Box files, ring binders or display books: which do you need?

Filing products go by different names in different countries. In Qatar, a "box file" usually means a lever arch file: a stiff file with a metal lever that clamps hole-punched paper onto two rings. Here's how the main types compare.

Box files (lever arch files)

The lever presses papers flat, and the file stands upright on a shelf with a label on the spine. Box files suit archives, accounts and anything that grows through the year.

• 75mm spine: holds roughly 500 sheets of 80gsm paper. Use it for large archives.
• 45mm spine: holds roughly 300 sheets and takes less shelf space.

Most box files are foolscap size (marked F/S), a little taller than A4, so A4 sheets fit with room to spare. We stock PVC box files in several colours, which makes colour-coding by department or year easy.

Ring binders

Ring binders open like a book, so it's easy to flip through and add pages. They suit manuals, course notes and anything you refer to often.

• 2 or 4 rings: 4 rings hold pages more securely and stop them tearing out, but the paper needs 4 punched holes. 2 rings match a standard 2-hole punch.
• Ring size: the ring diameter sets the capacity. A 25mm ring holds roughly 200 sheets, and a 50mm ring roughly 400.

Closed box files

A rigid box file with a lid holds loose papers, brochures and anything you can't or don't want to punch, and keeps it flat and dust-free.

Display books and clear folders

Display books have fixed clear pockets, so nothing needs punching and every page stays in order. They're ideal for presentations, portfolios, certificates and school worksheets; the A3 display book fits drawings and posters. L-shaped clear folders are handy for carrying a few sheets between desks.

Which file for which job

Browse box files and binders and files and folders.