You can remove a staple from paper using your fingernails, a butter knife, or almost any thin, flat object you have nearby. The key is working from the back of the pages first, straightening the bent legs of the staple before pulling it through the front. This takes about 10 seconds once you know the technique, and it keeps your paper intact.
The Basic Technique
Every staple works the same way: two metal legs punch through the paper from the front, then a small metal plate inside the stapler bends those legs inward against the back page. To remove the staple cleanly, you reverse that process.
Flip your document over so you’re looking at the back. You’ll see the two bent prongs of the staple pressed flat against the paper. Use your fingernail, the edge of a coin, a butter knife, or any thin flat object to pry each prong upward and straighten it so both legs point straight out from the paper. Work on one prong at a time. Once both legs are straightened, flip the document back over and push or pull the staple out from the front. It slides out easily because the legs are no longer hooked.
This two-step approach (straighten from the back, then remove from the front) is what actual staple removers do mechanically. You’re just doing it by hand.
Best Household Substitutes
Almost anything thin and rigid works. Here are the most common options, ranked roughly by how well they perform:
- Fingernails: The fastest option for standard office staples. Slide your nail under each bent prong and flick it upward. Works perfectly on lightly stapled documents but can be uncomfortable with tightly crimped staples.
- Butter knife or letter opener: Slide the thin edge under each prong and twist gently to straighten it. Gives you more leverage than fingernails without risking the paper.
- Flathead screwdriver: Especially useful for thicker staples. Position the flat tip under the prong and apply upward pressure while gently rocking it to lift the leg free.
- Scissors blade: Close the scissors and use the tip of one blade to get under the prongs. The pointed end fits neatly under tight staples.
- Tweezers: Good for gripping and pulling once the prongs are partially lifted. Also useful for straightening legs on smaller staples.
- A key: The flat edge of a house key works in a pinch. Slide it under each prong the same way you would a knife.
Avoiding Paper Tears
The most common mistake is trying to yank the staple straight out from the front without straightening the legs first. Those bent prongs catch on the paper and rip right through it. Always start from the back.
For sturdy printer paper or cardstock, you can often just straighten the legs and pull the staple out without any special care. Thinner or older paper needs a gentler touch. Lay the pages flat on a hard surface so the paper is fully supported, and straighten one prong at a time while holding the staple steady with your other hand. The National Park Service, which deals with fragile archival documents, recommends slipping a thin strip of plastic (like a piece of a clear folder or laminating sheet) between the paper and the staple prongs before prying them up. This prevents the tool from cracking or tearing the page as you work.
If the staple holes are important to preserve, pull the staple out slowly and straight, not at an angle. Angled pulling elongates the holes into tears.
Heavy-Duty and Packaging Staples
Staples in cardboard boxes, upholstery, or wood are a different challenge. These are thicker gauge metal, driven deeper, and often crimped more aggressively than office staples.
A flathead screwdriver is your best bet here. Position the tip under the staple’s crossbar (the flat part connecting the two legs) and use it as a lever, pressing down on the material while prying the staple upward. Rock the screwdriver gently back and forth to loosen the staple. Once it’s partially raised, grab it with pliers, or even just your fingers, and pull it the rest of the way out. For staples buried deep in wood, you may need to work each leg individually, levering one side up and then the other before gripping and extracting.
Wear gloves if you’re removing many heavy staples. The cut ends of industrial staples are sharp, and pulling them out repeatedly with bare hands is a reliable way to slice a fingertip.
Removing Staples From Multiple Pages
If you’re unstapling a thick packet, the staple legs are often bent tightly because they went through many layers. You’ll need a firmer tool than your fingernails for these. A small screwdriver or the tip of a scissors blade works well. Straighten both prongs fully before attempting to pull the staple through, because dragging bent metal through 20 pages of paper will shred the corner.
For really thick packets, try wiggling the staple side to side from the front after straightening the legs. This loosens it from the compressed paper fibers and lets it slide out more cleanly than a straight pull.