Best Binders For School – The Best Binders For Students Now

This is the ultimate guide to the best binders for note-taking in school. Improve your grades with better notes!

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Why Read This Article On The Best Binders For School?

​If you’re looking for binders first of all… you’re in the right place.

I have dubbed this blog the “ultimate note-taking guide” because I have TONS of articles on taking better notes in school.

So I’m not just going to give you a list of binders that are aesthetic for school.

I’m actually going to give you QUALITY recommendations and walk you through why it’s important to consider the FEATURES of a binder for school.

Look, if you want to go budget-friendly super crazy affordable, here’s a great option for both binders AND notebooks…

For $1.30 each, that’s pretty hard to beat — especially considering the dollar store is now the $1.25 store.

However, if you take note-taking VERY SERIOUSLY — or if you’d simply like to, then I have some recommendations for the best binders to consider for taking notes.

Now let’s dive into why I think binders are the way to go for note-taking.

Why Binders?

If you’re anything like me, you have 1,000 notebooks that are constantly half-or-barely-used sitting around.

They’re mostly free — from random events — that you sporadically use only to forget about and end up tearing pages out of later.

Maybe you filled one up fully for a class and half-used another… or maybe you only used a bit of one.

Regardless, notebooks, in my opinion, while great, aren’t technically as efficient as binders.

Binders are the best for note-taking:

With a good binder, some sturdy loose-leaf, maybe some dividers … etc. you can easily…

• Re-organize your notes
• Remove only the notes you need to study and put them back
• Clear out old notes and store them elsewhere
• Create a mini-study guide separately
• Prevent losing them
• Can laminate notes to keep and reference
• Can use them for multiple classes down the road

… truly the list goes on and on.

​Binders Are For Out-Of-Class Notes

This is an important piece I’ve touched on before in other articles, which I HIGHLY recommend you look into.

Your notes in class should ideally be TYPED … if, of course, possible.

This is because typing is typically…

• Faster
• Neater
• Harder to lose

And having for example the slides up on your computer and only taking a few reference notes instead of transcribing everything so you can LISTEN in class — is THE KEY.

Your notes out of class should be HANDWRITTEN.

The reasoning for this is …

• It’s scientifically backed that it’s better for learning and memory retention
• You can get creative with them
• It’s really mainly a study aid such as transcribing from a textbook
• You can take your time, use colors, etc. and you don’t need to scramble like you would in a lecture

Therefore, binders are absolutely the way to go for out-of-class notes and you can use them DURING class as a reference.

If your teacher doesn’t allow typing notes, then definitely use binders for both.

Plus you can print things out as well as use handouts simultaneously by getting a three-ring binder and then hole-punching them and adding them into the binder to store everything in one place.

Important Binder Features To Consider

When buying school binders there are some things to think about features-wise so you get the best outcome.

Here are some of the best features to consider when investing in a good school binder or adding to one:

Different Colors For Different Classes

If you take a lot of notes it’s important to separate your binders by class to avoid confusion (if you’re prone to mixing them up then just save yourself to frustration and don’t get a separate binder).

Sheet Protectors

Investing in some sheet protectors is a god-send for referencing notes later because it’s so easy for them to get lost or damaged

Interior Pockets For Pens & Pencils

As long as it doesn’t crease your notes, investing in a good binder with internal pockets is a great option for keeping them on hand for easier access.

Binder Dividers & Tabs

Not only are these affordable, but they are also life savers for organizing your notes. If you don’t have them, temporarily, sticky notes can act as dividers.

Binder Clipboard

Great for notes even on the go, or if you prefer writing notes outside of your binder and transferring them in later.

Waterproof Binders

A must for the messy or just cautious student.

Corner Guards

These are amazing for protecting your binders and conserving their longevity.

Binder Pockets

These are super great for quick references or important documents, such as important papers you need to turn in.

Binder Pencil Cases

Pencil cases in a binder are a great way to store all your supplies in one place.

Sticky Tabs

Who doesn’t love sticky tabs? These are aesthetic and great for annotating notes, especially for study references later.

Now let’s dive into some great binder options for all types of students.

Binder Recommendations

Now I’m going to showcase some great options for binders to consider depending on the type of student you are.

​Choosing the best student binders really just comes down to what you like. Your favorite type of binder should work the best for you.

Heavy-Duty Binders

These are the perfect binders for students who constantly throw their binders into their bags and run to the next thing.

These binders are great because they are made of high-quality materials to preserve them from wear and tear.

It may feel pricey but if it keeps up with the rigors of daily use and prevents you from having to buy another high-quality binder down the line, it might be a good idea to make the investment.

Aesthetic Binders

These binders are stylish and come with lots of good features including tabs and pockets.

Executive Binders

These binders are great for storing important papers or simple standard school papers.

The leather look makes it appear professional so it can be used for presentations or other professional settings such as for a job interview.

Waterproof & Fireproof Binders

If you’re highly accident-prone, or simple very cautious about preserving your papers a great place to store important notes is a binder that is both water and fireproof.

Zipper Binders

A zipper binder is a great idea if you often find yourself losing documents or want a little more protection. It will definitely help you prevent loose papers or school materials from falling out.

This one by Five Star is great quality and has extra pockets for storage. It’s easy to carry around so if you find yourself preferring carrying your notes rather than needing a bag then this might be the best choice 

“Everything Binder”

This 3-ring binder has all sorts of cool features including a clipboard, tabs, pockets, it’s extra large, comes in tons of colors, has stickers and a pen holder, and looks super professional.

This binder will certainly run you more, but lots of times since you might want to invest in all the features that you might want anyway it could be a better bang for your buck.

Its large capacity is perfect for multiple purposes if that’s what you prefer.

It clearly already stands out as a well-organized binder so if you’re looking for something that helps set you up for academic success this might be the way to go.

These binders are great ways to stay organized throughout the entire school year and are some of the best picks out there on the market.

Binders are truly some of the best school supplies for how many purposes they serve whether your need one with exterior pockets, one with water-resistant fabirc, one that acts as a file folder, or just one that survives daily wear.

I hope this article on the best binders for school was helpful to you.

Good luck in the school year!