Although paperless files are convenient, you can’t store everything on your computer and laptop. Some should be in the form of paperwork files to make work easier. In this case, you need a place to store your important documents safely and organize them properly.
In the company, your working area has available some models to use. However, if you work from home, you need to buy one for yourself.
Here are the best file cabinets for home office you can buy in 2024:
- Lightweight (2-Drawer File Cabinet): Lorell
- Durable (2-Drawer File Cabinet): CUBESPACE
- Stylish (2-Drawer File Cabinet): Bush
- Sturdy (3-Drawer File Cabinet): YITAHOME
- Easy To Assemble (3-Drawer File Cabinet): TOPSKY
- Best For Abundant Storage (3-Drawer File Cabinet): DEVAISE
| 6 Best File Cabinets For Home Office | ||
|---|---|---|
Lightweight | Lorell
| |
Durable | CUBESPACE
| |
Stylish | Bush
| |
Sturdy | YITAHOME
| |
Easy To Assemble | TOPSKY
| |
Best For Abundant Storage | DEVAISE
| |
Lightweight: Lorell
- Nice look
- Easy to put together
- A little sharp edges
If you usually share your paperwork files and documents with your wife or husband at home or you have 2 home offices, you need a portable and lightweight file cabinet.
According to the experience of many users, the Lorell 2-drawer file cabinet is so lightweight that they can quickly move around their house. Of course, this is partly thanks to the smooth movements of 4 wheels.
When looking at the product picture, this model seems heavy. In fact, it weighs only 23 pounds.
| Lorell Specifications | |
|---|---|
Weight | 23 Pounds |
Dimension | 18 inches x 14.3 inches x 24.5 inches |
Material | Alloy Steel |
Highlight Features | Plastic 100% Suits letter-size hanging files Stylish embossed drawer fronts Casters Three-quarter drawer extension |
The Lorell 2-Drawer File Cabinet is lightweight. It has 4 wheels so that you can move this unit around easily and quickly.
Durable: CUBESPACE
- It comes with a fully assembled
- Sturdy
- Convenient paper slot on top
- When unlocking, it is easy for the drawers themselves to open suddenly
Investing in a durable file cabinet not only allows you to use it for a long time but also protects your files better. Thus, you should buy the CUBESPACE 2-Drawer file cabinet. It is constructed from metal, especially an anti-tipping central caster that can keep your model from unwanted accidents and maximize durability.
| CUBESPACE Specifications | |
|---|---|
Weight | 34 Pounds |
Dimension | 14.76 inches x 19.69 inches x 21.46 inches |
Material | Iron |
Highlight Features | 2 sizes of drawers One lock for 2 drawers Metal construction 2 casters with brake function An anti-tipping central caster Built-in sliding rail |
CUBESPACE 2-Drawer File Cabinet is a worthy and long-term investment thanks to a high level of durability.
Stylish: Bush
- Sturdy
- Pretty straightforward direction
- Not easy to put together
If you are interested in form over function, here is it. Although the Bush 2-drawer file cabinet doesn’t have a locking mechanism for protecting important files and documents with high levels of security, it has a stylish look. This engineered wood file cabinet with a black finish will add a piece of beauty to classic and modern home offices.
| Bush Specifications | |
|---|---|
Weight | 82 pounds |
Dimension | 32W x 20D x 30H |
Material | Engineered Wood |
Weight Limit | 200 lbs |
Highlight Features | Elegant metal drop pull hardware Full-extension ball-bearing slides |
Adding the Bush 2-Drawer File Cabinet into your home office can make it more beautiful and more stylish.
Sturdy: YITAHOME
- Nice look
- Sturdy
- A bit heavy
Though there are 3 drawers, you can’t open all of them at the same time. This seems to be a big disadvantage, but this function is a safety mechanism that keeps your model from tipping.
This product is made from a robust and heavy-duty steel material that lasts for a long time. You can put a heavy device on the top like a printer; it doesn’t cause any dents.
| YITAHOME Specifications | |
|---|---|
Weight | 48 pounds |
Dimension | 15.7 x 20.1 x 25.3 inch |
Material | Alloy Steel |
Highlight Features | Foolproof Locking Mechanism 2 casters with brake & lock 2 360° swivel casters The top drawer with a removable pencil tray Built-in sliding rail |
YITAHOME 3-Drawer File Cabinet is sturdy enough to stay in place without tipping suddenly.
Easy To Assemble: TOPSKY
- Smooth casters
- Sturdy and well-made
- Nice look
- Easy to roll around on
- Weak folder holder
The TOPSKY 3-drawer file cabinet is easy to assemble because it comes fully assembled, except for casters. So, you just have to mount 4 wheels into the cabinet body.
