Best Flat Files of 2025

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Flat files are essential tools for anyone who needs to organise and store paper documents. These files are designed to hold large quantities of paper in a flat, horizontal position, which makes them ideal for storing drawings, blueprints, and other large-format documents. They come in a variety of sizes and styles, from simple cardboard folders to heavy-duty steel cabinets, and can be used in a wide range of settings, from offices and archives to art studios and drafting rooms. Flat files are an excellent investment for anyone who needs to keep paper documents organised, secure, and easily accessible.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks
Top 10 Flat Files
Hilka 8-Inch Flat File with Soft Grip
The Hilka Flat File is designed with user comfort in mind, featuring a two-component soft grip handle that allows for a secure and comfortable hold during use. It is produced to British standards, ensuring you receive a quality tool that meets rigorous safety and performance criteria. The product comes in blister packaging, making it easy to store and display. With dimensions of 2.9 cm in width, 35.5 cm in height, and 6.5 cm in depth, this flat file is compact yet functional, perfect for a variety of tasks.
Draper Redline 80541 200 mm Flat File
The Draper 80541 Flat File features high carbon steel, ensuring durability and strength for your filing needs. Its hardened and tempered design allows for efficient material removal, making it ideal for both metal and wood projects. The moulded plastic handle provides a comfortable grip, enabling you to work for extended periods without discomfort. This combination of features makes the Draper 80541 Flat File a reliable tool for achieving smooth finishes and precise shapes in your work.
Stanley 0-22-499 Flat File with Handle
The Stanley Flat File is designed with a bi-material handle that provides both comfort and a secure grip, making it easy for you to use for extended periods. Its high carbon steel blade ensures remarkable strength and durability, allowing you to tackle tough tasks with confidence. Additionally, the hang handle feature offers convenient storage, helping you keep your workspace tidy and organised. This tool is perfect for anyone looking to achieve precise results while enjoying a comfortable user experience.
Hi-Spec 17 Piece Metal File Set
The Hi-Spec Metal File Set offers a comprehensive solution for shaping, trimming, and smoothing metal, wood, and plastics. With four full-length files, you can tackle general-purpose filing tasks effectively, while the twelve needle files are perfect for intricate detailing. The high-carbon steel materials ensure durability and resistance to wear, allowing you to work confidently on various projects. Additionally, the included accessories, such as work gloves and sanding paper, provide added convenience for achieving a polished finish.
Rolson 24727 5 Piece Engineers File Set
The Rolson 5 Piece File Set is designed for versatile shaping tasks, particularly with wood. Featuring rubber cushion grips, you can enjoy a comfortable hold while working, ensuring precision in your projects. The set includes flat, round, triangular, square, and half-round files, providing you with a variety of shapes to tackle different jobs. Each file measures 200 mm in length, making them easy to handle and ideal for detailed work. The striking yellow and black colours also make them easy to locate in your toolbox.
Rolson 24705 2 Piece 150mm File Set
The Rolson 24705 File Set includes two 150mm files made from durable T12 Steel, ensuring long-lasting performance for your metalwork projects. The rubber cushion grips provide comfort and control, allowing you to work efficiently without straining your hands. This set features both flat and half-round files, giving you versatility for various tasks. Whether you are smoothing edges or shaping surfaces, this file set is suitable for most metalwork, making it an essential addition to your toolkit.
Faithfull Engineers File 150mm Second Cut
The Faithfull Engineers File offers a tapered blade with a half round profile, making it ideal for various filing tasks. Its double cut design allows for efficient material removal, saving you time when working on projects. The comfortable soft-grip handle ensures ease of use, reducing hand fatigue during extended periods of work. Starting with a coarser file followed by this medium file will help you achieve a finer finish, enhancing the quality of your work.
Draper 44952 Flat File with Handle
The Draper Flat File is designed for efficiency and ease of use. Made from high carbon steel, it ensures durability while providing a reliable tool for your filing needs. The hardened and tempered construction enhances its strength, making it suitable for various materials. With soft grip handles, you can comfortably use the file for extended periods without discomfort. Additionally, it features an incorporating hang hole for easy storage, ensuring your workspace remains tidy and organised.
Faithfull FAIFIHB10 Coarse Engineers File 250mm
The Faithfull Coarse Engineers File is designed with parallel-width blades that taper slightly in thickness, ensuring efficient material removal. With its double cut and safe edge, you can work confidently without worrying about damaging the surrounding area. The comfortable soft-grip handle provides excellent control, allowing you to work for extended periods without discomfort. Ideal for initial material removal, this coarse file prepares your surfaces for finer finishing with a medium cut file, enhancing your overall project quality.
Spear & Jackson SJ2408 Farmers' File for Tools
The Spear & Jackson Farmers' File is expertly designed for sharpening and maintaining a variety of agricultural bladed machinery and hand tools, such as scythes, bill hooks, and machetes. Measuring 200mm (8 inches), it is made from hardened and tempered steel for durability. With first/rough cut teeth on one side and second/finer cut teeth on the other, you can efficiently achieve both coarse and fine sharpening, ensuring your tools are always in top condition for optimal performance.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is flat file example?
Examples of flat files include /etc/passwd and /etc/group on Unix-like operating systems. Another example of a flat file is a name-and-address list with the fields Name, Address, and Phone Number. A list of names, addresses, and phone numbers written by hand on a sheet of paper is a flat-file database.
2. Is a CSV a flat file?
There are two common types of flat files: CSV (comma separated values) and delimited files. Both are file formats that represent relational data in a text file.
3. What is a flat file and how is it used?
A flat file consists of a single table of data. It allows the user to specify data attributes, such as columns and data types table by table, and stores those attributes separate from applications. This type of file is commonly used to import data in data warehousing projects.
4. Is Excel a flat file?
A Flat File Database – A simple table, consisting of categories (or fields) in columnar format and records entered in rows. “Databases” created in spreadsheet applications (like Microsoft Excel) are flat file databases.
During our flat file research, we found 189 flat file products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 41,709 customer reviews through our big data system to write the flat files list. We found that most customers choose flat files with an average price of £7.09.
The flat files are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of flat files, including Hilka, Draper, Stanley, Hi-Spec, Rolson.

Jennifer Fraser is a licensed contractor specializing in sales, maintenance, and kitchen, bathroom, and home appliances, tools, and utilities. She owns a store in Leeds where you can get any home and tool appliance. Jenny has a degree in literature, but she combines her knowledge and experience with her degree to publish DIY articles on solving home appliances issues to keep up the family enterprise.