Cabinet Hardware Buying Guide

The cabinetry in your home provides important storage space and is a frequently used addition to your room design. Make your cabinetry a reflection of your design style by choosing hardware for cabinets that complements the door and drawer fronts you selected while coordinating with the rest of your décor.  

With so many cabinet hardware options, choosing the ones for your cabinets may seem daunting, but it’s rather easy once you know all the basics. We’ll walk you through the types of cabinet hardware and how to pick the knobs, hinges, pulls, and lesser-known cabinet hardware essentials that are right for you.

Cabinet Hardware: Pulls vs. Knobs

When it comes to choosing hardware for cabinets, there are two primary types to choose between: cabinet pulls and cabinet knobs. Once you understand the key differences between cabinet pulls and cabinet knobs, you can mix-and-match both cabinet hardware options to add a touch of personality and a lot of functionality to your cabinetry. When you want something a little extra, you can even select luxury cabinet pulls or luxury cabinet knobs.

Cabinet Pulls

Cabinet pulls boast a linear design supported by two posts on either end. They allow you to slide your fingers behind the pull to swing open the cabinet door or to slide out the drawer. Cabinet pulls require less dexterity than knobs, making them a great choice for any home.

Cap Pulls

Cup pulls are a popular variation on cabinet pulls. They provide a finger hold for opening and closing drawers and doors, but one edge of the pull is rounded and typically closed, providing a half-circle or half-oval that you can tuck your fingers behind.

Finger Pulls

Finger pulls mount to the very top of the drawer or the edge of the cabinet door and extend out from there, providing a clean and modern look that is minimally obtrusive to the design of your cabinet door and drawer fronts.

Cabinet Knobs

Cabinet knobs are on a single post. Knobs can be round, square, geometric, or even whimsical in shape. They offer a minimalistic aesthetic that makes knobs a sleek choice for cabinet doors and drawers alike.

Additional Cabinet Hardware

While cabinet pulls and knobs may be the first things that come to mind when you consider cabinet hardware, the options don’t stop there. After you’ve chosen your pulls and knobs, take a look at the other cabinet hardware options available.

Cabinet Latches

Although slightly less common, cabinet catches and latches are often a much-needed addition to your cabinetry. These two-part designs keep cabinet doors securely shut. This cabinet hardware is a common occurrence in historic homes. They are also a thoughtful addition when you’re choosing your cabinet hardware in a tiny house or RV that will be on the move.

 Cabinet Hinges 

Hinges may be smaller in size, but they are integral to how the cabinet doors operate. Hinges attach the doors to the cabinet framework, allowing them to swing open silently and effortlessly. Proper installation of cabinet hinges also allows for all cabinet doors to hang in perfect alignment. When you want to minimize noise and extend the life of your cabinetry, consider choosing soft-close hinges that prevent the cabinet doors from slamming shut.

Many different styles of hinges are available to you, including: 

• Concealed Euro Hinges: When you want a barely-there look, these are a great choice. These hinges aren’t visible when the door is closed and are easily adjustable, making it easy to hang all your doors at just the right spot. 
• Traditional Hinges: Designed to support traditional aesthetics, this classic hinge design is a fantastic option for replacing cabinet hardware on existing cabinets in a home with more traditional style. 
• Wrap Hinges: These hinges get their name for the way they wrap around the edge of the cabinet. You can even get them in a self-closing option, so you’ll never have to walk into an open cabinet door again. 
• Butt Hinges: The full-mortise design of butt hinges means they recess into the door and cabinetry framework. This recessed design also makes them an incredibly durable choice on especially heavy cabinet doors. 
• Surface Mount Hinges: Combine functionality with fashion when you select surface mount hinges with a little decorative flair. 
• Strap Hinges: When you want to honor the era of your original cabinetry in a historic home, strap hinges make a great choice. These rustic hinges can be a great choice to add decorative strap elements on your garage door, as well. They are available in vintage, farmhouse, and even modern styles.

Drawer Slides

As important as cabinet hinges are to doors, having quality drawer slides is essential to the functionality of your kitchen cabinetry. Using full-extension slides provides easy access to everything you store in your drawers.  

There are three different placements for your drawer slides. If you are replacing existing slides, consider the existing placement when shopping for your replacement cabinet hardware.

Undermount 

When appearances are a priority, undermount drawer slides are a great choice because they mount under the drawer out of sight. They are the ideal choice for drawers that feature dovetail or finger joint construction. 

 Side Mount 

These drawer slides mount to the sides of the drawer unit. This is one of the most popular and the most versatile of cabinet drawer hardware mounts because they are available in partial extension and full extension varieties. The different models are rated for anywhere up to 500 pounds and can also come with special features, such as soft-close and self-close technology. The only negative to side mount drawer slides is that they are visible when the drawer is open. 

Bottom Mount 

Bottom mount, which are also commonly referred to as European drawer slides, are slightly different than undermount slides, as they attach to the bottom corners of the drawers. They are available in both partial and full slide versions and have an incredible weight capacity. 

