4 Drawer Filing Cabinets

Four drawer filing cabinets are the most common and popular size of filing cabinets. Typically standing a little less than five feet and having four separate compartments to store any document you need, they simplify organization and keep important items safe and organized for you either at home or in the office.

Basyx 4 Drawer File Cabinet	HON Wood 4 Drawer Cabinet	Hon Four Drawer File Cabinet

A four drawer file cabinet can come either vertical or lateral, standard letter or legal. A vertical file cabinet is the most common, and is taller and narrower of the two. It usually is about fifty-two inches tall and fifteen inches wide. The depth can vary depending on what make you choose, but it usually ranges between twenty-five to twenty-six-and-a-half inches deep.  Depth for a legal file cabinet is a bit more, up to twenty-eight inches.

A lateral 4 drawer filing cabinet averages about the same height as a vertical four drawer cabinet. However, they are at least twice as wide. They can vary between thirty to forty-two inches wide. Their depth is about nineteen to twenty inches.

The vertical filing cabinet is good for areas where you do not have much floor space. Since they are narrow, they do not take up much room, as all of it is up, rather than out. However, because of their height, four drawer file cabinets are not ideal for setting items on top of them.

The lateral four drawer filing cabinets obviously take up more floor space than a vertical cabinet does. Their width, though, enables files to be stored side to side. Some people prefer this as it makes it easier to both store and locate files. More files can be stored in one drawer than in a vertical cabinet. Consequently, the user is able to view more files at a time, rather than having to pull out multiple drawers.

Various materials and colors are available for 4 drawer filing cabinets. They can be made out of sturdy metal, plastic, wood, or even wicker. Metal is the most common material a filing cabinet is made out of for office use. Plastic works, but it tends to be flimsy and not good for constant use. Wood is the most becoming material for filing cabinets, but they also tend to be the most expensive. Wicker file cabinets are hard to find. A wide range of colors can be found for four drawer file cabinets, but the most common are black, white, and light grey. Wood colors depend on what type of wood it is made out of, such as mahogany, maple or cherry. There are light and dark variations in these woods, as well.

Four drawer file cabinets should be built with a counterweight, to help prevent it tipping over. Regardless of how well made a cabinet is, it is wise to keep the most weight on the bottom. It is also a good practice to only open one drawer a once to ensure the 4 drawer filing cabinet does not fall forward, causing injury to yourself or dumping your papers everywhere.

You can find more information on these types of file cabinets here: 4 Drawer Filing Cabinets.