The art of folding paper…no, I’m not talking about origami, I’m talking about simple folds like half, letter and z-folds: folds that we deal with every time we open the mailbox, folds that you might need to do for yourself in low volumes (think Christmas letters/printing your own cards) or folds that you might need to offer to customers in high volumes. Paper folding equipment is one of our most popular product lines, so let’s break it down for you.

First off, there are probably more fold types than you may realize. Check out this handy guide for a description of each popular fold type.

Next, let’s figure out your workload – then choose a folder type and capabilities based on your volume:

Option 1: Lowest Volume
You probably guessed it: fold the paper by hand. We’ve all been there before! This is tedious, but can be made a bit easier with a Folding Bone ($8.95), which also helps to crease the paper after it’s folded, especially good for cover stocks or DIY (do it yourself) Christmas cards.

Option 2: Low Volume
For the occasional letter fold, ideal for desktop use, check out the Martin Yale P6200 ($145) and fold one page at a time with ease – these are ideal for desktop or counter top use!

Option 3: Mid Volume
You’ve got a few hundred documents to fold each week, maybe a little more. That’s a little too much to fold by hand or even on a low-volume folder. Check out a middle-end folder like the Martin Yale 1611 ($795) or for a more automated folder, upgrade to the Martin Yale 1711 ($1,695) to make the process even easier and shorten setup time.

Option 4: High Volume
You’re folding hundreds to thousands of documents every week…or maybe your doing less volume but want to buy a machine that is going to last a long time (yes, those lower-cost machines will eventually wear out). Check out our most popular fully automatic folder, the Intimus 2051 ($3,495). Or save a little money and buy the semi-auto Standard PF-P3100 ($3,127).

Option 5: Very High Volume
Business is rockin’ and you need a machine that can keep up. It’s time to add speed and perhaps air-feed – upgrade to the Baum 714XLT ($6,995). This industry favorite is as fast as it gets (try 40,000 sheets per hour) and has rugged construction that’s built to last.

Of course, we offer a much wider selection of folders than what is listed here, but this should hopefully get you pointed in the right direction.

Do you have an odd folding job? Share it in the comments below.