An office almirah is a full-height lockable cupboard for files, stationery and equipment. For most offices, a 2-door almirah about 3 ft wide, 6 to 7 ft high and 15 to 18 inches deep holds standard A4 and lever-arch files with room to spare. The bigger planning question is how much storage you need in total, and where it should sit so that it doesn't eat into workstation space.
This guide covers the types of office storage, the sizes that suit Indian office files, how to estimate storage per employee, lockable and locker units, wooden versus steel almirahs, placement on the floor, and what decides the cost when storage is made to measure.
Types of office storage and what each one is for
Storage type | Typical height | Best for |
|---|---|---|
Full-height office almirah (2-door) | 6–7 ft | Files, archives, stationery stock, equipment |
Office cupboard with glass top, closed base | 6–7 ft | Display of awards or binders above, files below |
Low-height cabinet or credenza | 2.5–3 ft | Behind a manager's desk, beside meeting tables; doubles as a counter |
Mobile pedestal (3 drawers) | Under-desk, about 2 ft | Personal items at each workstation |
Filing cabinet with drawers | 2.5–4.5 ft | Hanging files and folders that are pulled every day |
Open shelving | Any | Box files and reference books in shared areas |
Personal lockers | 6 ft in tiers | Hot-desking teams, staff bags and helmets |
Most offices need a mix: pedestals for each person, a few low cabinets that double as work counters, and a bank of full-height almirahs for files that are used weekly rather than hourly.
Office almirah sizes that fit Indian office files
Size the almirah around what goes inside it. The most common items in Indian offices are A4 papers, lever-arch files and box files.
What you store | Approximate size | What it needs from the almirah |
|---|---|---|
A4 lever-arch file, standing upright | About 320 mm tall, 285 mm deep, 75 mm wide | Clear shelf height of about 350 mm; depth of at least 300 mm |
Box file | Similar to a lever-arch file | Same shelf spacing |
Hanging folders | A4 or foolscap | A drawer with hanging rails, not a shelf |
Ledgers and registers lying flat | Varies | Deeper shelves, closer spacing |
From these, a practical full-height office almirah looks like this:
Width: about 3 ft (900 mm) for a 2-door unit; wider units need a centre divider so shelves don't sag
Height: 6 to 7 ft (1,800–2,100 mm), giving five to six file shelves
Depth: 15 to 18 inches (380–450 mm) for files; 12 inches is enough for books
Shelf spacing: about 350 mm for upright files, adjustable if possible
Keep loaded shelf spans to about 3 ft. A wider shelf full of files bends over time, whatever the board.
Office almirah with locker and lockable storage
Lockable storage protects client files and staff belongings. Ask for these when you plan:
A lock on every shutter or drawer that holds files you are responsible for
Separate keys per unit, with a duplicate set held by admin
An internal locker inside a full-height almirah for cash, cheque books or hard drives
Personal lockers in tiers of two or three for teams without fixed desks
Open shelving only for items anyone in the team can access
"Office almirah with locker" is one of the most searched terms in this category, because many small offices want one cupboard that combines file storage with a small secure section.
Wooden modular vs steel office almirah
Factor | Wooden modular almirah | Steel almirah |
|---|---|---|
Size | Made to the exact wall and file layout | Fixed catalogue sizes |
Look | Matches desks and cabins in the same finish | Industrial look |
Noise | Quiet shutters and drawers | Metallic sound when opened and closed |
Internal layout | Shelves, drawers, lockers and hanging rails mixed as needed | Mostly fixed shelves |
Suits | Offices, cabins, reception and client-facing areas | Stores, basements and back-office archives |
Reedify builds wooden modular office storage: cut, edge-banded and drilled in its own Rohtak factory, then installed to match your desks and cabins. For a basement archive or a damp store room, steel can still be the practical choice.
Where to place storage in the office layout
Good placement saves floor space and walking time:
Along walls, especially walls with no windows, where full-height almirahs take no usable desk space.
As a divider between zones: low cabinets between the open floor and a meeting area give storage and separation in one piece.
Behind the executive table, as a credenza that holds files and works as a side counter.
At the ends of workstation clusters, where a full-height unit closes the run and holds team files.
Near the people who use it. Accounts storage should sit next to accounts, not across the floor.
Keep at least 3 to 3.5 ft clear in front of full-height almirahs so shutters can open fully while someone walks past.
Office cupboard design ideas
Glass top, closed base: awards or catalogues on show above, files hidden below; good for cabins and reception
Floor-to-ceiling storage wall: one continuous run with a loft for archives
Storage wall with pin board or whiteboard shutters: useful in project rooms
Pantry cupboards: tall units for supplies, crockery and a microwave in the office pantry
Credenza with open niches: for printers and shared stationery
Board, finish and build quality
Office storage is opened many times a day and carries real weight, so build quality matters more than looks:
Board: plywood or HDHMR; ask which is quoted for the carcass and shelves
Edges: every exposed edge sealed, so chairs and trolleys don't chip it
Finish: laminate is the practical choice for offices; it resists scratches and is easy to clean
Hardware: good hinges and drawer runners, with the brand written on the quote. Reedify fits Hettich and Häfele hardware
What decides the cost, and how to get a quote
The cost of office storage depends on the number and size of units, the board and finish, how many drawers and locks you need, and installation conditions such as lift access and floor level. Because every office has a different file count and wall layout, Reedify gives a fixed quote after measuring the office and planning the storage in 3D.
To get a fast, accurate quote for modular office furniture, call or WhatsApp Reedify at +91 98120 53001 with:
A floor plan or photos of the office walls
Rough counts of files, binders and boxes per team
The number of lockable units and lockers you need
Whether storage should match existing desks or a new fit-out
Reedify manufactures office storage in its Rohtak factory and installs it with its own team, for offices across Delhi NCR including office furniture in Noida and office furniture in Delhi. For a full office budget, see the 50-seat office furniture budget guide.
