Three Ring Binders Buying Guide For All Types Of Binders & Albums

• What materials are the binders made from?
• What type of rings do the binders have?
• How many pages can the rings hold?
• Keepfiling binders vs. other traditional office binders

• What materials are the binders made from?
• What type of rings do that binders have?

• Haw many pages can the rings hold?
• Keepfiling binders vs. other traditional office binders

Whether you are shopping online or at a store for binders, sometimes it can be overwhelming with the large selection available. There are so many different sizes available, and even if you know what size you need, there are still choices to be made in terms of what material is the binder made of, or what rings they use. It's not an easy task. As a smart consumer, you will need to understand the different pros and cons of different binder materials and ring size, and decided which type is best to fulfill your needs. There are basically three things to consider (click on each point if you want to learn more):

1. Size
2. Rings
3. Materials

Click here to jump straight to the buying guide for Keepfiling binders.

Click here to see a comparison between Keepfiling binders vs other brands.

1. Size

Size does matter. It important to make sure that your binder can fit the papers you are planning to organize or archive. Using the right size binder will make sure your papers are protected. If you're organizing letter size paper then you will want a letter size binder, or if it's legal size paper then a legal size binder, and so forth. You don't want something smaller because the papers won't fit, and you don't necessary want something bigger either because even though it will protect your paper, it will be hard to handle the binder or it can be a waste of space when you're shelving them. Having the right size is also important especially if you decide to use sheet protectors. For example, technically you can store letter size paper in a legal size binder because the binder is big enough to fit them. However, you will not be able to find letter size sheet protectors that will fit into the legal size binder.It's important to have the right size binder for your paper.

2. Rings

It's a very common mistake for consumers to think that the capacity of a binder is based on the width of the binder spine; the wider it is, the more paper it can hold - that is wrong. The correct way to determine a binder's capacity is to actually look at the ring size. Here is a table showing roughly the capacity a binder can hold with different ring types and sizes

O-ring Binder Capacity
Ring Size	Paper Capacity1	Sheet Capacity2
1/2"	75	25
3/4"	125	45
1"	175	60
1-1/2"	250	90
2"	350	125
3"	570	200

D-ring Binder Capacity
Ring Size	Paper Capacity1	Sheet Capacity2
1/2"	95	35
3/4"	145	50
1"	195	70
1-1/2"	270	95
2"	370	130
3"	590	210

All Keepfiling binders use D-rings as an example the standard 3 ring binderA part from ring size, there is also ring type that you need to consider and the sizes of these rings are measure different. There are two types of rings - O-rings and D-rings. For O-rings, the ring size refers to the diameter of the ring. The wider the diameter, the more it can hold. For D-rings, the ring size refers to the height of the straight part of the ring. The longer the straight part is, the more it can hold. D-rings are sometimes offered in a slight angle, and they are called slanted D-rings. Another small difference between the two rings is that O-rings are mounted onto the binder spine, which will make the documents "move" and curl up when the binder is closed, while D-rings are onto the back cover of the binder which allows paper to lie flat. Some people prefer this as they think it looks nice and is more organized. All Keepfiling binders are equipped with D-rings to offer a more uniform look for organizing papers.

3. Binder Materials & Construction

What material the binder is made of is also an important factor you must consider when evaluating your options. Different materials fit different purposes. Today, manufacturers make binders from all sorts of materials to satisfy different needs and tastes from consumers. They can range from traditional paper or cardboard binders, to more durable ones made from plastics, or fancier ones made from fabric. Traditional Vinyl Binders with PVC CoverTraditional vinyl binders are commonly constructed with a sturdy cardboard core wrapped in a durable layer of PVC (polyvinyl chloride) vinyl. This combination provides a resilient, flexible cover that protects the contents. However, a drawback of PVC-covered binders is that when the metal 3-ring mechanism is riveted into the binder, air can get trapped between the cardboard core and the vinyl cover. This air leakage creates bubbles under the PVC film, causing the vinyl to "hang" or lift away from the cover over time, resulting in an untidy appearance. Despite this, these binders remain widely used in offices, schools, and homes due to their affordability and general durability. However, vinyl binders are not considered archival safe because they contain PVC softeners, which are not chemically stable and may transfer between different materials, potentially damaging stored documents. Turned Edge BindersFor fancier looks, there are binders with covers that have a print on them. These binders are often called "turned edge binders." These binders are also made with a cardboard core but instead of covering it with plastic, it is covered with paper. Usually, a layer of lacquer is applied onto the paper for a glossy finish and also as an added layer of protection for the binder. Sometimes these binders are made with just cardboard, without the paper cover. These binders are not as durable and will often split open at the bottom because they lack the extra covering provided by the paper cover, if it had one. Keepfiling binder covers will not split. PU Binders There is also a material frequently used and marketed in various ways such as PU leather, PU vegan leather, vegan leather, and similar terms. Despite the different names, these are essentially the same material, polyurethane (PU). While PU materials can look attractive and feel like leather, they are not considered archival safe. PU binders typically have a cardboard core beneath the PU cover, which means over time, the PU can degrade and split particularly along the edges where the cardboard core may expand or wear. Additionally, PU can release chemicals as it breaks down that might harm documents or artwork stored inside. Due to these risks, PU binders are not recommended for long-term or archival storage. All Keepfiling binders are made with solid, strong, durable polypropylene covers. Polypropylene is archival safe, does not absorb humidity, and is easy to clean. We have chosen this material specifically for its durability, safety, and economic value in the long run.

