Happy Tuesday, everyone!

Today, let’s talk about what types of paper should go in which tray on your copier! As you may know, there’s all sorts of different types and sizes of paper out there.

On your copier, you have a few different tray options. You have the main trays, which hold paper you print from often, then you have the bypass tray, which is used for special types of paper, or even paper sizes that you don’t print to often enough to keep in a main tray.

Let’s go over the best use for each tray.

MAIN TRAYS: These are best suited for use with media types and sizes that you print to all the time. The most commonly used paper size is Letter, or 8.5×11. Legal, or 8.5×14 is the next most commonly used paper size. Plain is the most common type used. If you print to Letterhead paper often, you can use the main trays for this as well!

BYPASS TRAY: The Bypass Tray, or Multipurpose Tray as it is called, is a tray that is used mostly for paper sizes and types you do not print to often, such as cardstock. Unlike the main trays, the bypass tray does have a lower paper capacity versus the main trays, but it also has the benefit of having a much more direct paper path versus the main trays. This makes it ideal for more rigid paper types, such as cardstock, or for label sheets. You can also use this handy little tray as an extra tray for your normal paper as well, in addition to your main trays. This can come in handy if you are doing a ton of printing.

Can you use thicker sheets in the main trays? Well, you CAN, but it’s generally not recommended. Unlike the bypass tray, the paper path from the main trays to the exit has more turns to it than the path from the bypass tray.

What about Labels? I do not recommend this as the labels can easily separate from the main sheet while making the turns in the paper path. Run these through your bypass tray, and ensure you are using the right labels for your equipment!

Envelopes? Best in the bypass tray! I know, your copier may have a place in the main trays for these, but the bypass tray has less turns in the paper path! Plus, are you REALLY printing THAT many envelopes daily?

Colored Paper? Yeah, you can put that in either tray! Just mind the thickness.