A well-placed cabinet handle is equally important in terms of practicality and aesthetics. On the other hand, improper placement of cabinet hardware can result in a kitchen that is under-functional or even a little incongruous. We’ve outlined everything you need to know about placing handles and handles on kitchen cabinets. You never have to worry about the position of the cabinet handles again!
Table of Contents
Types of Cabinet Handles
There are two basic types of hardware you can install to help you open your kitchen cabinets and drawers–knobs and pulls.
- Knobs
Knobs are one of the oldest, most popular, and widely used kitchen cabinet hardware options. Traditionally, they are made of metal and are round. But today, you can find them in a variety of shapes and materials to match almost any style or design. The best thing about using knobs is that you only need to drill a hole to mount them. This is great if you’re not ready to drill multiple holes in the pretty cabinets to install the cables.
- Pulls
If you’re looking for more modern, easier-to-gear hardware, then pull might be the way to go! Handles provide greater leverage for opening heavy kitchen drawers and less flexibility in using them. Installing knobs with a rabbi requires a bit more planning. Pulls require more than one hole, and you’ll have to pay more attention to drawer and cabinet size to make sure the pull you choose isn’t too large.
Where to Use Knobs and Pulls
Traditionally, the location of kitchen cabinet knobs is the knob of the cabinet door and the pull of the drawer. However, there are many ways to install cabinet hardware, and it really comes down to personal preference – there are some general design tips to keep in mind.
For example, handles can be used interchangeably on doors and drawers. This works well in modern installations when the pull is a simple, straightforward design. It works well with other styles too – farmhouse, cottage, transitional – especially if the handle is slightly stylized.
Knobs can also be used on drawers, especially in bathrooms, to add a more refined detail. Remember that individual knobs look best on smaller drawers and look disproportionate on extra long or dark drawers.
If the drawer is more than 24 inches wide, you can balance it with two knobs or two pulls. Measure your drawer, divide it into thirds, and place knobs or handles on the left and right center. Proper placement of cabinet knobs not only creates visual balance but also improves drawer functionality.
Where to Put Handles on Kitchen Cabinets
Now that you know a little bit about the basics of kitchen cabinet hardware, we will guide you through where to put all the knobs and pulls on each kitchen and cabinet drawer. When you’re done, you’ll know exactly how to install your knobs and pulls for a cohesive and functional kitchen!
Drawers
Knobs
Smaller drawers less than 24 inches wide should have only one knob, which is usually centered horizontally and vertically on the drawer surface. For drawers larger than 24 inches, you may need two knobs to get the correct lever to pull it open. To place two knobs on a drawer, simply divide the drawer into thirds and place the knobs in the vertical center of the left and right thirds. If you have a drawer that is different from the panel drawer, you want to put the knobs in different places. You may find that to suit your needs, simply place the knob horizontally on the top armrest rather than in the middle of the panel. If you have a drawer larger than 24 inches, divide the top rail into thirds and place the knobs in the left and right thirds.
Pulls
Handles are installed horizontally on the drawer and follow all the same rules for installing knobs on drawers. For small drawers under 24 inches, pull the drawer to the middle of the drawer face, the upper third of the drawer, or the center of the top rail. Small drawers less than 12 inches wide should have a 3 to 4 inches long pull.
Medium drawers 12 to 24 inches wide work best with pulls that are 4 to 8 inches long.
Large drawers over 24 inches wide should have a pull of at least 8 inches long or longer. Alternatively, you can choose to install two smaller pulls on drawers wider than 24 inches using the same rules as for installing two knobs.
Base Cabinets
On both base and wall cabinets, knobs and pulls should be installed opposite the hinges to allow you to swing the doors open.
Knobs
In general, knobs should be placed 2½ to 3 inches from the top right edge of the base cabinet. It is important to place the knobs of the bottom cabinets on the upper corners or styles of the bottom cabinets so you don’t have to bend over to open the cabinets.
Pulls
Traditional pulls are installed vertically and typically follow the same 2 ½ to 3-inch installation rule as knobs. For base cabinets, the top screw of your pull will be placed between 2 ½ and 3 inches from the top corner of the cabinet (opposite the hinges) and the bottom screw will be placed at the other end of the pull.
Wall Cabinets
Knobs
Similar to base cabinets, knobs are best installed 2 ½ to 3 inches from the corner of the door but on the bottom of the door instead of the top. This ensures that you don’t have to reach too high to open your cabinet doors.
Pulls
Start by placing the first screw on the bottom corner of your wall cabinets opposite the hinges, about 2 ½ to 3 inches from the bottom. Your other screw should be placed at the other end of the pull.
Conclusion
When renovating a kitchen, one of the first decisions you will make is where to put the handles on the cabinets. This might seem like a small detail, but it’s actually quite important. The placement of knobs can affect the aesthetics and functionality of your kitchen.
The most common location for a cabinet handle is opposite the door hinge. On-wall cabinets, are usually placed 2-1/2″ to 3″ from the bottom corner of the door. On base cabinets, they are placed 2-1/2″ to 3″ from the upper corner of the door. On drawers and chests of drawers, the knob is usually centered on the front of the drawer. If your drawer is 24 inches or wider, you can choose to place a second knob in the center for symmetry.
Placing the knob in the most logical place will make it easier to open and close doors and drawers, especially if you have a lot of cabinets. However, you may also want to consider the aesthetics of your kitchen when deciding where to place it. For example, if you have a lot of trim, you may want to place the knobs closer to the edge of the door so they stand out more.
