QA

Question: How To Install Cabinet Hardware Pulls

Where should Pulls be placed on cabinets?

For pulls (having two screws) on upper cabinets, the pull should be centered horizontally on the door stile and the bottom hole should be placed 2-1/2” up from the bottom of the door. For lower cabinets the upper hole should be placed vertically, 2-1/2” down from the top of the door.

How do you line up cabinet handles?

The location of knobs and pulls isn’t written in stone, but there are some standard practices. One good rule of thumb is to line up a knob with the top of the bottom door rail. If you’re installing door pulls, line up the bottom of the pull with the top of the door rail. Always center them on the door stile.

Should kitchen handles be vertical or horizontal?

The universal rule is that handles are placed vertically on doors and horizontally on pull-out drawers. Stand in your new kitchen and hold your handles against the drawers and cabinet doors to try out different heights and positions for each of them.

How do you measure for drawer pulls?

Place the drawer pull on a work surface with the threaded posts facing up. Measure from the center of the screw hole in one threaded post over to the center of the other screw hole with a tape measure. This is the measurement required when selecting replacement pulls.

How many pulls should a drawer have?

Drawers wider than 18″ need two knobs/pulls, whereas drawer narrower need only one. If a drawer is wide enough to need two knobs, they should be set about 1/6th of the drawer length from each end (roughly). Single pulls or knobs on drawers should be laterally centered and slightly higher than vertical center.

Should I use knobs or pulls on kitchen cabinets?

There are no strict rules to follow when choosing whether to select a knob or a pull or both. One preference is to use knobs for all doors and pulls for all drawers. For any large door such as a pantry and any pull-out door (including pull-out base pantries or trash pull-outs), use a pull.

How do I choose a kitchen handle?

When choosing handles it is important to make sure they are good quality and are well designed. Think about how many times you open and close the cabinet doors and drawers in your kitchen. You will want your handles to be as comfortable as they are stylish. Test out the handles you intend to buy.

What handles go with Shaker cabinets?

The simplest way to adorn your Shaker cabinetry is to use only knobs on all the cabinet doors and drawers. To achieve a classic or vintage look, circular glass or ceramic knobs are most appropriate.

What size handles to use on kitchen cabinets?

There is no right or wrong size to choose, but we do recommend choosing pulls that have at least a 3-3/4″ center to center (the distance between the screw holes). This size looks pleasing on most cabinets, while still being large enough to grip comfortably. 5″ pulls are also an excellent choice.

What size pulls for 36 inch Drawers?

Pulls 3-7 inches in length will sit the most comfortably on doors less than 24 inches tall. Cabinet doors 24-36 inches tall are best adorned with pulls 7-12 inches long, while cabinets taller than 36 inches such as pantries, built-in appliances and pullouts should be accompanied by pulls longer than 12 inches.

How do you measure for new dresser pulls?

The Center-to-Center of any drawer pull is the distance between the center of one screw hole to the center of the other. Measuring the center-to-center of the drawer pull is key in determining what new hardware will fit and whether you’ll need to drill new mounting holes or fit into existing ones.

What is standard for cabinet pulls?

For standard size cabinetry (dimensions of 12″ – 36″) the most common pull sizes are 3”, 4”, 96mm, and 128mm center to center (from one screw hole to another). Standard knob sizes are 1 1/4″ or 1 3/8″.

What is the rule of thumb for cabinet hardware?

A good rule of thumb for traditional or transitional style pulls is that they should be about one-third of the length of the cabinet drawer. Drawers larger than eighteen inches wide may require more than one pull or knob. Pulls are installed with two screws through two points of contact on a door or drawer.

Do you put pulls on fake drawers?

I would recommend putting pulls on the dummy drawers it allows for consistency. Good design is always consistent. It will also give the illusion that these drawers are not fake. The idea of putting a minimal intrusive towel bar works well because then it will serve more for function then aesthetics.

How do you decide between knobs and pulls?

Knobs have smaller profiles than handles, are less expensive, and can be used for both drawers and cabinets. They are slightly easier to install than pulls since you only need one screw to secure the knob to the surface. Pulls are larger than knobs, make more of a statement, and tend to be easier to grip.

Can you mix knobs and pulls on kitchen cabinets?

Yes. You can mix knobs and pulls. It’s recommended to use pulls for cabinets that are higher up and knobs for lower style cabinets. Lower drawers that slide are typically fitted with a pull handle.

Can you mix handles and knobs on kitchen cabinets?

Although it’s definitely possible to coordinate cabinet hardware in different finishes, it’s much easier and safer to mix different shapes of knobs and pulls in one matching finish.