The general rule is to place them in the center of the drawer front for symmetry. Use a laser level if needed. Drill Holes: Use a drill bit that matches the size of your cup pull screws.
Typically, cup pulls should be installed in the top third of the cabinet door or on the top rail. Center them vertically just like you would with standard pulls. Don't be afraid to adjust the placement slightly to what feels natural and comfortable for you.
Bar, D, Bow and other pull handles can be used either vertically or horizontally. Whilst there is no rule to say where the exact placement is for these, it is generally assumed to be placed at the top right/left (depending on the opening of your cupboard) for base units, and bottom right/left of your wall units.
On wall cabinets, knobs are usually placed 2-1/2” to 3” from the bottom corner of the door. On base cabinets, they are placed 2-1/2” to 3” from the upper corner of the door. On drawers and pull-out cabinets, drawer pulls and knobs are typically centered on the drawer front.
Your door handle, along with any latches, pulls, or locks, should be placed at least 34 inches from the floor and no higher than 48 inches from the floor. This gives you a bit of wiggle room on where to place your handles. However, it's important to note that you'll ideally be measuring from a finished floor.
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.
Residential is generally 2 3/8" backset on 1 3/8" thick interior doors, and 2 3/4" backset on 1 3/4" thick exterior doors.
Knobs can be placed on both cabinetry doors + drawers. Mounted on the door stile, cabinet knobs are placed on the opposite side of the door hinge + typically 2-½” to 3” from the bottom corner of the door for upper cabinets. While on base cabinets knobs are usually placed 2-½” to 3” from the upper corner of the door.
For really wide drawers, we always recommend using two cup pulls, and then evenly space them. As a general rule of thumb, if your drawer is 30″ or wider, I like to use two cup pulls. Lastly, if you have tall drawers, you can either center them in the overall drawer, or install them on the top rail.
Pulls 3-7 inches in length will sit the most comfortably on doors less than 24 inches tall. Cabinet doors 24-36 inches tall are best adorned with pulls 7-12 inches long, while cabinets taller than 36 inches such as pantries, built-in appliances and pullouts should be accompanied by pulls longer than 12 inches.
The traditional approach typically involves centred handle placement on the inset panel, about 2.5 inches from the bottom of the cabinet door. This classic placement creates a sense of balance and time-honoured elegance within the kitchen.
Knobs tend to be used for cabinet doors, pulls tend to be used with both doors and drawers. They serve both function and style – You want to be able to open your shaker style drawers and doors easily, making all the handles within reach. You of course, also want them to play into the aesthetics of the room.
You can use cup pulls on drawers, knobs on cabinet doors, and pulls on pull-outs or appliances - or any variation of that! You decide. Incorporating each type of hardware works very well in larger kitchens, or in kitchens that have an island feature.
Kitchen cup handles are becoming an increasingly popular alternative to pull handles to bring a timeless and elegant feel to kitchen cupboards. Ideally suited to both traditional and contemporary kitchens, cup handles look great when paired with shaker-style cupboards and drawers.
It's important to maintain a cohesive look by choosing hardware that shares similar design elements, such as finish, style, and material. For example, you might pair a cup pull with a knob that has a similar finish and shape, or choose knobs and cup pulls that have the same metal material for a unified look.
Pulls should be placed horizontally on drawers. For small drawers (less than 24'' wide) center the knobs or pulls in both directions. Just like on larger drawers, pulls should be placed horizontally. Knobs and pulls can also be placed centered at the very top of the drawer panel, where the drawer rail begins.
The best handles for shaker style kitchen cabinets can depend on personal preference and the desired aesthetic, but popular choices include oil rubbed bronze cup pulls, tubular bar pulls, and matte black hardware. These options complement the classic look of shaker cabinets while adding a touch of modern elegance.
Knobs on Uppers, Pulls on Lowers
For the best of both worlds, use a mixture of knobs and pulls. To make the combination look harmonious, we suggest one of two options. The first suggestion is to put knobs on all upper cabinets and pulls on all lower cabinets.
Pulls are generally considered more modern than knobs, especially when they are sleek and linear. Options like chrome cabinet pulls, gold bar pulls, and modern brushed brass cabinet pulls create a streamlined, contemporary look that suits modern and transitional kitchen designs.
Handles can be positioned vertically, horizontally, or diagonally. Additionally, you can choose whether the handle should be closer to the edge or in the middle of the door. Take into account both functionality and aesthetics when deciding on the handle placement.
Hardware Placement on Cabinet Doors
Both knobs and pulls are almost always centered horizontally on the door stile (the frame piece that runs vertically). Some companies place knobs a little higher or lower on the stile than others, with the range typically between 2″ and 4″ from the bottom or top edge of the door.
The bottom fixing of the pull handle should be fixed between 700mm and 1000mm above the finished floor level. The top fixing of the pull handle should be fixed no lower than 1300mm above the finished floor level.
Decoding the 1-3 Rule: Simplicity Meets Elegance
Simply put: the pull length should be about 1/3 the height of the cabinet door and 1/3 the width of the drawer. Why? It's all about balance.