Updated October 2026
Choose a pull whose centre-to-centre measurement is about 1/3 of the drawer width, and up to 1/2 on very wide drawers. On doors, most kitchens use a pull between 96 mm and 160 mm centre-to-centre, placed vertically on the side opposite the hinge.
Centre-to-centre, explained
Cabinet pulls are sized by centre-to-centre (often written c-c or cc): the distance from the middle of 1 screw hole to the middle of the other. It is not the overall length of the pull. 2 pulls with the same 160 mm centre-to-centre can differ in overall length by 20 mm or more, depending on how far the grip extends past the posts.
Centre-to-centre is the number that decides which holes get drilled and whether a replacement pull fits existing holes, so it is the number to shop by. Most cabinet hardware is made to the metric series below; the inch sizes are close equivalents.
Common centre-to-centre sizes
| Centre-to-centre | Inch equivalent | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| 64 mm | 2 1/2 in | Small drawers, bathroom vanities, older kitchens |
| 76 mm | 3 in | Small drawers, older kitchens |
| 96 mm | 3 3/4 in | Doors, drawers up to 300 mm wide |
| 128 mm | 5 in | Doors, drawers 300 to 450 mm wide |
| 160 mm | 6 5/16 in | Doors, drawers 450 to 600 mm wide |
| 192 mm | 7 9/16 in | Drawers 500 to 650 mm wide, tall pantry doors |
| 224 mm | 8 13/16 in | Drawers 600 to 750 mm wide |
| 256 mm | 10 1/16 in | Drawers 750 to 900 mm wide |
| 320 mm | 12 5/8 in | Wide drawers, pantry and fridge panels |
Pull size by drawer width
The 1/3 rule gives a pull that reads as part of the drawer rather than a dot in the middle of it. On very wide drawers the pull can grow to about 1/2 the width, or you can use 2 pulls instead of 1 long one.
| Drawer width | Suggested centre-to-centre |
|---|---|
| Up to 300 mm (12 in) | 96 mm |
| 300 to 450 mm (12 to 18 in) | 128 or 160 mm |
| 450 to 600 mm (18 to 24 in) | 160 or 192 mm |
| 600 to 750 mm (24 to 30 in) | 192, 224 or 256 mm, or 2 x 128 mm |
| 750 to 900 mm (30 to 36 in) | 256 or 320 mm, or 2 x 160 mm |
| Over 900 mm (36 in) | 320 mm or longer, or 2 x 160 to 192 mm |
Where a drawer stack has different widths, keep 1 or 2 sizes across the kitchen rather than a different pull on every drawer. Many kitchens settle on 160 mm for doors and smaller drawers and 256 or 320 mm for the wide ones.
Pulls on doors
Doors carry less visual weight than a wide drawer front, so the pull can be shorter. 96 mm to 160 mm suits most door heights; 128 mm is a common middle choice. Tall pantry doors and tall utility doors can take 192 mm to 320 mm, since there is more vertical space to fill and the pull is gripped at arm height.
Appliance panels
Panelled fridges, freezers and dishwashers need a pull long enough to lever a heavy door and sturdy enough to hold its shape. 320 mm and up is usual for a fridge panel, and the rest of the kitchen hardware is often repeated in the same finish at a longer length.
Proportion checks before you drill
- Cut a strip of paper or tape to the overall length of the pull and hold it against the drawer. The eye judges overall length, even though the order is placed by centre-to-centre.
- Keep the gap between the end of the pull and the drawer edge wider than the gap between neighbouring drawers.
- When in doubt between 2 sizes, the longer one usually looks more settled on a drawer and the shorter one on a door.
Shop: Cabinet pulls and handlesModern and contemporary cabinet pullsAppliance pulls