Additionally, soft-close drawer slides are available that help to prevent the doors from slamming shut.  

Backplates

Backplates protect the cabinet finish from dirt and oil on hands, cover up holes when switching from pulls to knobs, and add style and interest with lines or etching designs. You can also take a very basic door pull and give it a completely new look by adding a more intricate backplate. This often-overlooked piece of cabinet hardware can be just what you need to create a custom look that’s perfect for your kitchen design.

Appliance Pulls

When you’re looking for a seamless design in your kitchen, take a second to choose appliance pulls in the same fashionable designs as the cabinet hardware you’ve selected. Appliance pulls are just a larger version of the same designs and look fantastic on oven doors, dishwasher doors, refrigerator doors, and sometimes even oversized cabinet doors.

Choosing a Cabinet Hardware Style

Every home has a defining style, whether it be traditional farmhouse or ultra-modern. You can reinforce that style by choosing cabinet hardware that’s complementary to the look of your cabinetry and your kitchen as a whole. There’s even designer cabinet hardware.  

Before you shop, stop to think about the look of the kitchen you’re designing and shop for cabinet hardware within that style collection. It’s important to also take into account the design style of your existing home furnishings and lighting fixtures. Just a few of the many options include: 

• Transitional 
• Rustic 
• Traditional 
• Contemporary 
• Geometric  
• Nautical 

There are even whimsical designs that are in keeping with a room theme, such as animals, children’s interests, and nature-inspired cabinet knobs and pulls.

You don’t have to feature these on kitchen cabinetry. Custom hardware also provides a fun way to refresh the look of a dresser, armoire, buffet, or other piece of furniture in your home.

Choosing Cabinet Hardware by Material

When you think of cabinet hardware, metal is probably the first material that comes to mind, but it isn’t the only option. Often, metal components are mixed with other materials to create visually captivating designs.  

As you shop, look for items with wood, glass, crystal, stone, or porcelain accents. This playful, elegant, or sophisticated mixture of materials can be just what you need to add a pop of personality to kitchen, bathroom, or rec room through cabinet hardware.

Cabinet Hardware Finishes

Cabinet hardware is designed to elevate the look of your cabinetry and comes in a vast array of finishes to choose from. As you shop, take a moment to think about the color scheme of your space and the existing finishes showcased in the room.  

• Black 
• Brass 
• Chrome 
• Bronze 
• Nickel 
• Rose Gold 
• Stainless Steel 

Even within these different finishes, you may notice variations. Keeping the finish consistent between your faucets, hardware, and even appliances will provide a cohesive look for your space.  

Matte, polished, brushed, and oil-rubbed each provide a slightly different finishes look to the finish you selected. Make sure that the finish you choose for your cabinet pulls and knobs matches the finish you select for your hinges, as well.

Choosing the Right Size Cabinet Hardware

If you're replacing pulls, measure the existing holes from center to center and choose new hardware to match. For new pulls, the standard ratio is ⅓ the width of the drawer front. For a more contemporary look, choose pulls that are ½ to ¾ the width of a drawer front or the height of a door. 

When you’re replacing knobs, take a second to measure any raised framework around the perimeter of your door and drawer fronts. The knobs you choose should not be larger than the width of that framework to ensure a proper fit. 

When you choose to replace your cabinet hinges, take measurements of the existing hinges and choose new cabinet hinges that are the same size. This will make installation much easier. Be sure to count how many hinges are mounted on each door and how many doors you have in your kitchen.

Proper Cabinet Hardware Placement

Selecting the proper placement of your cabinet hardware is just as important as selecting the proper size of pulls and knobs to suit your cabinetry.  

• Small Drawers: When you have small drawers that measure a foot wide or less, a single pull or knob that’s situated in the center of the drawer front is ideal.  
• Large Drawers: If your drawers are longer than a foot, you may want to consider one large pull in the center, or a pair of smaller pulls or knobs mounted on the drawer. 
• Small Cabinet Doors: When dealing with smaller door cabinets in a home, smaller hardware helps to maintain proper scale. 
• Large Cabinet Doors: For tall, large cabinet doors you really have the freedom to feature any length door pulls or knobs you want. Long pulls make a bold statement while smaller hardware provides a more minimalist aesthetic.

Installing Your Cabinet Hardware

When adding knobs to drawers, find the center of the drawer for single knobs, or divide the measurement into thirds if you’re using two knobs. For perfect placement every time, use a premade template, or learn how to create your own with our DIY Video.

Cabinet Organization and Storage

The hinges, pulls, and knobs aren’t the only way to enhance the functionality of the cabinets around your home. Once you’re done choosing your cabinet hardware, enhance the interior of each by shopping for cabinet orgnization and storage solutions. Pull-out trash cans, pot and lid organizers, spice racks, and flatware organizers are just a couple of the finishing elements that can give your cabinetry that custom touch.