File cabinets are the heart of most offices. A good filing
system will keep the work of the office going forward
smoothly, so it can be useful to know what kind of file
cabinets are available. In general, file cabinets vary in
size and orientation of the drawers, but they also come in
a variety of materials. Most variations of file cabinets
can come with or without wheels, too.
Size
File cabinets come in all sizes to meet any need an office
might have. If you have a small home office, you might find
that all you need is a single drawer to hang your business
files in. But of course if your office generates large
amounts of paperwork, you will likely want a cabinet with
multiple drawers.
Cabinets do not only vary in amount of drawers and height;
they can also be quite long. The smaller cabinets are about
16-18 inches from front to back. This dimension can remain
the same for taller, multiple-drawer models. However, some
offices might find that having long drawers that measure
between three and four feet works better for them.
Orientation
The question of drawer orientation is a simple one. Some
file cabinets, called lateral cabinets, have drawers that
are several feet wide. This kind of drawer is useful
because the drawer can hold a multitude of files that can
be viewed without having to pull out a long drawer and
obstruct traffic. This type of drawer is becoming almost
more common than the older style that is longer, due to the
greater convenience it provides.
Materials
The standard material for file cabinets is a tough,
relatively light-weight metal. These cabinets come in a
standard beige, gray or black. You can also get file
cabinets that are made of wood, although these customarily
are very heavy. For those offices that are trying to match
furniture to a rustic or wood theme, pale wood cabinets
might be the best choice, despite their weight.
A final variation of file cabinet is the type that has
lateral-running, open shelves or drawers. These make it
easier to see the files stored and can accelerate the
process of finding needed paperwork.