Best File Guides of 2025

Jordan Akhtar Avatar
Jordan Akhtar
Last Updated: 10 Feb 2025

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File guides are an essential tool for keeping documents and files organised and easily accessible. They come in various sizes and materials, including durable plastic and sturdy cardstock. File guides are typically used to separate and categorise files according to specific criteria, such as alphabetical order, date, or subject matter. They are widely used in offices, libraries, and other settings where large quantities of documents need to be organised and retrieved quickly. With their simple yet effective design, file guides can help streamline your filing system and save you time and effort in the long run.

At a Glance: Our Top Picks

Smead 50176 Recycled Alphabet File Guides Cover #TOP 1
Smead 50176 Recycled Alphabet File Guides
ftb score rating icon 9.9
Pendaflex Monthly File Guides, Polypropylene, 12 Set Cover #TOP 2
Pendaflex Monthly File Guides, Polypropylene, 12 Set
ftb score rating icon 9.8
Pendaflex Top Tab File Guides A-Z Set Cover #TOP 3
Pendaflex Top Tab File Guides A-Z Set
ftb score rating icon 9.6

Top 10 File Guides

#TOP 1

Smead 50176 Recycled Alphabet File Guides

50176
Manila
Letter
Smead 50176 Recycled Alphabet File Guides Cover
Smead 50176 Recycled Top Tab File Guides, Alpha, 1/5 Tab, Manila, Letter (Set of 25)

The Smead File Guides offer an alphabetic indexing system from A to Z, making it easy for you to organise your documents. With a 1/5-cut tab in assorted positions, you can quickly locate files at a glance. These guides are made from 18-point manila stock, ensuring durability while maintaining a professional appearance. Additionally, they feature a choice of plain or coloured Poly tabs, allowing you to customise your filing system to suit your preferences.

What We Like
Alphabetic indexing for easy organisation
Durable 18-point manila stock
Customisable tab colours available
Assorted tab positions for convenience
Environmentally friendly with recycled content

Pendaflex Monthly File Guides, Polypropylene, 12 Set

PFX40144
Multicolor
Pack of 1
Pendaflex Monthly File Guides, Polypropylene, 12 Set Cover
Pendaflex Top Tab File Guides, Monthly, 1/3 Tab, Polypropylene, Letter Size, 12 per Set (40144)

Pendaflex File Guides are designed for effortless monthly organisation. Each set features poly file guides that are preprinted with tab headings, allowing you to quickly identify your files by month. With colourful tabs labelled from January to December, you’ll find it easy to keep your documents sorted and accessible. Made in the United States, these guides ensure a durable and reliable solution for your filing needs, helping you maintain an orderly workspace.

What We Like
Colourful, easy identification
Preprinted tab headings
Durable polypropylene material
Made in the USA
Monthly organisation
#TOP 3

Pendaflex Top Tab File Guides A-Z Set

40142
1 Pack
Pendaflex Top Tab File Guides A-Z Set Cover
Pendaflex 40142 Top Tab File Guides, Alpha/A-Z 1/5 Tab, Polypropylene, Letter (Set of 25)

The Pendaflex File Guides are designed to help you organise your documents efficiently. Made from super durable polypropylene, they are resistant to wear, tear, and moisture, ensuring that your files remain protected. The guides feature 1/5-cut tabs in assorted positions, allowing you to easily locate and access your paperwork. Each tab is labelled from A to Z, making alphabetical sorting simple and effective, which saves you time and effort when searching for specific files.

What We Like
Durable and long-lasting material
Assorted tab positions
Moisture-resistant design
Easy alphabetical organisation
#TOP 4

Smead 100% Recycled Legal File Guides

52376
Legal
Smead 100% Recycled Legal File Guides Cover
Smead 100% Recycled Pressboard File Guides, 1/5-Cut Tab (A-Z), Legal Size, Gray/Green, Set of 25 (52376)

The Smead Recycled File Guides are designed to enhance your filing system. With a 1/5 cut tab that stands 1/2-inch high, you can easily organise your documents in various positions, making retrieval straightforward. The plain tab allows for custom labels, ensuring you can tailor the guides to your needs. Made from durable 25 pt. Gopher green pressboard stock, these guides not only provide strength but also contribute to sustainability by being 100% recycled. Ideal for legal-sized documents, they help keep your workspace tidy and efficient.

What We Like
Durable recycled materials
Customisable tab for easy organisation
Legal size for large documents
Assorted tab positions
Environmentally friendly choice
#TOP 5

Smead 50180 Recycled File Guides, Manila

50180
Manila
Smead 50180 Recycled File Guides, Manila Cover
Smead 50180 Recycled Top Tab File Guides, Alpha, 1/5 Tab, Manila, Letter, (Pack of 12, 300 Count Total)

The Smead Recycled File Guides are designed to simplify your filing system. These alphabetic "signposts" help you break your file drawers into easily identifiable groups, making it quicker to locate what you need. You can reduce your filing time significantly, as you won't have to read through every label to find the correct area. The durable multi-coloured fused poly tabs are not only easy to spot but also add a vibrant touch to your organisation. Made from heavyweight 18 pt. stock, they ensure long-lasting durability for your files.

