Knowing how to measure kitchen drawer slides correctly and choosing the proper drawer slides are essential for efficient operation and space utilization—taking accurate measurements of drawer slides before installation for a problem-free build. You may select the best drawer slides by carefully measuring your kitchen drawer openings.
Thinking about issues like slide length, weight capacity, and mounting options is also crucial. A well-organized and practical kitchen starts with properly sized drawer slides. This article will show you how to measure them correctly.
Those drawers will disappear unless left unnoticed until they can function correctly. Usually, they’re unknown but are arguably a key component in your kitchen. When one experiences a drawer jammed and slammed, he sees how important the railings have been.
They make the furniture work as expected but slow things down when things are not working. You have the right solution if you need new drawer sliding and are uncertain what they are or what type is available.
How to Measure Kitchen Drawer Slides: Knowing What Drawer Slides Are
The drawer slide can be easily explained. These tools allow for vertical movement of drawers and are found in almost every piece of furniture. Dresser drawers and other furnishings use drawer slide systems.
A standard set of drawer slides work together, consisting of two large storage containers with tiny balls that move on and off tracks. Mount drawers slide to either side of the drawer or the floor according to the installation requirements. The slides offer the same function for whatever is installed inside the drawer.
Basic Steps on How to Measure Kitchen Drawer Slides based on the Length
Okay, we will be simple, but it will require some steps on measuring drawer slides.
Step 1 – Learn the ins and outs of cabinet-making
We should also get started on cabinet building, as that will determine what rear-mounted bracket is necessary and the room for it. Three essential things affect how you build your cabinet, drawers, or furniture. So consider face frame cabinets like the images. This is placed at the back of the cupboard, usually two ′′ thick pieces of wood across the face frame cabinet.
Step 2 – Select a Slide Format
Since drawer slides require different measurements, you should always choose the mount drawer slide. Drawer slide length is determined by the type of slide desired, the depth of the cabinet or piece of furniture, and the structure of the drawer or cabinet.
Drawer slides can be mounted on the side, underneath, or at the drawer’s base. Measuring drawer slides and setup procedures vary depending on the variety. To know how to properly choose the appropriate slide to use, check this:
Side Mount Drawer Slide
The most popular slides are side mount slides, which necessitate a space between the drawer and the cabinet for installation. The distance between the front of the face frame cabinet and the back of the cabinet is essential for calculations for side mount drawer slides. Next, take that number and deduct 1 inch (2.5 cm) to get the length of your side mount drawer slide. You give the drops about half an inch of space on each side of the drawer. Below is the proper way to measure side mount drawer slides.
How to Measure Side Mount Drawer Slides
The width of the drawer box is the first thing to measure. Take the initial dimensions of the cabinet door opening. When installing side mount slides, you must leave a half-inch on either side of the width for the drawer tracks.
The opening width of 15 1/2 inches would require a box of 14 1/2 inches, with an extra inch left over. Next is to determine the height of the doorway. The door tracks on the side provide you with more flexibility in terms of ceiling and floor height. Any size will do if you need a box as long as it fits through the doorway.
The drawer box must now be measured for its depth. It will be as big as the slide allows.
Let’s say the hole is 23 inches deep from the back of the face frame to the front. Tracks for side-mounted drawers are available in 2-inch lengths. You may get a drawer box that’s 22 inches deep with a door track 22 inches wide, leaving you with a whole inch of space behind the unit.
Undermount Slides
To properly select an undermount slide, you must have to determine the kitchen cabinets’ drawer’s length. The attachment system must have room at the back of the drawer. Typically, there is about an inch and a half between the drawer undermount slides. Here is a detailed procedure to measure drawer slides in the undermount area.
Proper Ways to Measure Undermount Slides
Measure the drawer’s aperture. Let’s pretend the opening is 15-3/4 inches wide, and you need to allow 3/16 inches on either side of the drawer box for the space.
Keep the drawer slide clearance between the floor of the opening and the bottom of the drawer in mind when calculating the height. You want a 9/16″ bottom support for a 5″ tall aperture. Additionally, a top margin of at least 14 inches is advised. That means the highest the drawer can be is 4 3/16 inches.
