Board Clip Length: How to Choose 50 to 120 mm Meta Description: Board clip length runs 50, 70, 80, 100, 110 and 120 mm. How to match length to board width, hole centre distance, hanger and pen holder before you order. Target keyword: board clip length Secondary keywords: board clip sizes, clipboard clip length, board clip mounting hole distance, nickel-plated board clip, board clip with pen holder.
Choose a board clip length by the board it has to hold, not by the clip alone: a longer clip spreads grip across a wider top edge, while a shorter clip concentrates force on a small area. JXY board clips come in 50, 70, 80, 100, 110 and 120 mm lengths (models BC50R1, BC70R1, BC80R1, BC100C1, BC100R3, BC100R4, BC100R2, BC110R3, BC120R2 and BC120R4). Match the mounting hole centre-to-centre distance to the pre-punched board first, then add hanger and pen holder options.
What does “board clip length” actually measure?
Board clip length is the length of the clip body itself, measured across the plate from one end to the other. It is not the width of the board, and it is not the depth of the jaw.
The number is built into the model code, which is why the model list reads the way it does:
| Clip length | Model codes at this length |
| 50 mm | BC50R1 |
| 70 mm | BC70R1 |
| 80 mm | BC80R1 |
| 100 mm | BC100C1, BC100R3, BC100R4, BC100R2 |
| 110 mm | BC110R3 |
| 120 mm | BC120R2, BC120R4 |
Note the shape of that list. There is one model at 50 mm, 70 mm and 80 mm, but four at 100 mm and two each at 110 mm and 120 mm. Within a single length, the trailing letters and digits distinguish build variants — fixing arrangement, spring or lever style, base construction, corner fitting. Two clips with the same 100 mm length can be different products, so the length code alone is never enough to order from.
Should the clip length be matched to the board width or to the stack?
To both, but they pull in different directions, and the board normally wins.
A board clip holds paper against a rigid board. The clip must not overhang the board edge, because an overhanging plate is the first thing to bend when the assembly is dropped and its corners catch on packaging. At the same time, a longer clip gives more contact length across the top edge, so the same spring force is spread over more paper and the sheets stay flatter.
A practical way to think about it: the clip length should be a meaningful share of the short edge of the board, comfortably inside the corners, and the stack under the jaw should be within the opening the clip provides. For paper formats, that board dimension is defined by the format standard — ISO 216 covers the A and B series, including A4 and B5, which is the reference to quote when the board format is part of the specification rather than something the buyer assumes.
Board clip length selection table
The table below is selection logic. It shows which board and stack each length usually suits, and when to step up.
| Clip length | Model codes | Board / document it usually suits | Grip character | When to step up to the next length |
| 50 mm | BC50R1 | Small notebooks, memo boards, narrow-format pads | Concentrated grip on a slim top edge | The clip starts to feel narrow against the board, or the stack lifts the jaws unevenly |
| 70 mm | BC70R1 | A5 and small A4 pads, restaurant and checklist boards | Balanced grip for single-sheet handling | Sheets slide under the jaw on a thick stack |
| 80 mm | BC80R1 | A4 clipboards in light-duty use, retail display boards | Even grip across an A4 short edge | The board is used outdoors, hung, or handled one-handed |
| 100 mm | BC100C1, BC100R3, BC100R4, BC100R2 | A4 boards in office, warehouse and field-service use | Wide grip, good resistance to sheet pull-out | The stack is thick or the board carries forms, drawings or a pen holder |
| 110 mm | BC110R3 | A4 boards with a heavier stack, wide-format pads | Wide grip with margin at the board corners | The board is handled roughly or used with gloved hands |
| 120 mm | BC120R2, BC120R4 | Large-format boards, A3 and landscape boards, heavy handling | Maximum contact length in the board clip range | Not applicable — this is the longest length in the board clip range |
The step-up column is where most re-orders come from. Buyers rarely change board supplier; they change how the board is used, and a clip chosen for desk use is the one that comes back as a bent-plate complaint after a season in the field.
How do I match the mounting hole centre-to-centre distance to my board?
Measure the pre-punched board, not the clip, and state the centre-to-centre distance as a dimension on the drawing.
The centre-to-centre hole distance is the one number that cannot be adjusted at assembly. The base plate holes and the board holes must line up so the rivets pass through both, and there is no rework path that does not damage either the plating or the board. Two measuring mistakes are common:
Measuring from the outside edges of the holes
- instead of from centre to centre. On a 4.2 mm hole that error is roughly 4.2 mm, which is far outside any sane tolerance.