What We Like
Easy to identify groups
Reduces filing time
Durable tabs
Heavyweight stock for longevity
#TOP 6

Smead Heavyweight File Guides with Blank Tabs

50134
Manila
Letter
Smead Heavyweight File Guides with Blank Tabs Cover
Smead Heavyweight Guides, 1/3 Cut Tab (Blank), Letter Size, Manila, 100 Per Box (50134)

The Smead File Guides are designed to enhance your filing system by creating clear subdivisions. Made from durable materials, these guides feature blank top tabs that allow you to customise your filing according to your needs. They are particularly useful for numeric filing systems, making organisation effortless. With 1/3-cut tabs in assorted positions, you can easily locate and access your files, bringing convenience to your workspace.

What We Like
Durable and versatile design
Customisable blank top tabs
Perfect for numeric filing
Assorted tab positions
Environmentally friendly materials
#TOP 7

Pendaflex PN1025 Recycled File Guides Set

PFXPN1025
Gray
Pendaflex PN1025 Recycled File Guides Set Cover
Pendaflex PN1025 Recycled Top Tab File Guides, Alpha, 1/5 Tab, Pressboard, Legal (Set of 25)

The Pendaflex File Guides are designed for efficient organisation of your documents. With package dimensions of 9.9 x 0.7 x 14.7 inches, they fit comfortably in standard filing systems. Weighing just 2.95 pounds, they are lightweight and easy to handle. Made from recycled materials, these guides are an eco-friendly choice for your office. Their grey colour offers a professional look, making your filing system not only functional but also visually appealing.

What We Like
Eco-friendly recycled materials
Lightweight and easy to manage
Professional grey colour
Standard dimensions for filing systems
Set of 25 for ample use
#TOP 8

Pendaflex 40143 Daily File Guides Set

40143
Pack Of 1
Pendaflex 40143 Daily File Guides Set Cover
Pendaflex 40143 Top Tab File Guides, Daily/1-31, 1/5 Tab, Polypropylene, Letter (Set of 31), Blue;Green;Magenta;Strawberry;Yellow

The Pendaflex Daily File Guides are designed to help you organise your documents efficiently. Made from tear-, wear-, and moisture-resistant polypropylene, these guides ensure durability, making them ideal for daily use. The preprinted top tabs allow for quick and easy identification of files, helping you save time when searching for important documents. Available in assorted bright colours, including blue, green, yellow, magenta, and strawberry, these guides not only enhance organisation but also add a splash of colour to your filing system.

What We Like
Durable polypropylene material
Bright, assorted colours
Preprinted top tabs
Moisture-resistant design
#TOP 9

Pendaflex PN203 Customisable File Guides

PN203
blue
Pendaflex PN203 Customisable File Guides Cover
Pendaflex PN203 Blank Tab File Guides, 25 Pt. Blue Pressboard, 1/3 Cut, Letter Size, 100/Box

The Pendaflex PN203 Guides are ideal for organising your files with ease. Featuring customizable tabs in white, you can write or label them to suit your needs. This allows you to create a filing system that works best for you, enhancing your productivity. The 25 pt. blue pressboard material ensures durability, making these guides a reliable choice for long-term use. With a letter size design, they fit perfectly into standard filing systems, helping you maintain order in your documents.

What We Like
Customisable tabs for easy identification
Durable blue pressboard material
Standard letter size fits all
100 guides per box
#TOP 10

Pendaflex Blank Tab File Guides, Blue

PFXPN205
Blue
Pendaflex Blank Tab File Guides, Blue Cover
Pendaflex PFXPN205 Blank Tab File Guides, 25 pt. Blue Pressboard, 1/5 Cut, Letter, 100/box

The Pendaflex File Guides are designed to enhance your filing system with their customizable blank tabs. You can easily write on or label these tabs, allowing you to organise your documents exactly how you want. This flexibility helps you quickly identify files, saving you valuable time when searching for important information. Made from durable 25 pt. blue pressboard, these guides are sturdy enough to withstand frequent use. With 100 guides in a box, you will have plenty to keep your files in order.

What We Like
Customisable blank tabs
Durable 25 pt. material
Easy identification of files
Large quantity per box
Buying Guide Image

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is a file guide?

File guides are used to break large numbers of records into smaller groups so you can find them faster. Like signposts on a highway, guides stand out from the folders to signal major divisions in the filing system. A glance at the guides helps quickly identify the section where a particular folder is located.

2. What is knife edge file?

Knife files are tapered in width and thickness, but the knife edge has the same thickness from shoulder to point. ... Generally used to file in a slot or wedge shaped opening; curved knife edge allows for easily filing in restricted areas. Double cut on both sides, top edge is safe while knife edge is single cut.

Editor's Notes

During our file guide research, we found 52 file guide products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 7,020 customer reviews through our big data system to write the file guides list. We found that most customers choose file guides with an average price of £32.84.

The file guides are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of file guides, including Smead, Pendaflex.

Written by
Jordan Akhtar Avatar

Jordan Akthar owns one stationery store in Bradford, and another in Derby. He started with a corner bookshop, and now the rest is history. He is often found in his stores taking count of inventories of books and stationery. Jordan also likes to write, and this drove his passion for writing articles on stationery maintenance. He owns a blog, where in his free time, he would write DIY tips on how you can recycle and refine your stationeries.