Why proportions are important in picking and positioning your cabinet hardware
Proportionally placing your cabinet hardware is just as important as choosing the right-sized piece of art for your wall or rug for your room. Just like an oversized painting can overwhelm a small space or a tiny rug can throw off the balance of a large room, disproportionately sized and placed hardware can disrupt the harmony of your cabinets and overall feel of the space. The right proportions ensure the hardware complements the cabinetry, creating a sense of balance and cohesion.
For instance, a long drawer might need a larger pull or two smaller ones to maintain symmetry. Using a very long pull on a short drawer may throw off the overall look and feel. Thoughtful proportions in hardware make your space feel intentional and functional.
What is the 1/3 rule in cabinet hardware?
The 1/3 rule in cabinet hardware is a design guideline that helps achieve balanced proportions when selecting drawer pulls and cabinet handles. According to this rule, the length of the pull should be approximately one-third the width of the drawer or cabinet door.
This creates a visually pleasing ratio that complements the overall design while maintaining functionality. For example, on a 30-inch-wide drawer, a 10-inch pull would follow the 1/3 rule. On a 12-inch wide drawer, a 4-inch pull would work best. This guideline works particularly well in modern and transitional designs, ensuring that hardware neither overwhelms nor feels too small for the cabinetry.
The last option on the far right drawer is to add two cabinet knobs on either side of the drawer.
An Example of the 1/3 Rule In the Kitchen
The below example is from a project to refresh a traditional kitchen with white shaker drawers. The designer chose two eight inch drawer handles from our acrylic cabinet hardware collection (Clarity Collection). This style features closed stems which prevents snagging of any clothing as you use your drawers in everyday life. The stems are made of 100% solid brass and are finished in a contemporary Matte Black. The bar is made of a strong acrylic that helps tied together the whole look to create an aesthetic that is both minimal and modern.
1/3 Rule on Bathroom Drawers
This bathroom vanity follows the 1/3 rule on its drawers by using proportionately sized pulls throughout. By using the same placement and center to center length of pulls across the different widths of the drawers and doors, the space feels cohesive and balanced. This is a good example of how you can use the rule of thirds in the same way across different doors and drawers.
What size cabinet pulls should I use for 42 inch cabinets?
Using the 1/3 rule, we would take 42 and divide it by 3, which would give us 14 inches for the length of your pull. Remember to check the difference between a pull's center to center measurement and the pull's overall length. They are not always the same. In this case, you want to use the overall length of the pull with the 1/3 rule, not the center to center size. If you don't have a cabinet pull that is 14 inches long, a 12 inch long cabinet pull would still work and look great. You could also go even smaller and place two 4 to 6 inch long cabinet pulls on either side of the drawer to break up the space a bit more.
Exceptions to following the one third rule
Remember, the 1/3 placement for cabinet hardware is a recommendation, not a forced rule! Designers and homeowners often "break the rule" and use longer handles to achieve a more modern look or two smaller pulls to get a better grip. Heavier doors and drawers may require more than one piece of hardware to easily open.
Sometimes designers and homeowners will opt to mix and match knobs with pulls. Instead of using a longer pull, you could consider using 2 knobs on either side of the drawer or two smaller 3 inch or 96mm cabinet pulls.
For a more minimal and "hidden" hardware option, you can use an edge pull or a finger pull in your kitchen or bath as well.
If you are looking for a more modern look, you may want to read our modern cabinet pull size chart.
Want to understand more about how to place your cabinet hardware on drawers?
Refer to our guide to placing cabinet hardware on drawers for quick and easy tips on how interior designers and homeowners place hardware across various widths and lengths of drawers in kitchen and bath projects.
1/3 Rule Image Gallery
On the left and the middle is our acrylic collection of pulls and on the right is our satin brass half moon hardware collection.
