There are also various options of binder types such as the commonly used vinyl binders or customizable poly binders, turned edge binders, and sewn binders. Another design for ring binders was invented in 1889 by Andreas Tengwall in Helsingborg, Sweden, and patented in 1890 under the name 'Trio binder', named after a business consortium of Tengwall and two associates. Tengwall's design uses four rings, in two paired sets. The hole placement of Tengwall's Trio binder is still used as a de facto standard for hole punching in Sweden under the name triohålning. These holes are 21 millimetres (0.83in), 70 millimetres (2.8in), and 21 millimetres (0.83in) apart. Japan uses a unique system, referred to as J-Binder. This system is compatible with A4 and B5 paper with different products. The A4 version uses 30 closely spaced rings, while the B5 one uses 26. Less common variants such as a 20 ring A5 version also exist. [3] For more on loose leaf paper that are used together with ring binders, see the article Loose leaf. Many personal organizers and memorandum books use a six- or seven-hole system, including Filofax and FranklinCovey. Most systems have the rings on the left side of the papers as one opens the binder, but there are also binders that have the rings (concealed by the binder cover) at the top edge of the paper, reminiscent of a clipboard.

It is also possible to insert the sheet of paper into a polypropylene sheet protector. The sheet protector has pre-punched holes, so the document can be kept untouched and unwrinkled. The distance from the punched holes to the nearest edge of the paper is less critical, since small differences do not affect the compatibility of paper and binder. Typical distance from the paper edge to the center of the hole is 0.5 inches (13mm), and typical diameter of the hole ranges from 0.25 inches (6.4mm) to 0.31 inches (7.9mm) in North American usage.

Elba Vision A3 Black 30mm 4 D-Ring Binder

William P. Pitt obtained patent no. 778070 on December 20, 1904 for a 3-ring binder that became a standard in the United States. The North American de facto standard spacing is 4.25 inches (108mm) between holes. Ring binders ( loose leaf binders, looseleaf binders, or sometimes called files in Britain) are large folders that contain file folders or hole punched papers (called loose leaves). These binders come in various sizes and can accommodate an array of paper sizes. These are held in the binder by circular or D-shaped retainers, onto which the contents are threaded. In North America, the rings themselves come in a variety of sizes, including 0.5,1,1.5, and 2 inches (13,25,38, and 51mm), though other sizes are also available. The rings may be secured by lever arch [1] mechanisms or other securing systems, or may be spring-loaded [ citation needed]. The binders themselves are typically made from plastic with metal rings. Early designs were patented during the early 1890s to the early 1900s. More extensive coverage of official and de facto standards for punched holes can be found in the article Hole punch.

Binders come in many standard sizes with respect to both capacity and paper size. Countries that use ISO paper sizes (as specified by ISO 216), which is most countries, use a two- or four-hole system for holding A4 sheets [ citation needed].American Henry Tillinghast Sisson invented the three ring binder, receiving patent no. 23506 on April 5, 1859. The ISO standard two holes are 80 millimetres (3.1in) apart, according to ISO838. The four-hole version has no ISO standard [ citation needed]. The distances between holes are 80 millimetres (3.1in) (3 × 8).