How to Use an Envelope Opener | Fast Mail-Safe Cutting

For the full breakdown, see our best Envelope Opener guide.

Opening mail with a letter opener saves time and protects the contents from the tears and creases a finger produces. The exact method depends on whether you hold a manual blade or run an automatic machine, and using either correctly comes down to a few simple steps found in the operator manuals. The right technique takes seconds to learn and makes short work of a tall stack. If you are weighing which style fits your setup, the tested roundup of the best envelope openers on the market compares manual and automatic models side by side.

Using a Manual Envelope Opener

Manual letter openers have a blade set within a handle or a slot that you slide along the envelope’s edge. The motion is always away from your body, and the cut happens at the top flap.

• Lay the envelope flat on a sturdy surface with the flap side up.
• Hold the opener so the blade sits at the top crease or flap edge, keeping your fingers clear of the cutting path.
• Slide the opener across the envelope in one smooth motion, letting the blade slice through only the top layer of paper.
• Lift the flap and remove the contents.

Keep the cutting motion directed away from your hands and body at all times. The blade on most manual units is exposed and sharp, so a steady, level slide beats a hurried one.

Preparing an Envelope Stack for an Automatic Machine

Automatic letter openers like the OPEX OMATION DL210 and DL410 do the cutting for you, but only when the envelopes are loaded correctly. The Pitney Bowes operator guides for the DL-series note that proper preparation stops paper jams before they start.

• Tap or fan the stack on a flat surface so the contents settle away from the edge that will be opened.
• Verify the envelopes are aligned with all flaps face-down, per the DL100/DL200 guide’s instructions.
• Confirm the side to be opened sits against the feeder wall or guide on the machine.

Envelopes with folded contents, thick staples, or curled edges are the main source of jams in automatic feeders. Set aside anything that is not flat before you start.

Operating and Clearing a Jam on an Automatic Opener

Set the machine on a sturdy, level surface near a power outlet, attach the catch tray or chaff container, and connect the power cord before turning the unit on.

Load the prepared stack onto the feed deck, place the leading edge against the feeder belts, and let the machine draw each envelope through the cutter and stack it in the tray. The units separate, open, and stack the mail unattended until the tray fills.

When a jam occurs, the safe clearing order from the DL210 operator guide is to power the machine off and unplug it first, then open the track cover, remove the jammed envelope by pulling it in the direction of the exit, and replace the cover before restarting.

Keep fingers, loose clothing, jewelry, and long hair away from the feed area and cutter at all times. The guides note the blades are sharp and may run hot, and the machines are intended for opening mail only, not for use where children are likely to be present. Never clean or clear a machine while it is running.

FAQs

Which side of the envelope faces up on an automatic opener?

All flaps should face down, with the side to be opened pressed against the feeder wall or guide. Keeping the stack uniformly oriented helps the machine feed each envelope cleanly through the cutter without skewing or jamming.

Can an automatic letter opener handle thick envelopes?

Automatic units like the DL210 and DL410 work best with flat, standard mail. Bulky contents, staples, or return envelopes with folded inserts can catch on the cutter and cause a jam, so hand-open anything that is not flat rather than forcing it through the machine.

What is the correct way to remove a jammed envelope?

Turn the power off and unplug the machine first. Open the track cover, pull the jammed envelope toward the exit direction, and replace the cover before plugging the unit back in. Never reach into the cutter area while the machine is connected to power.