Fellowes Starlet 2+ vs GBC CB12 Comb Binder
By Seb Clark, Editor, UniDoc Solutions·Updated
The GBC CB12 — same 12-sheet punch but it binds 165 pages to the Starlet's 120, for about £10 more.
Side by side
| Fellowes Starlet 2+ Comb Binder | GBC CB12 Comb Binding Machine | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £59.99 | £76.41 |
| Speed | Punches 12, binds 120 sheets | Punches 12, binds 165 sheets |
| Brand | Fellowes | GBC |
| Color | grey, white | Black/Silver |
| itemDimensions | Height 5.49999999439 inches, Length 7.99999999184 inches, Weight 7.300166881606 pounds, Width 18.99999998062 inches | Height 6.0236220411 inches, Length 20.2755905305 inches, Weight 9.259415004 pounds, Width 14.0944881746 inches |
| PartNumber | CRC52279 | 4410060 |
| Model | CRC52279 | 4410060 |
| Warranty | 2 YR | 2 |
| Key points |
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| Best for | Home and occasional office binding — reports, dissertations, proposals a few times a month. | New GBC entry model — binds thicker documents than the Starlet for similar money. |
Which should you buy?
Fellowes and GBC are both ACCO brands, so these two entry-level comb binders are close cousins. Both punch 12 sheets of 80 gsm per pull and both use standard 21-hole A4 plastic combs. The Starlet 2+ (£60) is the long-standing favourite with hundreds of reviews and a starter kit of combs and covers; it tops out at a 16 mm comb, about 120 sheets. The GBC CB12 (£70) is the 2026 model: it binds up to 165 sheets and also handles A5.
If your documents are under 100 pages and you like a proven product, the Starlet is fine. If you ever bind a dissertation, a training manual or a thick tender, the CB12's extra capacity is worth the tenner.