End-Tab Folders
Folders & Filing · 6 specs
Direct Answer
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.
Source: AHIMA (American Health Information Management Association) / Smead Filing Standards · Last reviewed Aug 28, 2026
Specs
| 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 |
Terminal Digit and Color-Code Scanning
In high-volume hospital record archives with tens of thousands of charts, open-shelf end-tab folders are arranged by Terminal Digit Filing (TDF). Each digit (0–9) corresponds to a standardized color band. When a chart is placed in the wrong section, the broken color line immediately alerts staff to the misfile without opening a single folder.