Keepfiling Binders

Despite all the options available for binders mentioned above, Keepfiling have made is easy for you to purchase just the right binder for your needs. All you need to know is the size of the documents you're keeping in the binder. All Keepfiling binders are made with polypropylene and uses 1-1/2" D-rings. Instead of offering them in different materials like cardboard, fabric, or metals, we believe polypropylene is the most economical in the long run; best value for your money. It is durable and can be made in different colors for style. We've chosen to use D-rings because of the uniformity it offers when pages are stacked together, also because they can hold up to 25% more than O-rings. This gives the binder flexibility if it wants to hold more pages for manuals or reference binders. We use 1-1/2" size because we consider its capacity to be the ideal number of pages a binder should hold because it becomes overloaded or too heavy to carry around. With archival safe polypropylene and 1-1/2" D-rings, we think Keepfiling binders can be great for all purposes: For presentations, or as an archival binders to organize references, or even as a portfolio to showcase your artwork. We truly think of our binders can be used for multipurpose. Instead of having to buy a separate presentation or portfolio binder, just buy a Keepfiling binder to fulfill all your different needs. When buying Keepfiling binders, all you need to consider is size. We have the following sizes available:

W x H (in)	Name	Orientation
5.5 x 8.5 (6x8)	Digest, 'Mini'	Portrait
8.25 x 11.75	A4	Portrait
8.5 x 11	Letter size	Portrait
8.5 x 14	Legal size	Portrait
9 x 12	Arch A,'Music'	Portrait
11 x 8.5	Letter size	Landscape
11 x 14	Poster	Portrait
11 x 17	Tabloid	Landscape
12 x 12	Scrapbook	Portrait
13 x 19	Super-b	Portrait
14 x 8.5	Legal size	Landscape
14 x 11	Poster	Landscape
14 x 17	'Art'	Portrait
17 x 11	Ledger	Portrait

Keepfiling 3-Ring Binders vs. Traditional Office 3-Ring Binders

This table highlights features of Keepfiling letter size binders that other brands might not have. A lot of thought was put into designing these binders so that they not only look nice and professional, but also be practical and have great functionality.

Features	Letter Size Keepfiling Binders	Other Brands
Color finger hole ring For convenient handling when moving binder on and off shelves Color organizing binders by category content Finger rings are now available in various colors, click here for details.
Spine label holder To fit label for identifying contents in the binder FREE spine label templates available, download here!
Easy to remove spine label Use convenient spine label hole inside the binder to push and remove spine label easily FREE spine label templates available, download here!
Powder coated rings Black powder coated rings reduces risk of nickel allergy
D-rings mounted on back cover (instead of spine) This allows the pages to lie flat in the binder D-rings provide a more uniform look when pages or sheet protectors are inserted
Cover material Solid & virtually indestructible polypropylene hard cover that does not absorb water Does not 'bubble up' like other binders made in other materials
Extra binder width The extra width let you use index tabs with the binders, without the tabs sticking out from the binder edge
Clear inside pocket Extra space for loose pages Clear pocket provides full view of page content
Vibrant colors Classic and contemporary colors to choose from: Sapphire Blue, Lime Green, Snow White, and Red
for Keepfiling 8.5x11 Letter Size Binders