Declutter Your Workspace With the Best Hanging File Folders
Best Hanging File Folders Worth Considering in 2022
AmazonBasics Hanging File Folders – Best Overall
AmazonBasics Hanging File Folders are an essential tool for organizing documents and reducing clutter in the workplace. A durable option for long-term use, these folders feature coated rod tips that allow for smooth gliding in your file folder system. And to make things better, they are made of 10% recycled content, meaning these file folders are eco-friendly! The folders themselves are suitable for letter-size documents and file folders up to 8.5 x 11-inches and include clear plastic tabs with replaceable white inserts.
These folders can take all the mess away and make your workplace neat and tidy. You won’t need or want additional drawers to store your essential documents or files because these nifty folders can take care of everything.
Pros
- These folders are environmentally friendly as they are composed of post-consumer material
- Come in an attractive green shade
- Made of materials that are resistant to wear-and tear
Cons
- The hanger’s hook is a bit shallow
Pendaflex Hanging File Folders – Color-Coded
Complement your essential documents with the Pendaflex Hanging File Folders. These environmentally-friendly and vividly colorful folders offer a fun and practical way to add life back to your work files while making them easily recognizable. These folders feature a heavy front and back panel, making them a sturdy option for office mavens.
Additionally, the front and back panels come from 60-percent post-consumer fiber made from renewable sources. Moreover, organization is a cinch with these hanging files folders due to their interior cardboard catches. These hanging folders can hold up to five inches of documents, which means you’ll get plenty of use out of these bad boys. Each box features 1/5-cut tabs and a sheet of blank label inserts.
Pros
- Assorted colors make the organization of files super easy
- The colors do not fade away over time
- Can accommodate different types of files easily
Cons
- The edges are a bit sharp, and could give you a paper cut
Smead Store Hanging File Folders – Durable Material
Smead has combined the sleek, modern look of a hanging file folder with the optimum file management system and durable construction that you expect from Smead. Each hanging folder includes 1/5 cut repositionable poly tabs that can be placed on the front or back panel and a coated rod tip that slides easily into file drawers. Moreover, the coated rod tips are designed to extend the folder’s life, meaning you will get even more use from this wonderful office tool.
The quality construction, 1/3 cut tabs, and reinforced side holes all help prevent tearing, while the letter size folder can be used with both legal and letter hanging file frames, making the Smead Store hanging file folders an excellent option for organizing your workspace.
Pros
- Comes with a wide selection of hanging files
- Color coding allows the convenient identification of files
- Are composed of durable material
Cons
- The folders are quite curved, which can make some filing awkward
Blue Summit Hanging File Folders – Numerous Plastic Tabs
Blue Summit 2″ Square Hanging Folders are uniquely constructed with 2″ deep open pockets to easily organize and store bulky files. Durable and tear-resistant, this product allows you to easily organize large files into the reinforced, expanding folders designed to help you keep your essential documents conveniently organized.
With reinforced tabs, you can label your hanging files quickly and easily. No longer will your drawers overflow with an abundance of files and documents, making your life that much simpler!
Pros
- These heavy-duty folders can accommodate your densest files
- Easy categorization with numerous file tabs
- Composed of environmentally friendly material
Cons
- The folders are quite large and may not fit in regular drawers
Organize your home, office, and professional life with a touch of color from the Herkka Hanging File Folders set. This set contains sturdy, durable, and high-quality folders made of a premium material that will not let your files get crumpled or bent.
The folder is designed with both color-coding and label-printing convenience in mind, so you can color-code your files and print and apply your labels to make them easy to identify. The hanging file folder contains 30 extra capacity folders with 30 cardboard supports, making organizing your important documents a piece of cake.
Pros
- These hanging folders are super economical
- It can easily accommodate a large number of files
- The colors are bright enough to make sorting documents an easy task
Cons
- The handles are a bit flimsy and small
Choosing a High-Quality File Folder: A Buyer's Guide
Here's a short manual to help you easily choose the best hanging file folder for you.
Factors at Your Fingertips: What to Consider When Buying a Hanging File Folder
To get your hands on the best hanging file folders for your needs, pay attention to the following characteristics.
Fitting matters the most
When you pick hanging file folders, make sure that they are large enough to fit your most demanding file requirements. It would be best to also make sure that the folders will fit the drawers in your desk and cabinets.
How Many Dividers Do You Need?
There are two different variations of hanging files: the shared hanging file folder, which comes with one to seven dividers, and the legal hanging file, which has one to eleven partitions. The number of walls you need depends on your organizational methods. If you are working for a large company that deals with many customers and information, you should probably consider legal file folders. On the other hand, you can use standard file folders if you have a small business and do not deal with confidential information.
Pay attention to the material
The material used is important to consider when buying file folders. File folders made of plastic are cheaper, but they tend to stretch over time, and if they contract, will be difficult to use for filing. File folders made of a sturdier material will last longer and make filing easier since they won't stretch.
Acid-free
Another essential factor to pay heed to when buying your file folders is ensuring that the folders are acid-free. This is a big deal, as the acid in these can eat away at your paper, causing the folder to become yellow and brittle over time. Most file folders are not acid-free. The best choice would be to buy folders made explicitly for long-term storage.
What Are the Main Categories of Hanging File Folders?
Standard hanging file folders
There are conventional hanging file folders. These are typically made of paper stock and come with a tab on the side for labeling. They are often used for storage in offices, filing cabinets, and desks. The files are kept inside the hanging folder. The suspension bar slides the folder into a folder pocket in a typical filing cabinet.
Non-tab hanging file folders
"Non-tab" folders have one-half-inch tabs and are used for filing documents that do not need to be frequently removed. The files are color-coded to match a letter-size file folder label.
Tab hanging file folders
"Tab" folders have three/four-inch tabs and are used for filing documents that must be frequently removed. These folders are used in conjunction with a hanging file folder support placed directly in the legal-size file drawer.
How to Maintain a Hanging File Folder
A hanging file folder is a file folder that is stored in the same position, unlike regular file folders, which are folded in half when the file is not in use. There are many ways to take care of a hanging file folder to keep it in its best condition.
- You should always store your hanging file folder in a file cabinet. Putting your documents in a humid environment could damage them, so make sure this isn’t the case.
- You can purchase a hanging file folder organizer kit to organize your folders. The kit usually comes with a plastic folder, an accordion file, a few hanging file dividers, and a label maker.
- Cleaning your hanging file folder every once in a while will get rid of collected dust and help maintain your folder and documents.
- Don't stuff your file folder beyond its capacity, as this could damage the file.
What Materials Are Typically Used in the Composition of Hanging File Folders?
A huge variety of materials are used in the composition of hanging file folders.
Cardboard
The most common material found in hanging file folders is cardboard. The cardboard used in many hanging file folders is 100% recycled material. These files can be used for office or home purposes. Every year, various organizations use millions of these folders across the world.
Cardstock and paper
Cardstock and paper are also used to compose these folders. These two materials are mixed to get one solid material. The card stock is made from extruded fibers and then cut into sheets. These sheets are then aligned and placed together to make larger sheets. These sheets are almost like paper, but the threads are more robust than paper and are colored in between the fibers.
Additional materials
Other materials used in making hanging file folders are manila paper, PVC, and even leather. Plastic is also commonly used in the manufacturing of the file folder. These hanging file folders are usually lighter than manila folders and are popular because of their durability. Manila hanging file folders are often made with recycled paper and can be eco-friendly.
