Budget Pick: LONTAN
BUDGET PICK: LONTAN SIDE MOUNT
Smooth, easy open, full extension, bulk packs
ALSO IN THIS GUIDE:
› PROFESSIONAL UNDERMOUNT: BLUM 563H
› VALUE SOFT CLOSE: VADANIA
› BUDGET side mount: LONTAN soft close
› BUDGET UNDERMOUNT: OCG
There’s no reason a drawer should open hard, close with a slam, or partially open so you can’t access the back of the drawer.
Which requires choosing the right drawer slides with all the right features and lengths and operating correctly.
So, what do professional woodworkers choose for drawer slides? Well, consider the following:
- Soft close drawer slides are the only choice for any quality kitchen or furniture project
- Undermount drawer slides are the gold standard as they perform the best
- But side mount drawer slides with integrated soft close are a close-second value pick for new and retrofit drawers.
- This leaves older drawer styles like bottom mounts, self-closing side mounts (that don’t have soft close), and center mount slides as suitable for retrofit slides but not new drawers.
The bottom line? Buy only the best brands as they go through rigorous operating cycle tests to ensure years (or decades) of use. In our tests, where we purchased all of the top brands and imports, we recommend brands like Blum as the best overall because of their investment in quality products.
Page Contents
Best Drawer Slides
1. Blum 563H Soft Close Drawer Slide (Best Overall)
Buy on: Amazon
Overview
There’s a reason most cabinets offer undermounts as upgrades: they perform better.
Because an undermount drawer slide places the weight of the drawer on horizontal rollers (versus steel ball bearings), the drawer action is SMOOTHER. And with this design, the Blum 563H won’t require the hard pull to open like in a low-quality side mount soft close slide.
Best of all, since they are installed under the drawer, you won’t see the drawer slides.
If hardware vendors aren’t something you follow, Blum is one of the top suppliers and feature:
- The durability you need for a long-term drawer slide
- Reliability for decades of use
- BHMA certification provides for high initial and long-term closing quality
And Blum slides are manufactured in the USA.
Features
- Undermount drawer slide
- Full extension drawer slide
- Available in 18″ and 21″ lengths
- Roller bearing construction for smooth performance
- Hidden once installed with no part showing
- Tool-less removal by unlocking the front drawer locks
- Integrated soft close damper
- Large dampers for smooth performance
Review
We recommend the Blum 563H for four reasons:
- They are the easiest to open
- Offer the longest-term durability
- Are less susceptible to jamming later in the drawer life
- Blum performs industry testing on their drawer slides that few other manufacturers do
The cost? Yes, they are 2-3 times the price of an average quality side mount. But the ease of use, pain-free long-term maintenance and smooth operation far outweigh the upfront cost.
Pros
- Made in USA
- BHMA certified
- Easy to open with minimal pull
- Smooth operation
- Invisible once installed
- 100-pound capacity
- Drawers are easy to remove
- Full extension
- Works on frameless or face frame cabinets
Cons
- Price
- Building drawers for undermount slides takes more planning
Professional Tip: Don’t install drawers without these three things:
- Drawer installation jig like the Kreg KHI-PRO will level the slide and hold it during installation.
- Upgraded screws like Rok #8 will replace flimsy screws provided with most new drawer slides.
- Rear mount brackets will cut the time to install side mount drawers by up to 70%. We like the large tabs on the Promark Rear Mount that are easy to install and fit most side mount slides.
2. Vadania VK1245 (Best Side Mount)
Buy on: Amazon
Overview
The Vadania side mounts soft close drawer slides come in as one of the top drawer slides in my side mounts soft close drawer slide review.
And for a good reason, they had the highest count of ball bearings and one of the only steel soft close catches.
But out of the package, the Vadania slides immediately set themselves apart from the Lontan, Accuride, and Promark drawer slides:
- Sleek black finish perfect for modern applications (vs. the standard galvanized of other manufacturers)
- Well oiled
- Damper and steel catch for durability
Features
- Side mount drawer slide
- Full extension to access the back of the drawer
- Available in 10″ to 24″ lengths
- Ball bearing drawer slides for smooth performance
- Black finish for modern look
- Integrated soft close damper
- Tool-less drawer removal with flick of locking side lever
Review
One of the biggest drawbacks to soft close slides they have a tendency to be hard to initially open. These Vadania slides, however, passed our force meter tests as being easy to open. Combined with a stylish black design, quiet operation and pricing these are a great option for furniture projects.
Pros
- Easy to open with minimal pull
- Smooth operation
- Modern black finish
- 100 pound capacity
- Two springs for closing force
- Full extension
- High quality, high count of bearings
- Steel catch vs. competitor plastic
- Visible after installed
- Price
3. Lontan 4502S3 Soft Close Drawer Slides (Budget Pick)
Buy on: Amazon
Overview
I was surprised by this drawer slide.
First, they come individually or in packs of 2, 6, and 10 at half the price of most other drawer slides.
And, while they are a “generic” slide as they aren’t from one of the established manufacturers, their construction was TOP NOTCH when stacked against the other brands.
And, in a brand test, I’ve put these ahead of the well-known Accuride as they performed better and were surprisingly quieter when opened and closed. As you know or don’t, that will matter when you first open and close the door, as a “clicking and clacking” sound is one of the hallmarks of poor-performing ball-bearing slides (soft close or standard).
Lastly, with their great bundled price, I’ve also installed these in a recent garage workshop makeover. And after loading one drawer (~15″ x 22″) to capacity with heavy screw boxes, it has performed fantastic. I’ve even attempted to slam the drawer, and its damper has worked each time.
