Perforated Paper vs Filler Paper: Types, Uses & Printing
Perforated paper and filler paper explained. When to use each. Printing tips for tear-off edges and loose-leaf.
Perforated paper has a line of small holes (perforations) so you can tear off a section cleanly. Filler paper is loose-leaf paper for 3-ring binders—it often has perforations along one edge so you can remove sheets without damaging the holes. Both are common in schools and offices.
What is perforated paper?
Perforated paper is paper with a scored or punched line that makes it easy to tear along that line. What is perforated paper used for?
- Tear-off forms—receipts, tickets, coupons
- Legal pads—perforations at the top so you can remove pages
- Continuous forms—multi-part documents (though less common now)
The perforations are usually a row of small cuts or holes. Tearing leaves a slightly rough edge but keeps the rest of the sheet intact.
What is filler paper?
Filler paper (or loose-leaf paper) is unbound paper with holes punched for binders. What is filler paper typically?
- Ruled—college ruled, wide ruled, or graph
- Punched—3 holes (US) or 2 holes (some regions)
- Often perforated—along the holes so you can remove a page without damaging the binder
Filler paper is sold in packs. You add sheets to a 3-ring binder and remove them when done. The perforation lets you tear cleanly at the holes instead of ripping.
Perforated vs filler: quick comparison
| Feature | Perforated paper | Filler paper |
|---|---|---|
| Main purpose | Tear-off sections | Binder-compatible loose sheets |
| Holes | Optional | Yes (for binders) |
| Binding | Pad, form, or loose | Loose, for binder |
| Common uses | Legal pads, forms, tickets | School notes, handouts |
Filler paper is a type of paper format; perforations are a feature that can apply to many formats, including filler.
Printing tips for tear-off edges
If you print your own forms or notes and want a tear-off section:
- Draw a dashed line—use a dashed or dotted line in your layout to show where to tear.
- Avoid perforating at home—home printers don’t perforate. Use a pre-perforated template or accept a cut/tear line.
- Use a rotary cutter or ruler—for clean edges, cut along the line with a craft knife and ruler.
- Paper weight—lighter paper (20–24 lb) tears more easily than cardstock.
We don’t currently offer perforated templates—our lined paper and graph paper can be printed and cut or folded as needed.
When to use each
- Perforated—when you need to remove sections (receipts, tickets, pages from a pad).
- Filler—when you use a binder and want to add/remove sheets (notes, handouts).