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Even with a digital trail, it can’t hurt to keep social security information, tax paperwork, and other important documents on hand. Whether you work in an office or have miscellaneous files around your home, a tray, box, cabinet, or other organizer can help you keep track of everything. If you don’t know how to begin your search, the This Old House Team is here to help. We researched the best file organizers on Amazon and created this review on our top recommendations.
Best For File Cabinets
Amazon Basics Hanging Organizer File Folders
- $14.3
- $15.99
- 11% off
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Key Features
- Includes 25 folders, tabs, and inserts
- Fits letter-sized paper
- Made of plastic
- Measures 11.75 by 9.25 by .01 inches each
What Customers Are Saying
Although customers had to purchase a file cabinet or box to use with these hanging folders, they liked that they kept their documents organized and secure. However, some users didn’t receive enough tabs or inserts for all of the folders.
Most Secure
DocuSafe Document Bag
- $31.98
- $39.99
- 20% off
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Key Features
- Includes six types of storage compartments and one lock
- Fits letter-sized paper
- Made of silicone-coated fiberglass
- Measures 14.2 by 10.6 by 4 inches
What Customers Are Saying
Happy customers appreciated how travel-friendly this document bag was despite it being fairly spacious. Customers also mentioned its various storage compartments in their positive reviews. Alternatively, some customers thought that the zippers and lock didn’t operate smoothly. There were also complaints about the bag’s chemical smell upon arrival.
Best Expanding Organizer
SKYDUE Expanding File Folder
- $5.36
- $5.96
- 10% off
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Key Features
- Includes five pockets and eight labels
- Fits letter-sized paper
- Made of plastic
- Measures 12.8 by 9.5 by 0.7 inches
What Customers Are Saying
Happy users thought that this expanding file organizer was appropriately designed to fit and organize standard-sized papers. However, some unhappy customers didn’t like that it was made from flimsy plastic.
Best For Desks
Simple Houseware Desk File Tray Organizer
- $22.87
- $29.99
- 24% off
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Key Features
- Includes six trays and one drawer
- Fits letter-sized paper
- Made of mesh alloy steel
- Measures 13 by 9 by 15.5 inches
What Customers Are Saying
While customers had mixed feelings regarding this organizer’s ease of assembly, most users were satisfied with the sturdiness and durability of its alloy steel material. Positive reviews also highlighted its numerous tiers.
Buyer’s Guide
All file organizers are designed to hold various documents in one centralized location. While bathroom organizers keep your bathroom tidy, and tool organizers are useful for workshop or garage storage, file organizers are best suited for your home office. To help you navigate Amazon’s file storage options, we’ve outlined several factors in detail.
Type
There are multiple ways to organize and store your files. Here are brief explanations of some of the most common types:
- Hanging folder: These file folders sit inside of a traditional file box or cabinet. They slide along the internal rail when you need to find a specific document. They’re common in offices because they keep your files close, organized, and secure.
- Expandable folder: Usually made of lightweight plastic or paper, an expandable folder is meant for on-the-go use. Students use this storage solution often because they can label each pocket for the class or day of the week and fit it in their backpack.
- Tray: Trays sit on a desk. They typically feature several tiers for documents. They may also have additional compartments for other office supplies.
- Box: These boxes are a lightweight and economical alternative to a full-size file cabinet. They hold hundreds or thousands of sheets of paper that you don’t need to access regularly and store them out of the way in a closet.
- Over-the-door: Some file organizers hang over a bedroom, closet, or office door. They typically contain multiple pockets to store paperwork and other lightweight supplies.
Size and Storage Capacity
Most file organizers have multiple drawers, folders, tiers, or pockets to categorize paperwork. These compartments should at least accommodate standard letter-size or A4 papers. Some organizers are also wide enough to fit legal-size documents. Depending on the dimensions of your organizer, you can store anywhere from 100 to over 1,000 pieces of paper.
Locking Function
A high-end file organizer may have a locking mechanism. Using a key, password, or code, you can lock it to keep prying eyes away.
Water and Fire Protection
Similar to safes, some file organizers keep your important papers protected from fires and floods. However, it’s unlikely that these organizers will provide protection for long. If you want hours of defense from heat and water, consider a safe instead.
Office Organization and File Security Tips
If you work from home, it’s important to stay organized. Reference these simple pointers to ensure a functional space:
- To avoid a cramped work environment, make sure that your desk, file cabinet, couch, and other furniture are appropriately sized.
- Use clips or ties to secure the power cords from your laptop, monitor, lamp, and other electronics. You don’t want a tripping hazard, especially if a lot of people walk in and out of the space.
- Before recycling paper, use a paper shredder, scissors, or your hands to turn sensitive information into confetti. You don’t want thieves to go through your trash to find your personal information and steal your identity.
- When it comes to digital security, password protection is important. Make sure that all of your passwords are unique, using a random string of letters, numbers, and characters.
- Only print sensitive information when it’s necessary. This not only reduces the amount of information that’s floating around your office, but it also limits the clutter and is better for the environment.
- If you rent a public workspace, lock your work area—or at least your personal files—when you’re done for the day. If locking isn’t an option, bring any valuable items home with you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who needs a file organizer?
Anyone who wants to secure important work or personal information can benefit from a file organizer. File organizers are especially useful for those who work from home or manage family documents.
Do I need a waterproof or fireproof file organizer?
Not necessarily. If you have digital copies of your files, it won’t be the end of the world if they get damaged in a fire or flood. For the select documents that you need a hard copy of, such as social security cards and passports, we recommend a safe because it’s more secure.
In what order should I store my documents?
How you store your files in your file organizer comes down to your personal preference. However, many people store frequently used files near the front or top. Most organizers come with labels, stickers, or tabs to make it easier to remember how you categorized your documents.
What’s the difference between a file organizer and a file cabinet?
A file cabinet contains multiple shelves or drawers to store your documents and other office supplies. A file organizer is a general term that describes any item that holds and organizes papers, including a cabinet, folder, and tray.
Why Trust The This Old House Team
This Old House has empowered homeowners for more than four decades with top-notch home improvement content in the form of television programs, print media, and digital content on its website and social media platforms. The This Old House Team focuses on creating in-depth product and service review content to help inform your purchasing decision for just about any item or resource that you might need for your home. The This Old House Team has written over 1,000 reviews on products in the home space, from cordless drills to kitchen trash cans, lawn mowers, and dining room decorations.
We recommend products in each review using an intensive research process, spending hours combing through the best available models on Amazon. For a product to make our list of top picks, it must hold a solid sales record on Amazon, have consistently positive customer reviews, and offer unique features, among other factors. After narrowing down our list of recommendations, we conduct additional research and sometimes in-person testing to ensure that the products meet our standards. Once we conclude the research phase, we craft a well-rounded, user-friendly article that includes our recommended products and additional information to help homeowners like you make the right purchase.
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