Top-Tab Folders
Folders & Filing · 7 specs
Direct Answer
Top-Tab File Folders (standardized in US Letter and US Legal sizes) are heavy manila or pressboard document jackets featuring elevated indexing tabs cut in standardized fractions of the folder width: 1/3-Cut (three staggered positions: Left, Center, Right), 1/5-Cut (five positions), 1/2-Cut, and Straight-Cut (full width).
Source: Federal Specification MMM-F-580 / Commercial Filing Standards · Last reviewed Aug 28, 2026
Specs
| US Letter Folder Size | 9.50 in height (including tab) × 11.625 in width (241 × 295 mm) |
| US Legal Folder Size | 9.50 in height (including tab) × 14.625 in width (241 × 371 mm) |
| Tab Extension Height | 0.50 in (12.7 mm) proud of the main front folder flap |
| 1/3-Cut Tab Width | Approx. 3.67 in (93 mm) — provides 3 staggered tab positions (Left, Center, Right) |
| 1/5-Cut Tab Width | Approx. 2.20 in (56 mm) — provides 5 staggered tab positions across the top edge |
| 1/2-Cut Tab Width | Approx. 5.50 in (140 mm) — provides 2 broad tab positions (Left, Right) |
| Standard Point Caliper | 11 pt Manila (standard utility), 14 pt Manila (heavy-duty), 25 pt Pressboard (archival) |
The 1/3-Cut Stagger Advantage
In traditional filing drawer cabinets, folders with 1/3-cut tabs in assorted positions allow the human eye to scan diagonally across the drawer, seeing three consecutive labels simultaneously without tabs occluding one another.