Lateral and Vertical Filing Cabinets

Filing cabinets are sometimes described as being either “lateral” or “vertical”. Lateral filing cabinets have their drawers along their widest sides. Vertical filing cabinets have their drawers on their narrowest sides. Generally, documents in a vertical filing cabinet are arranged from front to back. In a lateral filing cabinet, they can be stored from front to back or from side to side.

Fireking 2-3822-CBL Fireproof Filing Cabinet

Fireking Lateral Fireproof Filing Cabinet

To accommodate these arrangements, lateral filing cabinets are much wider than vertical models. They are also generally able to store a larger amount of documents. 2 drawer versions fit well under most cubicle desks. On the other hand, vertical cabinets are deeper from front to back but generally more compact in overall size. This gives you some flexibility when it comes to deciding how best to use the space available in your office or home.

Depending on your own preferences, you might find that one type of filing cabinet is easier for you to search through. Perhaps you find it convenient to flick from front to back through files, or maybe you like to be able to see all the files laid out from left to right in front of you so you can easily reach for the section you need.

Some examples of a vertical filing cabinet include the Chubbsafes Profile NT and the Phoenix Excel. Lateral fireproof filing cabinets include the Fireking MLT and the Sentry L3610 series.

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