Organizer

 Organizer Formats   ·   Combo Punch for the Mini Formats   ·   Pens for the Mini Formats   ·   Hole Punch Spacings 

Organizer Formats

Formats by   Brand   ·   Punch Pattern   ·   Paper Size 

Basically, Organizers come in five to six sizes. In addition to the paper size, the punch or ring spacing has to be taken into account.

Most organizers up to A5 size use two groups of three rings with 3/4" (~19mm) distance within the group. Depending on the paper height, the distance between the two groups is 23/4" (~70mm), 2" (~51mm), 11/2" (~38mm) or 3/4" (~19mm). For smaller formats, five rings with a spacing of 3/4" (~19mm) are used - or in theory, two groups at zero distance. A very special case is the already discontinued Filofax M2 or Mulberry Mini format in Landscape orientation, where only three rings are left. Two of these sheets can be filed in a 6-ring format of 38mm or more center spacing, as long as the ring size is less than the punch size.
The larger - and as well discontinued - Deskfax format has three of those groups of rings, with 2" (~51mm) distance between the groups. That gives a total span of 81/2", matching the span of the US 3-ring "Letter" format. The Deskfax sheets can be filed in such binders.

See:  Ring Spacings for Imperial Organizer Formats .

For the organizer formats "Letter" (8.5"×11", 216x280) and "Invoice" (5.5"×8.5", 140x216), there is also a 7-ring system: Two groups of three rings with a spacing of 1" (~25mm) within the group, and one ring in the middle.
For the large format, the distance to the middle ring is 21/4" (~57mm). That gives a total span equal to the US 3-ring format "Letter", and the sheets can also be filed in regular binders.
For the smaller format, the groups have a distance of 3/4" (~19mm) to the middle ring. That makes a total span of 51/2", equal to the span of the US 3-ring Format "Invoice".
The smallest center-ring based format uses five rings. There are 3/4" between the outer rings, and 1" from the middle ring to the outer ring pairs.

See:  Ring Spacings for Imperial Formats .

Starting with the paper size, the size of the ring binder also depends on the ring size, and additional space for registers and pen loops. That leads to the situation that, for example Filofax, uses three different names for the binders with same paper size, because the name is derived from the size of the binder.

Depending on the mechanics and the size of the ring elements, the size of the punched holes varies. Especially the very small binders use smaller holes. The punches of the standard organizer punches have 5.5mm diameter, sometimes less, rarely more. The inserts for the Filofax M2 with rings of about 2.3x1.4mm have the smallest punch size of 3mm diameter, next are the inserts for the Mulberry Mini with rings of about 2.2x1.5mm and a punch size of a little less than 3.2mm - probably 1/8", i.e. 3.175mm. Matching punch sizes can only be made by using paper drills. For suggested values, see section  Punch Diameter .

Formats by Company/Brand

The following table shows the formats of the repsective companies or brands. Some manufacturers have very creative namings, most likely to confuse the customers, and to make them buy the matching accessories.

 » Filofax    » Succes    » Quo Vadis    » Bind    » Chronoplan    » BSB-Obpacher    » Herlitz    Rido Idé    » Org-Verlag    » Time/system    » Mulberry    » Tempus    » Day-Timer    » FranklinCovey  
Format Paper Punch   Format Paper Punch   Format Paper Punch   Format Paper Punch   Format Paper Punch   Format Paper Punch   Format Paper Punch   Format Paper Punch   Format Paper Punch   Format Paper Punch   Format Paper Punch   Format Paper Punch   Format Paper Punch   Format Paper Punch
A4 210×297888  Business 210×297888?  Timer 29 210×297888  A4 200×298888  A4 210×297888           A4 210×2977:40           Folio 216×2807:25/57  Monarch 216×2807:25/57 
Deskfax 176×2503×3                                        
A5 148×2106:19/70  Executive148×2106:19/70  Timer 21 142×2106:19/51  A5 148×2106:19/70  A5 147×2106:20/80  Manager 145×2096:19/70  A5 148×2106:19/70  Timing 1 148×2106:19/70  A5 148×2109:20,4:40/80  A5 148×2106:19/70  Planner 145×2106:19/51  A5 148×2106:19/51  Desk 140×2167:25/19  Classic 140×2167:25/19 
   Office 130×2106:19/70                                     
      Timer 17 105×1726:19/51                                Compact 108×1716:19/51 
Personal 95×1716:19/51  Standard 95×1716:19/51  17 Slim 98×1706:19/51  A6 95×1726:19/51  Midi 96×1726:19/51  Kompakt 95×1676:19/51  A6 93×1716:19/51  Timing 2 95×1706:19/51              Portable 95×1726:19/51    
Compact 95×1716:19/51     17 Pocket 92×1706:19/51                                  
Slimline 95×1716:19/51                          Compact 85×1696:19/51             
                                         
