The right Filing Cabinet makes sure the office stays organized and productive. Before buying either a vertical or a lateral cabinet, it is important to understand how each style meets different storage needs. Generally, the vertical style of cabinets would work better in smaller areas since they save space, while the lateral cabinets have much more horizontal space and, hence, are better for larger volumes of files. It depends on the amount of space you have and precisely how you want to sort your documents.
Vertical Filing Cabinets: Compact and Efficient
Vertical filing cabinets are the more ‘traditional’ type and are upright and narrow. They offer fantastic space-saving opportunities and are ideal for small areas or confined offices. While their drawers have a greater depth and can accommodate a larger volume of documents, they are generally taller and may be necessary to take more vertical space in your office. This makes them a good option for people who need to store documents and files but don’t have much floor space to work with.
Another important advantage of vertical filing cabinets is that they make it easy to access your files. Since the drawers open up and down, you can see and take out papers without having to open several drawers at the same time. But, if the drawers are too full, it might be hard for some people to reach the bottom drawers. Vertical cabinets work best in offices with fewer documents and less space on the floor.
Lateral Filing Cabinets: More Storage, More Flexibility
On the other hand, lateral filing cabinets have wider drawers and are made to store files side by side. This horizontal design means they use more space across the room but are usually shorter in height, which makes them perfect for offices where space can be used well in all directions. Lateral cabinets often give more options for organizing papers, especially when hanging file folders are involved. Their wider drawers make it easier to get to documents without bending down or reaching too high, providing a more comfortable setup.
A lateral filing cabinet could be a good choice if you have many files and need to quickly access various documents. These cabinets are commonly used by accounting or law professionals who need to store lots of paperwork that they often need to look at. The downside is that lateral filing cabinets take up more space from side to side, so you must ensure your office has enough room for their extra width.
Choosing the Right Filing Cabinet for Your Office
When choosing between a vertical or lateral filing cabinet, think about your office space and how much storage you actually need. A vertical filing cabinet might be the right choice if you have a smaller office or want a space-saving option for storing important documents. However, a lateral filing cabinet would be better if your office had more room and you needed to store and organize many files in a way that was easy to reach. Consider how much filing you’ll often do, how much space you can use for storage, and whether you prefer horizontal or vertical access for your files.