Features
- Side mount drawer slide
- Full extension drawer slide
- Available as single slides and bundles of 2, 6, or 10 (with price discounts the more you buy)
- Lengths of 16, 18, 20, and 22″
- Ball bearing drawer slides for smooth performance
- Integrated soft close damper
- Tool-less drawer removal with flick of the locking side lever
Review
After installing a few dozen of these slides in garage cabinets these slides we’ve found these slides to be good all-around performers. When installed correctly and properly adjusted they open and close quietly and smoothly.
Pros
- Open easily with no “tug” required
- 100-pound capacity
- Two springs vs. one
- Full extension
- High bearing count
- Quiet operation
- Bulk pricing
Cons
- Supplied screws were the wrong kind
- Plastic catch vs. steel
4. Probico HMDSHH32BK Side Mount Soft Close Drawer Slides
Overview
If you want to upgrade from the standard zinc-plated drawer slides, the Probico soft-close drawer slides are a great option. After unboxing these slides, I found them well constructed with tight rails, a quality soft close mechanism, and quiet operation.
Features
- Side mount drawer slide
- Full extension to access the back of the drawer
- Available in 12″ to 24″ lengths
- Ball bearings
- Black finish
- Integrated soft close damper
- Tool-less removal
Review
Pros
- Easy to open
- Smooth operation
- Modern black finish
- 100-pound capacity
- Full extension
- Steel catch
Cons
- Only one spring
- Visible after installation
5. Accuride C-3832 Series Soft Close Drawer Slides
While Accuride is a TOP manufacturer of drawer slides, the C-3832 didn't quite measure up vs. the other side mount slides. The #1 issue I found was a surprising noisy closing action for a top brand name.
Overview
Accuride is a name brand in drawer slides.
And the Accuride C-3832 drawer slide is a strong competitor.
However, due to price and noise it falls to #4 on the list as it’s performance doesn’t stand out from the competitors to justify it’s hefty price tag.
Curiously, this slide had the #1 issue with side mount drawer slides: it opened loud. While most high quality slides have extra “bumpers” to ensure 3 tracks don’t do this my test showed a louder than average click.
Features
- Side mount drawer slide
- Full extension drawer slide
- Available in 12-28″ even lengths
- Ball bearing drawer slides for smooth performance
- Integrated soft close damper
- Anachrome finish
- Tool-less drawer removal with flick of locking side lever
Review
Pros
- Easy to open
- Smooth operation
- 100-pound capacity
- Two springs for top closing force
- Full extension
- Supplied with the right type of screws
- Front cam adjustment (only one of its kind)
Cons
- High price
- Noisy operation
6. Gobrico Soft Close Drawer Slides
Overview
In a side-by-side comparison with other heavy-duty soft close drawer slides, nothing wasn’t anything offered that set this drawer slide apart other than a leading # of ball bearings on the inner rail (on a 22″ model, 54 bearings vs. 36 on most others).
Features
- Side mount drawer slide
- Full extension drawer slide
- Ball bearing drawer slides for smooth performance
- Integrated soft close damper
- Anachrome finish
- Tool-less drawer removal with flick of the la ocking side lever
Review
While similar to other side mount slides, these soft close glides were hard to initially open. And, unfortunately, that makes them a pass as you consider the right drawer slides for your projects.
Pros
- Smooth operation
- Full extension
- Ball bearings
- Integrated soft close damper
- Anachrome finish
- Tool-less drawer removal
Cons
- Hard to open
- Supplied screws were not the right type
7. Knape and Vogt 8400P Soft Close Drawer Slide
Overview
For a brand name drawer slide with an industry reputation, the Knape & Vogt are an option to the Vadania drawer slides but need more closing force. Due to a thinner design (7/16″), single spring design, shorter rail, and among the lowest closing force of all slides, I don’t recommend this slide.
Features
- Side mount
- Full extension
- Ball bearing
- Integrated soft close damper
- Anachrome finish
- Tool-less drawer removal with flick of locking side lever
Review
These drawer slides are a hard no from our installation experience. While seemingly the same design, their soft close mechanism is a mess and does not work correctly.
Pros
- 100-pound capacity
- Full extension
Cons
- Wrong screws
- Hard to open
- One spring
- Lacked closing force of other slides
- Was not “thick” enough for standard 1/2″ clearance
- Noisy when opening and closing
8. Promark Soft Close Drawer Slides
Based on my purchase and hands-on use, I would evaluate other slides first before the Promark
Overview
I was expecting great things from these slides but was disappointed due to a sloppy rail when opening and the loudest closing noise; these slides didn’t measure up to the others on this list.
However, the Promark rear mounting brackets were excellent and worked on all the slides I tested. And I particularly liked the extra wide rear width for easy screw hole access.
Features
- Side mount drawer slide
- Full extension drawer slide
- Ball-bearing drawer slides
- Integrated soft close damper
- Anachrome finish
- Tool-less drawer removal with flick of the locking side lever
Review
Pros
- 100-pound capacity
- Full extension
Cons
- One spring vs. two
- Lacked closing force of other slides
- Noisy when opening and closing
- Rails were sloppy
Pros
- 100 pound capacity
- Full extension
Cons
- One spring vs. two
- Lacked closing force of other slides
- Noisy when opening and closing
- Rails were sloppy
Why Do the Best Drawer Slides Have Soft Closing?
Note: Around minute 4 in the video, you’ll see the Blum undermount slides. This is an excellent reference by the Crafted Workshop on soft-close slides and making drawers for them.
First up is understanding what a soft close drawer slide is – and isn’t.
