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Replacement Drawer Slides for Dressers And How To Install Them

Updated: August 8, 2023
Replacing drawer slides on a dresser requires understanding drawer slide mounts and features. In this guide learn how to choose new slides plus tips and tools to properly install them.
Replacement Drawer Slides for Dresser
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Replacement Drawer Slides for Dressers And How To Install Them

Hickory Hardware

UNIVERSAL STYLE FOR MOST DRESSERS

BEST: HICKORY  HARDWARE

Buy

IN THIS GUIDE:

  › BEST OVERALL: VADANIA SOFT CLOSE 

  › BUDGET PICK: LONTAN 4502S3 

  › NEW FURNITURE: BLUM 563H 

  › SAFETY MUST haVE: ANTI-TIP KIT 

Finding suitable replacement drawer slides for dressers is as simple as matching the existing drawer slide for existing dressers or picking a high-quality slide for new projects.

While the best drawer slides are soft close and full extension, it is only sometimes possible to replace a dresser slide with these slides due to the construction of the dresser frame and drawer.

However, there are some basic things to check and then decide on options:

  • If you have a 1/2″ of clearance on either side of the drawer, then upgrading to full extension soft close side mount drawer slides is the best option (Lontan and Vadania are two top picks)
  • However, for center mount drawer slides where you won’t have side clearance replacing with a similar drawer slide is best
  • Lastly, for new drawers, an undermount like the 563H is the best bet for the smoothest operation

WARNING: Dressers must be adequately secured to the wall to prevent tipping.  Regardless of the drawer slide used, this tipping risk is a hazard and injuries many people every year.

Types of Dresser Slides

Center Mount Drawer Slide
Dresser Drawers With Undermount Slides

Many dresser drawers are built with center-mount drawer slides that carry up to 35-pounds and extend just three fourths of the way out.  

Why? Safety.  Dressers are notorious for tipping and by not allowing the slide to fully extend it reduces the risk. However, properly secured to the wall there is no reason to not consider a higher performing slide than the typical center mount slide.

Center Mount Dresser Drawer Slides

Hickory Hardware Center Mount Dresser Slide

When you open your dresser drawer and can’t see the drawer slides, there is a good chance your slides are a center mount design. These slides, while common, are not the best performing, and as you choose replacement drawer slides for your dresser, looking at side mounts is preferred. 

But they are economical.

Key features:

  • Single slide mounted in the center bottom of the drawer
  • The drawer edges run on glides installed on each side of the drawer frame
  • Typically are partial openings (3/4 travel) and don’t allow for access to the back of the drawer

Bottom Mount Dresser Drawer Slides

Liberty Bottom Mount Dresser Slide

The odds are that you’ve opened a drawer and noticed a bottom mount drawer slide. While these drawer slides are as standard as any other dresser, they are not the best performing. 

Key features:

  • Are limited to partially opening (3/4 travel)
  • Lower weight limits
  • Self-closing design that uses gravity on the final length of travel to keep the drawer shut
  • Easy to install
  • Inexpensive

Standard Side Mount Replacement Drawer Slides

Liberty Side Mount Dresser Slide

Almost all drawer slides in newer kitchens have moved to either a side-mount drawer slide or a premium undermount slide.

And, for dressers, there is no reason not to use this type of replacement drawer slide as it features a standard 1/2″ of side clearance (per side) with functions like:

  • Full extension to reach the back of the drawer
  • Heavy-duty weight limits
  • Self-closing with rubber stops

Soft Close Side Mount Drawer Slides for Dressers

Vadania Soft Close Side Mount Dresser Slide

Without altering the construction of your drawer, the top-of-the-line replacement drawer slide for dressers is the soft close-side mount slide.

Since these drawer slides won’t slam, open quietly and stay closed, they offer a level of performance that other drawer slides can’t match.

Key features:

  • Large dampers will stop the dresser drawer from slamming
  • Dual springs on top slides will pull even heavy drawers shut the last few inches
  • Full extension
  • Weight capacities up to 100-pounds

Tools Needed to Replace Drawer Slides

Drawer Slide Jig

Easily one of the most steps in drawer slide replacement is aligning the new drawer slides for proper drawer function.

Fortunately, there are three things every drawer installation (new or replacement) can use to speed the process and reduce frustration:

  • Drawer slide jigs can be used to properly align the slide to a perfect 90 degrees from the face of the cabinet
  • Rear mount brackets can be used on face frame dressers to support the rear of side and bottom mount slides (pair them appropriately with your slide type).
  • Rok #8  screws will hold the bracket or drawer slide firm for years of abuse.

Center Mount Replacement Dresser Slides

Center Mount Drawer Slide

For center mount drawer slides, as pictured above, there are generally two options when replacing the slide:

  • Replace with a similar thickness metal slide
  • Or, upgrade to a side mount soft close slide

The determining factor? Amount of space on each side of the drawer side. 

