How do I determine how many filing cabinets an office needs?

A standard 2-drawer lateral filing cabinet (30" wide) holds approximately 1,200–1,500 letter-size hanging file folders. Calculate your current file volume, add 30–40% buffer for growth over 3–5 years, and divide by cabinet capacity. Also consider which files need to be locked (sensitive, HR, legal) vs. open access. A practical rule: start with one 4-drawer lateral cabinet per 5–8 employees for most small offices, and assess quarterly. At OfficeFurniture2go.com, we help businesses right-size their filing storage — call 1-800-460-0858 for a filing audit consultation.