So, as you’d expect, a soft close drawer slide does two things. First, it prevents drawers from slamming through the use of a damper that catches the drawer and slows the closing force. The second, using (preferably) two large springs, the soft close mechanism gently pulls the drawer closed.
Is it the same as self-closing? No.
But will a quality soft close drawer slide keep most drawers closed? Yes.
The Best Soft Close Slides Won’t Work If Installed Incorrectly
I know you want to get to the drawer slides.
But before we do, I want to share a few tips on what else to buy.
Or, no matter how good the slide is won’t operate correctly, it might fail later, or you may break it during installation:
Drawer slide jigs are a must to align your drawers during installation properly. Most cost less than 1-2 pairs of slides, and the Kreg KHI-SLIDE is the most popular.
Rear mount brackets are a must for face frame applications as they make installation faster and improve drawer performance with infinite adjustment. I’ve used the ProMark and Lontan and prefer the ProMark as it has a more prominent rear screw plate.
Drawer screws sent by most manufacturers are inadequate. So, I use Rok #8 truss head screws in drawer slides and soft-close cabinet hinges as they have a superior hold.
So, add these 3 to your shopping list, and you’ll experience a MUCH SMOOTHER installation.
Key Features of Soft Close Drawer Slides
So how do you know an excellent soft close slide from a mediocre one?
Here are six things to look for:
- Open force: a soft close drawer slide shouldn’t require a hard tug to open. This will be your first complaint with several slides.
- Closing force: the soft close slide must grab and shut a heavy drawer. And for this, two springs are a must.
- Quality of construction: The # of ball bearings, smoothness and tightness of rails, and fit and finish of slide all matter to long-term reliability.
- Operating noise: ball bearing slides can “click and clack” when closed. But fortunately, some manufacturers have taken the time to install well-designed bumpers to prevent this.
- Weight capacity: all rated themselves as 100 heavy-duty soft close drawer slides. For 100+ pounds, see our heavy-duty drawer slide guide.
- Extension: soft close drawer slides are almost all full extension drawer slides except for very short lengths (e.g., 10″).
Finally, regarding length, all slides are available in popular lengths. And most side mounts are found from lengths of 12-24″.
Undermount Soft Close Drawer Slides Overview
Who makes under mount drawer slides?
Blum has owned the market for this style of drawer slide. And for good reason, with their intense focus on delivering quality products and continuing innovation.
And Blum also targets the consumer segment explicitly – more so than other vendors focusing on manufacturing suppliers.
But there’s always competition, so let’s look at who else makes these slides:
- Grass, like Blum, has a vast selection of drawer slides but (from my experience) is focused on commercial distribution and applications
- CSH Hardware – who supplies many of the big box stores with a lower-cost alternative to Blums
- King slides – makers of high-end push-to-open soft-close drawer slides
Pairing push to open with soft close drawer slides
Need to avoid hardware on the front of your drawers?
Well, you’re in luck if you have a frameless design for your cabinets. Adding push to close to an undermount soft close drawer slide lets you gently push the drawer front, and the drawer will glide partly open.
While these aren’t cheap, you can invest in the savings of not purchasing additional hardware (and installing them).
Who makes these? A few options:
- King under mount push to open slides that have this feature built-in
- Blum TIP-ON is an accessory to their TANDEM slides that can be added to any compatible drawer to upgrade to push to open.
Heavy duty undermount soft close drawer slides
While heavy-duty drawer slides, for me, start around 150 pounds, there are a few options for soft close drawer slides at 125 pounds:
- Blum heavy duty under mount with 125-pound capacity
Measuring Soft Close Drawer Glide Opening and Closing Force
Disclaimer: This is my testing method, and consider it as such since it was not performed in a controlled lab!
The #1 usability issue with soft close-close drawer slides is they can be hard to open.
And the #1 performance issue is the springs aren’t strong enough to pull a drawer and its contents closed.
Since this information isn’t published with drawer slides, I decided to invest a few dollars in a gauge to calibrate the trigger pressure of guns. And the results validated what I “felt” were the best soft closing drawer slides without introducing the dynamics of an installed drawer.
Step #1 - Measuring the Closing Strength
In this step, I took each of the six slides in this review (except the Blum – I’ll update the review later) and mounted them precisely the same on a custom jig.
For the test, I used the Wheeler Professional Force Gauge.
Test highlights:
- All six slides were measured ten times for both tests
- Test #1 was to measure ounces of closing force at 1.5″ from closed. And I chose this as it is just past the point where all six slides were “released” and under the power of their springs (maximum pressure).
- Test #2 was to measure ounces of closing force 0.5″ from closed. Strength was maintained near fully closed as the springs neared resting position.
Step #2 - Measuring Open Force
I’ve installed aftermarket soft close drawer adapters, which close well. But they take a surprising force to open.
So, I tested out the open force of each slide as well. I left the slide mounted in the jig for this test and performed 10 “open” cycles.
High Closing Force Plus Low Opening Force Equals the Best Performing Drawer Slide
Vadania and Lontan easily won this test. And having installed both in drawer projects, I wasn’t surprised.
The BEST closing force went to Gobrico, but they had the most challenging OPEN force. And a drawer that takes a hard tug to open is not usable.
While the EASIEST to open went to Vadania.
While the findings weren’t surprising, they did show that two springs are a must (ruling out two slides – the K&V and Promark).
Again, this test was a homemade measure of closing and opening force. It would be great for the industry to standardize a test to inform consumers in cycle tests of 100,000 openings and closings!
