File cabinets have become a staple of the office, and without them there’s a chance that your workplace could turn into a cluttered, disorganized mess. If your office looks like it has been hit by a tornado, then a filing cabinet is the first step in creating a harmonized place of work.

In the office, it’s integral to be organized. You don’t want to be caught off guard and unable to find the proper documents that hold the answers to your questions. With file cabinets, you’ll know where to look every single time.

Wait, you mean there’s more than one type of file cabinet? Aren’t they all the same? Not so fast. There are two main types of cabinets, and which one you choose has a lot to do with the setup in your office.

Vertical Filing Cabinet

A vertical file cabinet is a very traditional style of cabinet that has been used in modern offices for years. You’ve undoubtedly seen one: a tall, narrow cabinet with stacked drawers. Files are arranged in order from the front to the back (vertical files hold letter and legal-size documents), so quick browsing isn’t a problem. Vertical filing cabinets usually have two to five drawers, and are generally placed against a wall so that there are no accidental knock-overs or tilts.

Make sure that you have enough room between your vertical file cabinet and the rest of your furniture, as you don’t want to have your drawers trapped shut. Drawers should be able to be pulled out all the way without any resistance or hassle. Metal filing cabinets are usually vertical, but there are also wood file cabinets that stand vertical rather than lateral; they’re just much less common.

Lateral File Cabinet

Lateral file cabinets are a wider, shorter version of the vertical filing cabinet. Although they’re wider, they don’t provide the same amount of depth as a vertical cabinet. Laterals also hold legal and letter-sized documents that are organized from side to side. Lateral file cabinets tend to be a more convenient storage option, as they can be placed next to desks and other pieces of furniture without becoming an annoying obstruction. As great as vertical filing cabinets are, they can’t be placed in the middle of the room without causing a disturbance.

Because of their shorter stature, lateral file cabinets can be more conveniently placed throughout a room. The drawback is that you probably won’t get the same amount of storage space as you would with a vertical filing cabinet.