Measuring Drawer Slides Including Side Mount, Center Mount, Etc.
You can properly open and close your cabinet drawers by using drawer slides. It's a major decision to replace or install new slides, so you want to make sure you have the best hardware for your furniture. You must determine the ideal drawer slide size for your cabinets before you can install anything. Measuring your drawer is the most effective way to achieve it. This article will step-by-step demonstrate how to measure for drawer slides.
Step 1: Determining Your Drawer Length
- Unscrew The Current Slide Hardware To Remove The Drawer
To remove the drawer, unscrew the existing slide hardware. To find the present slide hardware, remove the drawer. Remove the screws holding the slide to the drawer using a Philips screwdriver. The slides may be either on the sides or the bottom of your drawer, depending on the hardware. Most slides feature a screw to hold the object in place on each end. Additionally, the hardware on certain slides may include screws in the middle. By taking out the bottom drawer, measurements are made the simplest way possible. - Remove The Drawer From The Cabinet
The drawer should be taken out of the cabinet and set on a flat surface. To detach the drawer from the main cabinet or piece of furniture, fully open it. Turn the drawer upside down so the bottom is facing up to simplify your measurements. - Measure The Length Of The Cabinet
To get an idea of the size of the furniture, measure the length of the cabinet. Calculate the distance from the front edge of the open cabinet to the back wall using a tape measure. After you have the precise measurement, take 1 inch (2.5 cm) off the total to get the slide length. To ensure that you don't forget the measurement, write it down on a different piece of paper. - Determine The Drawer's Length
To complete your measurements, determine the drawer's length. Look at the drawer's bottom that you just took out. Measure the drawer's length with the tape measure from the front edge to the back edge. Take note of this measurement since under-mounted slides must match the drawer's length precisely. Under the drawer, under-mounted slides are attached in pairs. - Choose A Slide That Matches The Design Of Your Furniture
Select a slide that most closely matches the design of your furniture. To estimate the length of your slide, look at the measurements of your drawer and cabinet. Use the measurements between 10 and 28 inches (25 to 71 cm) to choose the optimal slide style for traditional drawer slides. For instance, you might wish to spend money on 28 inches (71 cm) slides if you want to purchase a large slide. Look at drawer slides that are closer to 10 inches (25 cm) in length if you'd want a less-extended drawer.
Step 2: Choosing The Right Slide
- Side-mount Drawer Slide
If there is a space between your drawer and cabinet, choose a side-mount drawer slide. To separate a drawer from the main piece of furniture, pull the drawer outward. Calculate the distance between the outer edge of the drawer and the inner edge of the cabinet using a ruler or tape measure. You might not be able to use a side-mounting drawer slide if there isn't much room between these two regions. - Center-mount Drawer Slide
Choosing a center-mount option is the best choice if you don't want your slide to be seen. Consider how you want your drawers to appear after the slides are in place. Are aesthetics important to you, or is usefulness more important to you? Choose a center or under-mounted slide if you'd prefer the sides of your drawers to be naked. These slides are fastened below the drawer. If you don't want the hardware to be obvious to the human eye, they are a fantastic solution! - Under-mounted Slide Hardware
In cases where there isn't much room between your cabinet and drawer, choose under-mounted slide hardware. Measure the distance between the drawer's outside and the cabinet wall's interior. A side-mounted drawer slide may not fit into your furniture if it is a little bit narrower. Next, check to determine if the drawer's bottom and the cabinet's bottom aperture are separated by at least 0.5 inches (1.3 cm). These slides work well with drawers that have only 0.19 to 0.25 inches (0.48 to 0.64 cm) between their edge and the cabinet's interior wall. - Decide How Far You’d Like Your Drawer To Extend
Choose the length to which you want your drawer to open. Do you prefer a more constrained slide extension or a full drawer removal from the furniture? Make an overtravel style slide your investment if you want to entirely remove your drawer. Consider obtaining a 3/4-extension slide if you'd prefer the door to remain rigid. Drawer slides that extend fully and 7/8ths of the way are a good compromise for those who don't like either extreme.