How To Position Drawer Handles

Typical furniture handle placement

It’s worth starting off with a feel for what is thought of as “normal” handle placement on drawers and cabinet doors. There isn’t one single perfect position that suits all furniture.

Most of the time you’d want a drawer handle to be central. This is especially on wide drawers, where a drawer is more vertical the handle may sit close the top (but still central horizontally) so the handle is easy to grab.

If you’re working with a double handled drawer, the approach should be to split the drawer into thirds and position the handles a third of the way from the sides.

The key thing with handle positioning is consistency. Being even a few millimeters out across your drawers will be surprisingly noticeable when positioned together.

Some basic rules for drawer handle placement

There are some basic handle positioning rules to follow to ensure you create a balanced look that works in most kitchens, bedrooms or individual furniture.

Whether you’re wanting to add a drawer knob or pull handle, a good starting point in the horizontal centre. This is the case for most drawers other than deeper drawers you often see used for pans or other heavier items in kitchens. In these cases the handle should still be centered horizontally but maybe a little higher than the vertical centre. This avoids people having to bend too much.

Choosing the right position for different drawer sizes

Whilst basic rules five you a solid starting point, tailoring the position to the specific drawer itself is what creates a symmetrical look.

Handle position for small drawers

For small drawers handles usually work best positioned right in the centre. Cutlery drawers or those found at the top of units should be centered to avoid throwing off the proportions.

Handle position for medium drawers

With medium drawers you have some more flexibility with handle position. Being plum centre still works perfectly, but you can move the handle closer to the top, especially if you’re wanting to create a ultra modern appearance. This small change can assist in consistency across nearby cupboard doors.

Handle position for large drawers

When it comes to large or deep drawers, like the ones usually used for plans, baking trays or other heavy or bulky items, moving the handle a fair bit higher than the vertical midpoint is the best option. Heavy a higher handle provides a stronger grip and makes it easier to open.

Visually this also ensures the handle doesn’t look like its floating or surrounded by empty space.

Tools, measurements and tips for the perfect position

Having the right tools is crucial. You start with a tape measure or ruler to ensure you can find the precise centre points. For longer bar handles, a small spirit level can be very useful.

Some people position masking tape where they indent to drill or screw to prevent any slippage. If you’re fitting multiple handles on the same type of drawer, you can make a quick template with paper of a wooden offcut. This means you only need to accurately measure the handle placement once.

All initial measurements should be double checked. It might get repetitive but its far better than realising that one handle is off once its fitted.

You’ll need a sharp wood bit if you need to do any drilling into the drawer front, especially if you’re drilling through a painted or laminated surface.

Lastly, you might want to check the tightness of the screws after a few days or regular use. Once the wood has settled it could slightly loosen the screws.