BUDGET SLIDES IN 12-24" LENGTHS
LONTAn Soft Close Full Extension
Lontan Slides: Budget 12-24″
TOP SLIDES & JIGS:
› PROS CHOICE: BLUM 563H
› BEST FOR DRESSER: HICKORY HARDWARE
› BULK SIDE MOUNT: LONTAN
› MUST HAVE JIG: KREG DRAWER JIG
Even experienced woodworkers sometimes pause and ask what size drawer slides they need. While that might seem odd, drawer slides are a confusing piece of cabinet hardware as they have various mounts (side, bottom, under, top, and center), and lengths vary by slide type.
Which makes choosing drawer slides a challenge.
In this article, you can learn how drawer depth, cabinet construction, mounting location, and weight capacity will all factor into your drawer slide length requirements.
The general rule of drawer size measurements is to measure the depth of the cabinet, then subtract 1/2-inch and round down to the following even number. So, for a face frame cabinet that is 23″ deep, remove 1/2″ and then round to 22″ (and use rear mount brackets).
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New Construction Drawer Sizes
Perhaps your project needs to take shape, and you want to order your drawer slides so they are ready when you are.
The task might be more difficult as you may have yet to assemble the cabinet or furniture box. But you should, at least, know the depth of the final made box.
Standard Drawer Slide Sizes for Kitchen Cabinets
Most kitchen drawer slides are 21 to 22-inchdes in length
First, almost all kitchens are made with 24″ final depth cabinets to support standard-sized countertops.
This makes drawer slide lengths for kitchens primarily standard, and by slide type, the following is a rule of thumb:
- Side and bottom mount drawer slides are almost always 22″ and have a 1/2″ side clearance. Have a face frame cabinet? You’ll need rear mount brackets too.
- Undermount drawer slides are 21″ and have a custom drawer width
Drawer Slide Lengths for Bathroom Vanities
Most vanities have 16 or 18-inch drawer slides.
Similar to a kitchen cabinet, and with the standard vanity top depth at 21 inches, the finished depth of vanities mainly supports a 16- or 18-inch drawer slide.
Why the variation? Well, it depends on the overhang and style of the vanity top. While some cabinets push to 20″ deep (and thus support an 18″ slide), others prefer more overhang and require a 16″ drop for the best depth.
What do you think the best way is to decide? You can work backward from the depth of your vanity top. While most homeowners prefer at least 1-inch of counter overhang, 3/4 inches for the drawer front, and 1/4 to 3/4″ in the back (up to 2-1/2 inches), you’ll be fine at 18-inches for a frameless cabinet and tight for a face frame cabinet.
Furniture Drawer Slide Lengths
By now, you’ve probably got the picture of choosing a slide length for new construction. For furniture projects, follow the same rule of thumb:
- Face frame designs subtract 1″ from the depth of the finished cabinet and round down to the nearest even length
- Frameless designs can be measured tighter, but it’s best to lay out and, if in doubt, go a little shorter than longer.
Related Article: Best Soft Close Drawer Slides for Cabinets and Furniture
Soft Closing vs. Self Closing Drawer Slides
As you realize, drawer slide terminology is different.
And one of the more confusing points is the difference between soft and self-closing:
- Self-closing means the drawer will use gravity to pull the drawer shut. But it WILL NOT prevent the drawer from slamming.
- Soft closing drawer slides will hold a drawer shut AND use a damper technology to prevent the drawer from slamming.
This has led most new kitchens and projects to use soft closing slides because nobody likes to hear slamming cabinet drawers.
And, when deciding the size of drawer slides, the length is mostly the same.
Measuring Drawer Slides for Existing Drawers
One way of quickly updating your drawers is to replace the drawer slides with improved performing slides.
But that may mean switching from a center-mount slide to a side-mount drawer slide. As you might know, this creates a new measuring question: what size drawer slide do I need for a retrofit?
