Stamp Paper Denominations 2026: Rs 10, Rs 50, Rs 100, Rs 500 - Which to Use When

The question sounds simple: which stamp paper do I buy, the Rs 100 one or the Rs 500 one? In practice it trips up almost everyone the first time, because the right denomination is not a matter of preference. It is fixed by the document, the state, and sometimes the value of the transaction, and picking the wrong one can leave an agreement under-stamped and open to challenge.

Stamp paper denominations run from as little as Rs 5 to Rs 25,000, and the printed figure is the stamp duty itself, not a service fee. Choosing the correct value means matching the denomination to the duty the state prescribes for that specific instrument, which is why the same agreement can need a Rs 100 sheet in one state and a percentage-based duty in another.

This guide lays out the common denominations, which documents typically use which value, and how to avoid the costly mistake of under-stamping. It is general information, not legal advice; stamp duty is set by each state and changes, so the sub-registrar's office or an advocate confirms the exact figure for any given document.

What stamp paper denominations are available

Non-judicial stamp paper is issued in a fixed ladder of values from Rs 5 up to Rs 25,000. The commonly available denominations are Rs 5, Rs 10, Rs 20, Rs 50, Rs 100, Rs 500, Rs 1,000, Rs 5,000, Rs 10,000, Rs 15,000, Rs 20,000, and Rs 25,000. Not every value is stocked everywhere, and the most-used sheets in daily life are the Rs 10, Rs 50, Rs 100, and Rs 500 denominations.

The denomination is the stamp duty paid, so a Rs 100 stamp paper carries Rs 100 of duty. When a document's duty exceeds the highest available sheet, multiple papers were traditionally combined, but e-stamping has largely removed that problem by issuing a single certificate for the exact amount. The denomination logic still applies, even when the payment is digital.

"At present, you can use a non-judicial stamp paper of value Rs.5, Rs.10, Rs.20, Rs.50, Rs.100, Rs.500, Rs.1000, Rs.5000, Rs.10000, Rs.15000, Rs.20000, or Rs.25000 for the documents mentioned above." (Industry guide on types of stamp paper in India, 2026.)

Which denomination for which document

The right denomination is driven by the type of document, and low-value instruments need only small sheets. Affidavits and simple declarations usually sit at the bottom of the ladder, while agreements and deeds climb higher, and property transfers leave the fixed ladder entirely because they are charged as a percentage of value. The mapping below reflects common practice across states.

These are typical ranges, not fixed rules, because the duty for the same document can differ by state. A rent agreement that needs a Rs 100 stamp paper in one state may be charged as a percentage of annual rent and deposit in Maharashtra or Karnataka, so the document type sets the ballpark and the state sets the exact figure.

Rs 10 and Rs 20: affidavits and declarations

The Rs 10 and Rs 20 denominations cover the lightest legal documents, chiefly affidavits and declarations. An affidavit for a passport, an address proof, a name change, or a bank formality is typically sworn on a Rs 10 or Rs 20 non-judicial sheet and then notarised. These are the denominations the average person encounters most often.

Rs 50 and Rs 100: agreements and bonds

The Rs 50 and Rs 100 denominations are the workhorses for everyday agreements. In many states an 11-month rent agreement is executed on a Rs 100 stamp paper, and indemnity bonds, no-objection certificates, and various undertakings also sit at this level. The Rs 100 sheet is probably the single most familiar denomination in Indian households.

Rs 500 and above: deeds and high-value contracts

The Rs 500 and higher denominations apply to documents with greater legal or financial weight. Powers of attorney, partnership deeds, loan agreements, and lease deeds commonly require Rs 500 or more, depending on the state and the value involved. Above this, high-value commercial contracts use the Rs 1,000 to Rs 25,000 range or an exact-amount e-stamp certificate.

When duty is a percentage, not a fixed denomination

For property transactions, stamp duty is charged as a percentage of value rather than a fixed denomination. Sale deeds and conveyance documents attract duty calculated on the property's market or circle-rate value, commonly in the range of 4% to 7% depending on the state and the buyer's category. This is why stamp duty on a home purchase runs into lakhs rather than hundreds.

In these cases there is no single sheet to buy; the duty is computed first, then paid through an e-stamp certificate for the exact amount or, historically, a combination of high-value sheets. Several states offer a concession on stamp duty when the property is registered in a woman's name, which can lower the percentage by one or two points. The pillar guide on what stamp paper is covers how this duty fits into the wider system.

Rent agreement stamp paper value by state

The clearest illustration of how denomination depends on the state is the humble rent agreement. For a standard 11-month residential rent agreement, some states charge a flat low amount while others calculate duty on the rent and deposit. The same tenancy can therefore need a Rs 100 sheet in one city and a few hundred rupees of percentage-based duty in another.

