Used Filing Cabinets by Brand: Global, Teknion and Herman Miller Compared (2026)

A filing cabinet is not glamorous — until the drawer sticks, the lock fails, or the whole unit tips when the top drawer opens. That is why brand matters far more in used filing cabinets than most buyers expect. A well-built commercial cabinet from Global, Teknion, or Herman Miller can serve for decades, which is exactly why good used examples are such strong value. This guide from Ufficio Furniture compares the three brands we see most, what to check on each, and what used prices in CAD should look like.

The photo for this post (buro-products/filing-cabinet/4-drawer-lateral-file.jpg) shows a 4-drawer lateral file of the type we stock — wide drawers that take letter or legal files side by side, and our most popular format for shared office storage.

Global: The Practical Canadian Workhorse

Global is a Canadian office furniture maker, and its filing cabinets are everywhere in GTA offices for a simple reason: they were built for daily commercial use and priced for real budgets. Expect solid steel construction, smooth ball-bearing drawer slides, and straightforward locks that are easy to have rekeyed or replaced.

On a used Global cabinet, check that every drawer opens fully without grinding, that the suspension arms are not bent from years of overloading, and that the lock core turns cleanly if a key is included. Global laterals pair naturally with a wide range of desk systems, so they are often the easiest brand to match into an existing office. For most small and mid-sized offices, a clean used Global cabinet is the value pick — dependable storage without paying for a badge.

Teknion: Built to Match Teknion Workstations

Teknion cabinets were designed as part of complete workstation systems, and it shows. Pedestals, laterals, and storage towers share finishes and dimensions with Teknion cubicles and desks, so if your office runs Teknion workstations, a Teknion cabinet will match in height, depth, and look in a way a random cabinet will not.

Check Teknion units for the same fundamentals — drawer action, lock function, and level feet — plus one system-specific point: confirm the cabinet height works under your worksurface or as a supporting pedestal if you plan to use it that way, since Teknion storage often plays a structural role in a station. If you are building out Teknion stations and want the storage to disappear visually into the run, this is your brand. See our current stock on the used filing cabinets page.

Herman Miller: Premium Build and Smooth Action

Herman Miller storage carries the brand's usual engineering polish. Drawers tend to feel especially smooth and quiet, finishes hold up well, and the overall fit — gaps, alignment, handles — is a step above standard commercial storage. Used Herman Miller cabinets cost a little more than the other two brands, and buyers who will open a drawer fifty times a day usually decide the feel is worth it.

On a used Herman Miller unit, verify the lock and key situation carefully, since replacement cores can be pricier, and check that any soft-close or specialty drawer hardware still works as intended. If you already have Herman Miller furniture in the office, matching storage keeps the room looking deliberate.

Used Prices in CAD: What to Budget

Across all three brands, typical used prices at Ufficio Furniture run: 2-drawer cabinets $60–$150 CAD, 3-drawer cabinets $120–$225 CAD, 4-drawer cabinets $175–$325 CAD, and 5-drawer lateral files $250–$400 CAD. Price within each range depends on brand, size (letter vs legal, vertical vs lateral), lock and key included, and cosmetic condition. A cabinet with a working lock, both keys, and clean drawers is worth the top of its range; one needing a lock core belongs at the bottom.

Whatever the brand, do three checks before you buy: open every drawer fully loaded or unloaded, test the lock with the actual key, and rock the cabinet gently — a quality commercial unit feels planted, not flimsy. Browse Ufficio Furniture for the wider range.

Come Check Drawers in Person

Storage is a hands-on purchase. Visit Ufficio Furniture at 1215 Meyerside Drive Unit 7, Mississauga ON, open Mon-Sat 10am-7pm / Sun 11am-6pm, and pull every drawer yourself before you choose. Call us at 647-898-8918 for filing cabinet inquiries. Global for value, Teknion for a perfect system match, Herman Miller for premium feel — all three beat a flimsy new big-box cabinet, and a good used one will likely outlast the office it is bought for.