Why Are File Cabinets So Expensive? I Compared Nine Cabinets

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File cabinets, one of the best items for storage, for both home and work offices alike. Heck, it’s one of the reasons why I was so keen to invest in one. I mean what better way is there to store my important documents and keep them safe? That being said one of the things I was shocked by was exactly how expensive file cabinets are, it actually caused me to reassess getting one. So why exactly are file cabinets so expensive? 

File cabinets are so expensive mainly because of the material they are made from. Unlike other storage items such as cheap drawers made of MDF or plywood, file cabinets are typically made of steel or iron to help keep the contents safe from fire and water damage, ensuring they last for decades. 

A good price range to pay for file cabinets is between $62 to $2500 depending on the number of drawers you require. 

So why are file cabinets so expensive? And are there any tips you can follow to ensure you get a file cabinet for cheaper? Keep reading to find out more!

If you’re interested in my recommendation for an inexpensive file cabinet that will do the job and is a lot easier to move than other cabinets then check out the HON 4 Drawer file cabinet (link takes you to Amazon). It has loads of storage space and doesn’t take an army of people to move!

(Just a heads up a lot of people reading my blog are in the process of designing their own home office. If you want to save some of the painstaking time I did in designing my office, you can find my recommended products here)

Why are file cabinets so expensive? 

Whilst working from home has many benefits, such as being able to choose your own hours or improving your work-life balance, sooner or later working from home will start to take its toll and you will need additional space to store your items – even for companies that pride themselves on being paperless. 

One of the best items then I found that everyone should invest in is a good old trusty file cabinet. 

That being said, a lot of people (myself included) are worried about the price with file cabinets typically being on the more expensive side of storage items. 

So why exactly are file cabinets so expensive? 

Well luckily for you. I have accessed 9 of the best selling file cabinets on the marketplace and come up with the following conclusions: 

• File cabinets are expensive mainly because of the materials they are made from 

• Unlike other items like shelving units or drawers which are typically made of cheaper plastics, woods, and metals (like aluminum), file cabinets are made from hardened metal such as iron and steel 

• This is because file cabinets are designed to keep your file safe for years on end – It’s one of the reasons why government offices use them to store items from decades in the past. 

• In order to preserve documents and other items in these file cabinets, the materials have to be both fire-resistant in case of fire and water-resistant in case of flooding. This adds to a cost meaning that the materials have to be of the utmost quality 

• File cabinets are also expensive because of the size requirements, with cabinets that can store more items typically costing a lot more – it’s one of the reasons why file cabinets with more drawers cost more 

• Finally, a lot of file cabinets come with lifetime guarantees so as to best avoid paying this, brands like Pierre Henry and Bisley will rather opt for higher quality materials once so as to avoid many replacement cabinets being sent out to customers. 

 

So what are the exact price ranges for file cabinets, to help explain more I’ve put a table together below comparing 2 door, 3 door and four-door traditional file cabinets:

Number of drawers	Brand	Size	Range	Price Dollars	Price Sterling
2	Pierre Henry	400x400x600mm	Low cost	$62.75	£44.39
2	Bisley	470x622x711mm	Medium cost	$157.74	£111.59
2	Bisley	470x622x711mm	High cost	$346.05	£244.80
3	Pierre Henry	400x400x660mm	Low cost	$101.77	£71.99
3	Bisley	470x620x1010mm	Medium cost	$300.25	£212.40
3	Dams Filing	480x650x1040mm	High cost	$439.35	£310.80
4	Bisley	470x622x1321mm	Low cost	$184.90	£130.80
4	Bisley	420x620x1310mm	Medium cost	$351.14	£248.40
4	Pheonix	530x805x1405mm	High cost	$2542.78	£1798.80

What is the average cost of a file cabinet?

The average cost of a file cabinet regardless of size or number of drawers is $498.52. File cabinets however can range from $63 for a cheap entry-level two-door file cabinet to over $2000 for a premium quality 4 door file cabinet

The range in price may vary quite significantly because of other factors such as material or number of drawers which we can explore further below

Does the number of draws your file cabinet have to make it more expensive? 

Using the data above we can make a few assumptions around the price your file cabinet will cost. 

If your file cabinet has more drawers it will cost more. 2 door file cabinets cost a lot less than 4 door file cabinets. This is because of the excess materials required for larger file cabinets. 2 door file cabinets will cost around $63 for an entry-level drawer compared to $184 for an entry-level 4 door file cabinet. 

How expensive are two-door file cabinets?

