Arch Files Guide: Sizes, Materials and Bulk Ordering

The arch file, also called a lever arch file, is the standard file for documents that have to be kept, found and carried to an audit. If your office holds invoices, HR records, contracts or project papers for years, most of them probably sit in arch files.

What is an arch file?

An arch file is a hard-cover file with a metal lever mechanism inside. Two arched rings hold punched paper; a lever opens and closes them, so sheets can be added or taken out anywhere in the file. A label on the spine shows what is inside when the file stands on a shelf.

Compared with a channel or document file, an arch file holds far more paper, stands upright on a shelf and keeps sheets in order when it is opened again and again.

Why offices rely on them

• Capacity in little shelf space. One upright file replaces a stack of thin folders.
• Pages stay in place. Punched sheets on rings don't slide out the way loose papers do.
• Easy to find. Spine labels let a whole shelf be read at a glance.
• Presentable. A neat run of matching files looks right in a meeting or an audit.

They suit accounts and finance, HR, admin and legal departments, schools keeping student and staff records, and any business that must keep paperwork for inspection.

A4 or FC: choosing the size

• A4 (210 × 297 mm) fits everyday printed documents, invoices and reports.
• FC or foolscap (about 216 × 343 mm) is longer, and is still common in legal, banking and government work. Choose FC if your paperwork includes legal-size sheets or annexures.

Pick one size per department where you can, so files, filing sheets and folders all match.

Materials: what to look for

• Hardboard is stiff and holds weight, which suits files used every day.
• Plastic-coated or PP covers resist moisture and wipe clean, and last longer in daily handling.
• Paper-laminated covers are lighter and more economical, a good fit for records that are filed once and rarely opened.

A practical rule: for files handled daily, a hardboard file with a plastic cover; for seasonal or archive filing, a paper-laminated file.

Branding and labelling

Arch files bought in bulk can carry your identity: a logo on the cover, department codes on the spine label, or a different colour for each branch or department. See custom branding for the printing methods we offer, and ask which ones suit the file you choose.

Ordering arch files in bulk

KINGG supplies Arch File KG-205 / KG-206, packed 50 pcs as standard. Browse all arch files, and for loose filing see filing sheets and the arch clip mechanism we also supply.

When you ask for a quote, tell us the size, the quantity, the colours and any branding. Larger orders can be split by branch or department. Request a quote, and we will confirm availability and pricing for your quantity.

Not sure an arch file is the right choice? Compare it with channel and expanding files in Channel vs Arch vs Expanding Files.