The standard bankers box size is 15 × 12 × 10 inches inside (length × width × height), which is about 1 cubic foot. That size holds letter or legal files and is the same “records center box” used by offices, archives and storage companies. The outside of a typical heavy-duty box measures about 16.5 × 12.8 × 10.4 inches because of the board thickness and the lid. In metric, the inside is about 38.1 × 30.5 × 25.4 cm.
This guide covers the exact dimensions of a bankers box, the other common sizes, how much paper each one holds and what it weighs when full, how to pack letter and legal files, decorative bankers boxes, and how to choose the right size for your shelves or your brand. A calculator below works out how many boxes your files need.
Key takeaways
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- Standard size: 15 × 12 × 10 in inside (38.1 × 30.5 × 25.4 cm), about 1 cubic foot, for letter or legal files.
- Outside size: about 16.25–16.5 × 12.5–12.8 × 10.25–10.5 in, depending on the model.
- Long (transfer) sizes: 24 × 12 × 10 in for letter files and 24 × 15 × 10 in for legal files.
- Capacity: about 15 inches of letter files or 12 inches of legal files, roughly 2,200 to 2,500 sheets.
- Weight: a full standard box of paper weighs about 20 to 25 lb.
- Decorative bankers boxes usually keep the same 15 × 12 × 10 in inside size with a printed or patterned outside.
In this guide
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- What Is the Size of a Bankers Box?
- Bankers Box Dimensions by Type
- Inside vs Outside Dimensions
- How Much Does a Bankers Box Hold?
- How to Pack Letter and Legal Files in a Bankers Box
- Which Bankers Box Size Should You Use?
- Decorative Bankers Boxes
- How to Measure a Bankers Box
- Why Is It Called a Bankers Box?
- Frequently Asked Questions About Bankers Box Size
- Choosing the Right Bankers Box Size
What Is the Size of a Bankers Box?
“Bankers Box” is a brand name owned by Fellowes, which has made file storage boxes under that name since 1917. Today people use “bankers box” for any lidded cardboard box made to store files, and almost all of them share one standard size.
| Measurement | Standard bankers box |
|---|---|
| Inside (L × W × H) | 15 × 12 × 10 in |
| Inside in metric | 38.1 × 30.5 × 25.4 cm |
| Outside (typical heavy-duty box) | About 16.5 × 12.8 × 10.4 in |
| Outside in metric | About 41.9 × 32.5 × 26.4 cm |
| Inside volume | 1,800 cu in, about 1 cubic foot (29.5 liters) |
| Holds | Letter or legal files, binders laid flat, small office items |
| Paper capacity | About 15 in of letter files or 12 in of legal files |
The 15 × 12 × 10 in size isn’t a coincidence. It’s the box records managers call one “cubic foot” of records. The Library of Virginia, for example, lists the records center storage box as 15 × 12 × 10 inches inside and counts it as 1 cubic foot, and Iron Mountain’s standard archive carton uses the same inside size. Because 15 × 12 × 10 is actually 1.04 cubic feet, records rules round it to 1.0.
Bankers Box Dimensions by Type
Most bankers boxes share the 15 × 12 × 10 in inside size. The main differences are board strength, the lid and the outside size. The longer “transfer” boxes hold a full file drawer in one box.
| Box | Inside (W × D × H) | Outside (W × D × H) | Holds | Stacking strength |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bankers Box R-Kive (00724), heavy duty | 12 × 15 × 10 in | 12.8 × 16.5 × 10.4 in | Letter or legal | 850 lb |
| Bankers Box Stor/File Decorative (0022705), medium duty | 12 × 15 × 10 in | 12.5 × 16.25 × 10.5 in | Letter or legal | 550 lb |
| Bankers Box Stor/File letter, long (0070110) | 12 × 24 × 10 in | 12.9 × 25.4 × 10.3 in | Letter | 650 lb |
| Bankers Box Stor/File legal, long (00702) | 15 × 24 × 10 in | 15.87 × 25.37 × 10.25 in | Legal | Not listed |
| Bankers Box Heavy-Duty plastic file box (00862) | 11.75 × 14.5 × 10.38 in | 14.19 × 17.38 × 10.63 in | Letter or legal | Not listed |
| Records center carton (Iron Mountain standard archive) | 12 × 15 × 10 in | 12.75 × 16.25 × 10.25 in | Letter or legal | Not listed |
Manufacturers list these boxes as width × depth × height, so the 15 in side is called “depth.” It’s the same box as 15 × 12 × 10 in. Dimensions come from Fellowes product listings and Iron Mountain’s carton guide, and models change over time, so check the listing for the exact box you’re buying.
