What size drawer slide should I use?

Measure the box, not the drawer front



Start at the back of the box and measure to the front of the box without including the face of the drawer. Once you have the length, round the number down. For example, if the drawer is 20 ½ inches long you will need to purchase 20 inch drawer slides.

How do I choose and install drawer slides?





Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: Front for undermount slides you need to measure the drawer length. This is really important the slide must be the same length as a drawer to work properly.

What is the difference between bottom mount and side mount drawer slides?

Side mounts are connected on the side of the drawer and cabinet. Bottom mounts are attached to the bottom of the drawer and side of the cabinet. Meanwhile, undermounts are two slides attached to the underneath (invisible) of the drawer and side of the cabinet.

How thick are drawer slides?

5/8″ thick

Also note that the space from the underside of the drawer to the bottom of the drawer sides must be 1/2″ (the slides themselves are usually 5/8″ thick or less).

What size drawer slides for a 21 cabinet?





Similar to a kitchen cabinet, and with the standard vanity top depth at 21-inches, you’ll find the finished depth of vanities mostly support a 16 or 18-inch drawer slide.

Can drawer slides be shorter than drawer?

The straightforward answer to your question is yes, a sliding drawer shorter than a drawer. If your drawers size 24 or 25 inches, then your drawer slide should be 22″ because of working well and easily cross the drawer when you use the drawer as a slide.

Which drawer slides are easiest to install?

Mounting location: Side mounted drawer slides are the most popular and easiest to install. Center mount and undermount are also options.

Can drawer slides be longer than drawer?

You should always use the longest slide possible for your application, without exceeding the drawer depth into the cabinet. The Height of a Drawer Slide is usually only a limiting factor, in the sense that you can’t install a slide that is taller than your drawer or pull-out.

How much should you allow for drawer slides?



Most side-mount slides require 1/2” to 17/32” of clearance on each side of a drawer. That means each drawer should be 1” to 1-1/16” smaller than the opening to fit properly. Under-mount slides attach to the bottoms of drawer boxes and can’t be seen when the drawers are open.

What kind of wood is used for drawer boxes?

Poplar is a great all-around choice for drawer box construction. It is stable, durable, and much less expensive than most hardwoods. The color of poplar heartwood ranges from a creamy white to a yellowish tan or brown. It is very easy to work with and has straight, uniform grain.

What are the different types of drawer slides?

There are 6 types of Drawer slides:

  • Ball Bearing Drawer Slides.
  • Soft close Ball Bearing Drawer Slides.
  • Under mount Drawer Slides.
  • Side Mount Drawer Slides.
  • Center Mount Drawer slides.
  • Roller Slides.



What is the difference between soft close and self close drawer slides?

The “self” element means that the hinge or slide has a built-in element that pulls the drawer or door closed, sometimes with a tap or bang. “Soft”-closing means just that it glides. The drawer or door is pushed and it glides to a certain point and then hydraulics take over.

Do soft close drawer slides keep drawers closed?

Generally speaking, the terms “soft close” and “self close” drawer glides are interchangeable. The feature stops drawers from slamming, and gently pulls drawers closed the last few inches.

Are soft close cabinets worth it?

Adding soft close to your cabinets means you’ll never have to hear a door slammed again. These hinges will ensure the door shuts smoothly and silently. In addition, they also prevents fingers from being slammed in doors due to the door closing too quickly. This is a major bonus for families with young children.

Can you convert drawers to soft close?



It is absolutely possible to convert existing kitchen drawers into a soft close upgrade. Rather than purchasing an entirely new set of drawers, you can simply buy and install the hardware alone. This way, you can keep the paint and style of your current set of kitchen drawers.

What makes drawers soft close?

Well, if you’ve ever wished for quieter-closing drawers. The easy way to update your drawers to make them soft closing is to install Rockler soft-close adapters to your existing epoxy-coated slides, and you don’t have to replace the slides.

What are self closing drawer slides?

A self-close slide uses a spring mechanism to close a drawer, pulling it shut quickly once the spring is engaged. Easy-close slides meanwhile, have a damper mechanism in addition to a spring, pulling the drawer shut gently and quietly.

How do you add soft near existing drawers?

Adding soft close to existing drawers



Line up the slow close rods exactly with the drawer slides. Well, ours aren’t mounted straight onto the cabinet wall. Instead, there is a gap, so we first had to drill a piece of 1×4 onto the cabinet wall and then attach the soft close drawer adapter onto that piece of wood.

How do I turn old drawers into slides?

  1. Step 1: Remove Old Drawer Slides. Using a chisel and mallet remove the old wooden drawer slides from the inside of the dresser. …
  2. Step 2: Dismantle Old Drawers. …
  3. Step 3: Re-build Drawers. …
  4. Step 4: Attach Drawer Slide Spacers. …
  5. Step 5: Install Drawer Slides.