Common Questions on Soft Close Drawer Slides
1. Can I Upgrade to Soft Close Without Replacing the Slides
Have drawers you want to upgrade but don’t want to replace the slides?
You’re in luck if you have one of the millions (billions?) of drawers with bottom-mount epoxy slides.
A Rok Hardware Add-On Soft Close Adapter can upgrade your existing drawers in a few minutes.
Do they work? They can work great if installed according to our add-on soft close adapter guide. While more smooth to open than a Blum under mount, they do the job.
The only downside? They were a little tight to start with on opening but loosened up.
2. What are undermount soft close drawer slides?
Looking at a cabinet opening, there are three possible surfaces to mount the drawer slide to:
- Top mount for slides like keyboard trays
- Side mount for ball bearing slides
- Bottom for, hold on, there are many mount types here. A bottom mount drawer slide will be screwed to the drawer bottom but be visible on the side (I refer to these as roller or Epoxy slides). And then there are center mount slides where the drawer runs on a single slide in the, you guessed it, the center of the drawer slide. But finally, there are under mounts that are fully concealed (Blum) installed on both sides of the drawer and are entirely “under” the drawer.
So now that you understand the types of drawer slides, an undermount slide is different in that:
- An undermount slide installs on both edges (vs. a center mount where it’s only in the middle)
- Under mount slide is fully concealed.
- Finally, this type of slide requires a unique drawer construction and widths that factor drawer side thickness, drawer bottom depth, and side clearance
3. So should I use side mount soft close drawer slides?
Certainly.
Since only some budgets or projects can adapt to an undermount soft close glide, the best alternative is to use a side mount soft close.
As referenced elsewhere in this article, proper selection, mounting brackets, suitable screws, and patience are required. And while valid for undermount installation, it’s doubly important for a side mount drawer slide (of any kind).
4. Are full extension drawer slides soft close?
Fortunately, I’ve seen all soft close drawer slides incorporate a full extension opening. So yes, a full extension drawer can be found with a soft close.
What is drawer extension? Well, consider the following:
- Extension refers to how much of the drawer is “extended” past the face of the cabinet when fully opened.
- For example, partial extension drawer slides only open … partially. Most commonly, these slides open 75% or “three-fourths.” And you see the issue here as you can’t access the back of the drawer.
- On the other hand, a full extension drawer slide extends to the rear of the drawer and is at least flush with the face of the cabinet.
5. Just how difficult is installing soft close drawer slides?
With so much focus on installation issues, maybe you think these are different from the drawers for me.
But let’s consider, first, the alternatives:
- Bottom mount drawer slides only offer a soft close with an adapter. And bottom mounts, while admittedly the easiest to install, still require adjustment and rear mounting brackets.
- Standard side mount drawer slides are still ball-bearing construction and must be installed with the same precision. While slightly more accessible as the soft close mechanism isn’t a concern, all the same, vertical and horizontal adjustment is required.
- I can’t recommend a center mount slide – these exist, in my woodworking opinion, as ways to cheapen factory furniture.
Another way of saying it: no drawer slide is easy to install. Due to alignment needs, a soft close drawer slide is slightly more challenging to install. But on the other end of the installation, you’ll be satisfied with slam-free drawers.
6. I don't want knobs or handles - are there push to open soft close drawer slides?
Before answering that question, let’s first understand cabinet construction:
- A face frame cabinet cannot use push to open drawer slides as the drawer front is directly in contact with the “frame” of the cabinet.
- However, a frameless cabinet is designed such that the drawer slide determines the position of the drawer front. The drawer front has room behind it to be “pushed in.”
So with that in mind, there are push to open soft close drawer slides. And one of the best soft close drawer slides with this feature is the King push-to-open soft close drawer slide. While not the cheapest, considering cost savings on knob or handle hardware, you might be able to justify them for the look.
7. 22 inch soft close drawer slides or 24 inch? What length do I need?
When determining what slide length you need, there’s a short answer to the length question.
To measure the length:
- Frameless cabinets do not require a rear mounting bracket, so the slide length is the cabinet’s depth minus the drawer front’s thickness.
- Face frame cabinets require rear mounting brackets, so the slide length is the depth of the cabinet (from the frame front) minus 1/2″ for the rear bracket
While most cabinets I’ve installed drawer slides in require a 22-inch slide (I build for face frames), an undermount design is usually 21 inches, and bathroom cabinets tend to be 18″.
Just be sure to measure each cabinet, as construction might vary. And that’s especially true in center island cabinets.
8. What about replacing drawer slides with soft close?
A retrofit soft close upgrade project is a great DIY project.
Other than choosing a slide, here’s what you’ll want to know before jumping in:
- Remember this will require hands and knees work with potentially a trip or two into the cabinets.
- Quality, quality, quality. Sure, you can spend $5-10 less on that drawer slide, but consider the time you’ll invest for an upgrade and replacement. You don’t want to do this project twice.
- Invest in a drawer slide jig, #8 Rok screws, and a good quality cabinet clamp.
For choosing a drawer slide, you’ll want to consider the following:
- Clearance on each side of the drawer must be 1/2″, or you’ll be looking at a rebuild of the drawer.
- Cabinet Construction
- Slide length
- Weight of the drawer contents.
Better options exist than a soft close slide for extra wide or deep drawers.
9. Will a 10" soft close drawer slide work?
While I haven’t tried this slide length, I have read the reviews on shorter soft-close slides.
And they generally aren’t good.
So, be cautious with this slide length and consider that they might only open partially. Vadania’s website markets them as a partial extension slide. But all things considered, is soft closing really a need for a drawer with 8″ of travel before it connects to the soft closing device?