Stacking strength is not fill weight. A rating such as 850 lb is the total weight the box can carry from boxes stacked on top of it, spread evenly over the lid. It doesn’t mean you can pack 850 lb inside. A full box of paper weighs about 20 to 25 lb.
Standard Size vs Long Size
| Feature | Standard | Long, letter | Long, legal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inside | 15 × 12 × 10 in | 24 × 12 × 10 in | 24 × 15 × 10 in |
| Metric | 38.1 × 30.5 × 25.4 cm | 61 × 30.5 × 25.4 cm | 61 × 38.1 × 25.4 cm |
| Volume | 1.04 cu ft (29.5 L) | 1.67 cu ft (47.2 L) | 2.08 cu ft (59 L) |
| Files it holds | 15 in letter or 12 in legal | 24 in letter | 24 in legal |
| Best for | Most archiving, easy to lift | A full letter file drawer | A full legal file drawer |
The long sizes save time when you’re emptying file cabinets, but a full long box can weigh about 35 to 47 lb. For anything you’ll lift often, the standard box is easier on your back.
Inside vs Outside Dimensions
The inside size tells you what fits in the box. The outside size tells you what fits on your shelf, in a closet or on a pallet. Box walls, double-thick ends and the lid add about half an inch to an inch and a half in each direction.
| Box | Inside | Outside | Space it takes up |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard (R-Kive) | 15 × 12 × 10 in | 16.5 × 12.8 × 10.4 in | About 1.3 cu ft |
| Standard (Iron Mountain carton) | 15 × 12 × 10 in | 16.25 × 12.75 × 10.25 in | About 1.2 cu ft |
| Long legal (Stor/File 00702) | 24 × 15 × 10 in | 25.37 × 15.87 × 10.25 in | About 2.4 cu ft |
When you plan shelving, always use the outside size. For example, a 36 in wide shelf holds two standard boxes whether you set them end-out (12.8 in each) or side-out (16.5 in each). A 48 in shelf holds three boxes end-out but only two side-out, and an end-out box needs a shelf at least 17 to 18 in deep.
If you’re designing a box to a size of your own, our guide to choosing custom box sizes explains how to get from the inside size you need to the outside size you’ll store.
How Much Does a Bankers Box Hold?
Records managers measure files in linear inches, the thickness of the files standing side by side. Here is what a standard box holds:
| What you’re storing | One standard box (15 × 12 × 10 in) |
|---|---|
| Letter files, packed upright | About 15 linear inches |
| Legal files, packed upright | About 12 linear inches |
| Sheets of letter paper | About 2,200 to 2,500 sheets |
| Reams of letter paper (500 sheets each) | About 4 to 5 reams |
| One full letter file drawer | About 1.5 standard boxes |
| One full legal file drawer | About 2 standard boxes |
These figures follow the Library of Virginia’s volume equivalency table, which counts 15 linear inches of letter files or 12 linear inches of legal files as one cubic foot, a letter drawer as 1.5 cubic feet and a legal drawer as 2 cubic feet. Document scanning services estimate about 2,200 to 2,500 sheets per standard bankers box, depending on folders and how tightly it’s packed.
How Much Does a Full Bankers Box Weigh?
A ream of standard 20 lb letter paper weighs about 5 lb. A box with 2,200 to 2,500 sheets therefore holds about 22 to 25 lb of paper, plus about 1.5 to 2 lb for the box itself. Legal paper is longer, so each sheet weighs about 27 percent more.
That’s within what a good box can carry. The Library of Virginia, for instance, requires records center boxes to hold 50 lb. Still, a box over 30 lb gets awkward to lift by the hand holes, so many offices fill boxes a little short of the top.
Work Out How Many Boxes You Need
Enter your file drawers, inches of files or number of sheets to see how many boxes you need, how heavy each one will be and how much storage space they take.
