It's essential to buy the right office furniture, even if you work from home. That's why you should definitely consider a filing cabinet to house important documents, like tax returns, invoices and client information. Luckily, there are plenty to choose from, whether you're after a wooden filing cabinet with 2 drawers, or a lockable cabinet to keep your files secure.
We've put together this buying guide to help you find the right filing cabinet, including advice on materials, features and storage options. Once you've read that, take a look at our ranking of the top 9 best filing cabinets available to buy online in the UK from Argos, Amazon, John Lewis and Ikea!
Quick List - Top Filing Cabinets
A recommendation service that carefully researches each product and consults with experts across many disciplines. We are constantly creating new content to provide the best shopping experience from choosing ‘cosmetics’ to ‘food and drink’, ‘home appliances’ to ‘kids and baby’ products, reaching users all across the United Kingdom.
Table of Contents
There are many different filing cabinets to choose from, so how do you select the best one? We've put together this buying guide with tips on how to select the right features and materials, to help you choose something suitable for your organisational needs.
When choosing a filing cabinet, you'll need to think about how you plan on storing files and documents inside. Many filing cabinets have a bar, running along the inside of the drawers, which you can hook A4 suspension files onto. These offer top-notch organisation, and you'll be able to quickly find what you need.
Filing cabinets with standard drawers are better for storing files for the long haul, providing you won't have to sort through and access them regularly. You'll be able to fit more files inside each drawer, including bulkier folders.
You can also find multi-purpose designs which offer a mix of different storage options. Usually, these cabinets will have two standard drawers, one with a removable stationary tray, and a large bottom drawer for A4 suspension files. These tend to suit small office spaces, as you can organise everything within one compact unit.
Filing cabinets are usually made from metal or engineered wood. When comparing designs, it's essential to pay attention to the material used as each one will have varying properties, making them more or less suited to different needs.
Many filling cabinets are made from metal alloys, such as steel. These filing cabinets will be durable, yet lightweight enough to easily move around the office. These designs will also last longer than wooden ones, as they're less likely to chip or crack. If you're looking to house heavier files, pick a steel cabinet as it's typically stronger than other metal alloys.
If you'd like to customise your filing cabinet to match your home office decor, pick one made from MDF as the smooth surface is the perfect base for adding paint. If you prefer a traditional wood finish, choose a cabinet with an oak veneer. Not only do they look good, but wooden cabinets with a veneer are less likely to warp if placed in an area prone to moisture or damp.
If you're storing sensitive or important files, you're going to want to lock the drawers. Luckily, you won't have to keep track of too many keys as most cabinets will have a master lock to secure all the drawers at once. They also normally come with an extra backup key, so you can still access your files if one gets lost.
You should always choose a cabinet that locks if you're storing personal data regarding your employees or customers to comply with UK privacy laws. Locks can also deter thieves if there's a break-in to your property or workplace, and stop important ideas from falling into the hands of competitors!
Filing cabinets can be large and heavy, making it difficult to transport them if needed. Luckily, some cabinets have castors (a.k.a wheels) on the bottom, making them easier to move around. Castors are essential if you live in a studio flat, as you can store the cabinet when not in use to save space.
On the other hand, if you have a large office space and you have no need to move your cabinet, it's best to pick a design without castors. These cabinets are often sturdier, and they won't move out of place if you accidentally forget to put on the break.
Filling cabinets can easily tip over if you're storing heavy documents, which could cause the unit to break and damage your files. Cabinets on castors are particularly unstable, so you should look for one with an extra wheel, which acts as an anti-tip mechanism to keep it balanced.
Any filing cabinet could fall over if more than one drawer is open at a time, as this affects weight distribution. Thankfully, some filing cabinets have an anti-tilt feature, which only allows one drawer to be open at a given time.
However, you don't have to steer clear of cabinets without these features entirely. They'll still be suitable for storing lighter documents, and you could even tether the cabinet to your wall for extra stability, which will eliminate the problem of tilting.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Dripex Fully Assembled 3-Drawer Mobile File Cabinet | ![]() | Perfect for Storing Heavy Files | |
2 | Vinsetto Fully Assembled 3-Drawer Mobile File Cabinet | ![]() | An All-in-One Office Solution | |
3 | Pierre Henry 3 Drawer Maxi Filing Cabinet | ![]() | A Well-Built Unit With Ergonomic Handles | |
4 | John Lewis & Partners Glide Filing Cabinet | ![]() | Open Top for Storing Small Items | |
5 | John Lewis & Partners Abacus Narrow Filing Cabinet | ![]() | An Oak Veneer That’s Easy to Clean | |
6 | JJS 3 Drawer Rolling Wood File Cabinet | ![]() | Give Your Home Office a Rustic Appeal | |
7 | Bisley Metal Filing Cabinet Two Drawer | ![]() | Available in a Wide Range of Bright Colours | |
8 | VASAGLE Mobile File Cabinet With Lock | ![]() | Extra Wheel for Even Weight Distribution | |
9 | IKEA Helmer Drawer Unit on Wheels | ![]() | Label Drawers to Help Identify Documents |
Without a doubt, this cabinet is the best on our list. It has both anti-tilt and anti-tip features, which will allow you to store heavier files safely. This is especially welcomed as it has all the storage space you need, with a removable stationary tray and a bottom drawer that's perfect for housing suspension files.
