How to Choose the Right Hanging Filing Cabinet Folders

Filing cabinets with hanging file folders are an ideal way to keep important documents off your desk, organized and all in one place. They may look a little "old school" in the modern office. But this classic piece of furniture continues to help us keep track of non-digitized papers and backup documents. With numerous hanging file folder dimensions and organization options, these folders help you streamline homes and offices when used the right way. However, if papers are tossed into the cabinet haphazardly or not placed in the appropriate folders, that big hunk of metal isn't doing much more than taking up space.

Many professionals who work in offices, firms, schools and other businesses aren't fully utilizing their filing cabinets simply because they aren't choosing the right folders to place inside. So, to make the most of that trusty filing cabinet in the corner of your office, here's our buying guide for choosing the right hanging file folders for the job. We’ll look at hanging file folder sizes, cabinet types and more to help you shop for folders that keep you organized.

Topics Covered in this Buying Guide

• Filing Cabinet Style
• Letter or Legal Size Hanging File Folders
• Metal or Plastic Hooks
• Number of Tabs for Hanging File Folders
• Colors for Organization
• Interior File Folders
• Other Things to Consider with Hanging File Folders

1. Filing Cabinet Style

While many of us have an image in our minds of what a filing cabinet looks like, there are a few different types used in offices today. For example, there are lateral filing cabinets, vertical filing cabinets, mobile filing cabinets and even open-shelf filing cabinets that look more like bookcases. This means that the type of hanging file folder that you choose must fit with the type of cabinet you already have or are thinking of buying.

Fortunately, file folder manufacturers haven't made life difficult. Most filing cabinets can accommodate hanging file folders that are letter-size, legal-size or both. Hanging bars hold these types of folders up, but you may need to buy additional bars if your cabinet didn’t include them or came with the wrong bars. For example, you may need to make a lateral filing cabinet work for a front-to-back filing system, or hang letter-size file cabinet folders in a drawer that only has bars for legal folders.

2. Letter or Legal Size Hanging File Folders

The next consideration is hanging folder sizes: specifically, whether to choose letter-size or legal-size hanging folders. Contrary to what the name may suggest, law firms aren't the only type of offices that use legal-size folders. They are common at government agencies, financial institutions, healthcare facilities, engineering firms and more for everything from contracts to reports. Hanging legal folders easily store these 8.5x14 sheets.

That said, if you've never seen a piece of legal paper in your office and don't expect to anytime soon, you may be better off with the more standard letter-size hanging folders. Also, keep in mind that larger size hanging folders may be available for specialized projects.

Recommended Letter Size Hanging Folders

Recommended Legal Size Hanging Folders

3. Metal or Plastic Hooks

What sets hanging file folders apart from all the other folders that we sell is that they have metal or plastic hooks that hold them onto the file cabinet bars. These hooks are always included in the box, so you don't have to shop for them separately.

Most modern hanging folders you'll see for sale have plastic hooks. They help keep costs down, are strong enough for most documents and won’t rust or corrode. However, metal hooks may be necessary to support heavy hanging files. The larger the capacity of your hanging file folder, the more likely it is to come with metal hooks. This is especially true of expanding hanging files and classification folders.

Alternatively, hanging clamps in file cabinets may be useful for large file folder documents, such as blueprints and construction plans. Consider what you’ll be storing before deciding which hanging hooks to order.

4. Number of Tabs for Hanging File Folders

This refers to the number of tab positions at the top of the folder for adding labels and other information. Most hanging files have positions for either three or five tabs, with three tabs being the most common. The 1/3 Cut Hanging Folder Tabs are staggered in sets of three for improved visibility. Conversely, 1/5 Cut Folder Tabs are great for alphabetical and numerical indexing.

However, choosing between these two options largely comes down to personal preference. Having more tab positions may help you identify the folder you need in the cabinet more quickly. However, more tabs may also make you cross-eyed while trying to make sense of a drawer stuffed with documents. If you need to fit the most information possible, some hanging folders have straight cut tabs that go all the way across the top. These full-length folders are great for detailed labeling but come at the expense of visibility when riffling through a cabinet drawer.

Recommended 1/3 Tab Hanging Folders

Recommended 1/5 Tab Hanging Folders

5. Colors for Organization

In addition to classic manila and dark green file folders, you can give your hanging file organizer an extra burst of color. More than just adding some cheer to your space, colored folders are designed to help you designate folders for different purposes. These include sorting based on document type, highlighting time-sensitive files, identifying certain topics and more. Some office workers become borderline-obsessed with color-coding, although colors may not be as important for certain types of documents.

There are many ways to incorporate color into your file folders. Most multi-color packs include three or five assorted colors to help with organization, often color-coding the folders based on where the tab is located. You can also get clear folders to see the contents with various colors on the tabs. However, if color-coding feels arbitrary for your line of work, monochromatic folders may be more sensible and cost-effective.

Recommended Color-Coded Hanging Folders

Recommended Monochromatic Hanging Folders

6. Interior File Folders

Large businesses and even some smaller groups have a lot to keep track, and they’ll take any help they can get when sorting their files. To provide even more document organization, add interior file folders. They stand about 9-3/16 inches high and are designed to fit inside hanging folders, letting you create sub-categories or add new information as needed.

Interior file folders are available for letter- or legal-size hanging file folders, and they come in many of the same tab and color options. As you're shopping for folders, don't forget about this important component of a filing cabinet system!

Recommended Interior File Folders

7. Other Things to Consider with Hanging File Folders

Regardless of what type of folder you're looking for, differences in the material quality, durability and eco-friendliness may also influence your buying decision. There are classic economical cardstock hanging file folders, waterproof plastic file folders, acid-free archival folders and other solutions. You can also shop based on the number of dividers in a folder or whether they have fasteners to secure papers.

If you have any questions about which type of hanging file folders can meet your needs, we're here to help. Give us a call at 866-501-6055 or use our live chat for expert advice before you buy!