End-Tab Folders vs. Hanging Folders
Comparing 2 standards across 12 specifications. 12 key differences identified.
End-Tab Shelf Filing Folders (designed for open-shelf modular lateral file systems) feature an extended full-cut vertical tab along the right-hand vertical edge rather than the top. Standard in hospital medical record rooms, dental clinics, and insurance claims departments, they utilize color-coded numeric and alphabetic Mylar labels.
Hanging Suspension File Folders (featuring steel hanger rods with coated glide tips) suspend within metal file drawer rails to organize internal manila file folders. Sized in three distinct non-interchangeable rail spans: US Letter (12.25 in / 311 mm rail width), US Legal (15.25 in / 387 mm rail width), and European A4 (330 mm / 13.0 in DIN 821 rail width).
Specification Comparison Table
12 Parameters| Parameter / Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Folder Size (US Letter)
|
9.50 in height × 12.25 in width (including 0.50 in side end-tab) | — |
|
Folder Size (US Legal)
|
9.50 in height × 15.25 in width (including end-tab) | — |
|
End-Tab Width
|
0.50 in (12.7 mm) extending along the entire 9.5-inch vertical side edge | — |
|
Reinforcement
|
Double-ply reinforced end tab to withstand repeated pulling from metal shelves | — |
|
Color-Coded Filing Standard
|
Terminal Digit Filing (TDF) — color bands visually expose misfiled charts instantly | — |
|
Space Savings
|
Increases filing density by up to 50% compared to traditional pull-out drawer cabinets | — |
|
US Letter Rail Span
|
— | 12.25 in (311 mm) center-to-center rail width (rod length: 12.75 in / 324 mm) |
|
US Legal Rail Span
|
— | 15.25 in (387 mm) center-to-center rail width (rod length: 15.75 in / 400 mm) |
|
European A4 Rail Span (DIN 821)
|
— | 330.0 mm (13.0 in) rail width (rod length: 348.0 mm / 13.7 in) |
|
Poly-Laminate Reinforcement
|
— | Heavy-duty plastic film laminated across bottom fold and top hanger rods |
|
Repositionable Index Tabs
|
— | Clear snap-in angled plastic tabs (2.0 in or 3.5 in) with white paper label inserts |
|
Box Bottom Expansion
|
— | V-bottom (standard 0.5 in) or flat square box bottom (1.0 in, 2.0 in, 3.0 in expansion) |