Replacing A Center Mount With Another Center Mount Drawer Slide

The easiest replacement drawer for a center mount drawer slide is simply another drawer slide. Since the drawer was built for this slide style, the work will primarily be to ensure the height of the new drawer slide matches the old one.

Why does height matter? Well, consider the following:

  • The drawer tracks may need to be adjusted.
  • Alignment of the dresser drawer front must be maintained
  • Clearance to ensure the drawer doesn’t rub the top of the frame

Since there is no getting around the need for a replacement, it’s easiest to plan some minor time adjusting the slides and, using shims of thin wood or speed shims, schedule some tweaking time.

Top drawer slide brands for center mounts include Accuride and Knape & Vogt.

Upgrading a Dresser Drawer to a Side Mount Drawer Slide

Side Mount Ball Bearing Drawer Slide

A soft closing side mount slide is the best upgrade for any drawer slide replacement. And, for dresser drawers, this simple slide is easy to install and requires just 1/2-inch of clearance on each side of the drawer.

So, with that, the only trick is to measure that the width of the drawer box is precisely 1 inch less than the width of the frame. And, of course, install an anti-tip device on the wall.

Replacing Bottom Mount Slides Dress Slides

Bottom Mount Drawer Slide

The odds are good if your drawer doesn’t have a concealed drawer slide. There are two white epoxy bottom drawer slides powering the drawer.

While highly durable with a simple design and nylon rollers, eventually, these slides will perform less optimally. Or, for many, they lack a crucial feature: soft closing.

The good news is this style of drawer slide can be easily replaced:

  • Replacement bottom mount drawer slides are readily available at any length.
  • Or, a soft close slide replacement is quickly done since bottom mounds are almost universally 1/2″ side clearance slides.

Undermount Drawer Slide Replacement For Dressers

Nylon Roller Dresser Drawer

While uncommon, one of the unique drawer slides you may encounter in a dresser is an epoxy undermount or metal undermount slide.

Generally, a metal undermount slide, if properly constructed, will last for decades.

But, like bottom mount slides, an epoxy slide on a nylon drawer will eventually stop working as intended. It is usually best to look for a manufacturer part and an exact replacement slide for these types of drawer slides.

The next best bet? Move to a side mount slide and adjust the cabinet frame thickness.

Old Style Drawer Slides

Basic Drawer Slide Guide and Stopper

For older furniture that wasn’t made with precision drawer slides,  a simple wood track was often used to keep the drawer in line.

And paired with this track is a plastic stopper that hits the bottom underside of the drawer to prevent it from falling out.

So can you replace this slide? In most cases, certainly, but with a bit of surgery to the dresser in a tight space.

Plastic Drawer Slide REplacement Parts

Plastic Drawer Slide Guide

Replacing your drawer slides can mean something other than replacing an entire slide. Instead, for drawers with plastic guides and stoppers, replacing the plastic parts can upgrade a drawer that was sticking or just not operating smoothly.

The solution? With most dresser manufacturers having a unique supply for their parts, check for markings or names and look up the details online.

But if the parts aren’t available, could you start measuring the drawer dimensions to see your replacement drawer slide options? 

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of slides do you use for dresser drawers?

The best drawer slides for a dresser are a full extension side mount or undermount drawer slide. While side mount drawer slides are more economical and install easier, an undermount drawer slide is invisible once installed and generally operates better.

Can you replace wooden drawer slides?

Wooden drawer slides can be replaced with a similar length center mount drawer slide or a side mount slide. Since spacing is essential, the best way to determine what replacement you need is to measure the width of the drawer opening. If it is 1 inch total, then a side mount slide is a great fit.

How do I know what size drawer slide I need?

There are two dimensions to drawer slides when determining what size is needed. First, the drawer slide must be long enough to cover the full drawer depth – but not long enough that it won’t fit inside the dresser. Second, for drawer slides that mount on the side of the drawer, a 1/2″ of clearance on each drawer side is typically required.

Summary

As we’ve reviewed, replacement drawer slides for dressers are readily available in just about any length and style.  And with enhanced performance options from soft closing drawer slides or upgraded epoxy slides the cost and time investment can improve your project as well.

  • About the Author
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( Woodworker )

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.

4 thoughts on “Replacement Drawer Slides for Dressers And How To Install Them”

  1. Hi I need about 3 like the very image you have pictured sort of an open v shaped plastic guide for an old 1980s dresser

  2. Hi James,

    Without a part number or manufacturer it is very difficult to find a match. There are, fortunately, inexpensive center mount replacement slides you could take a look at. If you have a logo or part # I can take a look.

    Thanks,
    Eric

  3. Hi. I need several of the same V shaped plastic guides. For Drexel dresser draws, the part number is 510.

  4. Hi Scott –

    These are tough to find as Drexel is a high-end furniture maker and has been acquired. Your best bet is to find a dealer and a quick internet search should give you a few numbers.

    Thanks,
    Eric

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