About Lateral Filing Cabinets
Lateral filing cabinets are the perfect solution to organize legal and letter sized paperwork in businesses or home offices. These come in a number of different styles and manufactured with various materials which can be selected based on the look and longevity you want for your cabinets. Lateral filing cabinets also come in a number of different sizes which can include 2 drawer, 3 drawer, 4 drawer and 5 drawers. By utilizing the vertical space in your office you can maximize your storage capabilities and the amount of documents you are able to store in your office.
A typical lateral file cabinet can store both legal and letter sized documents. A new file cabinet will include bars which can be placed within the drawers based on your preference for storing documents. In many cases letter sized documents can be storage front to back on modular rails while legal documents will be stored length wise across the whole length of the cabinet.
A new lateral filing cabinet boats some of the following features:
- Ability to store legal sized files and paperwork
- Ability to store letter sized files and paperwork
- Locks and keys for document security
- Choose your storage capacity between 2-5 drawers
- Manufacturer’s warranty covering defect for 5 years to a lifetime
- Materials including Wood, Laminate, Metal and Steel
- A large range of color or finish choices
Lateral filing cabinets are commonly used in lawyers offices, by accountants, insurance agents, doctors offices and any other business that may require large storage solutions for excess paperwork. These cabinets can be used to store clients files, keep an office organized and improve productivity where paperwork is storage on hard-copy rather than by digital file.
Legal vs Letter Size Paper Filing
Most lateral filing cabinets provide you with rails or bars so you can customize how you file documents in each drawer. Legal or Letter sized paper filing can be done in these drawers by simply changing the configuration of the rails to meet the needs of the size of paper you are using. Standard letter paper measures 8.5 by 11 inches while legal sized documents measures 8.5 by 14 inches long. Legal sized paper is the same width but 3 inches longer.
When setting up a new lateral file cabinet for storing documents you can choose how to setup the rails, usually front to back or from left to right. Some cabinets will only supply you with rails for storing from left to right so if it is important to store documents from front to back make sure to check the features of the cabinets to insure you are getting what you need for document storage.
Lateral Filing Cabinet Dimensions
Most lateral filing cabinets will have different measurements but to some degree are all similar. In most cases depth of the cabinets measure from 18 to 22 inches and common lengths range from 36 to 48 inches long.
Common heights for lateral filing cabinets:
- 2 Drawer Lateral Filing Cabinet - 29 inches
- 3 Drawer Lateral Filing Cabinet - 42 inches
- 4 Drawer Lateral Filing Cabinet - 54 inches
- 5 Drawer Lateral Filing Cabinet - 64 Inches
Storage Shelves in Lateral Filing Cabinets
Some lateral filing cabinets include storage shelves that can be pulled out, normally this is in 5 drawer units where the bottom 4 drawers are standard filing drawers while the top drawer (the drawer above) is actually a shelf which can be used for added storage. In some cases you can find filing cabinets that have all pull out storage shelves. The cabinet itself looks exactly the same as a standard lateral filing cabinets but features all pull out drawers where you can place miscellaneous items from around your office.
Manufacturers of Lateral Filing Cabinets
There are several popular manufacturers of lateral filing cabinets and choosing one with a long-standing warranty can help protect you from what otherwise be a cheap product.
When buying a lateral filing cabinet we recommend any of the following brands which will provide you with long-standing reliability and durability.
- HON
- AllSteel
- Steelcase
- Knoll
- Haworth
- Herman Miller
- FireKing
- Express Office Furniture
- Harmony Collection
Laminate vs Steel Filing Cabinets
In general the cosmetic finish of a laminate filing cabinet will hold up longer than a steel filing cabinet however there are pro’s and cons to each.
- Metal filing cabinets will likely scratch or dent faster and can be prone to rust
- Metal filing cabinets are lighter
- Metal filing cabinets come in colors including black, gray and charcoal
- Laminate filing cabinets are generally able to take more abuse and will resist scratching and other cosmetic defects longer than a metal cabinet
- Laminate filing cabinets come in traditional wood grain finishes including cherry, honey, mahogany, modern walnut, dark walnut, espresso and more
- Laminate filing cabinets are heavier
- Laminate filing cabinets can be paired with new desk or office furniture sets
- With many two drawer laminate file cabinets you might have the option to add a bookcase hutch to the top of the cabinet for additional storage
- Custom cabinet hardware or drawer pulls can be installed onto laminate file cabinets
- Both are lockable if purchased with a set of lock and keys
