Cabinet Drawer Slides
Are you tired of Cabinet Drawer Slides that need to be wiggled into place? Perhaps you’ve envied a friend’s kitchen with drawers that quietly close on their own. Whether you’re replacing old drawer slides or installing new cabinets with self-closing or full-extension upgrades, it’s important to know how to choose the best cabinet drawer slides. Updating your kitchen or bathroom cabinets with new drawer slides is an affordable way to improve the value and convenience of your home.
How to Choose the Right Cabinet Drawer Slides
When choosing cabinet drawer slides, consider these key criteria:
- Mounting Method: Choose between side-mount, bottom-mount, and mid-mount options based on your existing setup.
- Load Capacity: Make sure the slide can support the weight of the drawer.
- Extension Type: Determine how far the drawer extends when fully open.
- Closing Mechanism: Consider whether you prefer a soft-close or self-close feature.
Types of Cabinet Drawer Slides
Side-mount Drawer Slides
Side-mount slides are the most common type and are installed on the side of the drawer box. They typically require about ½ inch of clearance between the drawer and the cabinet. These slides offer excellent durability and load-bearing capacity.
Undermount Drawer Slides
Undermount slides hide underneath the drawer for a cleaner look and maximize storage space. They require minimal clearance and are ideal for showcasing cabinet quality.
Centermount Drawer Slides
Centermount slides mount directly underneath the center of the drawer. They offer a clean look and are ideal for lightly loaded drawers, holding up to 35 pounds.
Soft-Close and Auto-Close Drawer Slides
Modern drawer slides are equipped with advanced features to eliminate slams and improve usability.
- Soft-Close Drawer Slides: These slides dampen the closing action for a quiet close.
- Auto-Close Drawer Slides: These slides are designed to close automatically with a gentle push, providing convenience for everyday use.
Cabinet Drawer Slide Measurements
Accurate measurements are critical when selecting cabinet drawer slides. Here’s how to measure correctly:
- Remove the Drawer: Remove the drawer to get accurate measurements.
- Measure the Drawer Box: Measure the outside length of the drawer box from back to front, excluding the drawer face.
- Round Down: Round down to the nearest whole number – if your drawer box is 18½ inches, buy an 18-inch slide.
Extension Options
Drawer slides come in a variety of extension types:
- ¾ extension: allows limited access, with the drawer back remaining inside the cabinet.
- Full extension: allows full access to all drawer contents.
- Overtravel: allows the drawer to extend beyond full length, providing additional clearance for easier access.
Heavy-Duty Drawer Slides
If your drawers can handle significant weight, consider heavy-duty drawer slides. We offer full-extension slides with load capacities up to 500 pounds, often for industrial or commercial applications.
Choosing Drawer Slides for Kitchen Pull-Out Shelves
Pull-out kitchen shelves, also called roll-out or slide-out shelves, are growing in popularity. Our DIY roll-out shelves come with standard slides, but you can upgrade to full-extension or automatic/soft-close options if needed.
Explore our selection of cabinet drawer slides
At Goodich Hardware, we offer a comprehensive range of ball bearing and European epoxy drawer slides, as well as a wide range of accessories. Browse our range to find the perfect cabinet drawer slide with the features and extensions you want. If you need help selecting or measuring new cabinet drawer slides, please contact us by email or phone. We offer live support Monday to Friday 8am to 18pm (CST).
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