Determine Your Cabinet Specifications

How to install your new knobs and pulls on cabinet doors.

What you need:

10 minutes

A tape measure

A screwdriver

How to pick your products:

First, choose if you want to install knobs, pulls, or a mix of both. 


Before you even *touch* that drill of yours, you need to decide what hardware you’re planning to put where.


Check out these tried & true product combinations for your doors & drawers to use as inspo.


All Knobs


Knobs are easy - they only require one hole, and you don’t have to worry about any sizing details. Though typically used on doors, knobs are frequently used on drawers as well. They are a little harder to grasp onto since they’re smaller, so keep that in mind if you’re planning to use them on drawers with heavy pots and pans.


 




All Pulls


Pulls are sleek and provide a better grip than knobs do (especially for heavy doors and drawers), but their sizing is a little trickier.


 


First, you want your pulls to be the right size proportionately to your cabinet door or drawer. Pulls should be roughly ⅓ of the size of the door or drawer they’re going on - i.e. for a 12” tall cabinet, you want a 4” center-to-center pull; for a 36” wide drawer, you want a 12” center-to-center pull. 


 


Second, the center-to-center distance is going to be something you consider for all future pulls you use since it dictates where you drill your holes. There are easy ways to work around the existing holes if you do change sizes, but it’s important to keep in mind.


 


The one gold standard we recommend sticking to - position your pulls horizontally on drawers and vertically on doors.


 


 


Knobs on Upper, Pulls on Lower


The best of both worlds, option 1. 


 


 


Knobs on doors, pulls on drawers


The best of both worlds, option 2. This stays true to the “traditional” uses of each product.