Board guide
Stacking letter trays: a workflow guide for paper in stages
Paper moves in stages
Paper on a working desk moves in stages: it arrives, it waits, it gets worked on, it goes out. A stacking tray gives each stage a place, and the stack itself shows the state of the work at a glance: what is waiting, what is in progress, what is done.
That visibility is the point. A pile hides its state; a stack of labelled trays declares it. Anyone approaching the desk can see where work stands without asking.
Stacking versus side by side
Stacking suits paper that flows through steps in order: the top tray feeds the next tray down, and the work moves one way. Side-by-side suits paper that must stay visibly separate by kind: each kind keeps its own place and nothing flows into anything else.
Many desks use both: a stack for the workflow, and a side tray or two for the kinds that must not mix. The choice is rarely either-or, and the guides describe desks that mix them well.
How many stages
The number of stages should match the work, not the tray set. Three stages — in, doing, done — serve most desks. More stages serve work that genuinely passes through more hands or more checks. Fewer stages serve work that moves fast.
Extra stages that do not match real steps become dumping grounds: trays that fill with paper no one moves. A stage should exist because paper genuinely waits there, not because a tray was empty.
Keeping a stack honest
A stack stays honest when it is cleared on a rhythm. A daily clear of the done tray, and a weekly check for paper that has stalled in the middle, keeps the stack a picture of the work rather than a picture of neglect.
Labels keep a shared stack honest: a tray marked for its stage gets used for its stage. An unmarked stack gets used for whatever is nearest, and its stages blur within a week.
What to put in your inquiry
A useful stacking tray inquiry names the desk, the stages the paper passes through, whether trays should stack or sit side by side, and how many desks are being fitted out.
Confirm the minimum order quantity and lead time for your order in your inquiry, and describe the workflow so the reply can be specific.
Related reading
Whiteboards for shared writing — compare the line, then confirm
Whiteboard category page: the whiteboard line presented at category level for classrooms, offices and workspaces.
Bulletin boards for notices that stay put — compare the line, then confirm
Bulletin board category page: the bulletin board line presented at category level for classrooms, offices and shared spaces.
Felt boards: compare the line, then confirm
Felt board category page: the felt board line presented at category level for classrooms, offices and display spaces.
Start a board inquiry
Tell the Sales Team about the rooms you are fitting out, the lines you need, and how the surfaces will be used. Confirm the minimum order quantity and lead time for your order in your inquiry.