Unlike traditional models, you don’t have to use screws to dig holes and mount 4 casters into the wood surface. This file cabinet doesn’t require you to use screws because it has a bolt for each caster. It is packed with a wrench that helps you tighten up the bolts.
The assembly just takes you about 5 minutes only. Moreover, everything from casters (wheels), tools, and instructions are available, so you don’t have to buy extra things.
If you tend to set up the cabinet in place without moving around, you can skip the wheel assembly and use your cabinet immediately after unboxing.
| TOPSKY Specifications | |
|---|---|
Weight | 51.8 Pounds |
Dimension | 19.7 x 16.3 x 24.4 inches |
Material | Melamine and P2 Class Particle Board, Nylon |
Highlight Features | Front 2 casters can be locked Center caster prevents tipping Single lock system with one key and one spare key |
After unboxing, you can use TOPSKY 3-Drawer File Cabinet immediately if you don’t use wheels.
Best For Abundant Storage: DEVAISE
- Well-built and sturdy
- Easy to assemble
- Compact size
- A bit heavy
If you have a big space for working and a large number of paperwork files and documents that are in need of storing, you had better invest in a DEVAISE 3-drawer file cabinet with a significant load capacity.
Its bottom file drawer comes with hanging bars. You can use or remove these bars to store different-sized files, such as A4, letter-size, or legal-size hanging file folders. Meanwhile, 2 drawers on the top are used to hold your office supplies.
Although this model allows you to store a lot of contents, you can easily and quickly look for your specific files without messing up your cabinet, thanks to the high-quality full-extension slide.
| DEVAISE Specifications | |
|---|---|
Weight | 40.35 Pounds |
Dimension | 14.6 x 17.1 x 23.6 inches |
Material | Alloy Steel |
Weight Limit | 330 lbs |
Highlight Features | Interlock system The bottom file drawer with removable hanging bars 2 front casters for the braking function 1 center caster to prevent tipping |
DEVAISE 3-Drawer File Cabinet seems compact and small, but it can provide you with a lot of storage space.
How To Choose The Best File Cabinet For Home Office?
How Much Stuff Do You Need To Store In Your File Cabinet?
If some of your statements are delivered electronically, you can cut a large amount of paper that is put in your cabinet. In this case, it’s okay to use a small 2-drawer file cabinet.
Take a look around your home office. If everything is floating, you should invest in one even more 3-drawer file cabinets.
Bear in mind that your paper files tend to increase over time. If your budget isn’t an issue and your home office is large enough, you had better consider a big model.
Which File Size Do You Need To Store?
Your file size identifies which size of the cabinet you need. There are 2 sizes: legal size cabinets and letter size file cabinets.
For small items only, letter size (8.5’’ x 11’’) is enough for you to use.
For small and large items, don’t save money on legal size (8.5’’ x 14’’).
The latter is wider than the former to hold and store a lot of legal documents, big binders & boxes, and large photos.
Do You Want To Use Vertical Or Horizontal Space?
This depends on your home office size and design. For horizontal space, you can make use of the top of the file cabinet as a printer stand or extra workspace. In case you take advantage of vertical space, you have more floor space.
Which Material Is The Best?
Steel
Among all materials, steel is the most durable one because it’s impact and scratch-resistant. Even when you put your file cabinet in a demanding work environment, this material won’t cause warping, sagging, and wearing down quickly.
Moreover, the steel file cabinets have more features than plastic and wood materials, such as full-drawer suspension capacities, counterweights, and lock systems.
This material is functional instead of beautiful, so this isn’t an ideal choice to decorate your home office.
Aluminum
Aluminum has the same advantages as steel material. Although it is not as durable as steel, aluminum is more lightweight, malleable, and cheaper.
Plastic
Plastic is affordable, suiting people with a tight budget. It isn’t durable, lacking security, so you have to replace your plastic file cabinet regularly.
Wood
This solution is more attractive than metal materials, so a wooden file cabinet can function as a place for storing your paper files and is added to beautify your home office. Though wood is as durable and sturdy as metal, it is susceptible to scratches.
What Types Of Paper Files Will You Store?
Medical files with a high level of security like patient privacy require you to store them in high-quality wooden or metal file cabinets that feature a locking mechanism.
If your paper files and documents are not too vital, which allows anyone to read, you can pick up a cheaper model made from plastic. This type of file cabinet doesn’t have locking mechanisms.
For rarer documents, you need maximum protection and security. Steel material can keep your cabinet from impact and water damage, and other potential hazards.
Which Type Of Clock Is The Best For Security?
