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Aisle 06 of 12

Filing & organization

Tax forms, school papers, warranties and the lease: a simple system means you'll find them in seconds, not hours.

Three-ring binders

The US standard is the 3-ring binder for 8.5 × 11 inch paper punched with three holes. Binder capacity is listed by ring size: a 1-inch binder is a typical school binder, while 2- and 3-inch binders suit reference manuals and big projects. D-rings hold more and keep pages flatter than round O-rings of the same size. View binders with a clear overlay let you slip in a custom cover.

Folders and hanging files

Manila file folders come in letter and legal sizes, with tab cuts like 1/3 or 1/5 so labels stagger. Hanging file folders hook onto the rails of a file drawer or crate and hold one or more manila folders. Make sure your folders match your drawer: letter-size and legal-size cabinets aren't interchangeable.

Protectors and accordion files

Sheet protectors are clear, pre-punched sleeves for documents you don't want to hole-punch, like certificates and report cards. Accordion files (expanding files) have multiple pockets and a flap or elastic band; they're perfect for receipts, coupons and tax season.

Tax season shoebox? Swap it for an accordion file. And pair binders with a 3-hole punch.