Measuring from the board edge
- and assuming the hole pattern is symmetric. It often is not, particularly on decorated or printed boards.
When the hole pattern is fixed on a clip family it is stated explicitly. The bill clip models BC85C and BC85R are a good example: 85 mm overall length with a 75 mm mounting hole centre-to-centre distance. Treat that pairing of numbers — overall length and hole centre distance — as the minimum information a board clip specification should carry, and put a position tolerance on the hole pattern using a general tolerance system such as ISO 2768-1 so the punched board and the stamped clip are judged against the same limits.
How does clip length interact with the lever or spring style and the applied grip?
Clip length sets the area over which the closing force is applied. The mechanism sets how much force there is.
If the spring force is unchanged, spreading it over a longer plate reduces the pressure per millimetre of jaw, which reduces marking but can let the bottom sheets of a thick stack move; a short clip with a heavy spring does the opposite, gripping hard and leaving jaw marks. Lever geometry also needs room, and a 120 mm clip has far more space for a lever that must clear the board edge than a 50 mm clip does. Where physical testing is not possible, ask for the clip to be assembled to your own board stock so the grip is judged on the real board.
Does an optional hanger change the specification?
Yes. A hanger is not a decoration, it is a second mounting interface.
Four hanger options are available: regular hook, wire hook, aircraft-style hook, and plastic hook. Each one changes the specification in a specific way:
Mounting footprint.
- A hanger occupies space on the clip body or the board, which may conflict with the board holes used for the main fixing.
Load path.
- The hanger becomes the point where the whole assembly hangs, so the load case changes from compression on the plate to shear and peel at the hanger attach point.
Assembly steps and pack height.
- A fitted hanger adds an operation and increases the packed height of the clip, which changes carton count and container utilisation.
Retail presentation.
- Hangers are often specified for retail display rather than for use, in which case the hanger should be supplied fitted if it must be photographed on the product.
State clearly whether the hanger is fitted at the factory or shipped loose in the carton. Both are workable; the ambiguity is what causes a shipment to be rejected.
Do I need a pen holder, and which type should I specify?
A pen holder is specified when the finished product is sold as a complete writing set rather than as a plain board.
Three pen holder types are available: a black pen holder, a spring pen holder, and a plastic hook pen holder. A spring version grips pens of varying diameter when the board is carried at an angle; a hook version relies on the pen being clipped in place; the plain holder suits pens with a pocket clip. A pen holder also competes for space with a hanger, and a fitted holder increases packed height, so specify both together and keep the packing question inside the enquiry rather than in a follow-up email.
What material and finish should I specify for the clip itself?
Board clips are made in two base materials: nickel-plated steel (white nickel) and tinplate.
Nickel-plated steel is the choice where the clip must resist handling wear and humidity, because the plating carries the corrosion performance of the part. Tinplate is used where the clip is protected in service and cost structure matters more than surface durability. Neither should be specified without a corrosion expectation attached, and that expectation belongs in the purchase order as a test: ISO 9227 salt spray testing is the standard reference for how the plating performs.
Finish options cover bright, checker, gold, rose gold, antique brass in light and red tones, black, yellow, green, purple and blue. Finishes are chosen for channel: bright finishes for office and premium lines, coloured finishes for school and promotional lines where the clip is part of the product identity.
How do I specify the plastic corner colour?
By a physical standard, and by stating whether you are ordering a catalogue colour or a custom match.
The standard plastic corner is black. Other colours are available or customizable. That sentence matters commercially, because a catalogue colour and a custom colour are different projects: a custom colour involves a colour match and a quantity conversation, while a catalogue colour can be added to an otherwise standard order.
When specifying, do three things:
Give a reference.
- Quote a colour system reference or, better, send a physical sample of the target colour. Screen colours and printed swatches on a monitor are not a specification.
State where it applies.
- “Plastic corner black, rest of the clip in bright nickel” is unambiguous. “Black clip” is not, because it could mean a black finish on the metal.
Ask about batch consistency.
- Colour perception is affected by lighting and by the surrounding finish, so confirm the colour against the metal finish that will sit next to it, not in isolation.
The same discipline applies to any colour programme: define the reference, define the part, define the finish, and keep the approved sample with the purchase order. Under the JXY catalogue claim of colour standard and precise colour control, the approved physical sample is what the production run is measured against.
