Choosing an Automatic Letter Opener for a Mailroom

Automatic letter openers range from small desktop slitters to production extractor systems. Choose by daily mail volume, how the machine opens envelopes, and how thick your mail gets.

1. Speed and daily volume

Makers quote envelopes per minute or per hour. Converted to per hour, stated speeds in our catalog run from 7,000 to 40,000 envelopes per hour (10 models state a figure). Some production systems also state a daily volume.

2. Cutting method

Slitters trim a thin strip from one edge; milling cutters grind the edge away, which can lower the risk of cutting contents. Some systems open more than one side for extraction. Check the Cutting method row.

3. Envelope thickness and size

A desktop opener that takes up to 3/16" handles letters but not thick flats. Check the maximum thickness and envelope size range against your mail.

4. Feed

Small openers take a short stack; mailroom units use a jogger or long hopper so staff can load and walk away.

All letter openers we list

Formax FD 442 — Speed: Up to 200 envelopes per minute
Martin Yale 1632 — Speed: Up to 7,000 envelopes per hour
OPEX Omation Model 606 — Speed: Up to 40,000 envelopes per hour
Formax FD 452 — Speed: Up to 300 envelopes per minute
Martin Yale 62001 — Speed: Up to 17,500 envelopes per hour

Letter opener catalog · Letter opener buying guide

Sources

All figures on this page come from the manufacturer spec sheets linked on each model page.

Catalog figures on this page are counted live from the sourced spec sheets in our letter openers catalog (10 models), so they match the category page. We don't test machines or publish prices, and model lists here take each maker in turn, alphabetically within a maker; they are filters, not rankings.