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Basically, there are two most common types of filing cabinets: vertical and lateral. The vertical file cabinet constitutes of drawers that extend from the shorter side of the cabinet. On the other hand, the lateral file cabinet contains drawers that extend from the longer side of the cabinet.

Letter-size cabinets are typically 15 inches wide and legal size are 18¼ inches wide. The typical office vertical file cabinet is 28½ inches deep and the drawer holds 27 inches of files.

A filing cabinet (or sometimes file cabinet in American English) is a piece of office furniture for storing paper documents in file folders. In the most simple context, it is an enclosure for drawers in which items are stored. The two most common forms of filing cabinets are vertical files and lateral files.

Lateral storage systems arrange folders perpendicular to the front of the drawer. That makes the depth of a lateral storage cabinet around the same length of a standard storage folder. Vertical storage systems arrange the folders on the same plane as the front of the drawer.

(bars towards front) min depth for letter: 14 5/16 for 5/8" thick, min depth for legal 17 1/4 for 5/8" thick.

Filing cabinets not only provide storage for these important papers, they protect them as well.

File cabinets can vary in price from under $100 to over $2,000. Vertical and lateral file cabinets each have their own unique benefits.

Currently pending a burglary rated file cabinet test, the ArmorStor is the most secure file cabinet with locking combination dials or electronic locks available on the market today.

When papers are added from the side of the file and the identification tab is on the side of the file.

Legal vs Letter Size Hanging Folders

Lateral (not vertical) file cabinets hold more. While vertical file cabinets are often chosen because they take up less wall space, it's the lateral file cabinets that store the most paperwork.

8 1/2" x 14"