Cabinet Hardware Installation: How to Choose the Right Size and Placement

Installing new cabinet hardware isn't as hard as it sounds. With the right tools and a few simple preparations, you can even add hardware to brand new cabinet doors without messing up. Here are the things you should know about size and placement, as well as a tool to help you get the job done accurately.

Choosing the Right Size and Placement for Cabinet Knobs and Pulls

If you're outfitting drawers, choose one knob or pull if the drawer is less than 18 inches wide. If it's more than 18 inches wide, you'll need two. Space them about 1/6^th of the length of the drawer from each end. Make a slight adjustment with spacing until you're comfortable.

Omnia Stainless Steel Pull

You should choose knobs with a diameter no more than 1 ½ inches, and no less than 1 inch. You can ignore this rule if you plan on using wood knobs, which can be a little bigger. Always match the size and style to your drawers as well as the cabinets.

1 1/2 inch Allison Knob


Richelieu Hardware 1 7/8 Maple Knob

Always place pulls or knobs in the horizontal center of a drawer, and slightly higher than the vertical center. If they are centered vertically, they will appear slightly too low. Imagine standing in front of the drawer, looking down at it. It would appear too low, and also feel a little too low when you grab it to give it a pull.

Corner template - Image from Lowes.com.

Use a Template to Position the Knobs or Pulls

Don't be intimidated by the thought of adding new cabinet knobs or pulls to your cabinets. There are transparent templates that will help guide you for exactly where to make the holes.

These templates are sold at hardware stores. There are templates that fit around corners, or straight ones, depending on where on the cabinets you drawers you want to place the hardware.

To use a template, place it up against the edge of the cabinet, identify where you need to make the hole, in relation to the edge of the cabinet. Being able to see through this template makes it very easy. Mark through the hole in the template with a pencil. Do this so that the hole/s will be in the exact same spot on each cabinet door.