Side Mount Drawer Side Lengths and Extensions
If this is your first exposure to drawer slide mechanics, an excellent place to start is with a side mount drawer slide.
Not only are these slides strong, but they are also top-performing slides when properly installed:
- Easy to mount
- Ball bearings for smooth action and high-weight loads
- Standard 1/2-inch side clearance
- Full extension features allow access to the back of the drawer
Lastly, side mount slides are available in 2″ increments from 10″ up to 72″, making them an excellent fit for any cabinet or furniture.
Bottom Mount (Epoxy) Drawer Slides
While an accurate count would be hard to obtain, there are likely billions of bottom-mount drawer slides powering cabinets and furniture. And this is because these slides are inexpensive and have (generally) sound performance.
When picking sizes, you’ll be looking at slides between 12-22″ in length. Why so short? Their design is centered on narrow tracks for epoxy wheels and doesn’t stay rigid over longer distances.
Undermount Drawer Slide Sizes
Of all the types of drawer slides, there is none more demanding than the TOP-performing under-mount drawer slides.
Why? Well, consider the following:
- Undermounts require a custom side clearance to support the thickness of the drawer side
- Most under-mount slides are grooved into the drawer bottom
- And face frame cabinets require a rear mounting bracket
So, if your goal is replacing under-mount drawer slides, you’ll want to replace them “like for like” with the same part number and length. Unfortunately, upgrading a side mount drawer to an under-mount is rarely possible.
The good news? Most under mounts come in limited lengths of 12″, 15″, 18″, and 21″, which should make measuring relatively easy.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much space does a drawer slide need on the side?
Most drawers are built to support a 1/2″ of clearance on each side of the drawer. However, heavy-duty drawer slides will often take from 0.7 to 0.75 inches, and under-mount slides a custom amount of less than 1/2″.
Can drawer slides be shorter than the drawer?
Yes, a drawer slide can be shorter than a drawer. However, the drawer will not fully open, and the distance from the back of the side mounted on the drawer to the rear of the drawer will be lost for accessibility.
What size drawer slides are used for a 24-inch deep cabinet?
The standard drawer slide length for face frame cabinets is 22″ to allow for a rear mounting bracket. The same is generally valid for frameless cabinets, as you need at least 1″ of space for the drawer front and rear of the cabinet.
Summary
As you decide on the size of your drawer slides, consider using soft close drawer slides (not self-close), drawer slide jigs, and suitable cabinet screws for your 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.
you never say how to measure for the right item
Hi Greg, we appreciate the comment and highlighted a standard measurement rule at the top of the article.
Hi Eric … you provide a rule of thumb, but in my case, I have a drawer and I’m replacing the slides. Does 22” describe the distance that the slide will travel, or the dimension of the slide hardware? And if it’s the dimension of the hardware, is it measuring the component on the cabinet wall? Or the drawer box itself?
Hi Greg,
The 22″ describes the length of the slide as it is attached to the box. There are partial extension and full extension slides that are the length of travel. General rule of thumb: epoxy slides are 3/4 extension, side and undercount are full extension.
Hope that helps.
Best,
Eric
If I have an 18″ drawer in a 24″ deep cabinet , what size slide do I order?
Hi Justin, for a 24″ deep cabinet I’d usually install a 22″ deep drawer with 22″ slides (face frame or frameless). You could stick with an 18″ drawer and use longer slides, or install a rear bracket. Good luck.
Eric
I’m replacing my kitchen drawer slide on side and bottom. The side slide that were measure 23 inch and bottom slide measure 21 1/2 inch.
Can I replace the slides with a 22 inch slides for side and bottom of drawer.
Then attach 1 inch block in the back of the cabinet, then
put the brace on to attach to the side slides.
Hi Bernadette –
I have not seen an application with both side and bottom mount slides. I recommend replacing the slides based on the weight of the drawer and its construction. Heavy-duty side mount drawer slides are available for up to 150 pounds (check Vadania).
Best,
Eric