How do I tell if a vertical file cabinet is letter-size or legal-size just by looking at it?

The easiest way to tell: measure the interior width of a drawer. Letter-size drawers are approximately 12.5–13 inches wide (just enough for an 8.5-inch-wide letter-size folder). Legal-size drawers are approximately 15–16 inches wide (accommodating 8.5x14-inch legal-size folders). Externally, legal-size cabinets are about 3 inches wider than letter-size cabinets — a 15-inch-wide cabinet vs. an 18-inch-wide cabinet. Cabinet labels and specifications should identify the size. If buying a used cabinet without documentation, measure the drawer interior width to confirm. Most standard office filing uses letter-size; legal-size is worth it if your documents consistently use 8.5x14-inch paper. FindOfficeFurniture.com — call 888-719-4960.