10. What’s the scoop on heavy duty soft close drawer slides?
Before we get started with heavy-duty, a drawer slide with a 100-pound rating is “medium duty” in my book. A heavy-duty slide begins at around 150 pounds, and these beefy slides reach 1000 pounds or more.
So, while there are heavy-duty drawer slides with a soft close feature of up to 125 pounds, it’s questionable if they will “slam shut” in the first place.
In my experience, the drawers that slam shut are lightweight. So ask yourself: is a 100-pound drawer likely something you’ll open frequently? Do you think slamming is a concern?
11. How about low profile soft close drawer slides for shallow drawers?
For furniture and desks, one familiar drawer slide needed is for a low-profile drawer slide. And by design, these slides are almost always side mount slides as the bottom of the opening is open.
So are there low-profile soft close drawer slides? I have not found any due to the soft close mechanism space requirements. However, a few options could be:
- Use a bottom mount slide with an adapter.
- However, an undermount soft close could work, but you will lose another 3/8″ of interior drawer depth.
12. Springs and hydraulics - just how does a soft close drawer slide work?
After examining a variety of side mount drawer slides, one thing is clear: the industry is trying to find the best way to do this work.
But there are a few things in common:
- When the drawer is opened, a spring-loaded mechanism (there’s always one spring!) is pulled forward.
- Then, at about 1-1/2″, a latch on the inner drawer slide is opened, and the drawer continues to open.
- When the drawer is closed, this latch is re-engaged with the soft close mechanism.
- And this is where the mechanism driving this latch “kicks in” and pulls the door shut.
A soft close drawer slide has a moving ‘sled’ with a spring assist that pulls the drawer shut.
Why would you need hydraulics, then? Well, consider what happens when you slam a drawer shut. With excessive force, your action would push this sled back too quickly, and the drawer would slam.
Now, most interestingly, consider that a soft close slides function is dictated by this spring. Or pair of springs on the higher-rated slides. Thinking back to the alignment discussions in this article, it should be evident you’ll need to have a solid alignment for this spring-loaded sled to have the best closing force.
13. Self closing drawer slides are the same as soft closing drawer slides - right?
These are two different concepts when it comes to drawer slides.
First, even the best soft closing drawer slide does have a “hold-in” force generated by the spring. But it isn’t considered a self-closing drawer slide.
Instead, a self-closing drawer slide is best described as a “stay closed” drawer slide.
The difference?
On a side mount ball bearing slide, there is a rubber catch at the rear of the outer drawer rail. When the drawer is closed, the inner rail fits over this catch and is held in place.
14. Why are drawer slide brackets required on face frame cabinets?
The answer to this question is basic geometry.
And the simple fact that soft close slides require a perfectly parallel installation for optimal performance.
Let’s start with what happens when you don’t use a drawer slide bracket on a soft close slide:
- You’ll need to cut backing blocks on each side of the drawer slide that is precisely the right thickness to keep the slides parallel. Now that doesn’t mean the same thickness as the gap behind the face frame; it means obtaining a parallel slide install.
- Shims. And a lot of them. Because neither is the cabinet guaranteed to be square nor the drawer, you’ll need to use shims to achieve a perfect fit.
Now, with a drawer bracket, you’ll have complete freedom to position the slide anywhere.
No shims.
No side mounting blocks (that need to be carefully installed to the cabinet side, no less).
Less time spent installing.
And a better result. Are they worth the extra few dollars? Absolutely.
15. Can I use a soft close drawer slide on a trash can cabinet?
Yes, but I’d temper expectations of the slide’s performance. Due to the higher weight loads with a trash can, you’ll be pushing most slides’ effective width and weight.
But, if you’re building a trash can pullout, one slide that might be worth the extra investment is the Blum Heavy Duty Soft Close Slide, which offers up to 125 pounds of support. And still includes full extension capability and the Blum brand reliability.
16. What’s the best way to install a Blum undermount slide for a slide-out shelf?
Want to add a custom slide-out to a base cabinet? This is a great way to access pots and pans with a soft-close sliding drawer. Here are a few considerations:
- You’ll want to plan for hinge clearance so your slide and drawer appear on the cabinet door. On a face frame cabinet, I like to use a strip of wood just behind the face frame to allow for hinge clearance (picture below).
- Watch drawer width maximums – over 20″ and the soft close mechanisms might not have enough strength to pull the drawer shut.
- Last, if you need still need hinge clearance, you can try a face mount hinge that fits a Blum face mounting plate (start with the 33-series hinges)
17. How to fix soft close drawer slides
If installing drawer slides needed to be more frustrating, it’s even more frustrating when they fail. When this happens, though, there are two things to check:
- Why did the drawer slide fail?
- Is the slide damaged beyond repair?
While these two are related, finding out why a drawer slide failed is tricky.
Checking for drawer slide damage
- Missing ball bearings – check for missing ones on the innermost rail attached to the drawer.
- Broken latch – check the latch that engages the soft close sled on the innermost rail. If the plastic is broken, it’s time to replace it.
- Broken damper or spring – while not as standard, check the springs and drag with the drawer not installed. Verify that it engages, stays open, and smoothly closes under no load.
- Installation issues – if the drawer slides aren’t installed parallel and equidistant to each other, the drops will not work. And most commonly, when you try to insert the drawer slide rails, you may force the slides. If this just happened, re-check your measurements.
Repairing or replacing the drawer slide?
Since a soft close drawer glide is a precision piece of hardware, any malfunction is best solved by replacing the slide. Sure, you can substitute a missing bearing or mend a broken latch. But it will likely fail again.
