Letter Trays vs File Sorters: Choosing a Desk Organizer

Paper has a way of taking over a desk: mail, bills, printouts, folders for current projects, things you need to keep but rarely touch. A mesh desk organizer is an inexpensive fix, but the styles look similar online and work very differently on the desk.

This guide explains the main styles, what each is good at, and how to choose based on what's actually piling up.

Start with what you're organizing

General advice: before you shop, sort the pile into three groups.

1. Loose, flat paper you process: incoming mail, bills, forms, printouts.
2. Active folders and binders you reach for every day or week.
3. Reference files you keep but rarely open.

Each group suits a different organizer style.

Letter trays: for loose, flat paper

Letter trays are horizontal shelves stacked on top of each other. Paper lies flat, so nothing curls or slumps, and each tier can be a category: in, out, to file, to pay.

Good for: mail, bills, forms, printed documents, notepads. Watch out for: height. Tall stacks of trays can block a monitor or shelf, so check the overall height.

Dasher options:

• Five tier letter tray: five compartments in black metal mesh with a powder coat finish. It measures 13.4" x 9.25" x 13" and needs no tools to assemble.
• Stackable 4 tier paper trays: four separate trays, each 13.75 x 9.6 x 3 inches. Use them individually or stack them, with no tools needed. The listing describes them as sized for A4 letters, books, notepads and documents.
• 4 tier organizer with wood-patterned shelves: a steel frame with a powder coat finish and wood-patterned shelves, 13" x 9.3" x 11", if you'd like something warmer than all-black mesh.

File sorters: for active folders

File sorters hold folders, binders and notebooks upright in separate slots, like books on a shelf. You can see every label at a glance and pull one out without lifting a stack.

Good for: current projects, client folders, notebooks, clipboards, binders. Watch out for: flimsy paper. Single sheets slump in upright slots; put them in a folder first.

Some sorters are incline (stepped) designs, so the back folders sit higher and stay visible. Others combine upright slots with a few horizontal trays for the best of both. Browse the current range in the mesh file organizers collection.

Hanging file boxes: for reference files

A hanging file box is an open crate with rails for hanging folders. It's like a small filing cabinet drawer that sits on a desk, shelf or floor.

Good for: records, tax papers, household files, anything you keep long term. Watch out for: folder size. Check whether the box takes letter-size, legal-size or both.

Combination organizers

If your desk has all three kinds of paper, a combination unit (trays plus upright slots, or tiers plus a drawer) can replace several separate pieces. It takes up one footprint, but it's usually taller and deeper, so measure your desk first.

Measuring your desk

General tips:

• Depth: leave room in front of the organizer to work. Most letter trays are around 9 to 10 inches deep.
• Height: check it against anything above the desk, such as shelves or a monitor arm.
• Placement: organizers tend to work best at the side or back corner of the desk, within arm's reach.

A simple desk system that works

General advice, if you're starting from scratch:

• One letter tray tier per action. For example: "to do," "to pay," "to file." Empty "to file" once a week.
• One upright slot per active project. When a project ends, move its folder to long-term storage.
• Label everything. Small labels on the front of each tier or slot keep the system working when you're busy, and help anyone who shares the desk.
• Leave one empty space. A spare tier or slot gives new paper somewhere to go besides the desk surface.

The best organizer is the one that matches your habits. If you never file, a hanging box won't help. A tray labeled "to file" that you clear on Fridays might.

Why mesh

Mesh organizers are lightweight but sturdy steel, and the open pattern lets you see what's inside. The black powder coat finish fits most office and home decor. Dasher's mesh organizers are designed to assemble without tools.

FAQ

What's the difference between a letter tray and a file sorter? Letter trays hold paper flat in stacked horizontal tiers. File sorters hold folders and binders upright in vertical slots.

Do I need tools to assemble these? The five tier letter tray and the stackable trays listed above are designed to assemble without tools.

Can I use the stackable trays separately? Yes. Each tray can be used on its own or stacked with the others.

How big is each stackable tray? Each one measures 13.75 x 9.6 x 3 inches.

Will a hanging file box hold legal-size folders? It depends on the model. Check the listing for letter or legal support before you buy.