Office filing and storage is the category most people underplan. Teams move to a new layout, discover the files do not fit, and end up with boxes stacked in a conference room for six months. The fix is simple: size storage from what you actually keep, then choose the right type and tier for each zone.
Size your storage before you shop
Paper volumes have dropped for most offices, but storage needs have not disappeared. They have shifted toward personal items, supplies, samples and equipment. Before you choose furniture, answer three questions:
- What must stay on site? Records under retention rules, active client files, and anything people pull daily.
- What can be scanned or archived offsite? Closed files and old records rarely need prime floor space.
- What is personal storage? Coats, bags and desk items for each person, which often matter more than filing.
A quick way to measure is by linear filing inches. Count the drawers you use today, estimate how full they are, and subtract what you will purge. Plan for modest growth, not for everything you own now.
Filing and storage types compared
| Type | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Lateral files | Shared team files, dividing open areas, a surface for printers | Needs wall width and clearance for drawers to fully extend |
| Vertical files | Narrow rooms and tight footprints | Deep drawers need a long aisle in front |
| Mobile pedestals | Personal storage under a desk or workstation | Height must clear the work surface and keyboard tray |
| Storage towers and wardrobes | Coats, bags and personal items in open plans | Tall pieces need anchoring and a stable floor |
| Bookcases and open shelving | Binders, reference materials, display | Everything is visible, so keep it tidy or add doors |
| Storage cabinets | Supplies, samples and equipment behind locking doors | Confirm adjustable shelf heights fit what you store |
| Lockers | Hybrid teams using unassigned desks | Plan one per person who does not have a fixed seat |
Choosing a tier: new, remanufactured or liquidation-grade
You do not have to pick one tier for the whole office. Storage is often where mixing tiers pays off the most.
- Liquidation-grade: in-stock pieces that can move in as little as 72 hours. Ideal for back-of-house storage, supply rooms and fast move-ins.
- Remanufactured: usually 7 to 14 days. A refreshed look when storage is visible to clients or lines a main corridor.
- New: typically 4 to 6 weeks. Best when you need a specific finish, size or configuration that is not available pre-owned.
For context on how the tiers price out, a 6'x6' workstation runs $615 liquidation-grade, $1,245 remanufactured and $1,920 new, furniture only. Storage pieces are quoted per project based on type and quantity. All prices exclude electrical, delivery and professional installation.
Build a workstation and storage quote
What to check on pre-owned storage
Commercial storage from brands like Steelcase, Herman Miller, Haworth, Knoll, Teknion, Allsteel and Kimball is built for years of heavy use, which makes it a strong pre-owned buy. Office Station sells these pieces as an independent reseller, not an authorized dealer, and manufacturer warranties generally do not transfer to pre-owned furniture. Every piece carries a grade: A like new, B very good, C good. Use this checklist when you review pieces:
- Every drawer opens fully and closes without grinding.
- Only one drawer opens at a time on lateral files. That interlock matters for tip safety.
- Locks work, and keys or replacement lock cores are available.
- Drawer fronts and pulls match across a run of cabinets.
- Hanging file rails are present in every drawer that needs them.
- The cabinet sits level without rocking.
- Finish wear is consistent with the grade listed.
Installation and delivery pricing
Workstation installation is $95 per station with a $495 minimum, and pedestals and overhead storage installed with a workstation fall under that station. Freestanding runs of files, anchored towers and storage walls are quoted with the project.
In Greater Phoenix, delivery is $195 for central zones and $295 for the wider metro. Outside Greater Phoenix, freight is quoted per project nationwide. On larger workstation orders, volume pricing applies: 5% at 20 or more stations, 8% at 50 or more, and 12% at 100 or more.
Space planning is free. If you send a floor plan and a rough count of what you store, we can show where storage fits without crowding aisles.
Clearing out old filing cabinets
When you replace storage, the old cabinets have to go somewhere. Full-office office furniture liquidation starts with a walkthrough and ends with a written net offer: resale value minus removal cost. A positive number means you are paid.
If you are vacating a space entirely, office decommissioning covers itemized inventory, e-waste with certificates of data destruction, and a photo-documented broom-clean handback. Empty and check every drawer before walkthrough day. Forgotten files are a common and avoidable problem.
Estimate what your old furniture is worth
Average market rate Prices subject to availability and project pricing.
Frequently asked questions
Should I buy lateral or vertical files?
Lateral files hold more per drawer and double as a surface or divider, but they need more wall width. Vertical files take less width and more depth, so they suit narrow rooms and tight aisles. Measure aisle clearance with drawers fully open before you decide.
Is pre-owned filing and storage a good buy?
Often, yes. Steel storage from commercial brands is built for heavy use, and it is one of the easiest categories to buy pre-owned. Check the grade, confirm every drawer runs smoothly, and ask whether keys or lock cores are included.
How long does office storage take to arrive?
Liquidation-grade pieces in stock can ship in as little as 72 hours. Remanufactured furniture usually takes 7 to 14 days, and new furniture typically takes 4 to 6 weeks.
What does installation cost?
Workstation installation is $95 per station with a $495 minimum, and pedestals and storage attached to a workstation are part of that station. Freestanding storage walls and larger runs are quoted per project. Prices exclude electrical and delivery.
What happens to our old file cabinets?
If they have resale value, our liquidation service can include them in a written net offer. Before any cabinet leaves, confirm it is empty. Any e-waste in the space is handled with certificates of data destruction.
Average market rate Prices subject to availability and project pricing.
