Taking on a bath renovation or a kitchen renovation is exciting. However, it’s very tiring and time-consuming. Not to mention that it will require you to make a lot of decisions. Do you want to install upper and lower cabinets? Or do you want open-shelving cabinets instead? What type of backsplash do you want? These are just some of the things you need to think about in a renovation project. Even if you have found your dream kitchen online, there will still be unexpected details you haven’t thought of yet. One of those things is your cabinet hardware placement.

There are so many things you should consider when it comes to cabinet hardware placement, whether kitchen cabinets or bathrooms. From size and style to shape and finish, there are countless things to stress about. As soon as you have already chosen the hardware you want to install, you’ll have to decide where you want to place your hardware.

What’s the Ideal Cabinet Hardware Placement for Homes?

If you’re already working with a cabinet maker or designer, they may already have a preference to recommend for you, which makes it easier for you to decide. However, if you’re the only one doing the job, drilling the holes, then the decision is up to you. You should know what your options are. As with most things related to house design, your cabinet hardware placement should be a combination of function and form. In terms of design, your options fall into more modern and more traditional categories, although the placement of your hardware will not really affect your room’s overall appearance.

Both the knobs and the pulls are almost always horizontally centered on the door stile (the frame piece that runs vertically). Some companies place the knobs a little lower or higher on the stile than other companies, with the range between 2 to 4 inches from the top edge or the bottom of the door. Some companies place the hardware vertically on the stile instead of placing it towards the bottom or at the top of the door.

Where to place pulls on cabinet doors?

For pulls on upper cabinets (those that have two screws), make sure to place the pull horizontally centered on the door stile. Make sure to place the bottom hole 2 and ½ inches up from the bottom of the door. For lower cabinets, make sure to place the upper hole vertically, 2 and ½ inches down from the top of the door.

For cabinet door profiles that do not have a flat area but have a lot of details, make sure to select a knob or pull that has a narrow footprint. Place it on the flattest portion of the frame profile, ideally in the center of the curve. Below is a list of several knobs and pulls that have a narrow footprint, which should work well on a curved frame profile:

• Brenton knob
• Maybeck knob
• Anwick knob
• Merrick pull
• Asher pull
• Maybeck pull
• Lafayette pull

On tall lower cabinets (with a center rail), such as broom closets or pantry closets, make sure to place the knobs and pulls horizontally centered on the door stile and vertically in the middle of the center rail.

On tall upper cabinets (with a center rail), such as pantry cabinets or tall linen cabinets, make sure to place the knobs and pulls horizontally centered on the stile and 2 and ½ inches up from the bottom of the cabinet door.

Where to place the knobs on cabinet doors?

For knobs, you should place the knob holes horizontally centered on the door stile. On the upper cabinets, make sure to place knob holes 2 and ½ inches up from the bottom of the door. On lower cabinets, make sure to place knob holes 2 and ½ inches down from the top of the door.

Where to place hardware on drawer fronts?

For knob and pull holes, you should place them horizontally centered and vertically in the middle of the slab drawer or the 5-piece front. Some people like installing 2 knobs or pulls on very wide drawer fronts that they fill with heavy items. But then, people usually use only one of the pulls or knobs when they open the drawer. You should only use one and place it at the center. Do not install hardware on false drawer fronts in front of cooktops or sinks, unless you want to be confused or frustrated.

Why is Proper Cabinet Hardware Placement Important?

Installing cabinet hardware and properly placing it can be very intimidating. Whether you’re a DIYer or not, you’d always want the outcome to be perfect. You’d want it to be simple but accurate. All it will take is for you to successfully and easily install the cabinet hardware. Lucky for you, this has already been discussed above.

Let’s face it. Cabinetry is the focal point of a room, as it grabs the attention and ties everything together. For this very reason, the entire process of installing and placing cabinet hardware should be done perfectly. Placing the cabinet doors and the cabinet hardware should be an easy way to create a functional impact on the space within your home, while also creating a significant subtle style.

Make one mistake, and you’ll ruin everything in this process. When cabinet hardware is poorly placed on doors and drawers, it will make everything in the room look off. You’ll end up wasting your money and your time. To prevent this, you need to be very careful. Cabinet hardware placement is something you want to make sure you do well the first time.

If you ever need help with cabinet hardware placement and installing cabinet hardware, then you should check out True Position. You’ll learn a lot about placing your hardware correctly and avoiding committing common mistakes. Installing pulls and knobs can be very difficult, but by following the helpful tips and guidelines, you’ll be confident that you’ll get the job done correctly in just a matter of minutes.