The 10 Best Portable File Boxes
Special Honors
Grandin Road Faux Lizard Totes Don’t worry, no reptiles are harmed in the making of the Grandin Road Faux Lizard Totes, which are sold in pairs. They’re more purse-like than many options and come in a lovely range of colors, making them a fashion-forward, if somewhat pricey, choice. grandinroad.com
Luxe Decor Looking for something a little less institutional than typical document-storage solutions? This company has a wide selection of handsome pieces that are available in both classic and modern styles. Once you've picked one that you like, there's also a good chance they offer matching office furniture to go with it. luxedecor.com
Editor's Notes
March 03, 2021:
We nearly needed to replace a couple choices, due to question surrounding their availability, but ended up being able to source them from different sellers, which made it possible for us to cruise smoothly through this round of updates without removing or adding any options — believing that the previous editor for this list did a good job of putting together a mix of styles, including one combination-lock option – the Vaultz Legal – and two models that can be secured via padlock — the Sterilite Black and Iris 19 Quart Clear.
For permanent storage solutions for your valuable documents, you might be interested in investigating our rankings for file cabinets. Or, for permanent solutions that still allow for a bit of portability, there’s always our list of rolling file cabinets.
September 15, 2019:
At this time, we’ve removed two plastic options, the Oxford Pendaflex and Bankers Box Heavy Duty, because their hinges aren’t as sturdy as those found on many others. But we’ve kept a wide range of types and sizes; we encourage you to look at the dimensions closely, because they aren’t necessarily one-size-fits-all when it comes to folders and papers. For most, though, the Iris 9 Quart Clear or Avlone Double Closure work well. The former is a general-duty choice with several handy features, including storage in the top, while the latter is made for protection in the event of a fire.
We’ve also decided to add one rolling model, the Office Depot Mobile. It doesn't offer rails, but for users who have back pain or for those who simply don’t want to pick up a bulky box, it might do the trick. Plus, it'll help you cart all your other supplies, from your tablet to your dry-erase markers. Finally, we've decided to keep the Amazon Basics Letter, with the caveat that the cord closure can be hard to use when it’s filled to capacity. On the other hand, it’s difficult to beat the price, making it a worthy option for casual users.