

    This is fantastic, i don’t have an office this time but in the future i hope.
    Thanks you to help those who don’t have some off these stuff .

    Reply
  11. Stephanie Edmonds

    Great list!! I love office supplies!

    Reply
    • Rashelle

      You’re welcome, Stephanie!

      Reply
  12. Nur Wijaya

    Awesome list! I am moving into my first job, and this will set me up so well since day one at work. Thanks so much!

    Reply
    • Rashelle

      Congratulations on your first job, Nur! You are quite welcome for the office supply list. I hope it helps you as you do your shopping. Best of luck to you in your new position!

      Reply
  13. Hannah Schroeder

    Thanks for this extensive list of office supplies! I don’t think most people would remember to include a filing cabinet with hanging folders and tabs. I’d imagine that those things might be hard to get in large quantities from stores. Maybe office equipment dealers carry them in larger quantities.

    Reply
    • Rashelle

      You are most welcome, Hannah!

      Reply
  14. Sabrina R Yakimovicz

    Love the list! What about calendars and clocks?

    Reply
    • Rashelle

      Glad you liked the list! Thanks so much for the additional ideas, will be sure to add them to the list.

      Reply
  15. Sabrina

    and Rubber bands, File folder labels, return address labels, hand soap, toilet bowl cleaner, floor cleaner, mop, mop bucket, wet floor sign, air freshener, dishwasher tabs or soap, duster and or dust spray, manilla mailing envelopes, tape gun (for packing tape), planners, calculator, wireless router, thumb drives, mailing labels, microwave, coffee pot, refrigerator, water cooler, smoke dectors, carbon monoxide dectors, mouse pads, desktop organizers, desk drawer organizers, clipboards, light bulbs, monitor stands, & chair floor mat (to protect floors). Sorry for the overload! These were some of the things I came across in making my office supply list today.

    Reply
    • Rashelle

      Thanks for the suggestions! I’ll make sure to add these items to the list.

      Reply
  16. Carolyn Bishop

    I am opening my small town library and l need a completed list of the things l need t submit to the town council. Will you help me?

    Reply
    • Rashelle

      Hi Carolyn, thanks for your comment! I’d be happy to discuss ways we could work together. Please contact me via my contact form at https://www.theorderexpert.com/contact/ so we can discuss further. I look forward to hearing from you.

      Reply
  17. Betsy

    Thanks for the fantastic thorough list! This is helping me organize my supplies for my home and home office. Helps me to consolidate items from my utility room, my kitchen drawer, and my home office.

    Reply
    • Rashelle

      You’re welcome, Betsy! Glad to hear it is helping you put things in order.

      Reply
  18. Jennifer Gomes

    Thanks for the list. For those who do not have time for a coffee/tea break, maybe add in a coaster

    Reply
    • Rashelle

      Glad you found the list helpful, Jennifer! That’s an excellent idea. Will add it to the list.

      Reply

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