How To Choose a Drawer Slide... What Size Drawer Slide Do I Need?

1. Determine the mounting type of the drawer slide you need… undermount or side mount?
   
   Remove your existing drawer and look at the location where the slide is mounted.
   

   1. Undermount or bottom mount slides wrap around the edge of the drawer and are fastened to the underside of the drawer box and frame of the cabinet.
       
   2. Side mount drawer slides are, as the name states, mounted directly to the side of the drawer and frame of the cabinet.
       
2. Measure the drawer box itself and then select the closest whole inch drawer slide to the measurement.
   
   

   1. Measurement A – Not counting the edge width of the drawer face, measure from the front edge of the drawer box to the back of the drawer.
   2. Measurement B – Measure the distance from the front of the cabinet to the back wall of the cabinet.
3. Decide which size drawer slide you need based on the following scenarios:
   

   1. Scenario 1 – If the drawer box itself is 20” from front-to-back (Measurement A), you can use a 20” drawer slide.
       
   2. Scenario 2 – If your drawer box measurement is 19” (Measurement A) and the inside cabinet depth from front-to-back (Measurement B) is 20” then, you can use a 20” slide because the spacing in the cabinet allows it.
       
   3. Scenario 3 – If your drawer box measurement is 19” (Measurement A) then, you can also choose an 18” drawer slide as it will work as well.

Click here to download PDF instructions on: How to Choose a Drawer Slide... What Size Drawer Slide Do I Need? (opens in new window)

<< Go back to the Woodworker Express Resource Toolbox