How Many Custom Sticky Notes Should an Office of 50 Staff Order
Custom printed sticky notes are useful for more than tracking daily tasks. Businesses use them around the office for reminders, meetings, and planning, and also hand them out to clients, visitors, and event attendees as giveaways.
So, how many custom printed sticky notes should an Australian business with 50 staff keep on hand? Here's how to estimate your needs and plan bulk orders for both office use and giveaways.
How Many Sticky Notes Will 50 Staff Use?
A useful starting estimate is around two sticky note sheets per employee per working day. Actual usage will depend on the workplace, although this gives you a rough idea of how quickly stock can move across a month or quarter. For 50 staff, that works out to approximately:
- 100 sticky note sheets used each working day
- 2,200 sheets over a typical 22-day working month
- 6,600 sheets over three months
- Around 132 pads per quarter if each pad contains 50 sheets
These figures cover internal office use only. If your business also distributes custom printed sticky notes to customers or uses them in promotional packs, you'll need to allow for those separately. The table below provides a starting point for a 50-person office.
| 1 month | 50–70 pads | Small top-ups or testing usage |
| 3 months | 150–200 pads | Regular office stationery supply |
| 6 months | 300–400 pads | Businesses wanting fewer reorders |
| 12 months | 600–800 pads | Annual bulk purchasing |
Which Offices Use More Custom Printed Sticky Notes?
You may need more stock internally if your workplace regularly uses custom printed sticky notes for:
- Team planning and brainstorming
- Workshops and training sessions
- Phone messages and quick reminders
- Project boards and task tracking
- Reception and shared office areas
- Staff onboarding and welcome packs
If several of these apply, an office of 50 could use 200 to 250 pads every three months. Workplaces that rely heavily on handwritten reminders or visual planning will generally go through them faster than teams working almost entirely on digital platforms. Also consider how your branding appears on the pads. A small company logo, website or contact detail in the header or footer keeps the design recognisable while leaving plenty of writing space for daily use.
Don’t Forget Meeting Rooms and Shared Areas
A common mistake is calculating stock based entirely on individual employees. When you have meetings with clients and stakeholders, handing out sticky notes also helps them keep track of their notes. Adding another 10% to 20% to your estimated internal requirement provides a sensible buffer.
For businesses using the same design across the office and in marketing activities, consider keeping separate boxes for each purpose. That way, staff can access the pads they need without accidentally using stock reserved for a client event.
How Many Sticky Notes Should You Order for Giveaways?
Stock needs a different calculation from everyday office stationery. Rather than estimating how many sheets people will use, start with the number of recipients you expect to reach. For most giveaways, it's easier to plan around one pad per recipient, then add a little extra for unexpected visitors, additional staff or larger-than-expected attendance.
| Client welcome packs | 100–150 pads | Match quantities to upcoming client packs |
| Small business event | 100–200 pads | Allow for attendees and event staff |
| Conference or exhibition | 300–500 pads | Base orders on expected foot traffic |
| Large promotional campaign | 500–1,000+ pads | Plan around your distribution target |
Should You Keep Separate Stock for Staff and Giveaways?
Yes, especially when you're ordering custom-printed sticky notes in bulk. Using one combined stockpile makes it harder to know how many pads are available for everyday use and how many are committed to upcoming activities. A busy month in the office could leave you short before a scheduled event. For example, an Australian business with 50 staff might plan its quarterly order like this:
| Internal office use | 200 pads |
| Upcoming trade show | 500 pads |
| Client welcome packs | 100 pads |
| Total quarterly order | 800 pads |
This approach makes it easier to order the right quantity without repeatedly placing small orders. You can also adjust the allocation as your plans change. If you have no events scheduled for the following quarter, you may only need enough branded sticky notes for staff and regular client packs.
Is It Better to Buy Custom Printed Sticky Notes in Bulk?
Yes. Most companies order over 1,000 pieces during EOFY to stock for the rest of the year. Larger quantities also offer better unit pricing, particularly when you're ordering the same artwork across hundreds of pads. It can also reduce the time spent organising repeat orders and artwork approvals.
What I Suggest
When brands are undecided on the quantities, I always suggest going beyond the staff count and stock for events and visitors. Ordering a separate set of sticky notes and opting for combo sets or full-colour sticky notes may work better for events.
What We Recommend
For an Australian office with 50 staff, 150 to 200 custom printed sticky note pads every three months is a reasonable starting point for internal use. If your team relies heavily on meetings, handwritten reminders or workshops, consider increasing that to around 200 to 250 pads.
For promotional giveaways, calculate quantities separately based on expected event attendance, client pack requirements, and campaign plans. Add the two allocations together when planning your bulk order, especially if you're using the same branded design.