How to Pack Letter and Legal Files in a Bankers Box
The standard box takes both paper sizes because the files face different directions:
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- Letter files: stand them upright, facing the front end of the box, the way they sit in a file drawer. The folders run across the 12 in width and fill the 15 in length.
- Legal files: stand them upright but sideways, facing the left side of the box. The folders run across the 15 in length and fill the 12 in width.
- Leave about 2 inches of room so you can pull files out without tearing them. Texas State Library and Archives guidance for its records center asks for exactly that.
- Don’t pack above the hand holes. Files that stick up stop the lid from closing flat, and boxes stacked on top will crush them.
- Lay binders and ledgers flat. A 10 in tall box is too short for most binders standing upright.
- Label the end of the box, not just the lid. Lids get swapped, and boxes on a shelf show only their ends. Pick the right label size so it reads easily from the aisle.
- Keep one record series per box where you can, with the same disposal date, so a whole box can be destroyed or moved at once.
Hanging file folders need a box with built-in rails. A standard storage box is made for regular file folders, so take the hanging folders out or buy a hanging-file box.
Which Bankers Box Size Should You Use?
| Use case | Best size | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Office archives and old client files | Standard 15 × 12 × 10 in | Light enough to lift and fits standard records shelving |
| Emptying a letter file cabinet | Long 24 × 12 × 10 in | One drawer goes into one box, in the same order |
| Emptying a legal file cabinet | Long 24 × 15 × 10 in | Same, for legal-size folders |
| Off-site records storage | Standard, or the box the storage company asks for | Storage companies and state records centers often require specific boxes |
| Tax records and household papers | Standard box | Holds several years of paperwork and fits in a closet |
| Moving an office | Standard heavy-duty box | Strong stacking rating and hand holes for carrying |
| Photos, keepsakes and hobby supplies | Standard or a decorative box | The lift-off lid makes it easy to get into often |
| Damp basements or garages | Plastic file box | Cardboard soaks up moisture; plastic doesn’t |
| Long-term archival storage | Acid-free records box | Acid-free board protects documents kept permanently |
If your records are going to a records center, check its rules before you buy. The Missouri State Records Center, for example, accepts only one specified box, and the Library of Virginia requires double-wall board.
Decorative Bankers Boxes
A decorative bankers box is a file storage box with a printed or patterned finish, made to sit on an open shelf in a home office, studio or shop instead of hiding in a storeroom. Most keep the standard 15 × 12 × 10 in inside size, so they hold the same letter and legal files.
Fellowes has sold decorative versions such as Stor/File boxes in brocade and pinstripe patterns (outside 12.5 × 16.25 × 10.5 in) and an R-Kive box with a woodgrain print. Other brands sell fabric-covered and kraft boxes in similar sizes.
What to look for in a decorative file box:
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- The inside size: 15 × 12 × 10 in holds letter and legal files; smaller “decorative storage boxes” often don’t.
- A lift-off lid that sits flat, so boxes stack neatly on a shelf.
- Hand holes or handles on the ends.
- A finish that survives handling. Matte lamination or a varnish resists scuffs better than plain uncoated paper.
- A label area or window on the end so the box stays useful, not just pretty.
If you’re weighing cardboard against fabric, plastic or rigid board, you can compare box materials side by side.
Custom Printed Bankers-Style Boxes for Brands
Businesses also use bankers-style boxes as branded packaging: law firms and accountants handing over client files, schools and photographers storing archives, subscription brands sending a keepsake box, and retailers selling storage sets. A custom version lets you choose the size, board, print and lid:
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- Board: printed corrugated boxes suit heavy files and stacking, while kraft board gives a natural, recyclable look.
- Premium finish: lift-off lid rigid boxes feel like a keepsake, and foldable rigid boxes ship flat to save space.
- Inside layout: inner box dividers split a box into sections for small items, cards or media.
- Sustainability: recycled packaging options keep the box easy to recycle at the end of its life.
- Strength: check stacking strength before choosing a lighter board for boxes that will be stacked.
- Design: preview it in 3D before you order, so you can see the print on every panel.
How to Measure a Bankers Box
If you have a box and want its exact size, measure it empty, with the lid off:
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- Inside length: measure the longest inside wall, from wall to wall. On a standard box this is 15 in.
