The Best Filing Cabinets

Buying Guide

At one time, it seemed like electronics would eliminate the need for paper. But despite the fact that many processes have shifted to digital, paper use is still alive and well. Paper and cardboard materials make up the largest part of municipal solid waste, which means workers are still printing, reviewing and tossing paper documents.

There are good reasons to generate paper, even if you’ve reduced paper use in your daily life. For example, your work may require physical documents that you can save for later reference. You might also prefer to have copies that you can review whether or not your computer is on.

For that, a good filing cabinet comes in handy. You can open a drawer and find the paperwork you need in its own file folder. And even if you store records digitally, it may be important to have a backup hard copy in case your hardware gets damaged.

Most filing cabinets are fairly basic. They may be made of lightweight steel with a painted or baked enamel finish and will include hardware in the form of handles or pulls, or perhaps label holders. They’ll also feature some sort of gliding suspension system to hold hanging files and allow you to slide them around easily. You’ll want to make sure your documents are safe when you aren’t around, even if your file cabinet is stored in a secure area, so look for one with a secure lock.

If your office is in your home, you might look for other features in a filing cabinet. For example, you may want a one with a low profile so it can fit under a desk or one that easily blends with your more stylish living room décor. Some people also like to have wheeled casters on their files, to make them easier to move around.

• Many filing cabinets feature steel construction. This gives you a durable storage solution for your paperwork, but it won’t protect the internal contents against fire or water damage. If you have important documents, you’ll want to invest in a fire- and water-resistant safe.
• Drawers that catch or don’t open and close without a struggle can be frustrating. Look for an option that builds in special features to keep each drawer’s glide smooth and trouble-free.
• If you’re eco-conscious, some filing cabinets are made from recycled materials to help you reduce your carbon footprint.
• The capacity of file cabinets can vary dramatically. Some are deeper than others, allowing you to pack more documents into the space.
• If you have documents on legal paper, keep in mind that some file cabinets are designed solely to hold letter-size documents and hanging file folders. Unless you want to try to cram your legal documents in by folding them, look for a cabinet with legal-file capabilities.
• Pay close attention to the physical dimensions of any file cabinet and measure your space to make sure it will fit.
• Some file cabinets ship fully assembled, while others require you to put them together upon arrival. In some cases, you can pay a little extra for expert assembly.
• Label holders on the exterior of your drawers can help make it clear what’s inside. If you have intensive storage needs, you might want to line up multiple similar file cabinets and use exterior label holders to alphabetize your files or separate documents by type.
• If you see a need to move your file cabinets occasionally, one with wheels can make a big difference. Lifting filled file cabinets can be tough, while emptying files and returning them to the drawers after your move may be time-consuming, too.
• Many file cabinets now build in locks and come with a key or two. Consider leaving the key in a well-hidden location in your office so it can be accessed by multiple people if needed.