Board clip specification checklist
Before requesting a quotation, confirm each of these:
- Overall clip length in mm, chosen from 50, 70, 80, 100, 110 or 120 mm
- Model code (for example BC100R3), or a statement that the variant still has to be selected
- Board format and short-edge width, referenced to ISO 216 where a paper format applies
- Board thickness and material (board, plastic, laminated cover)
- Mounting hole centre-to-centre distance, measured on the pre-punched board, with a position tolerance
- Hole diameter and its tolerance, stated before or after plating
- Base material: nickel-plated steel (white nickel) or tinplate
- Metal finish, from the bright, checker, gold, rose gold, antique brass, black, yellow, green, purple or blue range
- Plastic corner colour: standard black or a specified colour match
- Hanger: none, regular hook, wire hook, aircraft-style hook or plastic hook, and whether fitted or loose
- Pen holder: none, black, spring or plastic hook, and whether fitted or loose
- Corrosion expectation expressed as salt spray hours
- Inspection plan and sampling level for the first article
Working through that list takes less time than a single rejected shipment. Where the model variant is still open, ask for the drawings for the two candidate codes so the trade-offs between them are visible before the punch is cut.
Frequently Asked Questions
What board clip lengths are available?
JXY board clips are produced in 50, 70, 80, 100, 110 and 120 mm lengths, covered by ten models: BC50R1, BC70R1, BC80R1, BC100C1, BC100R3, BC100R4, BC100R2, BC110R3, BC120R2 and BC120R4. Several lengths are offered in more than one build variant, so the length is the starting point of the specification rather than the whole of it.
Is a longer board clip always better?
No. A longer clip spreads the spring force across more of the top edge, which keeps paper flatter and reduces marking, but it is heavier, uses more material and leaves less margin at the board corners. Short clips suit slim boards and light stacks; long clips suit wide boards and heavier handling where sheet retention matters more than weight.
How do I measure the mounting hole distance?
Measure from the centre of one mounting hole to the centre of the other, on the board that will actually be used, and record the result with a position tolerance. Do not measure from the outer edges of the holes, and do not assume the pattern is centred on the board. A centre-to-centre figure measured from hole edges can be wrong by the full hole diameter.
Can I use a 100 mm clip on an A4 board?
A 100 mm clip is commonly used on A4-size boards, and the model range offers four variants at that length: BC100C1, BC100R3, BC100R4 and BC100R2. Confirm the clip length against the board’s short edge and the stack thickness, and confirm the mounting hole centre distance against the pre-punched board before choosing between the four variants.
Does a hanger change the clip length I need?
No, but it changes the clip specification. Hangers are available as a regular hook, wire hook, aircraft-style hook or plastic hook, and each one adds a mounting feature that competes for space with the main fixing and changes the load path. Specify the hanger and the clip together so the tooling accommodates both from the start.
What is the difference between the board clip materials?
Nickel-plated steel, sometimes called white nickel, carries the corrosion performance of the clip because the plating is the barrier. Tinplate is used where the surface is protected in service and the cost structure matters more. The choice should follow the corrosion hours you require, tested against a standard such as ISO 9227, rather than appearance alone.
Can the plastic corner be supplied in a custom colour?
Yes. Standard is black, and other colours are available or customizable. A custom colour is a colour-matching project, so send a physical sample rather than a description or a screen colour, state exactly which part the colour applies to, and confirm whether you are selecting a catalogue colour or asking for a new match.
What information is needed for a board clip quotation?
Overall length, model code or variant requirement, board format and thickness, mounting hole centre-to-centre distance, hole diameter and tolerance, base material, metal finish, plastic corner colour, hanger type, pen holder type, whether accessories are fitted or loose, and the corrosion hours required. Sampling for the first article should follow an agreed plan such as ISO 2859-1.
Next Step: Fix the Length, Then Fix the Variant
Clip length is decided by the board and the stack. Once that is fixed, the remaining questions are the variant code, the hole pattern, and whether a hanger or pen holder is fitted. Send JXY the board dimensions, a drawing or sample of the pre-punched board, and the intended use of the finished product, and the suitable lengths and variants can be narrowed from ten models to two or three in a single exchange.
About JXY Foshan Jinxinyu Hardware Products Co., Ltd. (JXY) is a stationery hardware manufacturer based in Foshan, Guangdong, China, with a 30,000 m² factory, 25 years of production experience, 300 product types, 500 staff, a monthly capacity of 30 million pieces, and customers in 50 countries. Product range: ring mechanisms, lever arch clips, board clips, jumbo clips, lever clips, snake clips, eyelets, rivets and loose-leaf accessories. Website: https://newworldstationery.com | Email: michelle@jxystationery.com | WhatsApp: +86 18138349832