Trying To Choose a Binder? 3 Factors to Consider

It may seem like an easy decision, but whether you need a binder to impress or to stand up to the rough and tumble of daily life, putting a little thought into the kind of binder you need before you buy can help save you the frustration of a subpar binder later on.

If you’re looking for the perfect three-ring binder, here are three considerations to take into account:

1. Use

   The type of binder you choose really depends on how you plan to use it. Consider what types of factors are important to you:

   • Durability: You’ll want to go for a poly binder, since these types of binders can handle the roughest conditions, including high and low temperatures, moisture, and getting crushed in the back of the car.
   • Presentation: If you’re using the binder in a work setting, be it an internal presentation or for client relations, looks matter. Vinyl coated binders offer the most finesse, since you can purchase ones with a clear pocket on the outside to personalize the binder. Or, better yet, call a binder manufacturing company to get binders embossed or printed with your company’s branding.
   • Organization: Again, vinyl binders are the best choice when you’re using a binder to organize materials you need in a home or office setting. That’s because the rigidity of the binder allows it to be stored and easily accessed on a shelf, just like a book.
   • Flexibility: For times when you need a binder that will conform to its surroundings (like a backpack or briefcase), poly binders offer a more flexible binder whose size won’t demand all of your valuable space.

2. Ring Style

   You’ll need to decide if you want an O-Ring or a D-Ring binder. The shape of these binder rings look just like the letters that describe them.

   The O-ring binder is the most common and often works well when you’re not using a binder to capacity. But if you’ve got a large binder full of valuable papers, you’ll want to consider a D-ring binder. That’s because D-Ring binders hold papers flat and make it easier to insert and take away individual sheets within the binder.

3. Size

   Don’t buy a full size binder when you need a smaller binder. Don’t buy a regular size binder if you’re using legal paper. There’s a binder for every size of sheet paper! If large box store retailers don’t have the size of binder that you really need, don’t make do. Check out small binder companies who can offer you custom sizes to meet your needs.

   Also consider the thickness of your binder. You’ll want to make sure that a binder isn’t too thick for the documents you have for presentation purposes, since an oversized binder can make your presentation materials look oversized.

   On the flipside, if you’re using a binder for organizational purposes or for a growing collection of documents, you’ll want to make sure the binder is a little larger than you initially need. In this case it’s better to grow into a binder’s size rather than having to eventually fight with one that’s too small.

Regardless of what you need a binder for, you can definitely find one that meets all of your needs. Thinking about your specific needs and making sure to check out binder companies that go beyond what you can find in the box store can help you ensure that you pick the best binder for the job every time.