The cabinet comes in a range of colours to suit any space, it's lockable, and it has silent runners and castors that make it easier to move around. Best of all, it's fully assembled, so you don't have to do any extra work!
This cabinet is a great all-in-one office solution! You can use the bottom drawer for storing large suspension files and the top for smaller items. The second drawer even has a tray for keeping stationery safe, which you can remove if you need the extra room.
If you (or someone at your property) has a medical condition that affects spatial awareness, you should definitely consider this unit, as the rounded corners will help to prevent injury if someone accidentally bumps into it. Plus, you can store sensitive documents inside, as the cabinet is lockable.
Here's a cabinet that has ergonomic handles with grooves for better grip, making the drawers slightly easier to open. It also comes in a large size, with three spacious drawers that will allow you to store many files if you have lots of paperwork.
This filing cabinet comes highly recommended, as it's built to withstand regular use. Let's not forget to mention how stylish it looks, with a black gloss finish that's sure to match any space!
The John Lewis Glide cabinet has a compartment with an open-top, which can be used for storing books or any number of other small personal items. It's a compact storage solution made to slot perfectly underneath the John Lewis Glide desk - which is worth the extra purchase!
It's another sturdy option as it's made from MDF, which tends to be as strong and stable as solid wood. Plus, it's finished with an oak veneer, giving it an expensive look and the character of more vintage designs.
The Abacus cabinet is a premium choice, with an oak veneer that looks just as good as solid wood! The veneer is easy to clean as it can be wiped down with a damp cloth. Although, you should avoid using abrasive chemicals.
We particularly like the discreet handles that are pleasing to the eye and will allow you to access files quickly, even if it's a bit expensive for a piece of flat-pack furniture.
This filing cabinet has a rustic finish, which gives it a unique old-fashioned look. It's a sturdy choice made from melamine faced MDF, to protect against everyday wear and tear. Furthermore, it's on castors, making it easier to move, with dual breaks to secure the cupboard in place.
Unfortunately, it's difficult to assemble and may take some time and patience to get the drawers to fit correctly. But, it's definitely worth the extra effort as this is a great filing cabinet, with optional bracing pieces to stop the drawers from falling out.
The Bisley filing cabinet comes in a wide selection of colours, including blue, green, orange and pink. The colour range, when paired with the contemporary design, makes it ideal for creative people who want to liven up their office space.
Your files will be protected, as both drawers can be locked using one key. However, the filing cabinet isn't very strong, so you shouldn't overload it. Despite this, it's a great find that's perfect for storing A4 suspension files neatly.
Sometimes castors can cause a cabinet to become unbalanced and tip over if you place heavy files inside. Luckily, this one has an extra wheel in the middle for more even weight distribution. Plus, the front castor has a break to firmly secure the drawers in place.
If you have sensitive documents to store, you might want to consider a different option as the locking mechanism doesn't work well. However, it's ideal for storing general files, and there's an assembly video with step-by-step instructions to help you to put it together.
This unit has many great features! Not only does it have stops to prevent you from pulling the drawers out too far, there are slots on the front of each compartment in which you can insert labels to keep track of which files are stored where. It's also mounted onto castors, which make it easy to move around.
Unfortunately, this filing cabinet isn't very sturdy, so you should avoid putting anything too heavy inside. On a positive note, there's plenty of room to store things, as this set unit has six drawers in total.
When you're working from home, there are a few office essentials you should consider to help improve productivity. A filing cabinet is one of them, but you could also benefit from a new office chair and a high-quality desk. We've got some tips to help you choose, so click the links below to find out more!
We hope you've found our guide useful, and it's helped you to pick out a filing cabinet that suits your needs. Remember to pay attention to special features like locks, castors and anti-tilt, to find a design that works effectively. That way, you can simply look forward to a well-organised office space, once you have a new filing cabinet to store all your paperwork!
Author: Rosa Fairfield
No. 1: Dripex|Fully Assembled 3-Drawer Mobile File Cabinet
No. 2: Vinsetto|Fully Assembled 3-Drawer Mobile File Cabinet
No. 3: Pierre Henry|3 Drawer Maxi Filing Cabinet
No. 4: John Lewis & Partners|Glide Filing Cabinet
No. 5: John Lewis & Partners|Abacus Narrow Filing Cabinet
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
Automotive
Baby Products
Beauty
Books
Business, Industry & Science
Computers & Accessories
DIY, Garden & Tools
Electronics & Photo
Fashion
Grocery
Health & Personal Care
Home & Kitchen
Large Appliances
Musical Instruments & DJ
PC & Video Games
Pet Supplies
Sports & Outdoors
Stationery & Office Products
Toys & Games