There are 2 common types of locks: cam and sliding teeth locks. Both of them require a key to open:
Cam lock secures the file cabinet door in place and relies on a metal bar. When turning the key, this bar will also rotate. It is straightforward to use and replace when essential.
Sliding teeth lock relies on a mechanism clocked in the model, which works well for glass sliding doors. When unlocking the door, a sliding section controlled with a key will separate from the primary lock.
More sophisticated locks like electronic locks require a key code.
Do You Need To Move Your File Cabinet?
When working in your office, you might want to share your files with your coworkers. In this case, a mobile cabinet is essential because its wheels allow you to move around. However, this function isn’t necessary for those who work at home offices. When buying a file cabinet to use at home, you want to fit it in a place.
Although all of my recommendations have wheels, you can skip them to fix your model in place.
Which Brands Make The Best File Cabinet For Home Office?
Lorell
Lorell specializes in high-quality commercial furniture and related products. Their headquarter is in Atlanta, GA, and 50% of products are produced in the USA.
Apart from good product quality, they also provide their customers with custom capacities with fabric and finishes.
FAQs
What is the cost of a file cabinet?
The costs of file cabinets depend on the material quality, the number of drawers, the type of locking system, and the cabinet’s dimensions. Below are the average costs of file cabinets:
- Two-drawer vertical file cabinets: $20-$150
- Five-drawer vertical file cabinets: $250-$1000
- Two-drawer lateral file cabinets: $150-$600
- Five-drawer lateral file cabinets: $250-$1500
- Fire and water resistant two-drawer file cabinets: $1000-$1500
- Fire and water resistant five-drawer file cabinets: $1500-$4000
Do lateral file cabinets hold more?
Yes. Compared to vertical file cabinets, the lateral file cabinets can hold more paperwork. This is a wonderful solution for home offices that lack vertical space.
What can I use instead of a filing cabinet?
Dressers
This alternative is helpful, but it can’t store much paperwork.
Storage Trunks
Some storage trunks have a stunning design so that you can use them as decorative items. It’s hard for you to organize and look for a specific document among a wide range of files in these treasure chests.
Shelving
This alternative holds a ton of files. This solution allows you to organize all of your files neatly.
If you want to add something beautiful to your office home, you can choose wooden shelving. You need a step ladder to reach files in high shelvings.
Desk Drawers
If your desk has drawers, it has no reason not to take advantage of them for storing your files. Even if you buy a big desk with a substantial room inside, there are not many drawers. So, this solution is only for people who have a small number of files.
These file cabinets are close to you, so you can easily access your files while working. Most desks with drawers are pretty expensive.
Plastic Storage Containers
These items are suitable for people with tight budgets because they are cost-effective. Of course, this option isn’t durable and beautiful.
How can I make my filing cabinet look nice?
Many great decorating ideas can make your filing cabinet look nice as follows:
- Applying a coat of chalkboard paint can turn your file cabinet into a chalkboard of creativity. After drying, you can draw and write anything on this surface, such as drawing a picture, writing your notes, or to-do list.
- Do you love Doraemon, Kitty characters, or flower patterns? Actually, it’s easy to be bored of these details over time. You should use wallpaper over engraved or painted marks on the surface. This allows you to change new wallpaper or remove it anytime.
- If you are looking for a cheaper solution for wallpaper, you can consider contact paper that will brighten your file cabinet up with a variety of shapes, colors, and designs.
- You can also pick up your favorite stickers or duct tape, which match your home office theme and decor.
- Spraying a fresh coat of paint makes your file cabinet more colorful.
- Some durable and reusable magnets can make your file cabinet unique.
- Although it takes time to use stencils, these items can personalize your cabinet.
- Putting pallet wood pieces together creates a rustic file cabinet.
- Wrapping the file cabinet door with snazzy wrapping paper can create a unique accent in your home office.
- Mount the picture wooden frames into the front doors if your file cabinets are boring.
- Sticking your whole file cabinet with newspaper is a pretty classic style.
- If you have a metal file cabinet, covering it with your favorite fabric can soften the model.
How can I hide my filing cabinet?
Applying your filing cabinet with a coat of paint that matches your wall color can hide it away. Similarly, you can use wallpaper or fabric that is similar to your wall.
Conclusion
The best file cabinet for home office must provide enough storage space to hold all your paper files and fit your working space. Don’t purchase a too-large file cabinet compared to your room. Of course, pick up one that fits your room decor as well.
Eugene WilliamsHi, my name is Eugene, the ultimate home enthusiast! I write buying guides and ideas on how to create a warm and welcoming home. Join me on my journey to make everyday in your house a staycation in the comfort of your own space!