   Senior 95×1506:19/38                    Junior 95×1486:20     Agenda 105×1506:19/38        Pocket 89×1526:19/38 
   Compact 80×1506:19/38                 Spezial 87×1536:19/51           WT 86×1456(4):20       
Pocket 81×1206:19  Junior 80×1256:19  Timer 14 81×1266:19  A7 80×1256:19  Mini 79×1256:19  Pocket 80×1286:19  A7 80×1266:19  Timing 3 80×1256:19     Partner 75×1306:19  Pocket 75×1206:19     Jotter 70×1276:19    
Mini 67×1055:19  Mini 67×1045:19/25  Timer 11 67×1115:19        Mini 66×1065:19  A8 65×1055:19     Piccolo 80×1135:20                
M2 105× 643:19                             Mini 105× 643:19          

Punch patterns:  7:a/b = a-a-b-b-a-a  ·  6:a/b = a-a-b-a-a  ·  5:a/b = a-b-b-a  ·  4:a/b = a-b-a  ·  3x3 = 19-19-51-19-19-51-19-19  ·  888 = 80-80-80

Formts by Punch Pattern

An overview of the different punch patterns can be found here:  Hole Punch Spacings 

Standard Formats 19-19-X-19-19

6-Ring 19-19-70-19-19
MakeFormatPaper
BindA5148×210
FilofaxA5148×210
HerlitzA5148×210
IdéTiming 1148×210
SuccesExecutive148×210
Time/systemA5148×210
BSB ObpacherManager145×209
SuccesOffice130×210
 
6-Ring 19-19-51-19-19
MakeFormatPaper
TempusA5148×210
MulberryPlanner145×210
Quo Vadis21142×210
MakeFormatPaper
Quo Vadis17105×172
ChronoplanMidi96×172
BindA695×172
Day-TimerPortable95×172
FranklinCoveyCompact108×171
FilofaxCompact95×171
FilofaxPersonal95×171
FilofaxSlimline95×171
SuccesStandard95×171
HerlitzA693×171
Quo Vadis17 Slim98×170
IdéTiming 295×170
Quo Vadis17 Pocket92×170
Time/systemCompact85×169
BSB ObpacherKompakt95×167
MakeFormatPaper
IdéSpezial87×153
 
6-Ring 19-19-38-19-19
MakeFormatPaper
FranklinCoveyPocket89×152
MulberryAgenda105×150
SuccesSenior95×150
SuccesCompact80×150
 
6-Ring 19-19-19-19-19
MakeFormatPaper
Time/systemPartner75×130
BSB ObpacherPocket80×128
Day-TimerJotter70×127
Quo Vadis1481×126
HerlitzA780×126
BindA780×125
IdéTiming 380×125
SuccesJunior80×125
ChronoplanMini79×125
FilofaxPocket81×120
MulberryPocket75×120
 
5-Ring 19-19-19-19
MakeFormatPaper
BSB ObpacherMini66×106
FilofaxMini67×105
Quo Vadis1167×105
HerlitzA865×105
 
3-Ring 19-19
MakeFormatPaper
FilofaxM2105×64
MulberryMini105×64
 
4 Rings

80-80-80

MakeFormatPaper
ChronoplanA4210×297
FilofaxA4210×297
Quo Vadis29210×297
SuccesBusiness210×297
BindA4200×298

40-80-40

MakeFormatPaper
Org-VerlagA5 (4 Ring)148×210

20-60-20

MakeFormatPaper
TempusWT (4-Ring)86×145
 
5 Rings

20-20-20-20

MakeFormatPaper
Org-VerlagPiccolo80×113

19-25-25-19

MakeFormatPaper
SuccesMini67×104
 
6 Rings

20-20-80-20-20

MakeFormatPaper
ChronoplanA5147×210

20-20-20-20-20

MakeFormatPaper
Org-VerlagJunior95×148
TempusWT (6-Ring)86×145
 
7 Rings

40-40-40-40-40-40

MakeFormatPaper
Org-VerlagA4210×297

25-25-57-57-25-25

MakeFormatPaper
Day-TimerFolio216×280
FranklinCoveyMonarch216×280

25-25-19-19-25-25

MakeFormatPaper
Day-TimerDesk140×216
FranklinCoveyClassic140×216
 
9 Rings

19-19-51-19-19-51-19-19

MakeFormatPaper
FilofaxDeskfax176×250

20-20-20-20-20-20-20-20

MakeFormatPaper
Org-VerlagA5 (9 Ring)148×210

Formats by Paper Size

~ A4 / Letter
MakeFormatPaperPunch
ChronoplanA4210×297888
FilofaxA4210×297888
Quo Vadis29210×297888
SuccesBusiness210×297888
BindA4200×298888
MakeFormatPaperPunch
Org-VerlagA4210×2977:40
MakeFormatPaperPunch
FranklinCoveyMonarch216×2807:25/57
Day-TimerFolio216×2807:25/57
MakeFormatPaperPunch
FilofaxDeskfax176×2509:19/51
 
