File Folder Styles

Making your filing system work for you.

All file folders may have looked the same in the past, but that's certainly not true anymore. Whether their differences are matters of design or function, many different types of file folders are available to fit the unique needs of your company or home office. Tab placement, color coding, file folder cuts, and customized or decorative file folders are just some of the many ways that file folder styles can vary to suit your tastes.

Tabs

A difference in tab style or cut is the most common variance in file folder styles. The straight cut file folder style features one long tab. File folders can also be cut in halves, thirds, and fifths, commonly referred to as 1/2 cut tab, 1/3 cut tab, and 1/5 cut tab. Many offices will employ filing systems that make use of file folders with staggered tabs, with successive file folders having tabs on the left, middle, and right, making it easier to read the file folder labels.

Color

Color file folders can be both stylish and practical. Some companies prefer brightly colored file folder styles to provide a quick and highly visible filing system for fast paced business. In cases where a large volume of information is being stored in filing cabinets, color file folders are easier to spot and easier on the eyes, which speeds up the storing and retrieval of information.

File folder colors include red, blue, black, gray, yellow, green, and neon or pastel colors.

Cuts

The cut can refer to file folder styles that feature different tab placements as well as the size of the folder. File folders are generally divided into letter sized file folders and legal sized file folders. Letter size file folders measure about 8 5/8 inches high in front, 9 5/8 inches high in back, and 11 3/4 inches wide. The front and back of legal size file folders measure the same, but are about 14 3/4 inches in width.

Decorative file folders

Filing documents can get very monotonous. Decorative file folders are a simple way to brighten your day, or add an unexpected aesthetic verve to what would otherwise be a routine task. Decorative file folder styles can be as simple as colored stripes or dots, or may incorporate patterns and images. For a distinctive and classy look, try decorative file folders that feature a map of Paris or checkerboard photos of Parisian architectural icons.

For a portable filing system that's easy on the eyes, consider an accordion file folder design. An accordion file folder with twelve built-in pockets and a beautiful red floral exterior design can make even office chores look fabulous.

Customized

If you still haven't discovered a file folder style that works for you, go with customized file folders. Many companies offer a service that allows you to choose the specific file folder design features you need, such as fasteners, dividers, pockets, indexes, and color coding labels. If you're in a profession that requires strict accounting of file access, you can get customized file folders with signature access logs.

More information on file folders