However, it’s vital to correct any installation issues. If you didn’t use rear mounting brackets on a face frame cabinet, buy them. And if your alignment is off, then fix it!
18. What’s with the disconnect lever on side mount drawer slides?
You’ve likely not encountered the disconnect mechanism if you haven’t removed a side mount drawer slide from a cabinet. And it can lead to an embarrassing moment where you don’t know how to remove the drawer.
Here are a few tricks:
- Almost all side mount slides have a disconnect lever on each side of the slide.
- And they work in opposite directions since slides are “flipped” when installed on the left and right of the drawer opening.
- However, a few side mount slides have a push-in detent.
So with the drawer fully extended, look at the side of each drawer for this lever and push it either up or down to release the slide rail.
How to Install Soft Close Drawer Slides
Unfortunately, several soft-close drawer slides are damaged due to improper installation. But this can be avoided with the proper preparation, tools, and accessories.
Follow these steps to install soft close drawer slides:
Step #1 - Ensure proper drawer side clearance
This step is so essential that if it cannot be done correctly, you may consider not using soft close drawer slides. Since the soft-close mechanisms operate with dampers, they require precise alignment and spacing on each side of the drawer.
If the drawer is too wide, the pressure will prevent the drawer from closing. But if the drawer is too narrow, the slides will not operate in parallel and cause binding stress.
For this reason, please make sure your drawers have precisely the proper side clearance.
Step #2 - Use rear mounting brackets for face frame cabinets
This step is simple but essential. Before installing your drawer slides in face frame cabinets, you will want to purchase rear mounting brackets.
Why is this important? Attempting to build up shims for the side of the cabinets is time-consuming and will create an issue related to Step #1 – the side clearances will take a lot of work to keep perfect.
But the good news? Rear mounting brackets are just a few dollars a drawer.
Step #3 - Drawer jigs are your best friend
Starting with the installation, the first step is placing drawer jigs on either side of the cabinet to support the drawer slides.
A few considerations:
- Using two jigs allows you to set, measure and verify equal gaps during the cabinet side of the installation.
- However, when attaching the slide piece to the drawers, the real value of two jigs comes in for face frame cabinets. Once the cabinet slides are installed, reverse the jigs to point them out. Then set the drawer on the jigs and pull the drawer slide out.
- Make sure the drawer height is set correctly; screw the slide to the drawer (on each side).
With jigs, you’ll be able to measure and experiment (unfortunately, required for frameless cabinets). I like the Kreg Jig Pack With Clamps as a value pack with the jigs, clamps, and a cabinet knob drill guide.
Step #4 - Adjust gently and never force a slide
There is no such thing as a ball-bearing side mount that needs a hard shove to install. The construction of these slides that are inviting them to break.
And all too often, that calls for a negative review of the slide.
Instead, you can just plan for many adjustments, gentle installation, and stop when frustrated. And that will happen.
Step #5 - Use the right screws and install them all
Plan for the screws that came with your slides to be junk. And instead, purchase a higher quality screw like the Rok #8 screws that will provide a better grip because the last thing you’ll want is to re-adjust drawers in a year after cheap screws start to work free.
Buying Guide for Soft Close Drawer Slides
Determine Your Cabinet Construction
Because installing drawers is complicated, you’ll need to understand your cabinet’s construction. Why does this matter? Well consider:
- On a frameless cabinet, the slide will attach directly to the side of the cabinet.
- While a face frame cabinet will require the slide to attach to the face frame and then the back of the cabinet (with a rear mount bracket).
So what’s a face frame cabinet? Simple. If your cabinet has a “frame” like a picture on the front of the box, you have a face frame cabinet. Inversely, no frame means you own a frameless cabinet.
Get the Slide Length Right
Nothing will start your drawer installation project worse than having the wrong length slide.
But to help you out, here’s my cheat sheet for choosing the correct length of soft close drawer slide:
- The drawer slides should be the same length as the drawer.
- Slides should never be shorter than the drawer
- While slides can be longer than the drawer, face frame cabinets must leave room at the back of the cabinet for mounting brackets.
- Plan for rear mounting brackets on face frame cabinets. They can take up to 1″ of depth from the drawer, and the slide must reach into them sufficiently to hold the drawer weight.
Finally, as a reference point, almost all kitchen cabinets require a 21-22″ slide, and most bathrooms use 18″ slides. If you are replacing slides, then measure the existing drawer depth.
Drawer Slide Brackets Are a Must for Face Frame Cabinets
Ball-bearing drawer slides with a soft close mechanism require perfection or won’t work.
For this reason, you’ll need to use a rear mounting bracket on face frame cabinets or risk a nightmare installation. And here are three reasons you’ll be glad you purchased your slides with brackets:
- Rear brackets allow minor left-to-right drawer adjustments with ease.
- The alternative to a rear mount bracket is shimming.
- Drawer installation time can be cut by as much as 80% (seriously!).
I’ve installed thousands of bottom-mount drawer slides in my woodworking career. And I would only start installing drawers in face frame cabinets with a bracket.
Drawer Slide Screw Considerations
While all quality drawer slides will include screws, that doesn’t mean they are best for your installation. Here are a few things I like to keep in mind:
- For rear mounting brackets, I like to use larger diameter, aggressive thread screws.
- On face frame cabinets, you must drill a pilot hole to avoid splitting the wood or breaking a screw off.
Lastly, you’ll need to make sure to install screws generously. Once the drawer is installed and gliding smooth, carefully install additional screws and test the drawer operation continually. Due to drawers holding over 100 pounds, I always use two large screws in rear mounting brackets. You can check out our guide to cabinet screws for more on what I like to use.
