What is NCR paper? A guide to pads, sets and books
NCR stands for No Carbon Required. It is a type of carbonless paper that creates copies as you write on the top sheet, without needing a separate sheet of carbon paper. It is commonly used for invoices, receipts, delivery notes, job sheets, order forms, inspection reports, consent forms and waste transfer notes.
What do duplicate, triplicate and quadruplicate mean?
An NCR set is the group of sheets that makes up one complete form:
- 2-part duplicate: White top sheet and yellow copy
- 3-part triplicate: White, yellow and pink sheets
- 4-part quadruplicate: White, blue, yellow and pink sheets
The quantity of sets is the number of complete forms you receive. For example, 100 duplicate sets provide 100 forms, each containing a white original and yellow copy.
Should you choose NCR pads, sets or books?
The right format depends on how the forms will be used.
- NCR pads are the most popular option. Each pad contains 50 sets glued along one edge onto a backing board. A loose writing shield is supplied to prevent your writing transferring onto unused forms underneath. Each completed set is torn out of the pad.
- Loose NCR sets have only the sheets within each individual form glued together. They are useful when forms need to be handed to different staff, placed on clipboards or included with separate jobs.
- Perforated NCR books are stapled and spine-taped. The forms are perforated so selected sheets can be removed while another copy remains securely inside the book. They are useful when you need a permanent record of each transaction.
- Multi-page NCR forms are intended for contracts, agreements and other forms containing several different pages. The pages are collated in the correct order, with a carbonless copy of each one
- For standard forms where duplicate copies are not required, plain paper forms may be a simpler and more economical option.
Sequential numbering gives every form a unique reference. When ordering, provide the starting number, number position, finished size, number of parts and any hole-punching requirements. Forms can be customised with your logo, contact details, tables, tick boxes, terms and other information. A press-quality PDF is preferred, although other common file types can also be accepted. We check the artwork and send a PDF proof before printing. Please check all wording, numbering and form details carefully before approving it. Businesses handling controlled or hazardous waste can also order Duty of Care and Hazardous Waste Transfer Notes.