How do you create custom tab dividers?

Custom tab dividers are perfect for getting your documents organized and setup for easy reference. Whether you’re creating a pitchbook for clients, setting up a case binder for trial, or building a handbook for your employees, adding tab dividers will elevate your document and add a professional touch at the same time.

There are many options for adding custom tabs to your document, but here are our 4 favorite ways to make-your-own custom tab dividers.

1. Blank Tabs with Writeable Mylar

Best for: low volume | 1-5 copies of the document.

How’s your handwriting? This is by far the simplest way to add tab dividers to your document. Pick up a pack of blank tabs from legalsupply.com. They come in packs of 25 sheets and either with or without Mylar. We recommend the Mylar, as it’s much more durable and prevents the tabs from bending. The best part is, the Mylar on these blank tabs is completely writeable. Grab a pen and your coworker with the best handwriting and simply jot down your titles on each tab. It doesn’t get much simpler than that. A word of caution, though; if you’re producing a ton of copies of the document in question, this may not be the best way to go. Handwritten custom blank tabs are ideal for situations where you only need 1 to 5 copies. Anymore than that, and your calligraphy mastering coworker won’t be happy.

2. Blank Tabs with Labels

Best for: low to mid volume | 1-15 copies of the document.

This method is a popular option for adding custom dividers to your documents because it’s the perfect mix of easy execution while still delivering professional quality. Once again, you’ll need to pick up a pack or two of blank tabs from legalsupply.com. Same rules apply when choosing between a paper and Mylar tab. If you go with the Mylar, in many cases the tabs come with a sheet of stick-on labels that you’ll use to add your custom titles to the tabs.

Here’s where things get a little fancier. Download our free blank tab label template. Open it up in Microsoft word (don’t worry, the page looks blank, but it’s not). The template is setup to match the divisions on your label sheet that came with the pack of blank tabs you bought. Type your titles on the template, stick your label sheet in your laser/inkjet printer, and click print. Now all you need to do is stick the labels on the tabs and voilà! You’ve now got a fully customer tab set.

3. Professionally Printed Custom Tab Dividers

Best for: All Volumes | 1 to infinity.

Now here’s the option that’s truly our favorite, and we’re not just saying that because it’s what we do. Get your custom tabs professionally printed from TabShop.com. This gives you the best of all worlds. TabShop was built to make ordering your tab set as friction free as possible. Design online, get your instant pricing, purchase, and let us do the rest. Easy, huh?

Choose the exact specs you need. Need color on the tab? You can do that. Need a special sheet size? You can do that too. You can select your paper weight and color, your tab size, and we can even print on the body of the tab sheet too. Read more here for a crash course on our custom tab dividers. We promise, you won’t be disappointed.

4. High-Speed Copier Tabs

Best for: High volume | 100+ copies of the document.

REQUIRES A HIGH-SPEED COPIER – THIS WILL NOT WORK ON LASER/INKJET PRINTERS.

The fourth and final option to make our list are High Speed Copier Tabs. This, by far, requires the most technical prowess and the proper equipment. You’ll need a high-speed copier. That said, the resulting custom tab set will not only be professional but can be printed on demand. Pickup a box of Copier Tabs at LegalSupply. I won’t get into the nitty gritty here about how execute this option, but if you want a crash course, checkout this video to get you started.

High-speed copier tabs really show their strength, because of their on-demand nature. If you’re one of those people that find yourself in a perpetual state of tabbing, this one is for you.

Custom Tab Dividers Made Easy

Custom tab dividers have a wide-ranging application and not only help to organize a document, but in our option, truly add the finishing touch. There are many ways to create custom tab dividers, but these are our 4 favorites. For the best all-around option, choose TabShop, and let us do the hard work. Start your design today and we’ll have your custom tabs done in no time.