Check that the slide won’t interfere with the drawer construction
This is a trade-off, as some of the best slides require room under the drawer. But, side mounts soft close slides are visible. We’ll get to this in a minute; I prefer to trade off a little under-the-drawer space for a hidden slide. And you can make the drawer a tad wider.
The critical thing to note here? Not all slides will work with existing drawers. And don’t assume the same if you are making drawers. I’ve made this mistake (once).
Drawer construction considerations for soft close drawer slides
Are you looking at undermount slides? You’ll want to make your choice before you build the drawers. Or make sure they are compatible (with modifications) for a retrofit.
Planning height of drawer
Some drawer slides require a change to the interior height of the drawer bottom. Why? Well, it allows for an undermount slide to be concealed. The trade-off is less drawer space.
However, since under mount drawer, slides need minimal clearance, I typically make the drawer 1/2″ less than the height of the opening. This maximizes the drawer sidewall and avoids installation issues with the drawer rubbing the top of the face frame (or cabinet top).
Considerations for attaching slides
A few slides will require a custom dado cut to allow the slide to be attached. This isn’t a big deal, as it’s typically concealed. Are you planning heavy duty use of the drawer? If you are debating using woods, a hardwood side will hold up better over time to the weight and screws.
You can also buy pre-cut drawer slides if you need access to plywood, a truck, or a table saw to make them.
Convert existing drawers to soft close drawer slides
There is an easy way and a hard way to do this. Want the easy way? Match the slides you currently have to the soft-close slides.
First check for compatibility
Drawer slides, you will find, come in three different varieties. Consider this when you switch to a different slide – unless you are making new drawers. Three styles of slides:
- Under-mount/center-mount slides come in various designs and may or may not allow the existing drawer to support a similar under-mount soft closing slide.
- Bottom mount – you likely have these if you see a slide at the bottom of the face frame or a large wheel at the front of the cabinet-attached slide. Consider side mount soft close slides if these are your slides.
- Side mount slides – unless you use heavy-duty drawer slides, chances are you’re looking at a standard 1/2″ side clearance with ball-bearing slides.
Retrofit considerations
Converting existing drawers to soft close slides starts with a few basic measurements:
- Width and height of drawer opening
- Width and height of the drawer
- Depth of cabinet
- For under mounts, clearance between the drawer bottom and the side of the drawer
Fortunately, 90% of drawers that aren’t soft close have a 1/2″ gap on each drawer slide. The easiest solution for these cabinets is a side mount, ball-bearing style soft close.
However, I highly recommend the BLUM line of soft-close slides if you have the budget and ability to adapt the drawer. My favorite feature with these is they are “bump to close.” These slides are so smooth you can give the drawer a gentle bump, and they glide close.
Frequently Asked Questions for Soft Close Drawer Slides
Can I upgrade existing drawers to soft close?
Most existing drawers can be upgraded to soft close with a 1/2″ side clearance. Or, a soft close adapter can be used for bottom mount drawer slides to add a soft close without replacing the drawer slide.
How do you measure for soft close drawer slides?
First, identify the rear clearance requirements of your drawer slide. This clearance typically ranges from 1/8″ up to 1-1/2″. Then, measure from the back of the cabinet to the front edge of the face frame or cabinet box. You can find the next shortest slide using this as your maximum length. For example, if your clearance is 1/2″ and the cabinet depth is 23″, then the longest slide is 22-1/2″. Then, rounding down, you will want to use a 22″ slide. Lastly, remember the manufacturer’s clearance changes; frameless cabinets typically do not have a rear clearance requirement.
What is the best soft close drawer slide?
After years of installing drawer slides, my preferred soft close drawer slide is the Blum Tandem with Blumotion. Due to a significant damper, robust closing mechanism, and easy-to-open action, these slides are perfect for high-quality kitchen and furniture hardware. And Blum is a trusted industry manufacturer with decades of experience and a strong brand reputation.
What are the easiest drawer slides to install?
The most accessible drawer slides to install are bottom mount drawer slides. First, since a bottom mount slide can only be installed on the bottom edge of the drawer side, the drawer installation is fast and without any real options. Second, the cabinet installation is simple and forgiving as the cabinet side has to be mounted flush with the face frame or face of the cabinet. And last, these slides do not require a precise alignment between the left and right slides since they employ a roller, not ball bearings.
Are soft close drawers hard to open?
Some soft-close drawers are hard to open. In fact, in my experience, low-quality side mounts and soft close drawer slides are commonly the hardest to open. As you’ll see in the force test of this article, one slide required over 4 pounds of “pull” per side to open (8 pounds total + drawer weight).
Can you replace drawer slides with soft close?
Two ways exist to replace drawer slides and upgrade to a soft close. The first is to install an after-market adapter that will work with the existing slide. But the second is to replace the current slide with a side mount soft close drawer slide that will provide a smoother close and (usually) less open force than an adapter. However, to upgrade an existing drawer to a soft close undermount slide, you’ll need to rebuild the drawer.
Conclusion
While higher priced than standard drawer slides, using one of the best drawer slides will improve the usability and enjoyment of any drawer they are installed on. Hopefully, this article could show you the differences between various manufacturers and which slide is best for your next project.
- About the Author
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Eric has been a professional woodworker for over thirty years and has worked in small cabinet shops making everything from kitchen cabinets to hand-made furniture. Now working from a home woodworking shop Eric is sharing his passion for woodworking, tool advice and how-to knowledge from his Minnesota-based woodshop.