~ A5 / Invoice
MakeFormatPaperPunch
Day-TimerDesk140×2167:25/19
FranklinCoveyClassic140×2167:25/19
MakeFormatPaperPunch
BindA5148×2106:19/70
FilofaxA5148×2106:19/70
HerlitzA5148×2106:19/70
IdéTiming 1148×2106:19/70
SuccesExecutive148×2106:19/70
Time/systemA5148×2106:19/70
BSB ObpacherManager145×2096:19/70
SuccesOffice130×2106:19/70
MakeFormatPaperPunch
TempusA5148×2106:19/51
MulberryPlanner145×2106:19/51
Quo Vadis21142×2106:19/51
MakeFormatPaperPunch
Org-VerlagA5 (9 Ring)148×2109:20
Org-VerlagA5 (4 Ring)148×2104:40/80
ChronoplanA5147×2106:20/80
 
Standard
MakeFormatPaperPunch
FranklinCoveyCompact108×1716:19/51
Quo Vadis17105×1726:19/51
Quo Vadis17 Slim98×1706:19/51
ChronoplanMidi96×1726:19/51
BindA695×1726:19/51
Day-TimerPortable95×1726:19/51
FilofaxCompact95×1716:19/51
FilofaxPersonal95×1716:19/51
FilofaxSlimline95×1716:19/51
SuccesStandard95×1716:19/51
IdéTiming 295×1706:19/51
BSB ObpacherKompakt95×1676:19/51
HerlitzA693×1716:19/51
Quo Vadis17 Pocket92×1706:19/51
Time/systemCompact85×1696:19/51
 
Medium
MakeFormatPaperPunch
IdéSpezial87×1536:19/51
MakeFormatPaperPunch
MulberryAgenda105×1506:19/38
SuccesSenior95×1506:19/38
FranklinCoveyPocket89×1526:19/38
SuccesCompact80×1506:19/38
MakeFormatPaperPunch
Org-VerlagJunior95×1486:20
TempusWT86×1456(4):20
 
Small
MakeFormatPaperPunch
Quo Vadis1481×1266:19
FilofaxPocket81×1206:19
BSB ObpacherPocket80×1286:19
HerlitzA780×1266:19
BindA780×1256:19
IdéTiming 380×1256:19
SuccesJunior80×1256:19
ChronoplanMini79×1256:19
Time/systemPartner75×1306:19
MulberryPocket75×1206:19
Day-TimerJotter70×1276:19
 
Smaller
MakeFormatPaperPunch
FilofaxMini67×1055:19
Quo Vadis1167×1055:19
BSB ObpacherMini66×1065:19
HerlitzA865×1055:19
MakeFormatPaperPunch
SuccesMini67×1045:19/25
MakeFormatPaperPunch
Org-VerlagPiccolo80×1135:20
 
Landscape
MakeFormatPaperPunch
FilofaxM2105×643:19
MulberryMini105×643:19

Punch patterns:  7:a/b = a-a-b-b-a-a  ·  6:a/b = a-a-b-a-a  ·  5:a/b = a-b-b-a  ·  4:a/b = a-b-a  ·  3x3 = 19-19-51-19-19-51-19-19  ·  888 = 80-80-80

See  Metric Standard Spacings ,  Imperial Organizer Spacings  and  Imperial Spacings .

If you are interested in other ring binder formats, see the  German version  of this page, sections  ring binders for collecting systems  with  summary , and sections  large formats , especially  PRAT  multi ring binders.

Punch Diameter

As mentioned before, a matching punch diameter depending on the format is recommended. There are no official values given, this is my personal suggestion.
Format Span Suggested Punch Diameter
Filofax M2, Mulberry Mini 38.1mm 1/8" - 9/64" 3.5mm
5-Ring 3/4" 76.2mm 5/32" - 11/64" 4.0mm - 4.5mm
5-Ring Succes 88.9mm 11/64" 4.5mm
6-Ring 3/4" 95.2mm 11/64" - 1/5" 4.5mm - 5.0mm
6-Ring 3/4" + 11/2" 114.3mm 3/16" - 7/32" 5.0mm - 5.5mm
6-Ring 3/4" + 2" 127.0mm 7/32" 5.5mm
6-Ring 3/4" + 23/4" 146.0mm 7/32" - 15/64" 5.5mm - 6.0mm
Deskfax / 7-Ring 215.9mm 1/4" - 5/16" 6.0mm - 8.0mm
A4 888 240.0mm 15/64" - 5/16" 6.0mm - 8.0mm

The mentioned Company and Product names are usually registered brand names and/or trademarks.
They are given for reference purposes, without any commercial intent.


Hans-Jürgen Reggel   ·   http://www.hjreggel.net/office/   ·   Impressum   ·   2012-02-17 ~ 2018-03-29