The pattern shows why a single national answer to the denomination question does not exist. A tenant in Bengaluru and a tenant in Delhi can sign near-identical agreements yet pay duty calculated on entirely different bases, so the document type sets the category and the state's schedule sets the rupee figure. The dedicated guide to stamp paper for rent agreements works through the calculation in detail.

Stamp paper for affidavits, powers of attorney and bonds

Beyond rent agreements, the low and mid denominations cover a long list of common instruments. An affidavit, the document people buy stamp paper for most often after rent agreements, generally sits on a Rs 10 to Rs 20 sheet and is then sworn before a notary or oath commissioner. The denomination here is low because an affidavit is a sworn statement, not a transfer of money or property.

Powers of attorney occupy the middle of the ladder and vary by sub-type. A special power of attorney, limited to a single act, usually carries lower duty than a general power of attorney granting broad authority, and a power of attorney that authorises the sale of property can attract duty close to conveyance rates in some states. Indemnity bonds, surety bonds, and no-objection certificates typically use the Rs 100 to Rs 500 band.

For business documents, partnership deeds and loan agreements sit higher still, often at Rs 500 or above, reflecting their financial weight. A firm formalising a partnership as part of registering a business in India should budget for the correct deed duty in its state rather than assume the lowest sheet will do.

The cost of choosing the wrong denomination

Under-stamping a document carries a defined penalty, which is why the denomination matters. A document stamped below the duty owed can be impounded and admitted as evidence only after the deficit and a penalty are paid, and under the Indian Stamp Act the penalty can be several times the shortfall. Saving a few hundred rupees at the counter can cost far more later.

Over-stamping is the opposite problem: it wastes money but does not invalidate the document. A person who buys a Rs 500 sheet where Rs 100 was due has simply paid more duty than required, with no legal benefit. Getting the value right, neither short nor excessive, is the goal, and the safe figure is the one the relevant state prescribes for that instrument.

"Using the wrong paper or incorrect duty can make documents inadmissible, delay litigation, and trigger penalties." (Industry guidance on stamp paper types and duty, 2026.)

How e-stamping changed the denomination question

E-stamping has made fixed denominations far less important, because a certificate is issued for the exact duty. In most major states, a buyer no longer hunts for the right combination of physical sheets; the SHCIL e-stamp system generates a single certificate for whatever amount the document needs, down to the rupee. The old practice of stacking several stamp papers to reach an odd figure is fading.

The denomination still matters conceptually, because the buyer must know the correct duty to enter. But the practical friction of finding a Rs 50 sheet in stock, or combining a Rs 500 and a Rs 100 to make Rs 600, has largely disappeared in e-stamping states. The mechanics of generating an exact-amount certificate are covered in the guide to buying e-stamp paper online.

Stamp paper denominations versus revenue stamps

A common confusion is between stamp paper denominations and the small Re 1 revenue stamp. The Re 1 revenue stamp is a tiny adhesive stamp affixed to receipts for payments above Rs 5,000, not a denomination of non-judicial stamp paper used for agreements. The two serve different purposes under the Indian Stamp Act and should not be mixed up.

Revenue stamps are bought at the post office and stuck onto a cash receipt or a salary or rent acknowledgement, where the recipient signs across the stamp. Non-judicial stamp paper, by contrast, is the sheet on which the agreement itself is written or to which the e-stamp certificate is attached. When someone asks for a Re 1 stamp, they mean the revenue stamp, not stamp paper, even though both fall under the same parent law.

Keeping the two straight avoids a small but frequent error at the counter. A tenant handing over rent often needs a Re 1 revenue stamp on the receipt, while the same tenant signing the tenancy needs a Rs 100 or higher stamp paper for the agreement itself. Different documents in the same transaction can require completely different denominations.

How to find the right denomination for your document

The reliable method is to identify the document, then check the duty for that instrument in the relevant state. Stamp duty schedules are published by each state's revenue or registration department, and the sub-registrar's office can confirm the figure for a specific document. For common instruments like affidavits and 11-month rent agreements, the typical denomination is well known locally.

A short sequence avoids most errors. First, confirm the document is non-judicial, not a court filing. Second, identify the instrument precisely, since a general power of attorney and a special power of attorney can attract different duty. Third, check the state's rate, because the same document differs across states. Fourth, buy through an authorised channel and keep the certificate or receipt. When the value is large, confirming with the sub-registrar before paying is worth the few minutes it takes.

Looking ahead

Fixed stamp paper denominations are slowly becoming a legacy concept as e-stamping spreads and certificates are issued for exact amounts. The Rs 10, Rs 100, and Rs 500 sheets that defined Indian paperwork for generations are still in use where physical paper persists, but in most large states the question is shifting from which sheet to buy to which duty to pay.

The underlying principle is unchanged: the duty is set by the document and the state, and matching it correctly is what keeps an agreement enforceable. Whether the payment is a watermarked sheet or a digital certificate, the cheapest mistake to avoid is still under-stamping, and the surest fix is to check the state's rate before signing rather than after.