Hasta La Ideas

Desktop file holders work well for quick and easy access to the files a user needs most often—usually active files for bills, work in progress, etc. They also allow a user to work almost anywhere in the home and office, since they can easily be moved to a new location.

The Bigso file box shown above has no lid, which works well for users who need to see their files and want the quickest possible access to them. The handles will make it easy to move the box around. It comes with eight hanging file folders, which is about all this box will hold. That’s a fairly common size, limiting the desktop space required, but it will be a little too small for some users.

The Magis XX File Holder, designed by Jasper Morrison, has the advantage of being stackable. That lets the user store more files in the same desktop footprint, but it does make the files in the lower holder significantly less accessible. Sadly, the holders are often sold in sets of four, so users who don’t want to stack them (and who don’t have a large available expanse of flat surface) are out of luck.

The Lee Flexifile Expandable Collator/Organizer holds standard file folders, not hanging folders. Anticipating users’ varying needs, Lee makes this product with six, 12, 18 or 24 slots. The open design means it can hold varying file folder sizes: U.S. letter and legal files as well as sizes used in other countries. 

The WoodWorx StepUp file is one of many products often called step files or incline files; the angled base makes it easier to see all the files. But users who want to have their desktop files be mobile might prefer a different product; files could easily fall out the sides when this one is moved, unless the user is careful. And users aren’t always careful; they’re in a hurry, they’re distracted, etc.

The StationMate desktop organizer would be easy to move around, since all the files go into compartments with sides. It comes with 25 PocketFiles, so it’s a large-capacity product. That will be perfect for some users and too bulky for others. 

Less & More makes a smaller-capacity inclined file organizer with slots for the files. Putting the files away won’t be quite as easy as with the WoodWorx StepUp file, which may frustrate the impatient or those with physical challenges, but many users will be fine with it. Buyers have commented appreciatively on the sturdiness and the high quality of workmanship.

Some users may prefer to have a lidded product; they may be concerned about privacy or dust, or they may simply be people who prefer a more hidden-away look, aesthetically. Lidded boxes also pretty easy to carry around.

This box from Snap-N-Store can hold U.S. letter-sized or legal-sized folders—a nice bit of flexibility. It stores flat, and is snapped together when needed. However, some buyers have had problems with the snaps coming loose, especially as the boxes got close to full. (Note: Users often overfill any storage container, so the design should take that into consideration.) 

Another concern has been the fit of the lid. As one buyer noted: “If your hanging files have tabs, as mine do, the box top will just sit perched above these tabs. So the top doesn’t really close, it just loosely sits on the files.”

Some users might want to take those active files with them when they leave their homes or offices. Rather than taking the files from wherever they’re stored and putting into a briefcase, messenger bag or backpack, they could simply keep the files in a Jamie Raquel file tote. This is not a lightweight product, but it’s very sturdy.

For users who want or need to protect the privacy of their files, Vaultz has locking file totes, with double combination locks, which they say are HIPAA compliant.

Photo by Jill Richards Photography

OneLessFile from Heckler Design could be used on a sturdy tabletop, if there was enough space, or it could just sit on the floor. It’s 18.25 inches by 12.32 inches, so it might work for users who need something a bit bigger than the normal desktop file. Since it’s made from heavy-duty steel and weighs 12.9 pounds, it will work better for users who aren’t looking for a mobile filing product.