Everything you need to know to choose the perfect binder
Keeping your workspace organized offers a host of benefits, including a positive effect on mental health, according to the Beverly Hills Therapy Group. Indeed, many Avery employees work remotely on a hybrid schedule, and our experiences have made it clear that choosing the best home office binders makes all the difference. Furthermore, because we work on a hybrid schedule, the general consensus is that there are three key factors to look for in professional binders:
- Firstly, binders for paperwork should be highly functional with many pockets and easy to open and close.
- Secondly, they should be durable enough to travel back and forth so that we don’t have to replace them so often.
- Lastly, they have to be easy to customize, both for personal style and identification.
With all of that in mind, the best 3-ring binders for professionals working remotely are Avery Heavy-Duty View Binders. Specifically, we recommend Avery 79793, which is white with a 3″ spine. However, our heavy-duty view binders come in several different colors and a range of spine sizes to hold different sheet capacities.
Why you need the best home office binders
Creating an organized home office isn’t just about neatness; it’s a strategic move towards increased productivity and work satisfaction. In fact, an organized workspace can significantly boost efficiency, allowing you to easily find what you need. More specifically, taming paper clutter using home office binders eliminates time wasted searching through documents.
Additionally, investing in quality home office binders not only elevates your professional image but also minimizes the need for frequent replacements. In short, when you opt for binders that are sturdy and well-constructed, they will better withstand the wear and tear of daily commutes. Avery heavy-duty view binders are, overall, the best binder for work (especially remote work) because they’re durable, reliable, and easy to customize.
What are the three types of binders
There are three types of Avery binders for documents: economy, durable, and heavy-duty. Each of these types has additional options, such as view or non-view covers, ring types, and colors. We will cover the different types of binder rings below, so here we’ll focus on comparing Avery Economy, Durable, and Heavy-Duty view-front binders.
Firstly, economy 3-ring binders are the lowest price point, so they will always be the best choice when you’re working within a tight budget. They get the job done but lack the premium features and construction of durable and heavy-duty binders. Next up are durable binders, which are made with premium construction methods so that they’re long-lasting. And finally, our heavy-duty home office binders. These binders offer the same long-lasting, premium construction as durable binders but also have extra pockets and other premium features.
| Good | Better | Best |
|---|---|---|
| Economy view | Durable view | Heavy-duty view |
Key features of the best home office binder
Durability and quality: most durable binder
Both Avery Durable and Heavy-Duty Binders are made with premium materials and construction methods that ensure longevity and a professional appearance. This makes them ideal for presentations and meetings. For instance, both types of Avery binders are made with DuraEdge® and DuraHinge® construction methods. These patented construction features involve welding and molding the edges and spine differently to prevent splitting along those areas. Both types of home office binders are also made with more durable ring mechanisms.
However, we consider Avery Heavy-Duty Binders to be the best 3-ring binder overall. This is because, in addition to durability, our HD binders have extra functionality that makes them more efficient for long-term and very frequent use.
Versatility in sizes and capacity
While the type of rings in a binder contributes to sheet capacity (more on that below), the width of the binder spine is most important. That’s why we believe that the best binders for meetings, presentations, and general paperwork should come in a variety of sizes to fit your needs.
Not only should your home office binders fit the space you have available, but they should also provide room to grow. Like most Avery binders, our heavy-duty view binders come in seven spine sizes ranging from 1/2″ to 5″ wide. Certainly, the most popular size among Avery office professionals and our customers is 3″ wide. However, on our website, you can easily filter Avery Heavy-Duty binders by size.
Customization options
Whether you’re simply organizing your home office binders or using them as presentation binders, looks really matter. View binders are ideal for customizing home office binders for organization and style. This is because you can design your own spine inserts and cover sheets online for free using our Avery Design and Print Online software. Then simply print them on your desktop printer. Conversely, it may be better to order custom-made home office binders that are used for presentations. If you have more time and money to invest, custom Avery binders on Zazzle are a fantastic option.
Resources to help you personalize home office binder spines and covers
- Video: How to Find and Download Avery Templates
- Video: How to work with images and backgrounds
- Video: How to add and edit text
Further benefits of using the best home office binder
As previously illustrated, the Avery 79193 heavy-duty binder is the best home office binder. The main benefit of using this binder is that it is very durable, specifically in relation to DuraHinge and DuraEdge features that resist splitting. The ring mechanism is likewise very durable because it is made with premium materials. However, there are added benefits to using the Avery 79193 binder for your home office.
Secure and efficient ring mechanisms
The first thing to know is that there are two parts to binder rings to consider: the rings themselves and the lever (or booster) that opens them. There are two types of boosters used in Avery binders, compared to 3–4 types of binder rings. Double boosters are standard levers that require two hands to open, whereas our proprietary One Touch boosters open the secure rings with just one finger pressing down.
Setting aside boosters, binder rings in generic binders can have round, slant, or D rings. This indicates the shape of the ring. In comparison, Avery binders have round, slant, or EZD rings that hold papers securely. While Avery binder rings follow the same shape as most binder rings, EZD rings are an elevated version of the D ring.
Are D-ring binders better?
The short answer is yes: D-ring binders are better, and EZD rings are even better than that. The reason EZD-ring binders are better is because they’re back-mounted so the pages lay flat, they’re more durable and gap-free for easier page turning, and they hold the highest capacity of sheets. For example, an EZD-ring binder holds 50% more sheets than a round-ring binder with the same spine width. This overview of D-rings versus round and slant rings breaks it down further:
| Benefit | Round | Slant | EZD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Holds paper securely | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Pages lay flat | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Durable | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Higher capacity | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Gap-free page turning | ✓ | ||
| Highest capacity | ✓ |
Convenient pockets
Simply put, Avery heavy-duty binders have more pockets for extra organization and storing loose papers. Home office binders with more pockets function better than ones with fewer or no pockets because it’s easier to store papers on the go. When you can use binder pockets for loose papers you need to sort or hole punch later, you’re less likely to create cluttered piles of paper on your desk.
View cover
And finally, the clear layer on the front and spine makes it easy to add personalized cover sheets and spine inserts. This is necessary for identification, and so that your home office binder fits in with your décor and looks professional. At Avery, we sell printable binder spine inserts that coordinate with the various binder sizes available. As with all of our printable products, we offer free predesigned binder spine templates that you can customize and a guide to using them. We also have dozens of free binder cover templates that you can print on plain paper or cardstock.
Tips for how to organize home office binders
How to organize your binder
Begin by categorizing your documents based on themes or projects. Then, insert dividers to create distinct sections within your home office binder, preventing jumbled pages. We prefer dividers with table of contents pages you can customize, particularly Avery 11131 5-tab dividers, which can be printed in portrait or landscape layout. You can then arrange documents chronologically or alphabetically to streamline retrieval. Finally, set reminders in your planner or digital calendar to regularly remove outdated or unnecessary papers.
How organize binders on a shelf
While it is possible to stack binders on a shelf, we recommend standing them up side by side instead because it looks cleaner and they’re easier to grab. Use view binders so that you can easily identify each binder’s content with personalized binder spine inserts and cover sheets.
Avery 79793—the best home office binder
Get ready to elevate your home office organization with Avery heavy-duty view binders. In our experience, Avery 79793 is the best home office binder choice for professionals working remotely. In particular, this binder stands out for its clear view front and spine, easy-to-open design, extra pockets, and durable construction for frequent travel. Choosing the best home office binder allows you to streamline your workspace and integrate your work documents seamlessly with your home décor.
