Equaling files cut on all sides to shape and finish all surfaces of slots and corners. They are commonly used to file keyways and mortises. Their rectangular profile is the same width and thickness from heel to point to produce uniform filing anywhere along the faces and edges. The faces are flat and provide a wide area of contact for general filing and removing material from even surfaces and linear edges.

Half-round files smooth and finish flat or round surfaces. Their flat face makes full contact with even surfaces and linear edges, and their convex face conforms with rounded grooves, holes, and edges.

Knife-edge files abrade material in corners, narrow slots, and tight angles. Their thin edges file keyways, fastener threads, and V-grooves. Tool-and-die makers and jewelers use knife files on workpieces with very acute angles.

Triangular files abrade material in tight corners and angles less than 90°. Also known as three-square files, they clean up square corners, create V-grooves with 60° angles, and start the process of squaring round holes before switching to a square file.