Finally, you should evaluate the opening’s depth. Slides for under-mounted drawers are available in three-inch increments. Remember that undermount slides require a clearance of one inch more than is shown in the specifications.
Bottom Mount Slides
If you want to install bottom mount drawer slides, you’ll need to figure out how far back your existing drawers must be from the front of the face frame or cabinet frame. Calculating the slide length comes from the overall size and subtracting 1/4 inch (0.6 cm). Providing the mount slide with enough room to move on the drawer’s sides and bottom is also essential.
Step 3-How to Measure Kitchen Drawer Slides: Find the Cabinet’s Depth
Doing this is quite simple. Get out your tape measure and determine how far it is from the front of the face frame cabinet up to the rear. Then think about the following:
- Never use a slide that is longer than the depth of the cabinet construction.
- Reduce to the nearest even inch.
- Side and bottom mounts in a typical kitchen are 22 inches, and undermount slides are 21 inches.
The mounting bracket for most drawer slides requires at least a 1/2-inch thick mounting block, so keep that in mind if you’re constructing face frame cabinets.
Step 4-Choose the appropriate drawer slides before proceeding
Drawer slides range in length from 10 inches to 96 inches. The good news is that the standard size range for drawer slides is only 16″–22″. You can confidently finalize your drawer slide length once you know how deep your cabinet is, the rear socket brackets, and the mounting area.
Tips on Taking Accurate Values on How to Measure Kitchen Drawer Slides
You may need to perform an additional study on your slide types before completing measurements, as there is a large variety of drawer slides.
Factors to Think about while Installing Undermount Slides:
You must deduct a whole inch from your measurement if your vehicle has unique rear locking mechanisms.
Undermount drawers have a side clearance of less than half an inch. Drawer side thickness affects overall side clearance due to their distinctive construction.
The undermount slide will need to be concealed in a profound drawer bottom. This is usually at least an inch in width.
Due to the final criterion, an undermount slide is ideal for drawers at least 4 inches deep.
Factors to Think about while Using Side-mounted Slides:
Ball bearing structure and a standard 1/2′′ clearance on each side are typical side mount drawer slides. However, there are some dimensions to keep in mind when making these slides:
A low-profile drawer slide may be required when the drawer (or shelf) height is limited. A typical pencil case may have drawer slides as short as two inches. Since the standard size for side mount slides is 1.8 inches, a drop with a lower profile of 1.4 inches may be preferred.
There must be a tiny space behind the slide for the “push” clearance on push-to-open drawer slides.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: How do I know what size drawer slides I need?
A: Measure the bag, not the drawers. Begin in the back of the package. Measure in front. If you know the length, tally up the numbers. Typically 20-inch drawer slides require 20-inch drawer slides.
Q: How long should drawer slides be for a 24-inch cabinet?
A: Can we use the drawer slides to create cabinets with a depth of 24 inches? Typical drawer slide lengths on face frames are 22” for rear brackets. Similar applies to cabinet frames, as you have one ′′ width for both front and back drawers.
Q: Can drawer slides be shorter than drawers?
A: When using side mounts or center-mount slides, measure the height between the front edges of the cabinet with the inside face. Measure the height of a slide. Slides should be the same size as drawers for proper operation.
Q: Should a frameless cabinet include a back bracket for installation?
A: There is no need for a rear mounting bracket on a frameless cabinet because the drawer slides are attached to the side of the unit instead.
Q: What is the standard unit of measurement for a drawer depth?
Each drawer slide has its optimal proportions for the drawer’s three dimensions. In contrast to the “tip in” requirement of a bottom mount (and the one-inch top clearance), a side mount drawer slide allows maximum drawer slide height. If you are unsure, it is best to go ahead and buy the drawer slides before constructing the drawer itself.
Final Thoughts
Taking precise measurements of kitchen drawer slides is a simple but tedious operation. Take careful measures of your cabinet’s depth, drawer’s length, and side and bottom clearance before deciding on a slide. Following these guidelines, your drawer slides will fit adequately and operate efficiently. The appropriate slides, whether side mount, undermount, or bottom mount, may do wonders for the aesthetics of your kitchen drawers.
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