How to Choose The Right Filing Cabinets

Foolscap vs. A4

Foolscap and A4 are two paper sizes commonly used file cabinet sizes in offices in the UK. Foolscap is slightly larger than A4, so filing cabinets made for foolscap documents are slightly larger than cabinets designed to store A4 paper documents.

Can filing cabinets store foolscap and A4 documents?

Some office filing cabinets are designed to accept both types of files, although this is not the norm. Read the specifications on filing cabinets carefully to check what size file the office furniture cabinet will accept.

What is a foolscap filing cabinet?

An office storage filing cabinet designed for suspension filing and suitable for foolscap files, loose documents, and paperwork. The size can affect the amount of room below your office desks so please check the width is correct.

What size is a foolscap filing cabinet?

Foolscap filing cabinet with suspension bar: H 240 x W 407 mm
Foolscap filing cabinet without suspension bar: H 230 x W 360 mm

What is an A4 filing cabinet?

Filing cabinet designed for suspension filing of A4 paper and documents. A cabinet that is scratch resistant is usually H 240 x W 350 mm with the suspension bar and H 230 x W 300 mm without.

Is foolscap larger than A4?

While both foolscap and A4 filing cabinets can easily hold A4 documents, foolscap cabinets are larger and require more floor space. This space usage should be considered when using the storage with reception desks.

Foolscap filing cabinets: Most commonly used in large offices and workplaces.

A4 filing cabinets: More suited to small offices with limited floor space.

What other types of filing cabinets are available?

• Multi-drawer filing cabinet
  This is a narrow locking office cabinet that stores documents horizontally without the need for suspension files. Multi-drawer filing cabinets come in different types of heights and are ideal for storing stationery, paper, and small office items.
• Lateral filing cabinets
  Executive desk drawers on lateral filing cabinets are much larger than those on a standard filing cabinet, although they are not as deep. Each drawer has two sets of suspension runners which allow you to store a large number of files side-by-side. Read this article for the advantages and disadvantages of lateral filing cabinets.
• Fireproof filing cabinets
  Fireproof filing cabinets are made from fire-resistant materials and can protect paperwork from fire damage for up to 120 minutes according to safe.co.uk. These heavy-duty filing cabinets are perfect for protecting smaller quantities of vital paperwork.

Choosing the right and best filing cabinet for your office

Filing cabinets are essential in most office environments and you must choose the best filing cabinet for your needs. Here are five factors to consider when choosing the right office filing cabinets:

1. Floor space: Check how much floor space you have available. A multi-drawer or narrow filing cabinet may be the best option if you have limited space available.
2. Durability: You should pick a filing cabinet built from robust materials e.g. metal if the cabinet is going to be in use daily and used to store heavy or bulky documents.
3. Design: Filing cabinets come in a wide variety of colours and materials. Pick filing cabinets that will complement your existing interiors and add style to your office space.
4. Security: Consider purchasing a cabinet with a heavy-duty locking system if you are going to be storing sensitive or valuable documents.
5. Additional features: Some office filing cabinets come equipped with additional features to make them more efficient. For instance, you can pick a cabinet with an anti-tilt mechanism to prevent it from becoming top-heavy and tipping over.