The Best File Cabinets

The Best File Cabinets

If you have a home office, you know that keeping your space neat and tidy is key to your productivity. It's much easier to stay on top of things when you have a file cabinet that adequately meets all your storage needs. Here are the best filing cabinets available to create the most attractive and efficient at-home filing system to keep you organized and set you up for greatness.

Bush Furniture Key West Drawer

Style and Function in Spades

Practical and stylish, this piece is an enticing blend of coastal and farmhouse design.
Best Overall

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Store all your important documents and files in the Bush Furniture Key West Drawer. It’s got spacious drawers that open on smooth, full-extension ball-bearing slides, giving you easy access to your cabinet’s contents. Aside from being a super-practical storage piece, this file cabinet makes for lovely décor, too. Sturdy and attractive, with coastal-chic and midcentury modern design elements, it’s handcrafted from heavy wood and finished with gleaming, aged bronze hardware to add some personality to your home office.

Pros:

  • Spacious, easy-access drawers
  • A cool mix of coastal and farmhouse styles
  • Finished with aged bronze hardware
  • Choose between two stylish colors
  • Sturdy 50-pound weight capacity for each drawer

Cons:

  • Priced on the higher end, but the balance of form and function make it worth it for us

BirdRock File Cabinet

Compact and Efficient

Designed to fit neatly into nooks and crannies.
Best for Small Spaces

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Made from solid metal and richly-grained wood, the BirdRock File Cabinet offers the perfect solution for organizing your papers and files. This sleek, compact cabinet is ideal for smaller spaces, especially considering how versatile it is. The linen filing box can be removed or used to store books, clothes, and other items. You can even use the cabinet as a nightstand or side table by stacking the storage units on top of one another.

Pros:

  • Sleeker and more compact than most, at 19 x 17 x 5 inches
  • Features a stylish linen bin that holds either letter- or legal-sized files and paperwork
  • Could also double as a side table, nightstand, or mini-bookshelf
  • Includes the option to roll or stack
  • Excellent value

Cons:

  • Hanging file folders don’t move as smoothly on the linen drawer

Lorell File Cabinet

Timeless and Secure

Keep everything tucked away in this simple, sturdy cabinet.
Best Classic

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Perfect for storing all your papers, letters, legal files, and office supplies, the Lorell File Cabinet features two perfect-sized file drawers with smooth-glide suspension and a lock that secures both drawers. Solidly constructed from durable iron with a baked enamel finish, this cabinet has a timeless look that adds some classic professionalism to your home office.

Pros:

  • Durable, timelessly stylish construction
  • Two high-slide file drawers offer smooth-glide suspension and ample storage
  • Drawers lock to secure all your files
  • With an 18-inch depth, this cabinet fits neatly into most spaces

Cons:

  • The lock isn’t super heavy-duty but should meet your day-to-day needs

Devaise File Cabinet

Transport It Anywhere

Orderly storage on wheels.
Best Mobile

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The Devaise File Cabinet is fully portable and very lightweight, with two handy front casters with a braking function that allows you to transport it from room to room or rearrange your office with ease. This file cabinet is equipped with two utility drawers on full-extension drawer slides, plus a free stationery tray, so you have ample, well-organized space for all your must-keep documents. Though this cabinet may be compact, it holds a significant amount of weight, making a versatile storage solution that goes beyond paper files.

Pros:

  • Rolling, portable design
  • Full-extension ball-bearing drawer slides allow access all the way to the back of the drawers
  • Built-in interlock system secures all three drawers
  • Has a stationery tray
  • Bears up to 330 pounds, despite its compact size

Cons:

  • The bottom drawer sticks out a little when unlocked

Scranton & Co File Cabinet

Thoughtful Design and Storage

Roomy drawers and a vertical design make for ample, well-executed storage space.
Best Vertical Design

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If you’d prefer a vertical cabinet, the Scranton & Co File Cabinet offers plenty of space to store all your important documents. Designed to blend in well with any workspace, this file cabinet boasts a heavy-duty steel construction that’s built to last. Each of the four roomy drawers includes full-extension ball-bearing slides for smooth-opening action. Both functional and handsome, this file cabinet arrives fully assembled and ready to keep your files organized and easily accessible.

Pros:

  • Constructed from high-quality, durable steel and metal
  • 30 percent-recycled materials
  • Four drawers
  • The core-removable lock makes it so that all cabinets can be keyed alike
  • Available in two colors so you can choose the right style for your home

Cons:

  • At 64 pounds, it’s slightly heavier than many other models

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the different types of file cabinets?

Typical filing cabinets have two to four drawers containing multiple file folders, which is pretty standard. But when it comes to your file cabinet’s actual size, there’s a little more variation. There are a few different types to be on the lookout for, depending on what your home or office space is like. Vertical file cabinets feature drawers that extend from the short side of the cabinet. Lateral file cabinets have wider drawers that extend from the longest side, making them ideal for smaller spaces. Mobile file cabinets are equipped with wheels and are typically more compact in size. There are plenty of options to choose from, so consider your space’s needs and pick the one that’s best for you.

How do I clean my file cabinet? 

Most file cabinets are made of metal, so when you need to clean your cabinet, the process is simple. First, dust off any debris that’s collected. Next, use soap and warm water to remove grease and grime (this works on most painted cabinets) instead of harsh chemical cleaning agents. The same process applies to many wood-finished or painted cabinets as well, but make sure to check the product specs to keep your cabinet in top-drawer condition.