<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
This schedule  contains summary financial  information  extracted from BT Office
Products International,  Inc. Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September
30,  1996 and is  qualified  in its  entirety  by  reference  to such  financial
statements.
</LEGEND>                                                        
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-mos
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              Dec-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                   Sep-30-1996
<CASH>                                           6,830
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  206,238
<ALLOWANCES>                                     4,297
<INVENTORY>                                     98,318
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               336,975
<PP&E>                                         123,240
<DEPRECIATION>                                  50,201
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 634,484
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          173,621
<BONDS>                                        159,035
<COMMON>                                           334
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<OTHER-SE>                                     265,079
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   634,484
<SALES>                                        354,871
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               354,871
<CGS>                                          253,415
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  347,192
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               3,349
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  5,005
<INCOME-TAX>                                     2,350
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              2,655
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     2,655
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.08
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.08