The average cost of a two-door file cabinet is $189. Entry-level two-door file cabinets will cost $63. Premium-priced two-door file cabinets will cost $346.05. Two-door file cabinets are cheaper than their three and four-door counterparts. 

To help explain more I’ve put together a table below: 

Number of drawers	Brand	Size	Range	Price Dollars	Price Sterling
2	Pierre Henry	400x400x600mm	Low cost	$62.75	£44.39
2	Bisley	470x622x711mm	Medium cost	$157.74	£111.59
2	Bisley	470x622x711mm	High cost	$346.05	£244.80

How expensive are three-door file cabinets?

The average cost of a three-door file cabinet is $280.45. Entry-level three-door file cabinets will cost $101.77. Premium-priced three-door file cabinets will cost $439.35. Three-door file cabinets are cheaper than their four-door counterparts. 

To help explain more I’ve put together a table below: 

Number of drawers	Brand	Size	Range	Price Dollars	Price Sterling
3	Pierre Henry	400x400x660mm	Low cost	$101.77	£71.99
3	Bisley	470x620x1010mm	Medium cost	$300.25	£212.40
3	Dams Filing	480x650x1040mm	High cost	$439.35	£310.80

How expensive are four-door file cabinets?

The average cost of a four-door file cabinet is $1026, although this price is skewed by premium branded file cabinets. A more realistic cost would be around $400 for a four-door file cabinet.  Entry-level four-door file cabinets will cost $184.90. 

To help explain more I’ve put together a table below: 

Number of drawers	Brand	Size	Range	Price Dollars	Price Sterling
4	Bisley	470x622x1321mm	Low cost	$184.90	£130.80
4	Bisley	420x620x1310mm	Medium cost	$351.14	£248.40
4	Pheonix	530x805x1405mm	High cost	$2542.78	£1798.80

Does the weight of file cabinets affect the price? 

So what about weight? If you have a heavier file cabinet will it cost more? Luckily I’ve answered this question in further detail on my blog post all about this but to summarize: 

File cabinets that weigh more are typically made out of more premium quality materials like iron and steel and are able to hold more items. This means that they will cost more due to the increased demands placed upon the materials.  

If your file cabinets hold more items will they cost more? 

If your file cabinet has greater weight capacity limits than other file cabinets then it will cost more. This is one of the reasons why file cabinets with four drawers cost more than those with two. Additional material requirements from premium metals such as steel or iron are the main cause as to why.

This again is another question I’ve answered on my blog post around file cabinet weight capacity (which you can find by clicking the link) 

“Spending over $2000 on a file cabinet does not yield any better results then if you where to spend less than $2000”

How much is too much to pay for a file cabinet?

So hopefully after reading this post, you have an idea on the justification for why file cabinets are so expensive, but what exactly is the upper limit that you should pay for a file cabinet – here are my recommendations: 

$2000 is the uppermost limit you should pay for a file cabinet. This should only be spent when investing in a premium caliber file cabinet that is heat and water-resistant. Most file cabinets that cost $400 should fill the needs of most people. 

Spending any more than $2000 is more of an expense with very little upside. 

What is a good price to pay for a file cabinet?

I know what you are thinking $2000 sounds like a lot of money, so what would be a great price to pay for a file cabinet if you were on a budget?

A good price to pay for a four-door file cabinet would be $350 A good price to pay for a three-door file cabinet would be $300. A good price to pay for a two-door file cabinet would be $150. The cheapest you will get a two-door file cabinet for is $63

Just be warned, however, if you do opt for a cheaper file cabinet, you may find that it may not be fire or water-resistant or come with much of a guarantee. 

To further help explain more I’ve put together a table below: 

Number of drawers	Least you should pay	Most you should pay
2	$100	$350
3	$100	$450
4	$150	$2000

Where to get file cabinets cheaply?

So whilst file cabinets are an expensive item that you likely need to invest in I appreciate that some of you reading this just don’t have the funds to move forward with this. 

Luckily there are a few options to get cheaper office furniture for your place of work or home office. 

Garage sales or car boot sales are a great option to find file cabinets that are cheaper than what they retail for. Checking websites such as Freecycle or local scrap iron yards can also be a fantastic way of picking up file cabinets for significantly less than what they retail for. 

A friend of mine only a few years back got luck and ended up getting a four-drawer file cabinet for only $70

Finally, a lot of people reading my blog want to know what products I recommend for a home office/remote working. You can find out my recommendations here and learn how I make money whilst working remotely on the side here.