- Inside width: measure the shorter inside wall. On a standard box this is 12 in.
- Inside height: measure from the inside floor to the top edge of the box, not the lid. On a standard box this is 10 in.
- Outside size: put the lid on and measure the longest, widest and tallest points, including the lid lip and any handles.
Write the inside size when you’re checking what fits, and the outside size when you’re planning shelves, closets or shipping. To find your box size from the items you want to store, start from the item and add clearance.
Why Is It Called a Bankers Box?
The Bankers Box Company was founded in 1917, when Harry Fellowes took over a business making record storage boxes, and banks were its main customers. The company later became Fellowes, and Fellowes still owns the Bankers Box brand. Because the boxes became so common in offices, courtrooms and records rooms, “bankers box” turned into the everyday name for any lidded file storage box, much like other brand names that became generic terms.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bankers Box Size
What is the standard bankers box size?
The standard bankers box is 15 × 12 × 10 inches inside (length × width × height), about 1 cubic foot. Its outside is about 16.5 × 12.8 × 10.4 inches on a heavy-duty box.
What are the dimensions of a bankers box in cm?
The standard inside size is about 38.1 × 30.5 × 25.4 cm, with an inside volume of about 29.5 liters. The outside of a heavy-duty box is about 41.9 × 32.5 × 26.4 cm.
Is a bankers box 1 cubic foot?
Yes, for records purposes. Its inside is 15 × 12 × 10 in, or 1,800 cubic inches, which is 1.04 cubic feet. Records centers count it as 1 cubic foot of records.
Do letter and legal files fit in the same bankers box?
Yes. The standard box is made for both. Letter files stand facing the front end of the box, and legal files stand sideways, facing the side. The long transfer boxes come in separate letter and legal versions.
How many sheets of paper fit in a bankers box?
About 2,200 to 2,500 letter-size sheets fit in a standard box, or about 15 linear inches of letter files. Folders, clips and how tightly you pack it change the number.
How much does a full bankers box weigh?
A standard box full of letter paper weighs about 20 to 25 lb. Long transfer boxes can weigh about 35 to 47 lb when full, which is why many offices prefer the standard size.
How many bankers boxes does a file cabinet drawer fill?
A full letter-size drawer fills about 1.5 standard boxes, and a full legal-size drawer fills about 2 standard boxes. One long transfer box holds about one drawer.
What is the size of a long bankers box?
The long letter box is 24 × 12 × 10 in inside, and the long legal box is 24 × 15 × 10 in inside. Bankers Box sells these as Stor/File letter and legal storage boxes.
What is a decorative bankers box?
It’s a file storage box with a printed, patterned, woodgrain or fabric finish, made to sit on display shelves. Most keep the standard 15 × 12 × 10 in inside size and hold letter or legal files.
How tall is a bankers box?
A standard bankers box is 10 inches tall inside and about 10.25 to 10.5 inches tall outside with the lid on.
Can binders fit in a bankers box?
Yes, laid flat. Most binders are taller than 10 inches when standing, so they won’t stand upright with the lid on. A standard box holds several letter-size binders stacked flat.
What does the stacking strength on a bankers box mean?
It’s the total weight the box can support from boxes stacked on top of it, spread evenly over the lid. For example, the R-Kive is rated at 850 lb and the Stor/File Decorative at 550 lb. It isn’t the weight you can pack inside.
Is a bankers box acid-free?
Standard bankers boxes are made for general storage and are not sold as archival. For documents kept permanently, use a box labeled acid-free or with a pH above 8, which is what archives such as the Library of Virginia require.
Can I order a bankers box in a custom size or with my logo?
Yes. Packaging suppliers can make lidded file storage boxes in your own size, board and print. Give the inside size you need, how many boxes stack, and whether it needs hand holes or a label area.
Choosing the Right Bankers Box Size
For most people, the answer is the standard 15 × 12 × 10 in box: 1 cubic foot, letter or legal files, about 2,200 to 2,500 sheets and 20 to 25 lb when full. Pick the long sizes to empty whole file drawers, plastic for damp spaces, acid-free boxes for permanent records and decorative boxes for open shelves.
If you need file or storage boxes in your own size or with your brand on them, check pricing instantly or ask our packaging team about board, print and lid options.