Thank you! This information is amazing! I’m about to attempt to install roll-out shallow drawers inside cabinets.I ordered Blum Undermounts for the majority of installs and the Knape & Vogt for the others.
I am ordering Rok #8 — 1/2″ — is that the correct size? Cabinet interiors are constructed of 1/2″ plywood.
On the Blum undermount– if mounting to the bottom, is there a need to keep the side support bar or can that be cut off? On the lower shelves — I have to leave 1/2″ – 3/4″ for the hinge arm on each side before installing the drawers, so having a metal edge standing may look odd. (I just ordered compact Blum hinges to see if I can decrease the space required for the hinge.)
I have an extra wide cabinet — 39″ — I’m considering splitting into two drawers — will be mounted to the bottom. Outside to outside edge would be 18″ minus the thickness of the Blum side support?
Thanks Catherine – I’m glad it was helpful!
The Blum drawer slides are thick walled and a 1/2″ screw should work fine. If you’re not sure try them out on a scrap piece of the plywood or a cabinet side you won’t see.
If I understand what you’re trying to do with the slide-out shelves, and the 1/2″ plywood sides, I’m going to assume you have a face frame construction. A simple trick here is installing a 3/4″ thick strip of wood (matching the face frame) that’s 1″ to 1-1/4″ wide just behind the face frame. I like to have it protrude 3/8″ of an inch into the cabinet opening on at least the hinge side (or both for symmetry – my preference). While you lose 3/4″ of an inch in drawer width you are now free to position the hinge anywhere on the face frame. And best of all the face of the slide-out is less likely to bump and scratch the door. I updated the post (see #16) with a picture of this since it’s a great question.
Regarding the 39″ width, two drawers is best for the soft close to work properly. If your other question is seeing the metal on the inside edge – either install a center rail on the face frame (if you aren’t retrofitting) or screw a piece of finished wood to the slide side to hide the metal.
Thanks!
– ET
Is there a rear bracket that works with the Vadania slides you recommend? Thanks!
Hi Daniel – the Promarks will fit on the Vadania slides. Of note, the Promark brackets are a firm fit on both the Promark and Vadania slides. I haven’t found manufacturer made rear brackets for most slides, including Vadania.
Hi
Where can I purchase these from please?
What brand are they also?
Hi Emma –
Thank you for asking! Depending on your reveal and hinge overlay the Blum 71B3550 is a place to start (#2 on the list of hinges). They should be available through the link and ordered via Amazon (US, CA or UK).
Best,
EDT
Do you need to install soft close side mount slides in pairs? Can one slide be soft close and one be regular to minimize the open and closing force? Wondering if this would cause any binding?
Hi Tom,
That’s a great question and thanks for asking. These slides are best installed in pairs.
Unfortunately, while the drawer would likely operate, by mixing slides you would place more pressure on the soft closing damper that “slows” the drawer from slamming AND reduce the closing force by cutting the number of springs in half. Also, most “self closing” slides have a rubber catch at the back that holds the drawer shut and may need to be adjusted (or removed). Overall, this might work for a pencil drawer but any drawer of size could, as you noted, have binding or other issues.
One of the reasons I like the Blum slides is the open force isn’t as noticeable.
Eric
Found your article very informative. I’m thinking of turning my bottom kitchen cabinets into drawers. Converting two shed storage to one deep drawer. I store all pots and pans there. I’m unsure which mount would be best. I would like to affix the cabinet door to the drawer.
Hi Lizzy,
Thank you for asking! The best option for converting this might be to try a Rev-a-Shelf pull out wire basket and order the optional door mounts. You can always drop in a flat liner if you don’t want the mesh, and this would make sure the door mounts flat and opens smooth.
Otherwise, since you are building drawers, the best performing are the Blum (harder to make) or the side mount Vadania with the soft close.
Let me know how it goes.
Thanks!
Eric T
You claim repeatedly that the BLUM undermount drawer slides are Made in the USA. Somewhat incorrect. If you say “some” are made in the USA, I can maybe believe you. But in the case of my BLUM 9″ 563H229 slides you are definitely wrong. They are Made in Austria and it says so right in the slide.
Hi Manfred,
I am surprised if that happened as BLUM states they are 100% Made in USA on their about us website.
I would suggest contacting BLUM directly and inquiry as to the inconsistency!
Thanks,
Eric
Drawer slides with greater pullout requirements are exactly what RV’s require. Slides such as the KV 8400BRV will keep drawers closed while the RV is in motion and don’t require that much effort to open. There seems to be a drawer slide for every application and just because a slide is not appropriate for one application doesn’t mean it isn’t the proper choice for another.
Just wanted to make sure you are aware that Blum has a slide called the Movento that is a rack and pinion undermount slide. It has the ability to be placed with or without a push to open. They also work on face frame or frameless style cabinets. Check them out I think you will really like the way they work.
Thanks Anthony! These are great slides and appreciate your comment.
Eric
Great article! Thanks for this! I’m looking for info about something I can’t find covered anywhere, maybe you know the answer. I have King Slide undermounts in my bathroom vanity – soft close, but not push-to-open – and the top drawer started pulling itself shut with a slam. After much inspection I found the pistons have lost their hydraulics or something, as they no longer offer any resistance to the spring pulling the drawer closed. Do I have to replace the entire assembly, or is there a way to reset the little cylinders so they close softly again? Thanks for any insights you might have.
Hi Glen,
Unfortunately when a damper goes bad the only fix is to replace the slide. Check out cabinetparts.com as they have a good stock of King slides.
Best,
Eric