10 Best School Binders in 2022 (Five Star, Mead, and More)

We want to start by sharing our 10 favorite school binders. As you go through the list, you will find binders made from various materials, in different sizes, and with pockets to store your school supplies!

As you look at school binders, consider the materials, rings, and features to find the right one for your situation! By going through our buying guide, you will see what you should pay attention to when it comes to school binders.

Most school binders will be made out of paperboard with a plastic layer and fabric, so we want to point out how each option may benefit you.

Many binders use plastic and paperboard, meaning the binder consists of paperboard covered with a layer of plastic. These covers are easy to clean since you can remove stains or markings with a wet cloth. They are also less bulky and won't take up that much room.

On the other hand, the plastic will peel off with time, exposing the paperboard layer. But if you want a low-maintenance and lightweight binder, this material might be the option for you.

Some school binders have fabric covers. This fabric is usually made of synthetic materials or oxford fabric that consists of a mix of cotton, plastic, and other materials. While some of the synthetic materials may vary, they usually have similar benefits and drawbacks.

Fabric-covered binders have a thicker layer of material, so they can withstand drops, hits, and any other damage. Since these binders also have fabric lining along the edges, you won't have to worry about the cover peeling open.

However, fabric binders are bulkier, so they will take up more room in your backpack. But if you want to keep your papers and school items safe, you may want a binder with a fabric cover.

As you pick out a binder, you should think about the inner rings. Let's take a look at their sizes, shapes, and how you open them.

The thickness of binders varies by an inch or so, but that won’t matter as long as the binders are big enough to fit line paper in them. This means the binders should be about 10 by 12 inches for standard paper. You should focus on the diameter of the rings since larger rings will fit more paper in them. 

Binder rings can range from half an inch to five inches in diameter. Rings under two inches won’t store as much paper, but your papers will be easier to organize. Rings over three inches can carry more paper, but filling them up will make your binder bulkier. 

If your class requires you to use tons of paper, you may want a large binder, but a smaller one works if you won't bring that much to school.

Some binders have O-rings while others have D-rings. So on top of having different shapes, they have some functional differences you should consider.

O-ring binders make it easy to turn the pages since they’ll follow the round shape. However, O-rings with the same diameter as D-ring binders can't hold as many pieces of paper. 

D-ring binders can hold lots of paper since the flat end makes it easy to store pages and keep them on one side. On the other hand, since they have a flat end with a corner, you could rip a page if you don't flip the paper carefully.

While most binders use buttons to open the binder rings, some require you to pull them apart with your hands. Pull-apart ones are easy to open since you can grab each side with both hands and open them. However, as you keep opening the rings this way, they will eventually start to bend and not properly close.

Buttons are nice since they’ll snap the rings open and closed when you press them. Plus, the rings will last longer since you aren’t bending them. On the other hand, some people may struggle to open them since they need to press both buttons hard to open the rings.

A few binders will use one-button mechanisms that offer the easiest use. However, if you press the button on accident, your binder rings could open and let your papers fall out.

Binders often have useful features, such as closure types, inner pockets, and handles.

While some binders don’t have ways to keep them closed, others use zippers, Velcro, or elastic bands. Zippers do a great job of preventing your belongings from falling out since they don’t leave any space for small items to slip out. However, if any of the zipper teeth get damaged, you won't be able to close your binder anymore.

Velcro and elastic bands make it easy and fast to close your binder since you just need to pull the tab or lift the elastic band over the button. However, the Velcro will weaken with time, and the elastic band could snap if you put too much stress on it.

Many binders will include pockets either on the inside of the covers, or they’ll have a removable middle pocket with a zipper on it. 

Inner pouches are nice since you can slip pieces of paper into them when you don’t want to use binder rings. They also don't take up that much space. However, if you leave papers in the inner pouches, their edges may get damaged or bent.

An additional pouch makes it easy for you to store items aside from papers, such as pencils, erasers, or other school supplies. They also use zippers, so your belongings won't fall out of your binder. On the other hand, a pouch will take up more space, so you can't store as much paper in the rings.

Some binders have see-through plastic covers on the front, back, and spines. These plastic covers can improve the water resistance of your binder since they add a layer of protection. 

You can also get a piece of paper and slide it inside the plastic cover to identify your binder. However, the plastic can rip off if you aren't careful with it, so you need to be mindful of the way you handle it.

Handles and straps are added to binders to make them easier to carry around. But if you're just going to be putting your binder into a backpack or purse, then handles and straps may be too bulky! 

Handles are great if you need to grab your binder quickly. They are usually sewn into the binder, so you may damage the outer layer if the handle breaks or rips off.

Straps allow you to carry your binder on your shoulders, and they cause less strain compared to handles. On the other hand, straps can easily snag onto objects as you walk, which can lead to breaking or tearing.

While you prepare for school, you should think about the other supplies you'll need. Check out these links to see if they have any supplies you may have forgotten to buy!

Author: Garrett Garcia

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